Pete B

French RCA Complete Ellington Vol 11-15 Box, a big slice of the 1940 recordings including the sublime Ellington-Blanton duos, with alternates of course. This suits my ears much better than the recent cd remasters.

The Warne Marsh things are nice, as are the two Sal Mosca albums. He has a cd with duets with Rufus Reid that I think is extraordinary (of course I'm a bassist so I would think that wouldn't I?)

In 2003 I played bass on a private release by The Gadjo Playboys, a local Django style band. Also, 7 or 8 years ago I was on a bluegrass session, a private release cassette by Billy Lee Cox and the Mason Dixon Grass, a regional band that was very popular at that time. There are some thousands of those floating around the PA-MD-DE area. Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to record any straight jazz sessions other than a very old demo with the regular trio that I play with locally. None of us thinks it's very good anymore, but there doesn't seem to be any compelling reason to upgrade either.

The bulk of this may be "just" sax quartets, but look at the supporting cast - Hank Jones, Jimmy Jones, Wendell Marshall, Aaron Bell, Shadow Wilson, Roy Haynes - this is jazz on a very high order, IMO. Nothing earth-shattering or innovative, sure, but to my ears very satisfying and enjoyable.

GO HEELS! a great conclusion to a great year. Pete (UNC Class of '80)

You probably want the Carnegie Hall concerts as well. 3 dates are available on OJC, a fourth on Storyville. The 1948 is out of print, I forget the label it was on, but it is not too hard to find used. The V-Discs are available on a relatively inexpensive 3-disc set. Not much information in the package as to dates and personnel, but the music is really nice. I agree with Brownie, the Fargo set is the finest of the lot.

Please pardon my over-40 memory (or lack thereof) It's a great album, anyway. Merrill always sounds exquisite.

I have the same problem, I think (a "shushing" sound on track 1). I contacted Mosaic. Their reply:

Helen Merrill with Ron Carter. I think it was called "Alone Together" (fittingly enough). A marvelous recording.

I am one, and that's one area I've never held back on for either of my kids- instruments and lessons. But I understand that as a musician I'm strongly biased. I thought parent-management was part of every young person's repertoire these days

Better to go to a luthier that knows double basses. Get yourself over to Talkbass double bass forums and check out the newbie links in the various forums. There's a wealth of information there. Also, check Bob Gollihur's Bass Pages he sells good quality entry-level basses, (some are less that $1000) and also provides a listing of bass luthiers all over the country.

It's worth it. I wouldn't want to play anything else.

The 2XB is a whole 'nother animal. The electric is a guitar, after all. Skills don't transfer well from one to the other. Myself, I can't get comfortable on an ebg, but then, I sold my last ebg many years ago. There's a story about George Duvivier. When the ebg came into vogue in the late 60s for studio work, he was convinced to buy one to increase his studio work. After a few weeks, he deliberately left it in the backseat of his unlocked car. When he came back to the car it was gone. He never played one again. A lot of us 2XB guys are like that B-)

An exploding bass? I shudder at the thought, unless it's one of those cheap Chinese numbers, which in time will fall apart on their own anyway.

Well, it was called a double bass because it doubled the cello (in a lower octave of course), so I suppose one could call the cello a single bass. But I wouldn't.

When I go out on a gig, I always wear my Bass shoes, and I often drink Bass ale on our breaks. Yeah, I play a double bass.

I would like to reoffer: Donald Byrd - Getting Down to Business George Robert and the Metropole Orchestra Jimmy Hamilton Sweet But Hot (Somebody please take this superb title! Hamilton, Clark Terry, Barry Balbraith, Sidney Gross, Oscar Pettiford, Osie Johson - marvelous small group swing) and add: Miles Davis Miles Ahead (Columbia Jazz Masterpieces) Duke Ellington Complete Edition Vol 5 (1928 Masters of Jazz) Pete

The Timner book (4th edition) does not show that these were ever issued commercially. They have circulated among tape traders for years. I've heard them - they are very cool!

The music is good, interesting stuff, but for me the best part is the book, which has a lot of reproductions of Young's art and a lot of photographs. The package sort of documents the whole scene they had there. I'm very glad to own a copy. There is a great deal more material on tape than what was issued. I have heard some of it and it is very engaging. These were sessions where the guys were playing for themselves, and I think it's very intimate, with a nice friendly relaxed dynamic.

Terry Gibbs' Brunswick sides Stan Getz Intepretations - in fact, would like to see his entire early Verve output issued on a rational basis and in good sound. Lou Levy - The Kid's Got Ears - marvelous forgotten piano trio album Hampton Hawes - The Challenge - perhaps his finest recording, shamefully ignored. Richie Kamuca's Concord sides Maynard Ferguson's Emarcy sides (this would make a fine Mosaic)

Here are a few up for grabs: George Robert - Metropole Orchestra (Mons) sealed Duke Ellington - Live in Big Apple (not really - studio Musicraft material) Jimmy Hamilton - Sweet But Hot (Drive) superb session originally on Urania Donald Byrd - Getting Down to Business (Landmark) sealed Pete

Eric - can I request Bud Powell - Parisian Thoroughfares Pete

Mine arrived today, safe and fairly sound...only minor rust on the box. The packaging is every bit as stupid as I've heard it was. I immediately put the cds in slimline boxes - I only see minor bits of glue, hopefully nothing to cause problems in playback.

Hi I have a copy of "The Subject is Jazz" broadcast. Details: THE SUBJECT IS JAZZ Broadcast on PBS, Spring, 1958 Billy Taylor (p, leader); Tony Scott (cl); Doc Severinsen (tp); Jimmy Cleveland (tb); Mundell Lowe (g); unknown (b); Osie Johnson (d) Tea for Two Interview Stompin' at the Savoy Interview Three Blind Mice Interview Whispering/Groovin' High Its' a Grand Night for Swinging hope this helps

I'm gonna hit up the hardware for a can of clear (#1077).