Matthew

Donald Byrd

I'll pre-order this one, I'm in a "Big Band" streak right now, listening to the "Complete Glenn Miller". In fact, I'm thinking of spending this year just building up my Big Band collection. I'm not finding the new jazz that's coming out very exciting -- maybe it's the war, but i have a need for a more innocent(?), simplier(?), kind of music. Can't explain the feeling, but it's there.

Talk about bad Karma! Ken Griffey dislocated his shoulder. Guess it proves you can't go home again. On a serious note, I live in the Seattle area for three years, and watched Griffey a lot at the Kingdom. He was the best player I ever saw during those years, there was nothing he couldn't do on the field, and, when in a streak, his swing was the most beautiful thing this side of Will Clark. It's just sad to see how far he's gone downhill in Cincy.

I went to my local Tower record store today, and I was shocked to see an Euro import entitled: Lou Donaldson The 1952 Blue Note Sessions. I have been hearing rumblings about the 50 vs. 75 year copyright law concerning the US and Europe, but for the first time, it really hit me -- in seven years there is the real possibility for every Blue Note record from the 50's to be in print from European sources. What will happen to companies who depend on the revenue for reissues? One of which is Blue Note. How can these American companies make a living? Forget Norah Jones being the end for Blue Note, Europe will do it, and make money off the corpse.

I also bought Parks' Discover America, but I might give Song Cycle a couple more spins before I move on.

Just so I can say this: The Dodgers are in first place and have the best record is baseball!

What makes this guy's name so hard to spell??? It is happening again....

I did get the Jones (which is great) & Moncur (haven't listened to it yet) Selects, but, for some reason, I don't feel the same with the Selects as with the big box. My last four Mosaic sets have been OOP lp sets (Brooks, both Chet Baker's, also got the Eddie Condon). I'm on the bandwagon for the Mulligan Concer Jazz Band though. One interesting thing: I read on the West Coast Jazz mailing list is that there will be a Mosaic of Pacific Jazz piano trios out sometime. Whether a select or box, I don't know, but that was a surprise to me.

I had the contrary reaction -- I found the three cuts from the Mosaic website very tame, and, well, boring. And this from someone who loves the Capital Teagarden Mosaic. Think I'll put this toward the bottom of my Mosaic to-buy list. Frankly, I've found the past two years of Mosaic offerings very unexciting. The last one I really looked forward to was the Donald Byrd/Pepper Adams, which has turned out to be one of my favorites.

Medeski, Martin, and Wood: -- Uninvisible -- The Dropper -- Combustication -- And a ton of live concerts off the 'net. "Brother" Jack McDuff -- The Honeydripper (Heck Yeah!) You know who -- Waiting for the Boogaloo Sisters

The first I heard Hunter is from a concert tape with Medeski, Martin, and Wood, recorded in Austin, TX. Hunter does great stuff with MMW, and plays some very inventive stuff. Still need to get my first album, but I like the live stuff I've heard so far.

If I remember correctly, the cover had a faux blue-tint that was not on the original cover.

Received my copy today, and I must say, I love this cd. Has a nice, tight sound, and it's obvious that a lot of creativity went into Waiting for the Boogaloo Sisters... Put me down on the I love "Life Wish" side, had a great vibe to it, Joe Gloss does great things on this cut. Marsh is also outstanding, keeping everyone in line. I'll be spending a lot of time listening to this over the next couple days, along with my other fav of the moment... The Dropper . Congratulations to Jim, Joe, and Randy for a fantastic first effort.

Last two e-mails I sent Mosaic went unanswered. Not too happy about that since I've bought 25 Mosaics.

I don't know who is releasing them, but some Argo dates are out in lp form. Saw Vito's lp at Amoeba's, and I've seen both lp's of "Baby Face" Willette also. List price $9.99.

In honor of Bix's 100 birthday, I'm in the process of going through all 4 volumes of "Bix Restored." Some of the music is REALLY an aquired taste.

Two I listened to this evening get major kudos. Here 'Tis and Fred Jackson's Hootin' and Tootin' are as greezy as you're going to get. Willette and Green make a great team, but Grant Green, in my book, is the guitar player for organ players, he never wastes a note.

My favorite is "Two Days In April" with Fred Anderson & Edward "Kidd" Jordon. I've said this before, bt this cd is like listening to the history of the tenor saxaphone, and it is intense as anything you'll ever hear. Plus! Wiliam Parker and Hamid Drake are backing, so there is something going on every second.

I saw a sealed lp of James Newton's "African Flower" for $7.00, and I said, "Nah! I'll buy it next week." Well, you know how the story ends.

Yes, Darkfunk was the place you're thinking about. Great downloads of very rare Miles stuff. You need to get on their mailing list. They e-mail links to concerts, in fact, they had a couple go out just last week and I think Herbie Hancock was one of them, Miles, etc. My computer crashed over the weekend, and I lost everything.

I think he's trying to get France to change their vote to SACD's.

Jailhouse Sugar Bailey. Not too bad, I must be Derek Bailey's brother he never mentions in interviews.

I get what people are saying though about "the power of prayer". I'm always reminded of Primo Levi's experience in WW II, and his reaction to someone praying to God that they won't get "exterminated", the hatred and anger is over powering.

I have volume I of the Complete Nocturne Recordings, and there was a rumor that a vol. II was going to see the light of day. Anyone have any info on a volume II?

I still think the best organ/bigband record is the Gerald Wilson and Richard Holmes record You Better Believe It on Pacific Jazz -- it's also on disk #1 in the Wilson Mosaic. Wilson was able to incorporate Holmes very nicely into that great big band of his, and what cuts! "Blues For Yna Yna", "The Wailer", "Straight Up and Down", just some classy, funky, fun going on. I just think Wilson was able to do a much better job then Oliver Nelson with Jimmy Smith, (and I love Nelson too) getting the organ in the big band mix. So, what are your fav Big Band/Organ records.