Jim Duckworth

One of my favorite guitarists.

The Bobby Hackett box was a game-changer for me. Not only did I not have any of its constituent records, I was not listening to anything related to it. It took a minute for me to get it, but when I did I appreciated a whole new to me aspect of music.

PM sent on BN Small Box Sets Horace Silver Blue Note Records Presents Retrospective 4CDs $24 Joe Henderson The Blue Note Years 4CDs $24

As an added bonus, as if one were needed, Lester Bowie appears on 4 of the lp's: Stalemate (1977) No Agreement (1977) Sorrow tears and blood (1977) Fear not for man ( 1977)

I've enjoyed this set for years, but a friend whose opinion I trust waved me off the last disc, citing bad pop covers as the reason. In investigating Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land, I had cause to open and listen to the final disc in the set, and yes on disc 4 is a cover of Sunshine of Your Love and disc 5 does feature Aquarius, but these are not dealbreakers for me. The version of Equinox on disc 5 kills.

"...as well as wartime recordings produced for American servicemen by the Armed Forces Radio Service." This is the part that got my attention. This would include that great AFRS Jubilee segment wherein Benny Carter, Willie Smith, and Charlie Parker each do a number with the Nat King Cole trio. There are also recordings with Lester Young and, I believe, Coleman Hawkins. It would be great to have these gathered together in a coherent package.

Buying the Miles at Montreux box at a local shop, I asked how could they sell it so cheaply. I was told by the clerk that it had "fallen off a truck."

Although I've been listening to this regularly for 40 plus years, it sounded absolutely fresh this morning.

This is my experience exactly. Shortly after I purchased this set a couple of horrendous events had dampened my enthusiasm for nearly everything-music included-but I found that this set helped "bring me back."

This would have been a good idea, but, as ever marching to the beat of a questionable drum, I not only included the Blue Note material, but also the three lp's with Gerald Wilson and a Donald Byrd. It's closing in on 12 hours of material....

The set I put together this week, probably suggested by a foum contributor, is The Bobby Hutcherson/Harold Land recordings. So far I have over six hours of material compiled.

Thanks for suggesting this: I usually associate Savoy with Bebop,but an examination of 1944 sessions alone takes in a lot of excellent small band swing from Lester, Hawk, Bobby Hackett, Emmett Berry, Pete Brown, Don Byas, Hot Lips Page, Frank Newton, Clyde Hart and a host of others. Now I'm trying to piece my own Savoy Swing Combos set.

Oh, I'm really happy with it.

I added the 1934-1935 Decca recordings to compliment the Earl Hines Mosaic set and completed the Jimmie Lunceford set with the 1939-1940 Okehs.