AllenLowe

I love her work, pre-1950s - at which time the vibrato turned, unfortunately, into some something akin to Oscar Levant's comment about Judy Garland: "A vibrato in search of a voice." but she WAS one of the most perfect of singers.

I saw the late Mingus band, through the 1970s, on a number of occasions - with the exception of Neloms and maybe Pullen I just did not find the band inspiring - all great players, but something was missing at this stage. Walrath was inconsistent, Ricky Ford boring, George Adams a little tiresome, Pullen fine but in the wrong group, Neloms great when he had the chance. So I have to admit I did not pay a lot of attention to the recordings. Will have to go back and hear Changes 1.

not sure what it has to do with anything, but I used to play with a Western Swing band and the leader complained that I didn't own any cowboy shirts.

anybody mention Cumbia Jazz Fusion? I remember being amazed by it.

I'm pretty certain that Barry Harris still lives there - or at least I thought so - hmmmmmmmmm...

yeah I agree, there's enough anyway, including a near-fatal overdose. I also think the last days at Nica may be a little different than the way its recounted in the bio - Barry Harris used to tell me that when he lived with Monk at the time, Monk would start a conversation and then pick it up in the exact same place months later. Kelley downplays this aspect, for one reason or another. Also, just to meniton, a few days after Monk died Barry was booked at the Angry Squire (a club on 23rd St and 7th) and I was there and he did nothing but Monk tunes, it was quite an amazing night. another thing I would note is that Kelley mentions the Central Park concert where Monk opened for Miles Davis (1969?). He quotes someone as saying how well Monk played - well, I was there, and Monk barely played; it was a weird evening, he seemed basically comatose. great book, though; I also remember the night Monk and Mingus came to Bradley's (not sure if they were together) in 1974 or 1975 to hear Jaki Byard; Kelley refers to this somewhere, I think; it was an odd night; Monk lurched around the place and kept up a conversation with Byard, who kept playing his tunes and laughing. This was quite a convergence of talent, and just makes me sad at how many of those guys have left us -

just to add (or subtract); Eric Dolphy playing Stormy Weather on Mingus Presents Mingus is the most glorious saxophone performance in the history of music. When I was just a wee boy I listened to it over and over and over.

don't worry - I'm making this up as I go - or, as Yogi Berra said, "they shoulda wrote what I meant, not what I said."

"What does beautifully produced have to do with anything? Sucky music can be done "just right", but it's still never gonna be more than sucky music. OK?" right, Jetboy, but it's not sucky music. It's beautiful melodies beautifully sung.

Mo Tucker sucks and she nearly ruins the live sessions issued on Mercury. Neither Reed nor Cale were amateurs, to my way of thinking, in ability or in terms of experience.

by the way, fortunately for me, the dictionary contains an interesting extension of the definition for "session" : "a series or period of such meetings"

I recently listened to Tijuana Moods for the first time years - and was very disappointed. It doesn't really hold together that well.

in that era, a session was for a single album - the idea of spreading it around happened only in the real reissue age, which started some years later.

as I recall, at the time 2 albums were issued on Candid - and then later, lots of reissues, including the Eldridge and/or Rebels sessions. could be wrong.

album=session in the pre-CD, LP age

there are only 2 real Candid albums - other stuff released, but only two formal LPs -

the Beach Boys at their best were beautifully and artfully produced - really a studio band, in my opinion. Pet Sounds, of course, by legend, but also the later album with Wind Chimes, can't think of the title. To me they showed how a rotten inspiration (the Four Freshman) could be turned into something great. A real sonics band, all texture - that's what I think is important about them - unfortunately, sorry Chewy, but Pacific Ocean Blues is AWFUL - my favorite Beach Boys story - someone asked their mother years later what she remembered about Dennis' friend Charles Manson; she said: "Charlie? Oh, Charlie, he had such a nice smile..."

Blues and Roots - Atlantic and both Candid sessions. get those two and you can die happy. They are amazing.

the audio quality goes from good to bootleg, though all listenable. ahh, the Hoffman forum. Sorry, not in the mood to be escorted from the building AGAIN this week -

I interpret Jsngry to mean that he understands the small emotional epiphanies of Wiley's music but feels her emotions cut too close to the bone to let others in.

thanks for that - the passages in the book about Monk encountering Bud Powell after Bud has moved to Europe are just incredibly heart breaking - the obvious love between them, Monk's solicitousness toward Bud, the sadness of the reunions as Bud slips more and more away. just amazing. Those two musicians represent so much more than I can ever express.

I gotta admit that, though I love that era of music, the MC5 just don't do it for me. A lot of motion, not much real excitement. that oughta convince somebody to buy it -

thanks for helping me make the sale - personally I like the Rationals.

3 cds, "live" in 1968 and 1970, MC 5 $12 shipped in the US of A. My paypal is alowe5@maine.rr.com

about 20 years ago a friend of mine was getting married near Detroit, and I asked Bob Neloms about a band - Bob not only played at the wedding, but brought Marcus Belgrave with him. Good wedding band.