Big Al

Boy oh boy, now that I've read everything else, I can see I've still got a LONG ways to go before I can even consider myself something of a jazz snob. And even if I'm wrong about 2-5, I still stand by my guess. I KNOW I've heard this before!

Not having read ANYTHING in this thread, I humbly present my guesses: DISC ONE Track 1: Sounds like Illinois Jacquet to these ears! Wild and raucous! I love it! Track 2: Haven’t a clue. I’ll probably kick myself for not knowing this one, but I can’t say I’ve ever heard it before. Track 3: This album convinced me to shell out the cash for the Sam Rivers Mosaic, as well as further investigate the catalog of Andrew Hill. An inspired choice! Track 4: I almost gave up too soon on this one. Then the sax solo kicked in. I think I’ve heard this one: is this Ken Vandemark? Don’t know who the drummer is, but I’m pretty sure I heard this on KNTU a few years back, and e-mailed them about it. Track 5: Something wild going on here! Can’t wait to find out who it is, cuz I don’t have a clue! Hey, can I trademark the following for “haven’t a clue:” HAFC™. I will say this, though: these cats have stamina to burn! Almost puts me in mind of Cecil Taylor! Of course, I say that without having heard anything of his beyond Unit Structures! Track 6: “The Water is Wide?” Rosemary Clooney? Just guessing, of course. Sure is nice, though. Oops. The male singer just started. HAFC™, then! I gave up around the 4:30 mark. Track 7: I’ll guess something by Eric Dolphy, with Ron Carter on cello, from that New Jazz album Dolphy did. Out There, or something like that? Track 8: HAFC™, again! Track 9: No one, but NO ONE, has as distinctive a sound as Johnny Hodges! You don’t even have to know the song (as I don’t) to know….. Er, ahhhhh, hang on, I’ve heard that chord before!!! I’ve heard that chorus!!! Wait, wait, I KNOW THIS!!!! AAAARGHHH!!! I’m gonna KICK myself for forgetting this one!!! Oh wait, I remember now: a very Shakespearean tune! There! Now I don’t feel so dumb! Except that I forgot the title of the song. Oh well, I’ll go back and listen to the album once I’m done typing up all this! Track 10: A classic track from probably my favorite period of this man’s career, and very definitely my favorite album of his anyway! Truth be told, the first time I heard this album, I had to do a double-take: I thought it was Dexter Gordon, and had I not already known who this was, that would’ve been my guess! Track 11: HAFC™, but it’s so FUNKAY!!!! DISC TWO Track 1: Sounds like Elvin at the drums, but beyond that, it’s HAFC™ time again! Another one I can’t wait to find out about! Track 2: Seems like I’ve heard this tune before; I guess this is some kinda vocalese thing. NMCOT™. Track 3: NMCOT™. I’m only about a minute into this, and I’m not much for vocal music to being with, so I think I’ll skip the rest of this track. But the arrangement sounds like Claus Ogerman. Track 4: Sure sounds like Bobby Hutcherson to me. Perhaps that one track from Tony Williams LIFETIME? Cuz that sure sounds like TW. But then, I had that LIFETIME, and I remember that track being a lot longer. So I guess it’s from another Hutch album. Track 5: This sounds like Phil Keaggy, who is my favorite guitar player. If it isn’t, then maybe it’s Michael Manring, one of PK’s influences. But this sounds like something from Keaggy’s 220 album, or maybe his On the Fly album, or heck even the Premium Jams CD. Who knows? It‘s been so long since he‘s put out a decent vocal album; but then, when you‘re as good a guitar player as PK is, who needs vocals? Track 6: HAFC™, but verrrry interesting indeed! Perhaps the Headhunters without Herbie Hancock? Cuz that sure sounds like Bennie Mauppin on bass clarinet! Actually, the more I listen to this, I wanna say CTI-era George Benson. Just has that CTI sounds: Ron Carter bass, Airto percussion. Track 7: AAAAAARGH!!! I know I’ve heard this before!!!! But where?!?!?!? Herbie Mann maybe? I gave up around the 8-minute mark. More because I can’t wait to read the “guesses” thread than not liking the song (which I do like; I’ll finish listening another time. This tune would be good for one of those long drives down a country rode or thru the Hill Country. It has that kinda groove!). Track 8: HAFC™, again! Nice, though. Track 9: Sounds like something from Ornette on Tenor. Another one I haven’t listened to in ages. Track 10: WTF?!?!?!?!? NEXT!!!! Track 11: Sounds like Johnny Griffin on the tenor, Art Taylor on drums, something from the 80’s I guess. Has a nice sound to it! And it's "A" Train, of course! Now to read everyone else's guesses and see if I've come even close on any of these!

Speaking of that.....

NFL and CBS claimed they had no idea that an MTV-produced halftime special would turn out the way it did. What rock do THEY live under?

I was expecting something more like THIS... Or this....

At least this brings the vote down a bit...

Maybe John Lennon was wrong after all....

If past comps that I've gotten from the Man are any indication, this oughta be a helluva disc!!!

Groovy! Thanks for the info, Jim! I wonder if the title of the reissue was tongue-in-cheek, given how roundly Monk’s Blues was panned?

I wish I knew! I’m pretty sure it was an original issue of some sort (not a reissue), cuz I remember it had the Columbia 360 Sound label on it. And it was a 2-LP set as well. Like I said, I’m only going from memory, but you’d think that AMG or some other jazz discography would list it!

Here!

Amen to that, and peace to you and your family. Thank you for sharing your time with us, and allowing us to help you through this time. You and your family are still in my prayers. aL

The local library used to have this LP, and I checked it out once, but I don't remember anything on it. I just remember it was a 2-LP set. But I can't find it at AMG or the Jazz Discography site. Does anyone know which session I'm thinking of, and was it ever released or re-released?

Did any of you guys pick up This is Billy Mitchell last year? Sure some GREEEAZE on a few of those tracks! And even the tracks without the organ are fine and dandy as well!

I think my local Barnes & Noble has it. I'll find out and report back.

Well.... I'm not that much in a rush to get 'em! Thanks again for the good vibes though! I just checked my order and it said that as of January 28, the order status was unknown. Maybe it's time to call 'em......

And I'm still waiting to see if mine will ever ship!!!!! SHEESH!!!

Dang! Yours already shipped? I placed my order on Wednesday night for items that were "in stock," and my order is still "in process!"

KISS gets greeeeazy!

I know it. I don't have anything on this set, and the more I read about it, the more I want it. Looking at the Mosaic webpage for it doesn't help matters either! B)

WOW!!! I gots to check this out!

Tom, My thoughts and prayers go with you as well. Have a safe trip. aL

Spinnin' the disc right now, and it certainly deserves its place among the bigger names on the list! Hopefully, years from now, jazz writers will be listing WFTBS as one of the most powerful debut albums!

If it doesn't, you have a nice warm place to stay down here, complete with CD player to play all your nice new Mosaics.

It looks as though Verve may have finally gotten it right, pricewise: one can pre-order it from CD Universe for $9.09. For that price, it may well be worth waiting for the new version.