Stereojack

Absolutely!! Zoot always came to play. I can't think of a bad album. As wonderful as his 1950's stuff is, and I have it all, I think he actually kept getting better as he got older. The breeziness of his earlier style is enhanced as his tone deepened. Most of my favorites have already been named. I especially like: All the the Pablo albums, especially the ones with Jimmy Rowles "Zoot Sims' Party" (Choice) "Zoot" (Argo), with the fantastic Gus Johnson on drums. It was included on the Chess CD "That Old Feeling" "Zoot at Ease" (Famous Door) reissued on Mobile Fidelity CD "Nirvana" with Buddy Rich (Groove Merchant) reissued on a multitude of labels, including Denon. This is a superb session. "Elegiac" (Storyville) with Bucky Pizzarelli. Why don't I just list them all?

1. I wonder if this may have been recorded around the time of Monk’s death in the early 1980’s. Don’t know the tenor player, I find his sound a little strident. Mal Waldron on piano, maybe? 2. I like this. The tune is familiar, I’m sure I’ve heard it before. Richie Beirach, possibly? 3. Gary Burton, for sure. Might this be a Mike Gibbs tune? It sounds like early Burton, probably on RCA. There was a compilation called “3 In Jazz” that, if I recall correctly, had a few tracks with Jack Sheldon. Perhaps this is from that LP? 4. My first thought was Sonny Rollins, and this tenor player certainly owes a lot to Sonny. Possibly Lou Tabackin or Bennie Wallace? The tune is “I Remember Clifford”, of course. 5. “The Nearness of You”, a lovely tune. Can’t say much for the trombone player, a little gruff where tenderness is called for. 6. I’m sorry, this just leaves me cold. 7. I’m pretty sure the alto is Phil Woods, and this may be his composition. Can’t name any of the other players. The bari player has got a little Gerry Mulligan in him – Gene Allen, possibly? Eddie Costa on vibes? Can’t get a handle on the trumpet, in places the bone recalls Willie Dennis. A nice, lightly swinging track. 8. The weird stereo on this suggests it was recorded in the late 50’s or early 60’s, possibly for Riverside. The label recorded a few obscure pianists (Dick Morgan, Evans Bradshaw, Roosevelt Wardell, etc). Am I on the right track? Nice drummer. 9. At first I thought Jimmy Raney, but this seems a little “out” for Jimmy, although this guitarist has certainly listened to a lot of Jimmy. Atilla Zoller maybe, with Don Friedman on piano? Very nice. 10. “Brotherhood of Man”. Clark Terry, unmistakeable! This is, I think, from a jazz version of a broadway show, but I can’t remember which show this comes from. Probably Kenny Burrell on guitar. Some nice solo work – not crazy about the arrangement. 11. Nice trombones, would like to have heard more from them. Pianist seems to be featured here – might he be the leader? Awfully short. 12. Good playing from everybody here. I’m gonna guess the two most likely candidates for accordion – Art Van Damme or Mat Mathews. The first time I heard this, I thought the bari player sounded like Al Cohn – is that possible? I’m sure the trumpet is a name I know, but nobody comes to mind. Likewise the guitar. 13. Pure shlock, played by some fine musicians. The tune is “Petite Fleur”, I’m pretty sure. Bud Shank made a series of records like this in the 60’s; this could be him. And might this be Chet Baker on trumpet? 14. Modern big band – Gerald Wilson, possibly? Kind of a tinny recording. The tenor runs out of ideas some time before his solo ends. 15. This more like it – a ballsy big band, a nice punchy recording! Solid alto! The alto is good, but it’s the drummer who grabs my attention all through. The tenor is OK, not outstanding. Again, I’m reminded of Lou Tabackin, for some reason. 16. This woman can’t sing. Take it off!

Both Tatum Pablo boxes are rechanneled (fake) stereo. When these sessions were first reissued on Pablo in the mid-70's, they were rechanneled, which was not uncommon at the time, but it surprises me that Fantasy would have perpetuated this travesty when they put together the CD sets years later. I wonder if the original mono tapes are lost?

This seller is a f**king dreamer! And the jacket looks pretty hacked.

Barack Obama Alabama Watson Mississippi Fred McDowell

Solomon Ilori Laurie Anderson Anderson Cooper

Rolf Harris Captain Kangaroo Eyvind Kang

I was a little daunted by the technology, but I now have both discs downloaded and burned to CD. Will begin listening tomorrow morning and hope to check in with some comments in a few days.

A happy one and many more, Marty!!

Diane Keaton Keter Betts Carl Betz

Rutherford B. Hayes Hayes Alvis Alvis Edwards

Totie Fields Tutti Camarata Toots Mondello

Andrew "Goon" Gardner Hy Gardner Hy Lit

Here's looking at you, kid.

Pappy Daily Tyne Daly Tiny Bradshaw

Gunther Toody Francis Muldoon Gary Mule Deer

Thomas Alva Edison Alvy West Alvy Singer

These were legitimately licensed to Applause in the early 80's when Blue Note was dormant. Capitol revived the Blue Note label around 1986.

Parker Posey Fuentes, Daisy Adrian, Iris

Mr. Greenjeans Lumpy Brannum Lumpy Rutherford

Doesn't Billy sing on Donald Byrd's "Slow Drag"? He sings also on a track of Anthony Cox' "Dark Metals" (Minor Music, 1991, w/Dewey Redman). And I think he sings also on the recent ECM duo album with Charles Lloyd. I stand corrected.

Freddie Freeloader Clem Kadiddlehopper Cauliflower McPugg

Chewy is right. I have the single and the LP. Apparently the album was scheduled to be issued as PJ-11 and titled "Teddy's New Flat", but must have been changed to PJ-14 "Sunset Eyes" by the time it was released. Interestingly, the B-side of the single "Me and My Lover" was not included on the LP, and is, I believe, the only vocal recorded by Billy Higgins.

Switch is a very easy to handle conversion tool. Thanks, Mike.

This is a big one.