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$28

I enjoy collecting vinyl. Yes, it is fun to rummage around in the stacks and discover something. I also still buy and listen to CDs. Mostly, I listen to CDs in the car and vinyl at home. When I rediscovered vinyl in 2019, I went a little crazy and bought Tone Poets of albums I have om cd. I no longer do that and try not duplicate what I have on cd. I also hardly buy new vinyl; it’s just too expensive. There’s a new company called Gammaut that is re-issuing the Mode catalogue at $50. Many seem to think it’s an ok price (shipping included) but I guess I’m frugal. The only new vinyl I purchased lately is the second Sinatra Tone Poets and that was definitely worth it. Mostly I purchased used albums and barely ever pay more than $20. I’ve been frequenting Whatnot and found some really good records.

Yes that is right. I really mean those later 1970s and early 1980s records that are everywhere. Interesting that despite the excitement around Japanese jazz on many parts of the Internet (Reddit runs on prestige Japanese jazz reissues), Watanabe isn't part of it. One assumes that they must have sold well to be so widely available. I find it really strange. Watanabe is not even mentioned as a major commercial jazz figure. The only equivalent I can think of Herbie Mann, who is similarly under-referenced and oversupplied. But Mann is obviously a bit of a quirky subject who dabbled everywhere, whereas Watanabe is more purely jazz, even if commercial. I don't get the reference. Did he do an album with this name?

those nice albums are unfortunately not the one's mentioned in the initial post... the albums that are all over the used bins seems to be a different type of j-jazz, and I doubt they are much in demand, they are mainly much in supply, all over the world... such as these two: https://www.discogs.com/master/229016-Sadao-Watanabe-Hows-Everything https://www.discogs.com/master/333825-Sadao-Watanabe-渡辺貞夫-Orange-Express-オレンジエクスプレス indeed, those records are everywhere but nobody ever talks about having listened to them...

Oh, I like Watanabe quite a bit, up to a point (mid-70s). The stuff on Takt and CBS is really, really good imo, not to mention the dates with Mariano (Victor, Takt). He was obviously a big seller for a time and had studied at Berklee, so he had the American connection and was hot on the festival circuit.

The tune I really liked was "For RJ", where Reeves plays the cello instead of a bass. It gives the music a lighter feel.

Don Friedman.

I quite enjoy it as well. Excellent tunes selection!

"What a knob, eh?" is what British people say when they don't like you.

Philip Catherine - Cote Jardin (Baseline)

AFAICT, "Japanese jazz" is really hot these days, right up there with "spiritual jazz". I follow the "Coming Soon" page at The Bastards, and that's often loaded with Japanese releases. As one of the biggest names, Sadao Watanabe may be riding that wave. His 3 albums with Charlie Mariano are the ones I most often listen to.

I'd hazard a guess that it's mainly his albums on CBS and Elektra, and those probably got excellent worldwide distribution. His wiki page is pretty interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadao_Watanabe_(musician)

Here is another: https://www.discogs.com/release/3055240-Jimmy-Rowles-The-Special-Magic-Of

"...But softly As the tune comes from his throat Trouble Mellows to a golden note..." Trumpet Player, Langston Hughes. Thank you, today and always, to all jazz musicians. Thank you to everyone who keeps the music playing. Thank you for making us so happy. Thank you for being one of my last bastions, in this disgusting and crude world. Thank you for being a beacon in the darkest hours. Thank you for seeking beauty. Thank you, today and always.

RIP 😔

Based on this, I can move beyond the SQ and dig the music. Still, I am apt to go small versus the 68 disc set 😃

Eddie Condon “Jazz As it Should be Played” Jazzology cd Some well-lubricated jazz featuring George Brunis, Wild Bill Davidson and Don Ewell.

Can anyone please explain to me why, no matter where one goes on the planet, Sadao Watanabe's records are everywhere? Singapore, Minneapolis, Guildford. The second hand jazz section always has some 'Nabe. He doesn't seem particularly popular now and hasn't received big name high gloss re-releases (even at a time when every other jazz or fusion artist from Japan is all over Instagram). I'm not sure I ever see him talked about, either artistically or as a historic commercial phenomenon. Was he really massive? What was the USP? There seems to be more second hand Watanabe stock than Chuck Mangione or Grover Washington combined, so I can only assume he was a very substantial seller.

Cold, soggy morning again. Up early due to an appointment, starting off with a nice Randy Weston trio session. Randy Weston “Get Happy” Riverside/OJC cd

Amazon has surprisingly good prices on the Zev RSD CD's. I ordered the Henderson, Jamal, Cecil, Lateef, plus the Terry Callier. All due in between tomorrow and Sunday.