bertrand

Nonsense. The only way I can understand your making this statement is if you have never heard the music of the Herbie Nichols Project (my statements below probably also apply to the Lucky Thompson project, but I need to find out more about them). The Herbie Nichols Project is most definitely not some sort of dusty 'ghost band', repeating old gestures for several reasons: 1. Much of the material they are performing was never recorded, and only some of the unrecorded music was even performed by Nichols in his brief career. The charts came for the most part from the Copyright Deposits at the Library of Congress, plus a few from friends of Herbie's to whom he may have given some charts (Roswell Rudd, Sheila Jordan etc.). 2. Even in the case of compositions that were recorded by Nichols, the arrangements are new and highly personal to the members of the group, while retaining the spirit of Herbie's musical vision. This is obvious in light of the fact that the arrangements are for sextets or septets. Nichols was never given the opportunity to record any of his originals with horns. I'm the first to be annoyed at half-baked tributes that barely dig into the repertoire and appeal to the more nostalgia-oriented audience base. But this critique most definitely does not apply to the Herbie Nichols Project. What's wrong with revisiting music that was barely explored the first time around? Michael Cuscuna pointed out to me years ago that he is always astounded at how few of the great original compositions from the Blue Note heyday were ever performed live by their composers. One studio date with a pick-up group, and that was it. There's a thread out there in the musicians' forum, where some posters expressed the preference to dig into obscure, seldom-performed originals then the same tired standards. I agree. Bertrand.

Weizen, I was at the Roney show tonight - I thought it was fabulous. And Geri Allen sounded great on that Fender Rhodes. Different strokes... Jim, Whatever happened to Leon Henderson? Bertrand.

Thanks! So all three Don Cherry sessions will be in print simultaneously. That's quite an accomplishment. I'm amazed that it took so long, considering how fast the Mosaic box went. Bertrand.

I did a search, but I can't find the thread anymore that announced the 2005 RVGs (Symphony For Improvisers etc.) Anyone? Thanks, Bertrand.

They are doing an intense, careful market analysis of the optimal release date. They have hired the top statisticians and economists in the world for this herculean effort (I had to decline their offer to lead the team due to a prior commitment). You have to understand why they have to move cautiously - an ill-timed release date could upset the global market for years. Bertrand.

When was Dewey with the WSQ? I missed that. Bertrand.

Am I hearing the words 'Back From The Gig' in reference to the 1968 Booker Ervin session with Woody Shaw? Am I going to have to go hunt down a copy of Blood On The Fields? Bertrand.

Absolutely - I organized an organissimo DC get together a couple of years back to see Eddie Henderson at Twins. It's time for a new outing. Bertrand.

The various members of the US Army band put on some cool concerts at Breuker Hall in Fort Myer: www.usarmyband.com I've seen Kenny Rittenhouse there, and recently Ed Palermo came to guest conduct a Frank Zappa tribute, which was highly ironic in light of the venue. Bertrand.

If it's not too late to work it out, the book should include a copy of the demo. That would be a VERY COOL extra bonus. I may be alone in this (and I'm sure there are permissions issues that might preclude this), but I think it would be very helpful if some jazz books actually included a CD with a few representative tracks of the artist's work. This is what they attempted to do with the Wayne Shorter bio, although the CD has to be purchased separately. Also, this 2-CD set was originally going to be a 4-CD with lots of bonus material - wondered what happened there. In the case of the Gene Harris bio, I think this would be a real interesting bonus. I for one am not really familiar with his work, but I am very interested in the book, so this would be a way to get me started. Of course, I would not be interested in the CD if it were sold separately - that would be buying a compialtion, which I almost never do. I'm very glad that Dan can help out Gene's widow this way. I've helped out some jazz artists in the past (especially with respect to their copyright deposits), and I feel this is a great way to give back to the musicians that we admire (or their heirs). Great going Dan! Bertrand.

Sorry, I know this belongs in the political forum, but the new font gives me a headache. The new World Bank leader designate apparently consulted with Bono, who apparently was actually on the short list for the job. >WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Paul Wolfowitz, whose nomination as World Bank >president has stirred controversy, discussed poverty and development issues >with Irish rock star Bono in two telephone conversations Thursday, an adviser >said. WHY??????????????????? Bertrand.

