Milestones

I'm now thinking the problem is with the old computer--an HP. It always seemed eccentric with storage. As I look at the external HD, I often find no tracks under an album folder; or if the tracks do appear, they don't play. There is a message something about Quick Time Player, and I really know nothing about that. Some tracks came over with methods that have been described here on the forum. On the external HD the list starts with seemingly stray tracks (not in folders). These transfer; the others do not. At least I think this is the case! I need to really look at the external HD to see what is going on. My collection runs about 3,000 hours. I think I can reproduce it through various means, though it will take time--possibly years. My old HP is dead, so there is no more use of that.

Back to the original idea---transferring the music files. I did get some music on, but less than 10%. I thought dragging the folder/files from external hard drive to "music/downloads" would do it, but it seems not--nor the similar copy and paste. So much for simple methods. I've tried Migration Assistant, which seemed to start and then stall. I thought Time Machine might work, but I think that's for something else. Pretty baffled right now.

There is headphone jack (desktop computer) and I tried the speakers there. I figured they would not work, and they don't. Some special adapter?

What do people think of sound quality on Apple? I assumed it would be rather good, and it is (at the least) respectable. But I had been using Bose external speakers on previous computers. I like those a lot, and they provide better stereo effect. There is no clear way to connect those up to this new one. I'm not much of a techie, despite using computers pretty heavily for more than three decades.

Slowly working on things. There is a lot to get used to. A big issue was the Word files--vital for my work and much else. Music is a pleasure, albeit a consuming pleasure. The situation is not bad...about 24 hours later. I will keep working and surely pose more questions.

Part of the problem is that the old computer is dead.

The computer is here. I have been messing with it for a couple of hours. I was able to get much of my music on the new one...hard to tell how much. Navigation is.a nightmare, especially the appearing and mostly vanishing scroll bar. It looks like organization will be difficult. Also, I am still thinking I can't transfer my playlists--a huge number and a big deal for me.

A significant figure for sure. I like quite a few of his songs, but I think of him mostly as an actor. I agree that he was great in Odds Against Tomorrow.

Seems like I am getting quite different answers...not all that surprising. I have not used Apple music before on my own previous computers. I last had an HP and before that Dells. I am switching to an Apple computer because of reputation and personal recommendations. I've had some experience on it with my wife's laptop. My own Apple will be delivered tomorrow: April 26. More to follow....

TTK, Of the artists you named, I have about 4 records in my collection. I have a lot by Miles, Coltrane, Sonny, Kenny Burrell, Lee Morgan, and many more--but I have to say I was TRYING to get those records.

I am thinking of moving on to an Apple computer after decades of owning PCs like Dell and HP. I am very concerned about moving over the thousand of hours of music: jazz and otherwise. My old computer is dead, but almost everything in on an external hard drive. I have been messing with the music on my wife's laptop, but so far not having much luck. There appear to be compatibility issues--big surprise. I know there are some online articles out there on this. It supposedly can be done. But I would like to hear from people who have actually done it--and how easy (or difficult) the process is. Thanks.

Hmmm...can't say that I know this record. I'm a pretty serious fan of Webster, and a huge fan of Hawk; I need to check it out.

I'm pretty much at a loss on the rest. 10) My wild guess is Grover Washington Jr. 11) This might be Hubert Laws. It might be Dave Valentin and Dave Samuels. Or someone else! 14) Tenor sounds like Joe Henderson, but not any Henderson that I have heard before. It has fusion elements and definitely sounds 70's. I believe that's an organ, but it has synth qualities.

1) Guitar and alto...pretty nice. I'm thinking the guitarist is the leader. Maybe Dave Stryker and Steve Slagle, mainly because of the simpatico of the players. 2) Just about everything suggests Pat Metheny Group. I don’t think it’s in my collection, but I don’t have all those records. There are the vocals and a Lyle Mays sound/vibe. More Lye than Pat…the latter usually make his presence known. But I’ll still say Metheny Group. 3) Mellow. 4) Sounds too much like a theme from a 1960’s sitcom. 5) Nice track that has a 1950’s west coast sound to my ears, but I could be way off. 6) Old time jazz. Sounds like a large ensemble, but not true big band size. Perhaps early Ellington? Yeah, sounds a lot like Duke…waiting to see if the piano gets a spot…no. I will guess Duke, but not with full confidence. 7) This is old-timey too. I’m guessing that’s a pre-Charlie Christian guitarist… and a good one.

I'll take CDs over vinyl. I don't do even do CD's that much, other than still getting them out of the libraries (which are now carrying fewer than they used to). I guess vinyl is cool enough, but the prices are nuts--they are WAY over-priced.

My understanding is that Vitous dropped out of WR due to his supposed inability to play funk. And I imagine he found Zawinul to be a prick at times (maybe lots of times). Anyway, Vitous was much valued by the late Chick Corea, and I think we can safely say that Chick knew and hired outstanding bassists.

"Mysterious Traveler," title track of that album? But this is an earlier record.

