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Nice. I saw him live once. It was excellent!

Seeing him live soon!!

Billy Strayhorn “Lush Life” Red Baron cd A cd with varying ensembles and solo piano that I haven’t pulled out in too long. All Music says: Although not initially released until 1992, 25 years after composer Billy Strayhorn's death, this is his definitive CD. Strayhorn is heard singing "Lush Life" while backed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1964 (his voice is not strong but his phrasing is quite sincere), jamming on piano with flügelhornist Clark Terry and Bob Wilbur (on clarinet and soprano) in a quintet, backing singer Ozzie Bailey, and taking a pair of piano solos ("Love Came" and "Baby Clementine"). These are very valuable and intriguing recordings, shedding some new light on a nearly invisible genius.

We had this band in 1979 in our Jazzclub in Koblenz for a private concert. It was "the event" for many years. Have shot some fotos but flashlight was not allowed. Anyway it was a great rememorable concert. Have the 2hrs on a private reel recorded in the club but not issued yet 0901R Blakey,Art PR 1979 9"(2) Koblenz

More Fred Hersch:

Thanks, looking at history that explains a lot indeed.

Joe Henderson “Page One” Blue Note Japan SHM-SACD

In many ways, KCMO & KCK are really one big city (plus the other inner-ring suburbs on both sides of State Line Rd). But the majority of the Black community was in KCMO, specifically east of Troost Ave — and the heart of that community was around 18th and Vine, and 12th and Vine (all around there). As in many, many cites in the US — there was redlining, and before that, racial covenants that excluded minorities and Jews from certain developments (effectively certain entire neighborhoods). Not sure how far back the redlining goes historically, but the reasons for all these patterns have to do with segregation, both formal and semi-formally ‘enforced’ through all sorts of methods used widely (certainly not just in either of the Kansas Cities).

I wish I could have seen that band! I think that particular incarnation of the Messengers -- with Bobby Watson & James Williams -- was Blakey's best from his later years. Of course, I'm only going by the records.

I saw that line-up in Frankfurt. It was a hot band!

Days later, I’m listening to disc 2 Miles Davis “Agharta” Sony SRCS 9720-21 DSD mastered 2 cd set

So a question to those who've read it: How does this book rate compared to "Kansas City Jazz - A Little Evil Will do You Good" by Con Chapman? I already own the books on Kansas City jazz by Ross Rusell, by Nathan W. Pearson Jr. and by Frank Driggs and Chuck Haddix. And as much as I am interested in the history of Kansas City jazz I am unsure if there is significantly more (that's not found anywhere else) to be gained from owning ALL that have been published. And a general question on this subject that I cannot recall I have found any explanation for in any of the three books above: How come that "Kansas City jazz" as a muscial hotbed happened almost exclusively in Kansas City, Mo., but not in Kansas City, Ks.? Though on the map they look like twin cities. ("Map" because when I read these books I've often referred to a 1948 Shell map of Missouri and Kansas City that my Ma brought home from her visit to her uncles in Steelville, Mo., in 1953 ). Was this only because of the Pendergast regime as an "enabler" on the Missouri side?

I have seen highlights ... and the players don't treat it as an exhibition. They are all balls-to-the-wall for their "country". You even have teammates on opposing sides, and the catcher declined a pre-at bat handshake. That happened twice in fact. Its unfortunate that this is the only time for this ... nobody would play three weeks past the WS and eat into their offseason recharge. Not to mention players who would have down time for most if not all of October. Clearly though there is interest - sell out or near sell outs - and with that comes the money and the requirement that it continue.

I watched it last night. Terrific. Very well done.

I think it’s a great book, both a bio and social history.

I agree. Haven’t watched a second of it; just an exhibition.