The review in today's Washington Post was lukewarm. Bummer - I actually was considering trying to scare up a ticket for the week-end of April 30th, since I hope to go up to NYC to catch Larry Ridley's Jackie McLean retrospective. Bertrand.

Randy, Don't you worry - if we ever getting around to moving out of our small cheap townhouse in Bethesda, I'll probably be moving way beyond the Rockville/Bethesda/Checy Chase axis. Probably Germantown or Darnestown/North Potomac. It'll take me over an hour to work each day. I'm looking forward to it like I'm looking forward to having my toenails yanked off one by one. And yes, Weizen, Wheaton and beyond is quite horrid as well. I still hate it less than some part sof NOVA I can think of. Bertrand.

Shawn, Make sure you check out Twins on U Street and Blues Alley in Georgetown. Twins has the Ingrid Jensen/Allison Miller band this week-end, and Wallace Roney is at Blues Alley. I may go to the Roney show on Sunday; I don't think I'll make Ingrid Jensen, unfortunately. Bertrand.

Of course, the project isn't really done. My part is over, but I have to whip these lazy SOBs into shape to actually look at their data and figure out why the numbers are so different from last year's. They were actually trying to pawn off this responsibility on the computer programmers. The nerve. Bertrand.

Alan, I hope you're not driving... Bertrand.

Good to hear Sonny is back playing after his recent loss. I met Clifton Anderson a couple of weeks ago, and he seemed to be saying that Sonny was cancelling a few gigs (including April at the Kennedy Center). Now, I'm surprised to hear he decided to play again. Bertrand.

Whew...I finished my project from hell, no thanks to my goofball co-workers (except the one who worked her buns off, and who, through some fluke of nature, happens to be by far the prettiest woman in the office - so work isn't total hell ). Time to go home for some shut-eye. Maybe tomorrow night I'll listen to some music for a change. Bertrand.

Lon, Where are these broadcasts? I have a tape of a Jackie broadcast from 1990, but I know there was a different broadcast from the same show with at least one tune which I don't have. Thanks, Bertrand.

Has anyone ever heard the bonus cut 'Miroslav's Tune' that was on a Japanese edition, but that was brilliantly left off the new remastered version? Bertrand.

Dang. I just realized that had I known you were heading for Disney World, I would have asked you for a favor. In May 1999, Lee Morgan's brother Jimmy lent a trumpet to the Downbeat hall of fame when it opened at Disney World. Tragically, Jimmy fell ill and died just six months later. I'm pretty sure that he had only lent the horn, not donated it. Since Jimmy's widow was not really aware of the whole Lee-thing going on (she and Jimmy met after 1972), I doubt that she's pursued the idea of eventually getting the horn back. I wonder if it's still sitting in the museum, or if it's gone AWOL. I never was able to figure out who to contact at Disney World. Bertrand.

So should we call him Marvin Gaye-a-roonie McVootie ? Bertrand.

When did Max Roach see the play? Bertrand.

OK, I just borrowed Footprints from the University of Maryland music library (along with a few other things), so I will sit down and start reading this cover to cover after this crazy work week is through (expect a 'co-workers from hell' thread any day now). I have a two-month loan period, and I can renew things, so I have time to read it now. Might as well put my $40 a year alumni association fee to good use. I already pretty much skimmed through most of this at Barnes and Noble while my son was playing with Thomas the tank engine. By the way, if anyone has comments (in addition to Mike's), please mention them on this thread. My understanding is that anything posted here may eventually lead to a correction in the forthcoming paeprback edition. By the same token, since I have been told there will be a paperback with corrections, I'll wait until that edition is out before parting with my hard-earned money. Bertrand.

Berlin and Tokyo are on the way from CD Universe, along with the Speak Like A Child RVG and a copy of Moncur's Exploration which is a gift for a friend who was lucky enough to go to the Claremont concert last month (it's just that good a record, and now I've contributed twice to Grachan's royalty fund, so I feel good. Of course, he only gets $.03 cents a song). From what I could tell at their site, Tokyo has no extra cuts on the box or the single CD, and the bonus track from Berlin is on the single CD. Oooh, extra bonus: liner notes from Michelle Mercer, who I guess will now be the de facto 'Wayne Shorter expert' on any forthcoming reissue. Bertrand.