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A former executive reminisces. Not the product of research and investigation.

Elroy Face has died at 97. RIP. I read a book about pitching not too long ago, and it said that to throw a forkball one must have unusually large hands. I had his bubble gum card in 1960.

There are a multitude of "boutique" labels abounding in the "jazz" realm, some with a long history (Ogun, Emanem & Incus: all UK based initially) - the labels really took off with the advent of CDs (Evan Parker wrote about this years back) - more compact/mobile (cheaper shipping costs) products. Some of my fav "boutique" labels include No Business (Lithuania) - archives series is outstanding (Sam Rivers, Oliver Lake etc) Fundacja Sluchaj (Listen Foundation) - impressive run of Cecil Taylor releases Not Two (Poland) - lots of Vandermark plus Brit/Euro free/improv Nimbus West & Dark Tree - Tapscott galore Jazz In Britain (been a subscriber since inception) & British Progressive Jazz False Walls (UK) - impressive recent UK label Triple Point (exxy LP's ony) Okkadisk, Atavistic Corbett vs Dempsey Burning Ambulance Leo (UK) Leo Feigin's label focusing on Russian/Eastern European jazz Recommended/ReR Megacorp - Chris Cutler's label

Free Agent analyses https://www.cfl.ca/2026/02/13/which-team-made-the-biggest-splash-in-free-agency/ https://www.cfl.ca/2026/02/13/5-big-play-free-agent-receivers-still-available/ https://www.cfl.ca/2026/02/13/9-sneaky-good-free-agency-signings/ ***** Dionte Ruffin has signed with BC. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/02/13/lions-sign-defensive-back-dionte-ruffin/ https://3downnation.com/2026/02/13/b-c-lions-sign-former-montreal-alouettes-starter-dionte-ruffin/ ***** The Elks have let go Martez Ivey. https://www.cfl.ca/2026/02/13/elks-release-offensive-lineman-martez-ivey/ https://3downnation.com/2026/02/13/edmonton-elks-release-former-all-cfl-west-division-selection-martez-ivey/ ***** Sask analysis https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/piffles-top-5-questions-for-the-riders-after-free-agency/

Abdullah Ibrahim's Bombella is an outstanding record with WDR.

Tom Harrell “First Impressions” High Note cd Yet another great Tom Harrell release on High Note. Arranged By – Tom Harrell Bass – Ugonna Okegwo Cello – Rubin Kodheli Drums – Johnathan Blake Flute, Bass Flute – Charles Pillow Guitar – Rale Micic Piano – Danny Grissett Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Escoffery Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Tom Harrell Violin – Meg Okura Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, NY on April 8, 2013 except track 7 recorded at Water Music Recording Studio, Hoboken, NJ on May 13, 2013.

I dug this off the shelves after reading the comments and once I made it past the second track Downtown (where I had previously given up) it improves and is a minor gem. Beautiful. The Japanese CD sounds great.

I saw the same group. Others can describe Roach's firey personality, but I'm sure none would deny his intellect and style.

👍+ 👍

I bought this one after seeing Max Roach with Cecil Bridgwater, Billy Harper, Reggie Workman. I don´t know about flaws of Max Roach. To me he seemed the ultimate gentleman ! He had something aristocratic, very stily, very educated.....

Now: Earlier:

The WDR Big Band is one of the top european big band . Its a radion employed orchestra and has good financial sources for the members. Have followed the weekly radio broadcasts from the early 1980s on and have about several hundred files from their FM radio concerts with great US and european soloists. The band had no regular drummer during the 1980s so there was a regular collaboration for example with Mel Lews (he is quoted: the WDR BB is my second orchestra). In addition Bill Holman preferred to present his own compositions and suites the first time for an public auditorium here in Cologne at various places rather than in the US. Many famous US stars were featured in these public concerts. Also the leaders for these public concerts changed very often. Bill Holman was one of them. Radio WDR had offered a software "radiorecorder" for the fans of the band to record these events for free and private use (burn your own CDrs, what i did also. Here is an example : https://up.picr.de/50579005at.jpg

That's wonderful, @scooter_phx!!! Sounds like we both got lucky with our spouses.

30th-freaking-anniversary… how time slips away! 😢

Kathleen Edwards: Billionaire

Thundercat's 'Bus in These Streets' (chords would wig-out Clare Fischer).