bertrand

Let me ask this way. There are five songs in the George Semper reels labeled with the following titles: 1. Willow Weep For Me This is the Ann Ronnel composition, correct? 2. Something Like This This is the Bennie Maupin tune that appears on the Blue Note Lighthouse 3-CD set, correct? 3. See Autumn This is the Lee Morgan composition we all know as Ceora, correct? 4. The Chief This is the Harold Mabern composition that appeared on the first Fresh Sound pressing under the incorrect title Meo Felia, correct? The second pressing had the right title. This same composition appears as The Chief on Frank Strozier's What's Goin' On. 5. Meo Felia What composition is this? If it is actually the Maupin song called Neophilia that appears on the Blue Note Lighthouse set, then the George Semper Archives contain at least one track on neither the Fresh Sound nor Hi Hat CDs. Did Resonance understand this when they passed? I have not figured out how to listen to this stuff, or I would have figured it out myself. This is for any smart ass who replies 'just listen yourself'.

Nor whether the Fresh Sound set is from the Both/And. The reference to Howard Rumsey is not a clue one way or the other. The Chief and Meofelia are the same song. Why are BOTH listed on the tape reels? The 3 bootleg CDs have either one or the other, not both. Has NO ONE noticed this discrepancy yet? I'm going nuts here.

I still haven't figure out what the 5th track is.

Just got the Cedar Walton. I now have all 6 of the ones Dorn put out. Wish there more. Sound is not great on the Walton, but man that version of Plexus is SMOKIN'. Ridiculous that there is so much still unissued, but a lot of the mouth-watering gigs listed in the yearbooks were NOT recorded. So not clear what is still out there, and trying to find out is an exercise in frustration. I will keep trying. Bertrand.

There are yearbooks that go far beyond 1967. I have some scans which cover 1964-1989, with 1975 missing. I hope to put together a database one day. Bertrand.

That was a long time ago, but seven more for the list: Jackie McLean Dr. Jackle Jackie McLean: Tune Up Duke Pearson: Baltimore 1969 Blue Mitchell: Baltimore 1966 Gary Bartz: Home (not yet on CD) Mickey Fields (only one track on CD) Walter Namuth/Mickey Fields That last one was a collaboration between Left Bank and the Baltimore Jazz Alliance; there were supposed to be more... The Lee Morgan concert was produced by the DC Left Bank chapter. A whole 'nother story. Bertrand.

Just got this CD, this Left Bank fiasco has resurfaced. So Track 2 is Vortex by Holland, and Track 7 is Compost Festival by DeJohnette. When Dorn issued this, did it not occur to him to ask the sidemen? My understanding was they were paid, right, he didn't sneak behind their back? I have spent 25 years fucking around with this Left Bank stuff, and I am back to square one. It may be a while until I can explain. Like 2-3 years. But I am ROYALLY pissed off right now. Someone stabbed me in the back. Bertrand.

Are you still coming to DC?

Two off the top of my head: Sunday 6/18: Guitarist Steve Herberman at Villain and Saint in Bethesda 8PM. Monday 6/19: Bassist Kris Funn CD release at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. FREE!

I have a Ray Draper retrospective on the proposals list for the Smithsonian, but I have a hunch this one will never happen.

Thanks everyone! I haven't been posting much ever since Chuck Nessa chose to dump on the concert series I organize at the Smithsonian. Next week will be my fifth year of involvement! Bertrand.

Wayne has been honest on multiple occasions. He never touched the stuff, made a conscious decision from the beginning to stay away. He reiterates this in the Lee Morgan film. He does admit to heavy drinking, especially during the Miles years. See Michelle Mercer's book, for example. Bertrand.

Leslie Gourse wrote one of her quickie biographies on Blakey, not very good. Remember that a photo surfaced showing Gigi Gryce with the group? It was dated close to the Birdland date, within a few days IIRC. It was the same band as the Birdland group, but with Gigi instead of Lou. It made it look like Lou was almost a last-minute sub. Sorry my memory is a bit hazy. Bertrand.

