Ron S

What is he, in pain? Looks like he's moaning or something. Of course, I'm sure he would never make any noises that would distract from his playing.

It already has (albeit sealed).

Congratulations! Looks like someone in my own hometown is selling it. You'll hear when you get it: it was worth getting up early for.

If you haven't already done so, I would strongly recommend that you pick up the other 4 Black Hawk volumes. I happen to be running through these again this weekend and--as you probably can tell from volume 1--the playing and the sound are just extraordinary. They're not redundant at all, and easily sustain one's interest throughout all 5 discs. Many of the tracks run well in excess of 10 minutes as the guys really get a chance to stretch out. A couple of the tracks approach 20 minutes ("Vamp's Blues" on Vol. 2--19:49, "Black Hawk Blues" on Vol. 3--18:12). The 2 Manne-Hole discs are also good: similar to the Black Hawk recordings and just a notch below, but still well worth getting. If you want to hear Shelly with a bit more space around him, I'd recommend the "and his Friends" trio dates (including "My Fair Lady"), and the several "Poll Winners" recordings with Barney Kessel and Ray Brown.

Hell, I'm ready to preorder it NOW. And I'm sure many others on this Board--and elsewhere--would do the same. And if Norman Lear wanted to do one of his socially-responsible feel-good things, he could donate part of the proceeds from sales of the set to some sort of Katrina relief focused on the jazz commnunity.

It happens to be one I already have, and it's great.

Damn, Chris--this really does cry out for Mosaic-like box-set treatment with a phenomenal booklet. Fantasy seems to have been successful doing it with the Tatum sessions--Concord should have them do it now with these, with your involvement.

Well, some people's brains may still be evolving, but clearly many others' are devolving.

Gee, I think I'll preorder these on Monday.

. . . or maybe I'm just a GIRLY-MAN who never PUMPS my system UP.

I'll have to go back and listen to the Sony box again. Maybe the sound is not as good as I remember? Or, more likely, Hans' and Lon's (reminds me of the Kevin Nealon/Dana Carvey characters) audiophile equipment is significantly more demanding than my crappy little system.

I have the Sony box ("The Genius of Electric Guitar"): The selection is great (including alternates and some neat rehearsal tracks), the sound is--for the most part--great, and the booklet is well-done. But BEWARE, the packaging SUCKS. As is well documented, the CD's are placed directly into slits cut into a block of foam rubber, which practically guarantees that residue gets all over them and potentially screws up how they play. But not to worry, all you have to do is call the toll-free customer service number Sony provides in the booklet, and they'll replace the CD's with brand new ones. Needless to say, you'll then want to store them in jewel cases.

Parlan's high on my list, especially when it becomes endangered. That goes for Hodges, also.

They DO both have Texas connections. Then again, so do YOU. And so do I. Damn, maybe Oliver Stone was on to something.

And even if it doesn't work on your feet, it'll still be a terrific salad dressing.

(The music on this also really makes me smile. )

Looks like Woody Harrelson beat you to it:

Actually, I have been in one. A very bad, very low-budget, mostly improvised indie video that some friends made for entry in a video festival. I had a small role as a beer-drinking, cigarette smoking, flannel shirt, gimme cap-wearing redneck named Tick. Much like Dexter Gordon in "Round Midnight", the question of how much of it was really acting came up more than once... ← An inauspicious beginning to a great career. Sounds like you're ready for a featured role in the inevitable remake of "Deliverance" (maybe dueling saxes this time?).

I think he's standing in line, waiting to be interviewed for the FEMA opening. ← But does he have the requisite experience? I mean, did he have the right internship in college?

You know, Chris, they have all sorts of new ointments for treating Athlete's Foot like that.

I vote for Jim Sangry. And don't ask me why. I just do.

You need to jump on this like a young rabbit! ← You mean like:

And WHY NOT???? Waiting for the version on caiman???? ← The Caiman 60%-off deal on Mosaics only comes once in a lifetime. -_-

Just like that Basie Clef/Verve deal, huh? If I get both the Mosaic catalog AND the True Blue Catalog, I'm in.

My next is the Grant Green "Ballads" comp CD from Blue Note: I already have a boatload of Grant Green CD's, but figured it would be nice to have these sides on one disc for mellow listening times.