Justin V

I've seen Rava once with his Tribe group but never Bollani, who is also brilliant.

I saw the small-group part of a Kenn Cox tribute a few years ago in Detroit. I couldn't see the whole set because I had to be at another stage, but bassist Ron Brooks still sounded great. I'd like to see him again.

Gary Bartz is 80 today. Here's wishing him a happy birthday. I'll spin some of his music this weekend.

I thought it'd be fun to list albums that, given your tastes, collection and the album's availability, you should already own. It could give some of us the nudge to finally close some gaps. In my case, Andrew Hill's Point of Departure stands out. I own every Andrew Hill Blue Note aside from Point of Departure and Compulsion!!!!!. I think that when I bought most of my Hill albums, I was focused on finding the OOP titles and figured that Point of Departure would be around.

Such a great band on this one.

The All Mornin' Long/Soul Junction sides.

Eddie Gladden was a monster. I wish that Herbert Morgan had recorded as a leader.

This is the first time I haven't listened to this one at night. It is a nice way to ease into the weekend. When it ended, I decided to play it again.

David Friesen - The Name of a Woman

I am intrigued. It is probably my tiny phone playing tricks on me rather than an actual resemblance, but the cover looks like someone inserted Count Basie behind the drums

The 1968 date. I purchased this mainly to get the track that wasn't on the Jazz Icons DVD of the 1969 set. I'm glad I did. Smith hits this spooky, Middle Eastern groove on the second half of 'Sunny' that is unbelievable.

An Italian band with two American ringers in Kenny Barron and Herlin Riley.

Ohio. Regarding restaurants, we have done takeout. Being a vegan (me)/vegetarian (my wife and daughter) household, I'm thankful that our go-to restaurants have avoided permanent closure. Although I am in no hurry to resume in-person dining, we are trying to support places as much as is financially prudent.

Get well soon, Brad! I still feel like my wife and I are living on another planet. She took our car to a mechanic who is a family friend in our hometown. She said that she felt like she was getting weird looks walking into a garage of unmasked men. While she was gone, I talked to someone who believed that hospitals are falsely attributing deaths to COVID to receive more money, as heard from a friend who is in healthcare. My wife, who is also in healthcare, was aghast at that claim (as was I). It is one thing to hear a politician claiming this for self-serving reasons, but to hear someone else parrot it is scary.

Chip White - Music and Lyrics: I was reminded today to pull this one out upon learning of White's death last month. I haven't listened to it much over the years, but I am enjoying it; it's a shame that it took his passing to revisit it. A drummer/poet who writes several albums of music and lyrics is a rare breed. He brought in some heavy hitters for his recordings, too.

Weed was based out of Michigan for years before he passed away in 2018. I only saw him once, with bassist Tom Knific. This album dates from Weed's time in LA and was released on Vinny Golia's label. He is joined by Ken Filiano, Billy Mintz and Joe LaBarbera.

This is a bittersweet listen. The last time I saw Larry Willis play, I talked to him and said that he should come back and do a solo concert. He said that we'd see what the future held. 4 months later, he passed away.

I saw him once here in Cleveland and he was incredible. Between sets, his assistant sold CDs and got people lined up to meet and sit with Ira. Ira and I chatted a bit (I asked about Jaco) and he signed the copy of Blue Stroll that I had just bought, telling me about picking up the peck horn during the session. Before I left him, I asked if he might be willing to play 'I Waited for You'. I very rarely ever request songs, so I don't know what inspired me to ask Ira to play that beautiful ballad other than having an inkling that he would know it. During the next set, he asked the band if they knew it and they didn't. Ira says on the microphone, "Where's Justin? He asked for a tune, but the band doesn't know it. He likes the tune and so do I, so I am going to play it anyway." I was on cloud nine as Ira launched into it unaccompanied, wrapping the melody in his gorgeous soprano sound as the band eventually joined in behind him. I'll always treasure the memory of that night. Thank you for the music, Mr. Sullivan, and rest in peace.

Disc 1 Up next: I forgot that it was Slide Hampton on trombone. I actually assumed it was Steve Davis, who has popped up everywhere during his career.