Mary is indeed very nice. She is bringing her octet to DC on 6/10. The amazing Brian Settles is opening!!!

Mr. Semper, I sent you a private message. Bertrand.

For lack of time, I am cutting and pasting from my Facebook post. Disclaimer: This is not some Corporate pitch, I organized this out of the goodness of my heart. Artist is being compensated for her performance, of course. Today, Friday 4/28, the John Coltrane documentary Chasing Trane, directed by John Scheinfeld, will open at the Charles Theater in Baltimore (1711 North Charles Street). As those of you familiar with the Baltimore’s legendary Left Bank Jazz Society (LBJS) surely know, the Famous Ballroom where many of their concerts were held was in the very same building now occupied by the Charles Theater. It is at the Famous Ballroom that the LBJS presented John Coltrane almost 50 years ago, on 5/7/67, in what was to be his very last concert. There has been some confusion in the past regarding this, but the concert recorded at the Olatunji center in April 1967 was Coltrane’s last recorded concert, not his last one. I am delighted to announce that the Charles Theater has agreed to host a special event on opening night of the film (there are afternoon screenings) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Coltrane's last concert in the building in which it took place, culminating with a solo performance by alto saxophonist (and new Baltimore resident!) Sarah Hughes. The evening begins with the film screening from 7:05PM to approximately 8:55, followed by 20-minute panel discussion/Q & A. The exact format for the discussion will be determined based on who is in the audience. In addition to Sarah and me, we hope to involve anyone who was a Left Bank member and/or was present at the concert. But the length of the panel is limited by the fact that there is another showing at 9:40PM. Finally, the evening will conclude in the lobby for Sarah's performance. We will begin between 9:30 and 9:45PM and end approximately an hour later. The concession stand closes around 9:45, but the theater said that drinks etc. from the next door Tapas place can be brought into the lobby. I am very excited that we were able to organize this event on just a few days' notice, and especially happy that Sarah is able to participate! I hope many of you can join us! Please share with your friends, in the hope that witnesses to this last concert can be aware of this event and may be able to participate in the discussion! http://www.coltranefilm.com/ http://www.baltimoreorless.com/2013/09/john-coltranes-last-ever-gig-was-at-baltimores-famous-ballroom/

Clifford had it listed as his in a list of his pieces his widow has. Clifford copyrighted that title and the lead sheet is the same song. The 1957 copyright is certainly the source of this confusion. Never saw that lead sheet and I cannot look at stuff at LC anymore.

What do the notes to the Larry Young Resonance CD say?

I will share your post with Paul. We have had so many deep discussions about Tadd in the last couple of days. I wish you could be there as well! Bertrand.

Tonight in DC, Tadd Dameron biographer and saxophonist Paul Combs discusses Tadd's life and music as part of the JAZZForum series at UDC, from 7-9 PM. FREE! Then, tomorrow 4/20, from 5-7, Paul will present a concert of Tadd's music including a lot of rarities as part of the Take 5! Series at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Chinatown. He will be joined by some great DC artists: Danielle Wertz (vocals), Steve Herberman (g), Eliot Seppa (b) and Ele Rubenstein (d). Swing by if you are in DC! The concert is FREE! Bertrand.

There may be out-take footage from Wayne's interview. Maybe it will be bonus material on the DVD

I actually considered trying to create a spontaneous post-film discussion when it was shown at the National Gallery of Art in February, but they were showing another film after. Sort of Chewy's idea in reverse 45 years later, the wounds have not healed, not that they really should. Wayne Shorter's contributions were my favorite part of the film. I read it as Wayne telling us to remember Lee Morgan the man, not the murder victim. Bertrand.

I think track 2 is Sonny Red's Bluesville, not a Sonny Stitt tune as labeled.

Who is the drummer in the photo with Grant and Larry Young. Maybe Joe Chambers?

FWIW, some of my favorite vocalists on the scene today are Sarah Elizabeth Charles in NYC and Nicole Saphos (also a bassist), Lena Seikaly and Danielle Wertz in DC. The latter two were both semifinalists in the last Monk competition, but did not make the finals, which I found baffling. Bertrand.