Michael Fitzgerald

Waller or Navarro? Diz Dizley? Dizzy Reece? Hank Crawford? Duke Pearson? Meredith Monk? Monk Montgomery? Buddy Miles? Come on, we need some REAL distinctive names: Dusko, Sirone, Muhal, Airto, Avishai, Santi, Tootie, Olatunji, Hannibal, Patato, Cachao, Varty, NHØP, Åke, Vijay, Urbie, Paquito, Jiggs, Grady, Cedar, Muruga, Badal, Nana..... Mike (not even close)

I don't own it yet, but Haydon was in contact with me when he was writing it in 2000. He had some questions about Dizzy Gillespie. I was surprised that there would be another book after "Cool Blues: Charlie Parker in Canada 1953" by Mark Miller, which is a nice little book (115 pages), but everything that I have heard about the Haydon book (312 pages) has been good. Now that I know where it can be had, I'll try to pick it up. Mike

Mike, are you affiliated with the HJS? Mike

There are actually two Starsky & Hutch themes - Lalo Schifrin wrote the first year's theme, but the one I immediately think of is a piece titled "Gotcha" by Tom Scott, which was used from the second year on. I can't recall the Schifrin one at all. Mike

Speaking of confused dates - I note that the db blurb I posted says Feb. 25 and speaks in the past tense - but everything for the Verve issue says March 4. In fact, it was technically March 5. The ad in the Village Voice (March 2, 1961) says "Sat. eve. March 4th at midnight." Mike

As the world knows all too well from white-collar crime.... That's from in between the folks I'm really interested in (Davis & Barron), but I've filed it away for future reference, never know when it might come in handy. Thanks for the story and the precise reference. I think Kenny told me he joined the band in November. Mike

Yup - right you are. "A concert sponsored by M-G-M/Verve records was held at Carnegie Hall Feb. 25 to premiere Argentine pianist Lalo Schifrin's Gillespiana, a suite composed for trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and a 20-piece orchestra. The work was recorded for Norman Granz last November with the Gillespie quintet augmented by Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, Ernie Royal, Frank Rehak, Urbie Green, Candido, and Julius Watkins, among others. Disc jockey Mort Fega of WEVD gave the commentary on the five movements of the suite - Prelude, The Blues, Africana, Pan-Americana, and Toccata. Other composers working on compositions for Gillespie include trombonist J.J. Johnson and arranger-composer Robert Farnon." Down Beat, March 16, 1961 p. 10 Drag that it doesn't seem to have been recorded. BTW, it was scheduled to be performed at Monterey in 1961 (September 23). There is a tape from that show, but again, what has been issued doesn't include the suite. Mike

Are you sure that Gillespiana was performed at the Carnegie Hall concert? It's certainly never been listed in any discography as an unissued performance. The unissued tracks from Carnegie Hall are: Things To Come; Ow!; Emanon; Con Alma; and I Waited For You. I'm skeptical that they did the entire 40 minute suite in addition to the 10 known tracks. I haven't gone looking for reviews of the show yet. Also, about the date of that Salle Pleyel show - what source gives November 24? I have seen November 20 and November 25. I believe November 25 to be correct, going from Chris Sheridan's Cannonball Adderley book (Adderley was part of the JATP tour and his concert at the Salle Pleyel were issued by Pablo). It's tantalizing to think that perhaps the entire Gillespie show was filmed (the Adderley was). On November 24, the tour was in Munich and on November 20 they were scheduled for Berlin, but that show was postponed to December 2. Anyway - Gillespiana is a great piece, but I'm more partial to Perceptions. I prefer JJ's writing to Lalo's. I'm working on discographies of Art Davis and of Kenny Barron, so that 1960s Gillespie period is of great interest to me. Gillespie fairly frequently played parts of the suite, don't know about the entire thing. He recorded another version of Blues with Kenny Barron in 1965 at Carnegie Hall, issued on the Limelight label but that track only on CD. I heard him do at least two movements with Sam Rivers in the late 1980s. Toccata and Blues, I think. Mike

*Some* record club pressings had the black instead of blue, so my copy of Charlie Parker at Storyville has the black and silver, but my copy of Cannonball Somethin' Else is blue. Both are marked as from BMG. I know Ready for Freddie was in a record club long after it was supposedly out of print (as a connoisseur) - check the catalog number. A non-BMG black and silver one is my copy of 3 Sounds - It Club v.1 (but not v.2) Mike

Hans - Where are you located? (ditto for you, Kevin) I've definitely made contacts with IAJRC members who have helped with things like the Gryce book. An idea that I just had is to see about publishing the discographical addenda to the book in the IAJRC Journal (and on my website). There have been some post-publication discoveries that we'd like to share before any second edition gets printed. The Journal might be a good place for that - besides, who else would print such a thing? Perhaps there is work that could be done in terms of coordinating something (there is more to the IAJRC than the Journal, though I haven't participated in the conventions). Or maybe you could collaborate with an English-speaker on a project. Do you have a speciality in terms of artist or label? I don't recall the specific hostility that you're referring to (I probably shrugged it off). I'll see if I can check on that in the back issues. There will always be idiots and musical bigots/zealots, even in the world of jazz fans. One does one's best to ignore. But is the hostility the reason you are not renewing or is it the lack of more coverage of modern styles? I was under the impression it was the latter. Glad to see the talk - it's important to discuss this, rather than just give up. Mike

