Ted O'Reilly

There's a Davis record (never on CD?) for RCA in late '66 that never got much attention, but I always liked: "The Fox And The Hounds". It's also with a big band, directed by Bobby Plater.

I wouldn't suggest anyone get after John any more....he's not doing auctions any longer. (That was incredibly labour-intensive work back then, all done by mail. John is a bit of a Luddite: does not have a website, and is not even online).

There are two terrific jazz pianists here in Toronto (who are not as well known internationally as they should be), who are both southpaws: Bernie Senensky and Mark Eisenman. I doubt that they, or anyone else, would reduce the function of either hand to the simplicity of rhythm/solo as you have. Players with great left hands, say Ralph Sutton, can be either lefties or righties. (Ralph was a rightie). It's probably not important for reed/woodwind players, as both hands are pretty much equally needed. Trombonist Slide Hampton is right-handed, but plays left! I recall Harold 'Money' Johnson played the trumpet valves with his left hand, but I don't know if he was a southpaw. And there are left-handed bassists: Jennifer Leitham and Earl May come to mind. (I know, Paul McCartney, but let's be serious); and guitarists: Wayne Wright for one. (I know, Jimi Hendrix, too) I'd suggest that lefties simply learn to play right-handed instruments in the most part, considering the price of an odd-ball axe, and everyone starting on any instrument is going to find it awkward until motor skills are trained. (I am on the lookout for a Sinister Steinway, though...

I'm happy to learn that I'm not alone in disliking those particular jewel cases. I'll have to try the "Mosaic Twist", as I'm unlikely to shave the gripper-hooks.

It has probably been discussed before, but I've got to admire the folks at Mosaic for their service. I took advantage of their current sale, and picked up the OKeh/Brunswick Bix, Trumbauer and Teagarden set. Played through Disc 1, then, in taking Disc 2 out of the case, it snapped! Now, I've been handling records since 78s as a kid (and have even had some cylinders as collector's items), but have never had that happen before. I phoned them, and they said "Sorry, it happens....we'll send you a replacement right away." Damn, that's Taking Care Of Business! It may very well have been my fault, and I was prepared to pay for the single disc replacement, but they're doing it on their own hook. This is the first time I've ever had to call them for any problem whatsoever (and when I was with a radio station, we bought EVERY Mosaic release, from the first one onward, including the Commodore sets). It's a good thing, dealing with reputable companies. Now, if I can only get them to change the jewel case they use for doubles. It's the type that is hinged to the right for the second disc, which means you've spread out three 'units' wide. You have to set it down to get to Disc 2, and Disc 1 is now exposed to the surface below. With centre-hinged cases, it's a one-handed operation, and Disc 1 is facing the booklet. Much easier and safer...

Agreed and agree. But the dude made 7 bucks. It DID cost him a buck at a yard sale.

I don't understand what you're saying here. Did Joe quit smoking, but it was too late, the cancer was unbeatable? Or he didn't stop, and died slowly (which I guess we're all doing, in a way)? Fortunately, I'm cancer-free, so no "shoes". I quit about 25 years ago, (got hooked around 16, as many do), and finally broke free in my early 40s. Cold Turkey worked for me. I found the physical need for a smoke went away in 10 - 15 days, but the triggers -- having a drink, speaking on the phone, after dinner and other things -- made me want a smoke for years. Still do, sometimes.

Hmmm. Jazzbo: I've stopped smoking, and mostly don't drink liquors, but wines and beer are food. Yeah, right...

The 'better' your collection, the more 'social value' you'd put on it, you would wish it to go to the widest possible audience: an archive, a library, a college. Unfortunately, they're understaffed, and given their standards/needs, would want it all documented and properly annotated before accepting it into their collections. I don't know about your collection, but none of that has been done to MY discs, tapes, LPs, books and ephemera. Universities etc. aren't likely to take it off my hands, however much they might like to have it. They simply don't have the people to safeguard it, and make it widely usable and available. I have several close friends with good, large collections facing the same concern. The local 'jazz' stations are NOT a destination given its programming, which ignores the bulk of these collectors' interests. And knowing how too many of those operations work, within a month or two the CDs would end up being stolen from the library by someone anyway.

Good musician. Don't know whether Joe smoked or not, or whether he tried to quit. It's a terrible habit that I had for decades (minimum 50 a day), but I know it was my choice to smoke them, and can't blame the cancer stick. (Did Miles say in his autobiography that it was harder to stop smoking than stop heroin?)

Yeah, Ralph Moore! Good player! Didn't know about his Tonight Show gig (Leno's not my cup of scotch), but in the old Severinson Tonight band many guys did a lot of local LA gigs (they finish taping the TV show by 8PM), and did some touring when the show was on vacation. Does Ralph (and the others) do that? Any LA people know of any gigs?

