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I understand that the health care system in Pittsburgh is very good, maybe better than the DC area. My brother in law moved there just before the covid pandemic and he's happy with it. He previously lived in a Maryland suburb of DC and was born and raised here. He was tired of the suburban life and wanted to live in a city with good health care, was walkable, had big city availability of arts and culture (though I bet DC has a better arts and culture scene). He likes the ethnic neighborhoods and the blue collar vibe. It's more affordable than DC and Maryland. He's moved a couple of times already because gentrification has resulted in raising his rent. My wife and I have visited twice to catch baseball games at the wonderful MLB stadium. We were surprised that there's not much of a nightlife or restaurants in that downtown area. There was a fun foodie scene in an area of town called The Strip -- an area that used to be the warehouse district for meat and produce but has gentrified over the years and is now the hot spot of the foodie scene. I can't speak to the music scene. My brother in law mostly likes roots music -- blues, old country, rockabilly, ethnic music like Irish and Ukrainian. I don't believe he's very knowledgeable about jazz. Hope this helps!

The Scouting Bureau has released its winter report. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/01/21/5-takeaways-from-the-cfl-scouting-bureau-winter-edition/ https://www.cfl.ca/2026/01/21/mesidor-stays-no-1-in-winter-edition-of-cfl-scouting-bureau/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/miami-dl-mesidor-retains-top-spot-in-winter-edition-of-cfl-scouting-bureau/ https://3downnation.com/2026/01/21/miami-dl-akeem-mesidor-remains-atop-2026-cfl-draft-scouting-bureau-rankings/ ***** Sask free agent analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/roughriders-free-agents-shawn-bane-jr/

Remembered a name to go with the face: Doc Cheatham.

Oh that's terrible news. I play Solstice frequently, it's such a perfect record for late autumn, leading into winter when the weather starts to cool off.

And as though scripted, here I be. Been a stretch, apologies for the lag. Some of this was very unexpected. Track 01 - First tenor sure sounds like Buddy, but the time doesn't seem fully locked in. Maybe older Buddy? Second is nowhere near as locked in as the first, but I enjoyed both. Piano solo I could have done without. The a capela horns is WAY cool, and any time issues are gone (maybe it's the drummer?). My guess is it's 2nd guy's album. ***1/2 Track 02 - Who are you and what have you done with Dan!? Very busy, and VERY overdubbed. Not my jam. Reminds me of a Tom Scott record I had as a kid (w/Starsky & Hutch theme). Oh, and a wah pedal to boot -- no thanks. Busy, but doesn't hit me in the feels. Almost sounds like Sanborn when I can hear the horn through all the effects, particularly on that strangled note at the end of the solo. Be okay in a movie, but I'd never spin it. ** Track 03 - Things Ain't What They Used To Be. The time is NOT syncing. I was prepared to take a kitchen knife to this, but that sax player is for real. He's maybe post-prime (because there's certainly a story in that sound), because the time is a little wonky. Again, could be the drummer. Hang on. I know this sound (trumpet). Can't come up with a name, but I see a face. Video I watched on the old A & E back when it did such things. It was the 80s and the guy seemed ancient then. Oh gosh... I hate my memory. Not Rabbit, but has certainly put his ears there (which is a SMART move). I'd feel better about this if I could hear the individual, but I'm really hearing Hodges redone, here. Audience is into it. *** Track 04 - A variation Jerome Kern by a tenor who likes Warne Marsh a lot. I don't believe it's him, though. Recording sound lets me down, a lot. Just before the two minute mark, starts sound A LOT like Marsh, but then seems to lose it. I've never really heard him "off", but I suppose it's possible. Love the bassist's time. Drummer is a little tight for my taste, but that bassist is killin'. Come on, that's GOT to be Marsh. Such a space shot! Gotta love it. Second time listening, that's Marsh. I know in the 80s he was touring with a guy who was trying to be him, but this is the actual artifact. Bad sound threw me but it's got to be him. I'm trying to think of anything I have him on with a trumpet outside of SuperSax. Possible NHOP on bass? **** Track 05 - A different take on Who Can I Turn To. I think I like it. Could be Gator. Whomever it is has great facility and swings like hell. Okay, the sound of that piano suggests a Concord recording. Not feeling the guitar at all. Now I'm getting a bit of a Houston Person feel. I'm also fine with that. This a definite lull when the tenor drops out, and a net-negative when the guitarist comes in, but that's not an uncommon reaction for me to the instrument. Very interested in the tenor player, but the guitarist really hurts this for me. ***1/2 w/ guitar ****1/2 without Track 06 - Rhythm section kinda had me for a bit. Tenor is not quite Harold Ashby (not as personal), but seems to be aiming for that mark. Not hitting it for me. Can't help but hear a little irony given the tune. Rhythm section works for me, particularly the bass. Drums are a little forward in the recording, which suggests it's newer (mid-90s or later). A perfect Webster line coming into the solo. And when he gets a little busy, sounds more like Getz. Dude can play, but I'm not sure he gets a spot on my roster. *** Track 07 - More Tickle-Toe, but Jesus, I gotta put my seatbelt on. Okay, Jaws, no question. SUCH a baaaaaaaaaad MF! VICIOUS!!!!! AH! J-Grif fools no one, AGAIN! That's a lot of MF on one stage! That guy VIBRATES! What can you do, man? You gotta laugh! That shit is IMPOSSIBLE! WICKED! ***** Track 08 - I see what you're up to, here. Alright, that's GOT to be Gator. I'll take it. **** Track 09 - All The Things you put on your BFT. I've got a better chance of solving the grand unification theory than I do of IDing a clarinetist. Pianist has a nice touch. They are laying back nicely and not getting tripped up by the slow tempo. Good band. Wow, really nice clarinet sound (and I LOATHE the instrument). Nice. Doesn't get greedy, hits the bridge instead of dragging the solo into March. Don't know who it is, but these guys are for real. **** Track 10 - No clue. Another one that work as a soundtrack, but as far as a spin, I don't care for this at all. It's a style, just not one I'm into. Hmm... this wouldn't be those semi-famous brothers who were very popular in the late 70s/early 80s for their band? Sounds like Randy on trumpet, but the sax doesn't sound like the other brother. Absolutely nothing in this composition for me. Egad. Just looked and there's quite a stretch to go, yet. Maceo is about the only guy I can deal with playing this stuff. GET OFF MY LAWN! I'm so wanting him to DO something with that one note. Just commit and give me, "The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire!" [note: I realize this was likely recorded well before that] **1/2 You know, there were several on here I really dug! #commonground Here's an obnoxiously long cover of Pick Up The Pieces by the Phil Collins Big Band. It's WAY stiffer than that sounds, however, if you have 22 minutes to kill, I say it's worth it for James Carter at the end. Dan, I'll save you the 22 minutes, you'll hate it.

