Ted O'Reilly

"....created an issue where none existed." I guess Arkansas and Dr. Caldwell thought segegation was just fine...

Nate's Shelly Manne suggestion is a good one, if a bit offbeat. But why not check out the original? Bob Haggart's tune featured the trumpet of 21-year-old Billy Butterfield with the Bob Crosby Orchestra on Decca with the original title of "I'm Free", title changed to match later lyrics. (Rec. NYC, Oct. 19, 1938). It's on CD, GRP GRD-615 but I don't know whether you have it in your 'amazing vinyl collection'. (You can't get it any longer, and it was only ever on vinyl, but I produced a lovely solo piano version by Dick Wellstood recorded "Live at Cafe des Copains" May 29, 1985 Unisson DDA 1003).

An up-and-comver to look for is Dan Shulman, who has been doing ESPN baseball on radio these days. A Torontonian, he's intelligent, articulate and informed. Does other sports, too, and is excellent!

Paul Barbarin and his New Orleans Jazz recorded in stereo for Atlantic (S 1215) on January 7, 1955. I had it as an LP in the mid-60s (when it was actually released I don't know), with "Stereo" pressed in gold foil across the top of the 'mono' cover. And from sound track recordings in the early 40s, Rounder has issued some tunes in stereo by Tommy Dorsey, featuring Buddy Rich. They sound just fine, having been optically recorded on 3-track film stock. (Movies early on had separate tracks for dialogue, effects and music).

I concur. The CD sounds fine. It's available on eMusic as well, with bonus tracks. I thought the recording quality wasn't that great. I had the LP and eventually got the CD, which is when I realized how poor the sound was. I was told that Desmond actually blocked the release of this concert during his lifetime. "Jesus Christ Superstar" is easily one of the lamest tunes that Desmond ever recorded. I think I heard at the time that it was recorded on a cassette machine, as a souvenir, and never intended for release commercially. I have it as a Finesse CD from Japan, copyright 1981 (it was a Finesse LP) with 7 tracks. Doug Ramsey reports in his great Desmond book that 'Take Five' and 'Valeria' were dropped, and that Desmond was not happy with 'Take Five', so perhaps his wishes were followed in the long run...

Geez, mikeweil, don't give away the punchline! Make 'em go to the two pages to be dumbfounded...

A look at the cover picture suggests Norgran/Clef/Verve ripoffs. It was a good period for Peterson material...

That's the difference between "selling" and "marketing". Looks like the sort of example that will turn up in MBA courses...

$1,069,366. The vast majority of jazz musicians the world over would LOVE to earn as much as the last 5 numbers, never mind all 7. They'll likely never make that much in their entire careers...

Oscar also did a few vocals on a Pablo release called "Personal Touch", which featured compositions by Canadian writers. Still sounded a lot like Nat, so I'd guess that's what he actually sings like, that he wasn't just following a trend. (I'd like to sing like Nat, too...

Perfect example! Oscar Peterson is the pianist on that ditty. And he's a pretty good, if occasional, singer---

grady tate should, and did. And frequently enough that I'd almost consider him A Singer, not just a great drummer. I'm really thinking of the ones who only occasionally do it, and rarely on record. Maybe we can add George Shearing?

OOh.. good on both counts. I had the recent experience of hearing back-to-back the Sinatra/Buble versions"I've Got You Under My Skin". Even with the same fine chart, Buble just doesn't get it, which means he can't make it. Russell is indeed a fine singer...

So, an old topic renewed. How about a new thread, concerning players who don't sing often, but should. I'll suggest two: Kenny Burrell, and Roy Hargrove. Others?

The Amazon.com link shows the price as USD$16.49 (list price 24.99). Going to Amazon.ca it is CDN$43.02 (list price 49.71). According to xe.com the exchange rate today is 1.00 USD = 1.05355 CAD, so, the book should be CDN$17.37. But it's $25.65 more! A bit of an exchange ripoff, isn't it? There's no indication of the size or format (square, rectangular) of the book anywhere. Does anyone know?