I have this record, and the cover has always knocked me out. So does Mike Jones! He's a great pianist, sorta modernish Dave McKenna. Mike works in Las Vegas as Penn and Teller's musical director, and he should be much better known in the jazz world. (BTW, is this appropriate for this topic? Is 'stretching out' the same as 'lying down'? I mean, we have to have standards of accuracy!)

Dust bugs were good devices...especially if you were playing the entire side: a live performance or a complete concerto or such. I'd not bother with the distilled water unless the 'crackle' is offensive. Use it as a last resort, or if you're trying to save a record via transfer to digital.

In all the discussions about vinyl here, I've never noticed anyone speak of the method we used in radio stations to quiet down records on air. When records are played over and over, the sylus is scratching the disc, and you start hearing a 'frying bacon' sound. Remember Dust Bugs? They are a simple device that looked sorta like a tone-arm, with a brush and a small velvet cylinder that tracked the disc, picking up and holding on to any dust on the disc. We'd place the Dust Bug on the track to be played, and add a small stream of distilled water. It worked like a lubricant, and the hushing of the crackling was amazing. When the track's done, remove the Dust Bug, and dry the disc with a soft flannelette cloth. No harm, no film, as it was distilled water. There were some who said "Don't do that! You'll have to do it EVERY time you play the disc", ignoring the fact that you had to do it in the first place, so SHOULD do it next time. And it never affected the stylus or cartridge, believe it or not. Make sure they were gently blotted -- you might actually be cleaning the stylus while you're at it. It really works, and I used to do it when transferring LPs to digital formats, eliminating a lot of electronic insult to the copy.

I'm not put out, because I know the film, but IMDB tells me: "This video is not available in your country." I'm going to have to take steps, and cut off sending Canadian oil down south if you're going to stop sending DE clips northward...

I remember playing "So Rare" for a dime on jukeboxes when I was in my teens. I WAS an oddball for doing so, but there were still a few jukebox jazz things around...Basie's "April In Paris" and "Every Day" with Joe Williams took a lot of my coins at the Campus Coffee Shop across from the St. Catharines Collegiate Institute. And about the canard that JD didn't play on "So Rare", Wikipedia says: Shortly before his death he was awarded a gold record for "So Rare," which was recorded on November 11, 1956. Dick Stabile did not have the alto solo on "So Rare," it was Dorsey. In fact, Tommy Dorsey was so incensed by Jimmy's uncharacteristic solo that he believed that it would count against the Dorsey name. That track also has the distinction of reaching the number-two spot in Billboard Magazine's popularity rankings, becoming the highest-rated song by a big band during the first decade of the rock-and-roll era.

I like beer, and have 2 or three a day... ....and how correct PHILLYQ is. It's alway amused me that some of the best beer in the world is from the US, and most of the worst.

Got two Lonehills today: "Classic Trio Sessions" by Earl 'Fatha' Hines -- mid-'60s things that I had on Contact, and Columbia LPs....from Hines' rediscovery period. "Jimmie Lunceford in Hi-Fi", 2 tribute recordings by Sy Oliver (east coast studio bands from 1950 and added '57 tracks, for Decca) and Billy May (on the west coast for Capitol) from 1957.

$12.49!?! Just looked it up on amazon.com: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- List Price: $38.98 Price: $38.98 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details Special Offers Available Pre-order Price Guarantee. Details This title will be released on July 22, 2008.

That's an interesting organization, and an attractive website. But I found an error, and had to send them the following note... I was perusing your interesting website, and found an error you will wish to correct. On the Rebild Hills page, you say "On July 4, 2003 a bust of US President William Howard Taft was unveiled. Taft was in 1812 named Rebild's first honorary president." Given that Taft was born in 1857, surely it was in 1912, not 1812 that he was named as honorary president. Let's see if they correct it...

The USA's celebration is three days later than Canada's, on July 1. My friend Tom Williams (a Torontonian) is living in Laguna Beach, California, running a little office supply/internet depot. Still a proud Canadian, he put out some Canada Day specials on the 1st.... He writes: My customers as usual are not too up on Canada and why I would wish them Happy Canada Day. "What would Canada be celebrating?" Becoming a country. "What were you before?" A colony. "Whose colony?" Britain "Really?" Yes. "Who did you fight?" No one. "Then how did you become a country??" We asked.

From the NYTimes... http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/arts/mus...l.html?ref=arts

Sad news, indeed.... He used to come to Toronto and play solo piano at Cafe des Copains and the Montreal Bistro and I got to know him pretty well -- always "up", with a big smile. One of the best interpreters of Monk anywhere -- really could get inside that music and play convincingly.

Just in passing, Lucky's tenor and soprano saxes are both now owned (and played) by Toronto's Pat LaBarbera. He says the tenor is "very dark-sounding"....

Great news! I've been waiting to pick this up. Thanks for the info. It seems to be more of a Calvin Klein ad than a jazz documentary. Not surprising, considering Weber's the author... I think I still have a promo T-shirt from the film's release. Definitely won't still fit...