I think only the Barth is not listed on the Vanguard site. Do you have a recording date for it? Mike

Just a little self-promotion - if you like the Incredibles, Pentangle, Nick Drake, et al. you might enjoy the CD "Nature's Bride" by Pamela Wyn Shannon. All original tunes, save one. My connection is that I wrote the arrangement on Nick Drake's "I Was Made to Love Magic." Danny Thompson was supposed to guest on the album but scheduling conflicts couldn't be resolved. http://singersong.homestead.com/folk2.html Mike

I am myself a member and am more interested in post-war jazz (WWII, that is) than pre-war. Though I enjoy it all, I do skip over many articles in the Journal. As someone told me once, if you (as a more modern fan) don't stay and participate then what can you expect? Believe me, the IAJRC and Journal now are *way* more inclusive than years ago. Honestly, the fans of pre-war jazz have a tough time in the world today. Radio stations like WBGO have programming policies that directly exclude their music and it's not like performances of that kind of music are anywhere near as common as bebop, hard bop, post bop, free jazz, fusion, etc. etc. There are some, of course. But for those people who think that Don Cherry was the vocalist from the Victor Young Orchestra, the Tomasz Stanko tribute to Cherry will be a rude awakening. (Not that WBGO doesn't have a policy excluding that music!!!) Going through the last 12 journals (to 2000), I find: a cover story on Texas Tenors, articles on Charlie Parker (2), V-discs, the Billy Eckstine film, the Deer Head Inn, the Randy Brooks band, Boris Rose (2), Paul Villepigue, Ladislav Habart, and as you mention, *plenty* of reviews that deal with more modern music. In terms of their CD issues, they have put out a 1986 Al Cohn concert and a set of 1954 Horace Henderson broadcasts, 1949/53 Herbie Fields, Oscar Pettiford 1953-60, and a Lucky Thompson, among others. For a little comparison, looking at the 1973 Journals I found NO post-war material, apart from the occasional review (Kenton, Ellington, Herman, Clifford Brown!). As has been mentioned at various times in the Journal, the IAJRC is looking for people to help - what better way to support your preference (and that of many other members) than by being more active as a member? And I don't mean just writing a letter expressing your displeasure - because we've seen those, and the responses from the early jazz guys who want *less* modern material in the Journal(!). Hoping you will reconsider, if just to know that there will be one more member out there with similar interests rather than one fewer. There is no similar organization/publication strictly for post-war jazz. Things at the IAJRC are getting better, not worse. Mike

There's a killer Renbourn track with Tony Roberts and Keshav Sathe called "Sidi Brahim" - I have it on a CD called John Barleycorn. Amazing flute solo - just stunning in the execution and clarity of ideas. For me, Pentangle doesn't quite hit the mark that Sandy-era FC does. I think it's the vocals. Still, great musicians, particularly Danny Thompson. The first albums are the ones for me: The Pentangle, Sweet Child, Basket Of Light, Cruel Sister. Early Classics has some of this stuff. There's another Shanachie compilation called A Maid That's Deep In Love with other stuff from this period. But the original format CDs are out there, some with bonus tracks. At least some of the Jansch albums are out in 2-fers. I have Jack Orion/Nicola. There's a nice Pentangle page at http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/pentangle/ I'm a great fan of late 1960s British folk stuff. Seems that was a special time and place - and it didn't last long. I don't think Pentangle or FC could have happened if they started a few years later. Has anyone got the Danny Thompson album with John McLaughlin and Tony Roberts? http://www.voiceprint.co.uk/catalogue.php/Release/314/ It's been too expensive (and it's quite short) when I've been looking. Mike

Or maybe what is being said by Verve is, "This is the last Montreal Tapes CD we are issuing," meaning that the Metheny show will remain unissued. They've always said, "All of these concerts were recorded by Radio Canada, and the majority will be released on compact-disc for Verve." Of course, that statement is true no matter what - ECM got the Gismonti and Verve has *already* put out 5 of the 8 shows. Mike

I believe this is not duo, but trio - with Al Foster (at least according to the notes on the Bley/Haden/Motian CD). Also - did I miss something? Has the Metheny/Haden/DeJohnette show from July 5 really been issued? I know private tapes circulate. Mike

The two pianos that Van Gelder has are termed by some as "the Bud Powell" and "the Bill Evans," (for fairly obvious reasons). He still has two. As I mentioned in another thread, there are plenty of people who recorded at both Hackensack and Englewood Cliffs - Horace is certainly not the only living pianist to have done so. Ray Bryant, Hank Jones, Duke Jordan, Herman Foster, Hod O'Brien, Barry Harris, Freddie Redd, and Marian McPartland definitely recorded at both. Maybe Gil Coggins, Randy Weston, Jon Mayer, John Coates, Sal Mosca, Cliff Smalls, Johnny Williams, all of whom recorded at Hackensack - not sure if they recorded at Englewood Cliffs (so many discographies incorrectly list simply "New York" for Van Gelder Studio) but they still have the opportunity to do so. Mike