In the first 7 or 8 seconds of "Volcano", the live at Ronnie Scott's session, there's a guy directly under the left channel audience mic shouting out something that I've never been able to completely decipher (it must be the Brit accent). I think it's something like "...well, they don't sound like a bunch of fucking ?mongers? ...HAH HAH HAH...." It's just before the (off mic) emcee brings the band on. Has anyone else ever heard it, and figured out what he's saying? If you have that recording, take a listen and let me know, please... (I try to hide the audience mics when I record live, always fearing that some jerk will screw up a take with just such a remark).

I've just heard from Neil Swainson (he's been on the road with Roberta Gambarini, and the irrepressible Jake Hanna): Hi Ted FYI, just days before the Berlin Wall came down. I played a concert at the Berlin Philharmonie with George Shearing, Mel Torme, and Donny Osborne. Hmmm, I don't recall a recording! Neil Maybe Mel took the cheque from the broadcaster, promising to pass it on to the band...

The heading's gonna hafta be changed. If Mel's there, it ain't a GS session any more....

I remember my first exposure to the European scene at the Nice JF in 1979 -- I was amazed at the number of people with very sophisticated mic. setups and little mixing boards with headsets, all recording the various stages at the Cimiez Gardens. No one stopped them, not even the artists. The attitude seemed to be "oh, well -- that's what they do here". The official sound men were also recording everything from the on-stage setup. On a Nagra IVS at 3.75 ips.... As to Monterey, they must have been doing the same over the years, as there have been quite a few 'documentary'-type releases over the years, such as "40 Legendary Years", a 1997 3-CD release attached somehow to that local jazz fan Clint Eastwood. (Malpaiso/Warner Bros. 9 46703-2). It all starts with a true collector's item: from 1958, Dizzy does a solo trumpet reading of the Star-Spangled Banner!

So, who's on the band? Neil Swainson, bass, and....????

That's really a great one. Their rapport makes for great music! Sackville SKCD2-2041 recorded live at Toronto's now-gone Montreal Bistro (by me, in fact) and very spontaneous. A good choice of tunes, too, 8 of 'em, with each artist getting a solo along the way. The same club is the location for performance duos by Dick Hyman with Ralph Sutton, also on Sackville (SKCD2-2054), and Dick and Ralph did one for Concord that's fine: Concord CCD-4603. The Montreal Bistro was an important club for piano, especially, coming out of the ashes of Toronto's Cafe des Copains, which was originally and continuously for several years, a solo piano room. When the action moved to the Montreal, club owner Lothar Lang had more space, and during the Toronto Jazz Festival often brought in another piano to double the pleasure. I always wanted him to pair up Joanne Brackeen and Jessica Williams...would've been great! (somebody should do it...)

Yes to everything Peter Friedman says above, and if you ever run across it, grab a wonderful duo concert recording by Phil with Gordon Beck, his old "European Rhythm Machine" pal. It's a wonderful, intimate set, with some Woods clarinet. I love his clarinet work! "Live at Wigmore Hall" JMS 18686-2 (2 CDs) Recorded May 5, 1996.

I thought the Burton Quartet of the very late '60s (with Jerry Hahn on guitar replacing Larry Coryell) was a very interesting band. Hahn had a very country/blues sound that brought a bit of funk to Burton, who could be a bit overwhelming, technically. Bill Goodwin brought a nice, loose feel to the time, too, and Steve Swallow was still playing acoustic bass... Nice sound. I have a 1971 live-in-Tokyo album that was only issued in Japan (and Canada!) that has some good stuff, too -- Sam Brown's on guitar, with Tony Levin on bass. I've not listened to it in years: maybe I'll make a CDR of it...

I see Oppo has a DV-981HD model now... Would it be that much better that the earlier ones? (I have a Sharp Aquos HD set, so I should get the best one available I suppose...) Nothing is stated on their website, and I suppose it doesn't matter, but where are these devices manufactured? Does anyone know?

The Wellstood's welcome. The Felix I can do without -- I've always found him to be a mechanical player, sans soul. It's as if he learned to play by following along on a player piano.