Stereojack

Richard Speck Benjamin Spock Leonard Nimoy

Curtis LeMay Dorothy LeMay Elaine May

Cees Slinger Corporal Max Klinger Colonel Klink

Rolf Harris Jonathan Harris Billy Mumy

Tiny Kahn Khan Jamal Jamal Wilkes

Goldy McJohn Dennis Edmonton Mars Bonfire

Prince Lasha Lash LaRue Larue Brown (Clifford's widow)

Recorded live at P. J.'s, according to what's printed across the cover.

Jolly Green Giant Pillsbury Doughboy Aunt Jemima

Ernie Bilko Dwayne Doberman Keith Olbermann

I have the LP. It's on Emerald Records, distributed by Phil Spector's Philles label, although Spector did not have a hand in producing the record. Producer credits go to Gary S. Paxton and Kessel. It's a pretty good straight ahead session, perhaps not up to the level of some of his Contemporary albums, but well worth having. Here's a little more info on the Emerald label: http://www.bsnpubs.com/la/emerald.html

John Ireland Howard Wales Ernie Englund

Frederica von Stade Von Freeman Stan Free

Mississippi Fred McDowell Dow Jones Average Joe

Anne Meara Jerry Stiller Mike Stoller

Beverly D'Angelo John D'Angelico Anjelica Huston

Yes, with Oliver Johnson on drums. I like the session OK. It's not a great recording, but Dexter is in pretty good form. I got my info from Stan Britt's bio-discography. He also suggests that the music may have been recorded in 1969.

This live date is believed to have been recorded in August, 1970 at the Both/And Club in San Francisco, and this record is certainly a bootleg release, even though it's on Chiaroscuro, usually a legit label. The title track is actually "Fried Bananas". Whoever supplied the titles for this and a companion release on Everest was probably not terribly familiar with Dexter's music.

Diana Muldaur Rosalind Shays Dorothy Shay, the Park Avenue Hillbilly

1. “Kansas City Kitty” Here’s a modern revival band (French, I assume) attempting to recreate the sound of “hot dance” bands like Jean Goldkette, et al. A spirited brass section. Why are the breakdowns included? How drunk are they? 2. Interesting – guitar with footstomps. I like this, but really haven’t got a clue who it is. 3. “Sweet Sue – Just You” . My first thought is Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli, but I’m not hearing any of the Django characteristics, so maybe it’s Oscar Aleman? Alix Combelle on tenor? 4. “Runnin’ Wild” A skillful swing violinist. Judging from the sound, this is a relatively recent recording. Is this what they call “gypsy jazz”? 5. Billy Strayhorn’s “Day Dream”. Absolutely lovely, my favorite track on this disc. The trombonist reminds me of J.J. Johnson – the warm vibrato-less tone, clean articulation. Joe Pass on guitar? Five stars! 6. A very pretty bossa nova. What’s the tune – “Once I Loved”? Bud Shank & Chet Baker, perhaps. 7. This is an old Gerry Mulligan tune from the early 50’s, can’t recall the title. No clue who’s playing this. I like the bari, the vocalist (or perhaps everyone) is probably European. 8. Here we have a hotter, more boppish bossa nova with a good piano intro. The trumpet in places reminds me of Art Farmer, but I don’t think it’s him. Also like the alto. A nice track. 9. It’ll take me until April to remember who’s playing here. I think this may be Stephane Grappelli, probably recorded in the 70’s. Kenny Drew on piano? 10. Do I detect a bit of an accent in the vocalist? Things get better once the singer stops. No idea who this is. 11. More bossa nova! Now this may actually be Art Farmer, playing flugelhorn, or is that a flumpet? 12. This disc is certainly giving us a selection of soft-toned trumpeters! Can’t think of anything to say about this. 13. This has to be Zoot, overdubbed! I thought I had every Zoot record, but can’t place this. Sweet!! 14. “I’ll See You Again”. Somebody take that ukelele and smash it! Actually, I like the tune, always have, but this version is just a little too cute. Another mixed bag, with a couple of real gems here. Thanks!

1. This starts out sounding like the Beau Hunks, the band that recreated the Little Rascals music, but once the solos begin, it appears to be something else. Don’t know what. 2. Fleet-fingered pianist. Can’t really get much of a handle on this one. 3. Reminds me of “Giant Steps” a little. Like the last track, it starts off on one plane and stays there. Clever, but ultimately not too engaging. No clues. 4. “Time After Time”, a tune I’ve always liked. I like the trumpet, nice gentle approach. The guitarist’s tone isn’t my favorite – maybe Jack Wilkins? 5. I think this might be Charlie Mariano. A few years ago he made a couple of “standards” albums, and he sounded a tad rusty, as does this guy. Actually, if this is a standard, I don’t recognize it. Nice pianist. 6. I feel like I ought to know who this is. The alto isn’t killing me. 7. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 8. I think this may be an older recording – nice bebop piano. Good drummer. For some reason, I’m thinking West Coast – Hampton Hawes, possibly, or Claude Williamson, or perhaps Lou Levy. Very nice. 9. I found this performance of “Rhythm-a-ning” a little too clever for it’s own good. Well rehearsed, but just too slick and cute. 10. A Bird tune – “Barbados”? This might be Frank Morgan on alto, and a fine pianist, maybe George Cables. Like the pianist a lot, less fond of the alto. 11. I think this may be Don Ellis – it’s in a tricky time signature, and the electronics are not unlike what I might expect from him. I enjoyed this stuff back when it was new, but don’t really find it all that interesting today. 12. “What Is This Thing Called Love”, with a snippet of its counterpart “Hot House” thrown in. Nice trumpet player – Conte Candoli? Bobby Shew? 13. Lee Konitz, I’m pretty sure. It’s funny, in recent years, Konitz can sound great, and at other times he sounds like he hasn’t picked up the horn in a while. This is one of the latter. Still, this laid-back rendition of “Cherokee” demonstrates that Lee is never on automatic pilot, is always trying to keep it fresh, and for that I applaud him. Konitz has recorded so prolifically in recent years, the pianist could be one of a number of people, but I’m gonna guess Harold Danko. 14. Spike Jones lives!

Austin Crowe Walter Pidgeon Christopher Robin

Trixie Ralph Kramden Marshall Cram

Esmond Edwards was one of the unsung heroes of the jazz record business. Many great sessions, and so many fine album covers. RIP.

Wilt Chamberlain Talia Shire Adrian