You want a bad drummer? I got a story - I played once (maybe 15 years ago?) with a guy who was an old time swing kind of player, but in a situation that was just a typical straightahead gig. Someone called "All Blues" and this guy played straight 4/4. Could not even tell he was off. The whole damn tune. It was surreal. I think if someone went and told him to play 3/4 he wouldn't have been able to. As I recall, his time was good, but he had absolutely no sense of repertoire or variety - he had his one bag and that was it. At least with the drum machine you can get the meter and style right! Mike

This is an average album - maybe a little better than average, but it was notable as it was a 10-year reunion of a band from a GREAT album - "Timeless" from 1974 (also on ECM): Abercrombie, Hammer, and DeJohnette. They added Mike Brecker for Night. Now, "Timeless" is a killer - don't let anyone ever bullshit you about ECM not having burning records. Try "Lungs" or "Red and Orange" - absolutely red hot. Jan Hammer plays wonderfully throughout on organ, piano, and Minimoog. Some points are clearly the progressive organ trio (a la Lifetime) sound. Then there are other acoustic tracks that balance things nicely. Best record I've ever heard from Abercrombie. Great tunes, great playing, a real high-water mark. Mike

Eddie Costa was a member of Gigi Gryce's final group, the Gigi Gryce Orch-tette, playing vibes alongside Richard Wyands on piano, and Costa appears on Gryce's Mercury album "Reminiscin'" - not yet on CD, but hopefully a few people got to hear something from it on the WFIU radio show today. I had the pleasure to speak with Eddie's son, I guess maybe 2 years ago. He was quite young when Eddie died in 1962 and has spent the subsequent 40 years learning about his father's career. A particular favorite of mine is the "Jazz Mission to Moscow" album on Colpix. There's one piano solo that is a jaw-dropper. I forget which. Mike

Also remember that several of the out of print Mosaic sets have been made available in their entirety in other forms (the Blue Note Brownie, Monk, and Bud 4-CD sets - now made at least partially obsolete by the RVG reissues), the Herbie Nichols Blue Note set - still in print?, the Desmond/Hall RCA which is just a little different, as is the Pacific Jazz Mulligan/Baker set and the Roost Getz set. Most if not all of the Freddie Redd has been put on individual CDs, Blakey, Chet live, the Green/Clark too, etc. etc. Not to mention those sets which were Mosaic Lp-only but on CD from Columbia (Miles, Mingus). Trying to look on the bright side of things - Mike

I do not mean reissue of the identical material, I mean additional tracks from the same recording sessions. Sometimes this involves another day - for example, August 3 and 4 for one album and August 4 and 5 for another. Prime example would be the "Waltz For Debby" and "Sunday at the Vanguard" albums by Bill Evans (and there was even additional stuff after those two!). Mike

Gigi comes from the initials G.G. and is pronounced that way. Mike

August 1965 is the date I've heard for that tape. What is the source for Gary Peacock's being there? I also know of other times (Vanguard, June 1965) when the band without Miles was billed under Herbie Hancock's name, with Richard Davis on bass. I know of no date for Miles Davis at the Vanguard in 1964 - but I haven't really looked. If there is some documentation, I'd like to know about it. I know they did play there in November 1965 (Thanksgiving weekend). Mike Upon reflection, I don't see how 1964 would really be possible: Shorter joined the band on September 18 in California, by September 25 (Berlin) they were in Europe until at least October 11 (Milan) then November 11 they started at the Plugged Nickel until November 22. The Vanguard advertised the following: Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln in late October Bill Evans and Roland Hanna in early and mid November Mose Allison and Art Farmer and Janet Lawson in mid December. On October 29, Miles was busy hosting a party for Robert F. Kennedy. If there is other info out there, I'd love to know about it. Mike

Here are a few that I know of that I don't see listed on the Vanguard site: Kenny Burrell - A Night At The Vanguard (Argo) Kenny Burrell - Generation (Blue Note) Kenny Burrell - Pieces of Blue and the Blues (Blue Note) from same dates as Generation Kenny Burrell - (Evidence) from same dates as Midnight At The Village Vanguard Arthur Blythe - Calling Card (Enja) from same dates as Retroflection Shirley Horn (CAN-AM) - probably a bootleg Johnny Griffin - NY Underground (Galaxy) Jazz Contemporaries - Reasons In Tonality (Strata East) Bill Lee - NY Bass Violin Choir (Strata East) Noah Howard - album on Intercord Steve Kuhn - The Vanguard Date (Owl Time) Joshua Redman - Wish (Warner Bros.) contains 1 track live at Vanguard (not same dates as Spirit of the Moment) Elvin Jones - albums on Honeydew (probably same dates as Enja album) Thelonious Monk - Straight No Chaser soundtrack (Columbia) Les McCann - How's Your Mother (32 Jazz) Carmen McRae - Woman Talk (Mainstream) Stan Getz - on Ingo - bootleg I think one of the Thad/Mel Solid States is missing also. There are probably hundreds of private tapes floating around from shows at the Vanguard. Mike