I would put to them that it's their mistake, that you are doing them a solid by offering to return the stuff, that they need to take responsibility for the cost and logistics of the arrangements if they want it back, and that you need a solution in x number of days.

Here's another album which, judging from the Youtube page, might have been released via CDBaby:

Pee Wee Russell “Portrait of Pee Wee” Counterpoint/DCC cd. Steve Hoffman and. DCC did a good job with this, and they chose perhaps the best sounding Pee Wee recording to work with so that helped. What a band! I’m a huge Pee Wee Russell fan. 297×300 6.8 KB Bass – Charlie Potter Clarinet – Pee Wee Russell Drums – Karl Kiffe Piano, Arranged By – Nat Pierce Tenor Saxophone – Bud Freeman Trombone – Vic Dickenson Trumpet – Ruby Braff

Maybe advise them it's available any time they want to pick it up!

Yep. It's a magnificent record. The pairing of Hutcherson & Hancock is something special. NP:

For the completists The Savory collection has a few recordings with Ellington unknown at the time. And unavailable if they had known. They are from Carnegie Hall. My notes are sketchy. Among the tunes are Happy Go Lucky Local, Improvisation 1, Honeysuckle rose (14:33) and iirc Happy Go Lucky Local, Improvisation 2, Honeysuckle rose (14:35). There were concerts 23th and 24th November 1946.

I stopped by FedEx today and learned it would cost nearly $290 to return this duplicate order to this French label. Looks like I am stuck with them at their expense. I am not risking the combination of the USPS and French mail at my expense.

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Who you jiving with that Cosmik Debris?

Well color me disappointed that Bellinger is re-signing with the Yankees but it did become pretty much a done deal once the other dominos fell and the Mets made their trade yesterday for a new CF. Would have enjoyed the Yankees suffering a little subtraction. Their bigger issue has to be the pitching staff with the number of guys not being ready for the start of the season due to surgeries. And can you be sure of performance afterwards? I wonder if Framber ends up in the Bronx and the last major free agent still out there. BTW apparently Fangraphs loves the Red Sox starters by Wins Above Replacement.

Duke Ellington And His Orchestra With Django Reinhardt: Chicago Civic Opera House Concert, November 10, 1946. Prima DC. 01 & 02 [France 1974]

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This was recorded in the same year as Dorham's Blue Note "Una Mas" date. Kenny sounds very good here.

On the Dusty Groove site alone (all because the spellings on the releases themselves) — sometimes he’s Rickey, sometimes Ricky (no ‘e’) — and I think I’ve occasionally seen Rick.

All those people were born in the same century I was🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Anything with Charles Tyler is exceptional, worth hearing, and if Earl Cross is there, even better. I am fortunate to have recordings from ny 1974, utrecht moers paris 1977. There's an astonishing duo with Steve Reid 1980, besides much more. Charles at the Knitting Factory in 1990. Even a cassette he sent me from his New Ensemble in France the same year. I could never do him justice on homeboy music, but no-one else seems interested. Re-releases are wonderful, tho I personally favour cd technology. But there is so much music still hidden, practically lost, beside the floods on youtube