Forums

This is the CD that inspired me to do the show. I bought it many years ago while I was in the midst of exploring the various DKE small-group recordings, both those made under the Ellington moniker and apart. A few months ago I pulled it off the shelf when I was in a Hodges mood and remembered that all of the dates were made for either Sunrise or Mercer. That inspired me to pull the Great Times! cd, which gathers all of the Ellington-Strayhorn duets and Oscar Pettiford sides recorded for Mercer) off the shelf as well. All of it put together seemed like a fascinating and diverse small-group chapter of Ellingtonia, all recorded on DKE's own label. And don't sleep on some of singer Al Hibbler's recordings for Mercer, two of which I included in the show, drawn from the Al Hibbler 1950-52 Chronologic Classics CD.  When I posted that I was working on this show in a Duke Ellington Facebook group, another member mentioned that Jasmine was just about to put out a single CD devoted to Ellington's Mercer label recordings. I managed to get a copy of it before producing the Night Lights episode, and the sound does seem marginally improved.       As a great man by the name of Sy Oliver once said, "Yes, indeed!"

John, Wilson performed his recently-completed Smile album in concert at Madison Square Garden in the fall of 2004.  It was recorded for radio broadcast, and that's what this is. The sound is OK, but not spectacular.   I had read about the Smile album, but never heard it.  I recognized almost every song here.  I don't know which songs were included on the Smile album. The performance by Brian is not particularly good.  There are a million background singers who cover up his deficiencies quite well. I consider all Brian Wilson records to be summertime music, and I am sure I will put this on throughout the next three months.  However, I do not consider this to be nearly as good as the last of his albums I picked up, called No Pier Pressure.

How is it (performance and sound).  Is it Smile, or other material?

Skull Donlevy - Thursday Night Barfin'!!! Getting ready for the weekend.

Not Jazz.