Big Al

Like I said before, equal parts self-serving and self-deprecation.

The 4-CD set The Riverside Records Story does a fair job of living up to its name. It was assembled and annotated by OK. I find the liners to be at times self-serving as well as self-deprecating. OK speaks fondly of the musicians he worked with at Riverside: Monk, Wes Montgomery, Cannonball & Nat Adderley, Bill Evans, etc. As is the case with musicians of that caliber, the music is timeless, and will likely to lead you to other Riverside purchases (as it did with me).

Hold down the "alt" key and type "153". Like this: ™. See how easy that was?

Yes! This is Billy Mitchell, already in the series, makes me agree with you on that. Coupled with the Grey disc, it makes for a very nice back-to-back listen! And I am SO looking forward to California Here I Come!!!!!

"DKDC" stands for "Don't Know, Don't Care." I think it was coined by Dan Gould. He also coined another acronym, "NMCOT," which stands for "Not My Cup o' Tea." "HAFC" was coined by yours truly. It stands for "Haven't a Clue." I think the joke's worn thin by now, so I don't think I'll use 'em anymore.

Peter Marshall! (Take THAT, MartyJazz! )

Hey man, don't DISS the big Peter!!!!

So THAT'S what the "MC" in MC5 stood for! Howzabout Penny Marshall?

So far, I've gotten to track #9, and this is by far the most challenging BFT for me. I must confess that I haven't actually made it all the way through any track yet, and that may have less to do with the music than anything else. In any event, this disc has been one long HAFC™, with a few tracks also falling in the DKDC™ category as well. But maybe there's some hidden gems that I haven't come across yet!

Received mine today! Thanks Nate!

He actually had fans?

I checked with my travel coordinator last night (aka Mrs. Big Al) and we have nothing going that night, so I'll definitely be there. My 17-yr-old daughter wants to know if she can go! I dunno, I told her. Is there an age limit?

In a previous discussion, there was concern about the stereo separation on NEWK'S TIME. I don't own either the McMaster or the RVG, but I saw both of them at a used shop this week and briefly listened to both. On the one hand, the RVG is a lot more dynamic and has more presence, but that stereo separation bugged the hell outta me (of course, it was thru headphones, so I’m sure that makes a difference); on the other hand, the McMaster is in mono, but doesn’t have NEAR the presence or clarity of the RVG. On the RVG, the band sounds like they’re in the same room; on the McMaster, they sound like they’re across the street. Just my $0.02. Still haven’t decided which one to get.

Yeah, I wish I could remember what I ate that night--I'd kinda like to have that dream again!

Once had a dream where I saw Art Blakey and Ornette Coleman doing a tenor/drum duet on a sidewalk. Blakey was playing the opening drum part to Zappa’s “Return of the Son of Monster Magnet” (complete with yell) while Ornette riffed over the beat.

Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!! Thanks! That does look deeeeeeeeelicious!

I don't get it.......

Drat! So I won't be able to make that one. But the gig on the 21st, now THAT one I should be able to get to! Thanks for the update!

Well, I guess that trumps what I heard the other day: Larry Cornyell. I guess that’s the chance you take when listening to college students as DJs: you can tell which ones are enthusiastic about what they do, and which ones are there to just get a grade. Their program manager, Mark Lambert, is tops in my book, though. Always answers my e-mails!

Nothing to add in answer to the original question, but I think Hank holds up well among the other fire-breathers on the session!

I have GOT to see that gig on the 17th!!! Man, even if I have to get a helicopter to get me there!!!

What Moose said! Mazel tov!!!!

Nuts! The board went down before I could see that code! And the dumb thing is, I tried all sorts of different configurations, starting with the F4OD2, and then trying different digits; I even got all the way to F4OD29 before giving up. That'll teach me! Still, 70% off certainly ain't bad!

New coupon codes: F4OD27: 50% off, no S/H F4OD23: 70% off If anyone can find the code that allows for 60% off with no s/h like last time, that one comes out as the best deal of the three.

I’ve only read the “Funny Rat” thread once, back when it was still a mouse! (P’doom, KSSSHHH!) Not being a fan of the avant-garde, I’ve not read it since then, but the popularity of that thread, the fact that it’s still going strong after eight months and two-thousand-plus posts tells me that the avant-garde is alive and well; and as long as that’s true, jazz is still alive and well. I tip my hat to you all. But I’m also gonna plug my ears, too!