bertrand

OK - tickets bought, I'm ready to roll. I'll be in Paris from May 24th through June 9th. Any interesting concerts during that period? Bertrand.

I don't quite agree with one of the statements above. Wayne Shorter is with Verve, and I think he is making interesting and challenging music. Granted, they have issued only a fraction of what he is doing (still nothing from the 2004 tour with Hancock/Holland/Blade ???), but I don't know whose decision that is, Wayne's or Verve's. He has a fantastic new piece he's been doing at concerts (both in NYC in 2004 and last January in LA) called 'Prometheus Unbound' which has yet to make it to an album. Bertrand.

Chuck Nessa wrote: 'FWIW, I always enjoyed Aric's spirit until the end of his tenure here when he wished bad things for many. He went "over the top" at the end but I'd welcome him back if he made amends. But that is really up to Jim.' Hmmm...Aric first appeared on the old Blue Note board asking if Horace Parlan was really gay, and complaining that it was beneath Blue Note's usual standards to hire gay musicians. This was his very first post. I'm afraid to see the posts that you think were 'over the top'. Bertrand.

Tatum and Hawk and no Mobley? - I don't think so. Bertrand.

I brought up the issue of the recording date in both threads last night, just to make sure someone noticed! Rooster, The copyright deposits for 'The Yodel' and 'Soul Woman' also credit Green and Patton jointly. Next time I'm at LC, I'll compare the lead sheets for these and other Green and Patton copyrights to see who might have actually written them out. Lon, Thanks for the recommendation. I have a burn of these discs and like them a lot; I'll add the Collectibles to my wish list. Bertrand.

The two Oliphant Atlantics are out as a Collectibles two-fer. Anyone heard this? Are all the tracks present and unedited? Is it remastered from vinyl? Thanks, Bertrand. P.S. jazzdisco.org claims both Grass Is Greener and Braith's Laughing Soul are from 3/1/66. Can anyone confirm/infirm?

Can we really believe jazzdisco.org that this was recorded on the same day (3/1/66) as Grassella Oliphant's The Grass Is Greener, which also features Patton/Green? Bertrand.

They'll have to find another title than Involution, though That was the name of one of the pieces from the Sam Rivers half of the two-fer. It looks like we have another Back From the Gig deal on our hands Bertrand.

Solo saxophone albums are a tricky proposition from the git-go; unlike the piano, you can't play chords (although Coltrane tried), so you have to sustain interest over 40 minutes by playing one note at a time. I've never heard this and was not hunting for it. However, I would LOVE to hear Jackie McLean's solo set from the S.F. Jazz festival a few years ago. It was a double bill with Lacy, also solo, but he's done that before. For Jackie, it may have been the only time. Was this recorded? Bertrand.

This is among the weakest material in the Blakey cannon. The trumpet slurs on the bridge of 'In Walked Bud' are so wrong, it's not even funny. Never has anyone so thoroughly misunderstood Monk. Bertrand. P.S. If you believe jazzdisco.org, this tune was recorded in January 1982, i.e. just days before Monk died (2/17/82).

How is this not cannibalism? Bertrand.

The quote Epistrophy gives from the Rudd book of Nichols tunes looks very similar to the anecdote in the Mosaic booklet. I'm pretty sure 'Royal' is mentioned in there as well, and from the context it is clear that this is NOT a pseudonym for Tina; it's a different person. I'll try to look this up later. Bertrand.

She was quite simply one of the best writers in the English language in the past century. Personal favorites include 'The Ballad Of Peckham Rye' and 'A Far Cry From Kensington'. Any other fans out there? She will be sorely missed. Bertrand.

You want a daydream, here's one: According to the notes to the Herbie Nichols Mosaic set, Rudd and Nichols played a gig at Yale University WITH TINA BROOKS! I wonder what music they played. Perhaps someone here knows Rudd? Bertrand.

Rooster, you're slipping! Blue Black is a quartet date. Bertrand.

A couple of corrections, after checking out Grachan's website: The keyboardist was Noriko Kamo, and apparently she was on Fender Rhodes. The site and the club both list the drummer as 'Richard Pearson', but he gave me his card and it's actually 'Pierson'. Bertrand.

I can see why that would be tricky Well, if we don't get together, enjoy your visit! You don't need to reserve or anything at Twins', so it can be a last minute thing. I'm pretty sure I'm going regardless. Anyone else tempted? Bertrand.

Any DVD coupons? Bertrand.

Up for my proposal to catch Jeremy Pelt at Twins Friday or Saturday. Anyone up for an organissimo D.C. reunion? Bertrand.

Too bad the board was down. I hope that no one was on the fence about this. The Saturday gig was FANTASTIC!!! Grachan is back with a vengeance. It was a septet, but I don't think it was a regular working group. It was his regular trio (Noriko Sako (sp?) on keyboards and Richard Pierson on drums) plus stellar guests: Billy Harper, Michael Blake (on alto), John Hicks and Calvin Hill. Noriko's keyboard was neither an electric piano nor an organ. It sounded kind of like a marimba, actually, which fit in with the music perfectly. The first set opened with an absolutely PERFECT tribute to Jackie: an arrangement of 'Blue Rondo' which was COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the record. It was slow and funky, and got the audience grooving from the first note. Jackie would have loved it. The rest of the evening was a mix of Grachan classics ('Hipnosis', 'When?', 'Frankenstein', 'Back Home' and the lesser-known 'A For Pops') and several jazz classics ('So What', 'Footprints', 'Freddie Freeloader' and a trio version of 'Monk's Dream'). I stayed all three sets, of course. The audience was digging it, even those who obviously had no idea who Grachan was. Everyone played great. Michael Blake was a revelation - he did not play at all like Jackie, which would have been a cliche. I will be investigating him more. I believe it was his first gig with Grachan. It was my first time hearing Calvin Hill, and he was excellent. John Hicks was absolutely amazing - I've been told that he's been playing better than ever in the last few months. I hope this was recorded. I would buy it in a heartbeat. Bertrand. P.S.: I met a guy there who is sort of managing Grachan. He even got him a web presence. Check out grachanmoncur.com and myspace.com!

It's been great reading these memories of Jackie. I got to see him about seven times, and every one was a treasure. I also wish Jackie had been more out there in the last 15 years (on record as well as in person), but I feel it is too early to discuss this. I attended the funeral Friday (I guess I was the only organissimo person there). It was a very moving experience. I will post longer on this when I can get my thoughts collected - I don't want to rush it. Bertrand.

He gets the correct year of birth (1931) but STILL gives a wrong age. Bertrand.

I will be attending Jackie's funeral on Friday. I will report back. Bertrand.

It's from the self-penned liners to Destination...out! It applies today just as much as it did in 1963. Bertrand.

Lon, I join our friends in wishing you and your wife all the best in this difficult time. Sincerely, Bertrand.