Ted O'Reilly

Raymond Chandler, in a novel's preface said, "Only a hack tries to break the mold. . . . A true pro tries to go as big as you can within the fold." Applicable here?

But surely, Tar-ZHEY is in a mocking, ironic way.... No one actually calls it that, do they? (They certainly don't in Canada: the firm's failed escapade into our retail scene cost them billions when they ran home, tail between their legs.)

Here's the sign, as I recall it...

"Coast Concert" and this one, "Jazz Ultimate" (both with Jack Teagarden) are two of the best illustrations of what we now seem to call Dixieland, but they're really just Real Jazz by anyone's description...

Duke Ellington's "Degas Suite" pops to mind of course....

Aha! Thanks...my reference was incorrect.

It was. Look for Columbia Legacy C4K-52945.

Agreed...very interesting background!

Here's the flaccid Goodman band, getting its ass kicked with the arrival of Jimmy Rushing...by the end of his vocal, the band is working its ass off. He WON'T let them play shit behind him...

I got mine from Dave on a gig the other day -- it's a very fine album, with Renee as guest artist fitting right in, but then, she's played a lot with these guys over the years. (Kevin Turcotte, trumpet; Perry White, tenor; Terry Clarke, drums). Dave claims it'll be his last studio album. May I suggest you try going through his website and follow a contact link? http://www.daveyoung.ca/

If the Customs Authorities don't recognize the content of the package as Art (which should flow freely) then they should accept the nominal value of some bits of plastic and paper for their import duties. They look at the total cost to me (including shipping and handling) as the value on which they ding me. I guess I'm not really miffed at Mosaic, as they could very well be leery of valuing their goods too low and thus run afoul of foreign Customs Authorities. I should look into all this, but I wonder what I would have to pay if I imported a $100 Million dollar Van Gogh? (he mused).

Well, John, for whatever reason, the full price (including s&h) was noted, and the leeches attacked! I think I'm not alone in believing that the Arts (music, dance, cinema, etc.) should be universal and international, flowing freely over borders. In C$, this package has come to over $30 per disc. This jazz habit is getting expensive.

Just to wrap up an earlier post... "And how does Mosaic decide who gets which box? My friend Don Brown got his Savoy set on Friday (in Toronto, which offers some border delays) and opened box 0002. I don't have mine yet, and ordered weeks before he did. I better get #0001! " I picked my copy up at the post office (and got dinged almost 40 bucks more for customs duties!) and discovered I own copy #0142, so... Others have remarked on the inner tray, designed for a single jewel case, holding a quadruple. Pain in the butt, ain't it? A rare Mosaic mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. I think I'll cut the bottom out from that tray -- the package won't sit comfortably on a shelf. Oh, yes -- the music. Just listened to Disc 1 (and like the sound), but I think I'll be taking my time listening to it all -- BeBop sure is relentless, isn't it?

Why do we have an interest in the box number? I have about 35 various ones, and I think I've noticed the number a couple of times. It might have made a difference in the days of vinyl in that pressing #1 might be "better" than pressing #1234, and if each individual disc was pressing #1. But these are CDs, and each is a clone and identical. And how does Mosaic decide who gets which box? My friend Don Brown got his Savoy set on Friday (in Toronto, which offers some border delays) and opened box 0002. I don't have mine yet, and ordered weeks before he did. I better get #0001!

My good friend Steve Wallace, a front-rank bassist has developed over the last couple of years into an important writer, especially on jazz topics. He recently blogged about Mose Allison's passing, in the context of having worked with him on many occasions. I suggest reading it, and adding your name to Steve's subscription list... http://wallacebass.com/?p=5240

Sackville Records made two fine Christmas Jazz albums... ...almost forgot one of my favourites:

I don't think it did make it to CD, but it should! (Just to hear Vic Dickenson sing "Rudolph"...) My vinyl is full of clicks and skips from my then-little kids playing it over and over. They loved it. That was a terrific little band, the WGJB. It has not been treated well as to CD transfers. Jazzology in New Orleans controls the material now...

I've always liked this one: "AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass add plenty of spice to this Christmas jazz CD, not only with superb, fresh charts but a few surprising selections. The rich brass and reeds carry the deliberate rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which segues into a perky Latin-flavored chart of "I'll Be Home for Christmas." "Away in a Manger" is not the commonly heard melody but one first written in 1887, though the music will likely be familiar, even if one doesn't associate it with the well-known lyrics. The lush setting of "The Christmas Song," which likely set Mel Tormé and Bob Wells for life with royalty checks due to its many recordings, showcases the leader's valve trombone and pianist David Restivo. "My Favorite Things," originally written for The Sound of Music, has gradually been transformed into double duty as a Christmas carol; this swinging interpretation works very well. Johnny Mandel, the composer of many memorable melodies, deserves greater recognition for his gorgeous piece "A Christmas Love Song"; this arrangement deserved to help put it on the jazz map. Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass consistently delivered first-rate music throughout their existence, this holiday CD no exception." ...and here's another brassy one:

It is probably a scandalous canard, but I once heard that Jimmy Dorsey was quite ill (from cancer, which was to take him half-a-year earlier) and that the passionate, much-more R&B-ish solo on So Rare was actually played by the band's lead alto player. An apocryphal tale, no doubt... Anyway, it must be just about the last instrumental (I know, there's an ooh-wah chorus) by a Big Band Era orchestra to make the top 10. (No, maybe not: I just thought of several Lawrence Welk things that came later...)

This is it! Not very attractive, is it...

Our children, and grandchildren may also remember his playing... Isn't he the bassist on almost all the Sesame Street shows?

I wish I could show you...I didn't keep the original, but I recall it to be something very plain, perhaps hand-drawn. Unless I'm completely mistaken it's the very first Concord album, and Carl Jefferson never thought he'd be making another record. He was a car dealer who was interested in promoting the arts scene (and I suppose his business) in the Concord California area. Having supported the concert, and recording it, he had it released. It moved well, and a re-press garnered this more famous cover. I'm sure there's someone who can help out with the original. I wish I could...

...ah, so it is! Somehow started on Page 2... (That wasn't the original image on the first-release LP, y'know...)

My man Steve Wallace, a fine bassist and a baseball maven brings Base-Ball and Jazz together in his most recent observation on The Game... http://wallacebass.com/?p=5110