I'm a bit surprised I didn't nail Smith/Frisell/Cyrille (though I did recognize Frisell), since I have that record. It's a good record, and I think I need to listen again.

I don't go back very much to the acoustic quartet records of the last two decades. There are good spots, but on the whole they don't enthrall me. I'm not sure why. I don't think it's Wayne himself. I have been reading on the thread about minimalism and how "present" Wayne is on some records/groups. But I sure do hear him in that quartet; it in an absolutely different thing from WR. I often like a minimalist approach. It characterizes some of our greatest figures, such as Miles and Monk. You hear it in Jim Hall and many others. Minimalism doesn't mean they are not the star, as all those that I named are consistently the main attraction--on their own records and even as sidemen.

That's a killer solo on "Apache." Need to know why Wayne is so great, just take a listen.

I personally still find it a little hard to assess his work in Weather Report. He has fine moments to be sure, though the group definitely comes across basicially as Zawinul's vision. Curiously, some of his high spots are on Zawinul tunes like "The Juggler" and "A Remark You Made."

It's hard to choose among Shorter's Blue Note albums. Lately I've been favoring Juju (a quartet session with Trane's rhythm section), and there always Speak No Evil. Schizophrenia, with a slightly bigger sound, is also quite fine. I also like some works on Blue Note from decades later: Manhattan Project and Power of Three with Petrucciani and Hall (although Wayne is not on all tracks of the latter).

Another legend has left us. R.I.P. to a man who was great for 60+ years...and in such multi-faceted settings. His legacy will live as long as this thing called jazz lives. Now spinning The Manhattan Project (technically a co-op, but in my view one of his greatest solo albums).

So that is Art Ensemble on the final track...I guessed well. Maybe I need to check them out further. And it would seem to be Sun Ra on #15. I have been iffy on Sun Ra, but there is some good work from the early days; I was checking out his stuff a few months back. I might have this track, but I can't place it. Love the inclusion of Dolphy. He continually goes up in my estimation. "Tenderly" is from Far Cry, an excellent album which features Booker Little on several tracks, plus Jaki Byard, Ron Carter, and Roy Haynes...now that's a band! By the way, I found this to be a highly enjoyable BFT.

1. I thought this was going to be a solo baritone piece, which is quite a rarity. The tune is “Lush Life.” Bluiett? Really can’t say who it is. 2. “A Child is Born.” Nice trumpet, but does not really sound like Thad. But now the subtle big band comes in, so this is starting to sound like Thad/Mel. I don’t think of Thad as playing this mellow. The arrangement is quite nice. 3. Sonny Rollins…no mistaking that. This is “How are Things in Glocca Mora,” with a wonderful lead-in by Donald Byrd. 4. Nice tenor solo in big band setting, but I’m not good at identifying this stuff unless it’s Basie or Ellington. 5. Is that “Lotus Blossom”? Something by Strayhorn. It sounds a bit like Joe Henderson in his whispery ballad mode, but not as distinctive as Joe. 6. “Where or When.” This is a lovely tune, and it’s either Ben Webster or someone indebted to him. 7. This must be Eric Dolphy, playing relatively conservatively. Like Coltrane, he knew and loved the standards and sometimes played them in accessible fashion. Of course, this is a bit different by being solo. I think it’s “Tenderly.” 8. “Over the Rainbow,” sounding a bit operatic. I briefly thought Johnny Hartman, but no…I don’t think so. 9. I’m still not much of a solo piano guy, other than Tyner and Weston. But this is nice relaxed piece. It runs pretty long and seems to be in a 1930’s style, but certainly much more recent. Jaki Byard? But I doubt it, since Jaki usually shifts tempos and styles a great deal. Then again? Interesting coda. 10. I knew this within seconds: Ornette and Charlie Haden playing “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.” An unlikely vehicle, but quite enjoyable. I hold the Soapsuds album in very high esteem; it should be regarded as essential Ornette. 11. This has to be Ron Miles with Bill Frisell and Brian Blade. I have some of these records and enjoy them, but I thought they would be more impressive. I do like this choice, though I can’t name it. 12. A long performance, dominated by bass and trumpet. A bit on the free side. Enjoyable enough, but I don’t recognize the artists. 13. That’s Miles or a serious imitator. The tune sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. The tenor sounds like Booker Ervin, so then it’s not Miles. This one has me baffled, as I would expect Booker to solo first. So he’s a sideman? Oh man, now that’s Grant Green on guitar. But I still don’t know the tune or album. 14. That’s some cool trumpet and organ. Lester Bowie seems like a decent guess. I have some of his work in this vein, but not this track. Maybe I’m mistaken about Bowie, but I think it must be him or someone quite similar—and who is similar? 15. Pepper Adams on baritone? Electric piano solo. Can’t make a guess here. 16. More baritone, or some kind of low instrument. I like that loping bass. I’m thinking of Art Ensemble of Chicago when they play in a more accessible mode, so that’s my very uncertain guess.