clifton

Bluett's got the sound I like, huge, cavernous, one that really projects. That's the sound of Brignola, Adams, Surman, Tyler, and above all, Harry Carney.

I just received the 1999 remaster of "Giant Steps" from half.com, great source for CD's. I got it new, still wrapped, for $5 plus shipping, a total of $7.50. I think my greatest CD find was about four years ago when I found Kenny Kirkland's one and only album as a leader in a discount bin at Borders in Springfield, Pa. for $5, and yes I bought it. Didn't hesitate.

I've got the Hawkins box and recommend it without reservation unless you're a Hawk completist and you want the alternate takes. Sound is very good and the music is glorious. I passed on the Navarro box because it duplicates what I've got. BTW CD Universe has the Hawkins, Tristano, Stitt, and Wardell boxes, $23 except for wardell who is $22. I'm getting the Tristano and Stitt boxes for XMas/Chanukah so I can't honestly report on them yet.

EKE BBB: That's not me on "Think Tank". I did Marcus Strickland "Brotherhood", "Astral-Terra Trapeze Unit", Tim Armacost concert review, and a review of "Lest We Forget" that should post any day. (I'm new to the AAJ staff, or any other staff, for that matter). I don't agree with the AAJ "Think Tank" review, I think it's better than that.

I'm not anything resembling an audiophile, but even I noticed the murky sound on "Bandwagon". However, the music is so good I bought it anyway. BTW regarding the previously mentioned Martial Solal "NY-1" disc, do not miss it. IMHO one of the best piano trio discs in years.

Some stuff on how I came to my opinion re DeFrancesco. I liked his work during his Young Lion days, and I even bought "Joey 3". He was still very much in thrall to Jimmy Smith then, but his fire and swing made him sound very promising. Then I heard him as a sideman with John McLaughlin on "Free Spirits Live In Tokyo" and "After The Rain",and suddenly, the Smith acolyte was gone, replaced by a daring soloist, one with the same fire, but now he's taking harmonic and rhythmic chances that just aren't part of the Jimmy Smith idiom. The same sense of exploration is evident in his work on Pat Martino's "Live At Yoshi's" and on "Lest We Forget". Plus on "Goodfellas" and some other recent work, you can hear it. There are some great organists out there: Yahel, Dennerlein, Goldings, McGriff, and of course, Mr. Smith himself, but I gotta give it up for the kid from Ridley Park.

Ron Blake's "Lest We Forget" is an excellent tribute to Stanley Turrentine, Charles Earland, and Grover Washington, Jr. Very little that's retro here. Blake has a huge tone with a warm vibrato and he really knows how to build a solo. Plus Joey DeFrancesco really kicks butt, he's the greatest organist since Larry Young, IMHO. The album also features David Gilmore on guitar, Greg Hutchinson on drums, Christian McBride on bass for a few tunes, including a terrific duet with Blake on "You Must Believe In Spring". Plus a promising newcomer on trumpet named Rashawn Ross. "Lest We Forget" has a couple of cool funk tunes, and most of it steams straight ahead. I just submitted a review of this one to AAJ if you want more detail, but this one is definitely worth it.

STAX: That's pretty much true. In 1980 (maybe '81) Martino was diagnosed with a brain aneurism, he was operated on with days to spare. Afterwards he had lost all memory of music. He had to teach himself everything all over again.

My vote goes to "Shades" as my favorite Andrew Hill. It has all the form-stretching ideas that make Hill unique, and Clifford Jordan in top form. "Dusk" is more radical but equally brilliant. I also seriously dig "Eternal Spirit", Osby sounds good and Hutcherson shines.

Joe Lovano, "Trio Fascination", with Dave Holland and Elvin. Abash is a fine Swedish trio whose sax player sounds like a post-bop Don Byas, at least when he plays tenor. And going back to the 1960's, there's "Tarik", a Dewey Redman classic with Favors and Blackwell on BYG/Actuel, and of course Ornette-Izenzon-Moffett, "At The Golden Circle", magnificent sax trio music. Also recommended: Charles Gayle, "Touchin' On Trane", with William Parker and Rashied Ali.

I've been enjoying Pat Martino's latest Blue Note release, "Think Tank". Martino blazes his way through a solid program with Joe Lovano, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash. The band sounds tight and well-rehearsed, typical of a classic Blue Note session that Alfred Lion would have produced. Solos range from very good to inspired, and it all swings. This one really grows on you.

Outstanding! I've got the Mosaic set, and I'm not that much of an audiophile so I probably won't buy the Conn. For my Rivers BN fix I usually wind up with "Contours", however.

I'm checking this thread out for the first time, and it seems most of the great baritonists have gotten a mention. One who didn't is the late Charles Tyler. He gained noteriety as the alto player with Albert Ayler. I found him to be a somewhat florid altoist, but on baritone, Tyler was a monster. His tone was gigantic, I mean the size of Carney's or Adams'. He played long meaty lines, swinging fiercely, punctuating with howls and growls. He led a fantastic freebop quartet with Earl Cross on trumpet, Ronnie Boykins on bass, and Steve Reid (not the smooth jazz guy) on drums. They were active in the mid-1970's, and they recorded two great albums, "Saga Of The Outlaws", and "Definite, Vols. I & II". Tyler was a true unsung giant of the bari, whose name seems to be in complete obscurity. Overall, my favorite baritone players are Carney, Adams, Mulligan, Tyler, and Patrick, but I must say I dig everybody named here. And don't forget Jack Washington.

I'm a Bird fanatic so I've got the Complete Savoy and Dial, most of the Verves, and a lot of live material. The JSP box includes all the Savoy and Dial masters so that might be your best bet although the Proper box, and the Savoy/Dial Masters are also superb. Go for the best overall price and while you're at it, pick up a copy of "Jazz At Massey Hall".

The Mosaic Jacquet box is one of my all-time favorites, especially Disc 3, with the big band and sextet ("Robbin's Nest") sessions. I hear a unique nexus of swing, bop, and nascent r&b in this music. It's headstrong, exciting, very swinging stuff, and most of the sessions include the great drummer Shadow Wilson, who really kicks things along. I thought the sound quality was very good, considering that the source material was mostly small, independent labels like Apollo and Savoy that didn't have the best equipment to begin with.