Stereojack

I'll second the recommendations for "The Warm Sound" (Epic/Koch) "New Morning" (Criss Cross) While I like the Blue Note album, I think it displays less of Johnny's unique personality than these two dates. I saw Johnny Coles as a featured soloist with the Ray Charles band in 1970.

I bought this back when it came out, when I was just beginning to explore modern jazz in my late teens. Loved it then & still love it now. Eventually replaced it with the Mosaic box. Desmond & Hall are one of those magical musical collaborations.

John Handy Shafi Hadi John Shaft

I'm chimin' in a little late here, but I agree that this would make a fine box, as previous reissues have been spotty. I do have a few comments about several of the records, all of which I've owned for years. "Who is Gary Burton?" There's some fine playing on this one, although it seems a little unrehearsed, and the LP is a little unclear as to who's playing on what. "The Time Machine" Burton's "experimental" album, with overdubs. Nice in places, but it doesn't all work for me. Criticisms that Burton can be "mechanical" or perhaps not spontaneous enough can easily be levelled at this one. "Something's Coming" A superb and overlooked set, perhaps due to its rariity. Jim Hall is on board. "Tennessee Firebird" A noble attempt to fuse country and jazz, but it doesn't come off completely. "Duster" A classic and seminal album. I saw this group live at the time, and they were smokin'. "Lofty Fake Anagram" & "In Concert" Less compelling than "Duster", perhaps because the drum chair is occupied by Bobby Moses, not Roy Haynes (a personal preference, of course). Still pretty good, though. "A Genuine Tong Funeral" This is really a Carla Bley album on which Burton is featured, but no doubt Burton's deal with RCA is what got it made. "Country Roads" This is Burton's masterpiece, far and away my favorite Burton record, and his last for RCA.

My pleasure, as always. I just took a look at the contents of your previous BFT 2nd disc, and yes, that would've presented a challenge, but one I would have relished! I am familiar with most of it, but wonder just how well I would have done in identifying the tracks. It's one thing to claim ignorance when it's music you don't like, but it's doubly frustrating to hear familiar music and still fail to identify it. Fwiw, my musical tastes are pretty varied as well, and much of it falls outside what can be considered "jazz".

Thomas Alva Edison Alvy West West Nkosi

Reese's Pieces Pieces of a Dream Dr. McDreamy

Of course, "Nuages"! I'm kicking myself for not remembering!!!

1. At first I thought Mike was having a little fun, starting off with this ancient sounding track, but apparently it’s part of the actual recording, since it reappears at the end. I don’t get the joke, as to my ears the piece has nothing to do with “All the Things You Are”. I have no idea who this is, but in places I was reminded of Mingus, but it’s almost certainly something much more recent. Once the cacophany starts, I’m gone! 2. Trombone, guitar and bass. No clues here, really didn’t say much to me. 3. More noodling, this time with marimba, bass clarinet, & percussion. Anybody ever heard Red Norvo’s “Dance of the Octopus”? The instrumentation is reminiscent. 4. This starts off nice, with the reeds & second-line drumming. It never seems to go anywhere harmonically, but maybe that’s the point. 5. This one doesn’t speak to me either, basically for the same reasons as #4. 6. Yawn. 7. I need some caffeine! 8. Where’s BB King when we need him? Some contemporary effects-laden guitarist playing the blues. The thing is recorded so that it sounds like two guitarists, but I think it’s a recording gimmick, Waiter, I’m still waiting for that coffee! 9. 10. 11. What’ve we got here, an electric jews’ harp? Putting aside the superfluous intro, this is pleasant enough, the trumpeter can play. 12. What’s Bach got to do with it? The intro is over the top, and doesn’t match the mood of the piece as it continues, but the Phil woods-ish alto is nice. A tune I know, but dammit, I can’t come up with the title! This is the first track that I can say I liked, at least in part. 13. “Joy Spring”. An annoyingly clever arrangement, with snippets of other tunes tossed in. Is that a cello? The player is certainly facile, but it all seems just a little contrived. 14. Now, this I liked. Is this Cal Tjader with Gary McFarland, perhaps? 15. Here we have music more to my liking, an actual tune. Definitely in the Milt Jackson camp, but this ain’t Bags. Finally in the last couple of tracks, we start to hear some music I can relate to, and the disc ends! I held off responding for a week because I couldn’t think of much to say. Still, I know you put in some effort creating this set, Mike, so an “A” for effort.

Hefty Bags Milt Jackson Jackson Pollock

Abel Gance Lowell Ganz Babaloo Mandel

Desmond Llewelyn Desmond Dekker The Israelites

Hank Snow Don Sleet Alan Hale

Duke Snider Duck Dodgers Damn Yankees

Chicka-ma Craney Crow Ichabod Crane Ichabod Mudd

Moon Mullens Wally Moon Deborah Walley

Becky Thatcher Tom Sawyer Huckleberry Finn

Serves the seller right! How much was he expecting to get, fer chrissakes?

Hugh O'Brian Willis O'Brien Kong

That's how I see it. Focus on the good things. "Feelin' Folksy" is among my favorite Hank tunes.

Peggy Pope Miss Piggy Pug Horton

Neil Young Young Jessie Jesse Owens

Squire Gersh Chris Squire Sonny Criss

Auntie Mame Mamie Eisenhower Barbara Howar

I guess it's hard to dispute the logic here, but as a small business owner, if somebody tried to rob me, I'd be really pissed! I think robbers like this forfeit their rights when they brandish weapons at innocent working people. I hope the judge throws this one out!