Big Al

Since the Verve website is useless (and BTW, if anyone can find any contact info on that site, please direct me to it), I've put together what I think is the complete list of CDs in the Verve Originals series. Thanks to king ubu for directing me to past discussion threads about this subject. If you see any errors, PLEASE feel free to let me know. This list was culled together from the aforementioned threads, as well as searches at CD Universe (mainly) and a few other sites whose names escape me. Google helped a lot, too. September 18, 2007 *Billie Holiday - Lady Sings the Blues Ella Fitzgerald - Ella in Hamburg Ella Fitzgerald - Live at Mister Kelly's *Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Porgy And Bess *Gato Barbieri - Ruby Ruby *George Benson - The Shape of Things to Come *Jimmy Smith - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (some of this is available on the Oliver Nelson Mosaic) *Miles Davis - Lift to the Scaffold (Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud) *Oscar Peterson Trio Plus One *Sarah Vaughan - Live at Mister Kelly's *Stan Getz - Getz Au Go-Go (Live) *Wes Montgomery - Goin' Out of My Head October 9, 2007 *Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins *Gil Evans Orchestra - Out of the Cool Johnny Hartman - I Just Dropped By To Say Hello *Oliver Nelson - The Blues and the Abstract Truth *Quincy Jones - The Quintessence (all of this is available on the Quincy Jones Mosaic) *RAMP - Come Into Knowledge *Ramsey Lewis - The 'In' Crowd *Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Lifeline *Sonny Rollins - On Impulse! *Stanley Clarke - Children Are Forever February 9, 2008 Duke Ellington and John Coltrane *John Coltrane - Africa/Brass *John Coltrane - Ballads *John Coltrane - Coltrane *John Coltrane - Live at the Village Vanguard March 18, 2008 Bill Evans - Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.S. and Other Songs *George Benson - I Got a Woman and Some Blues *Jimmy Smith - Live at the Village Gate *Kenny Burrell - Night At the Vanguard *Oliver Nelson - Fantabulous (all of this is available on the Oliver Nelson Mosaic) *Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie *Paul Desmond - Bridge Over Troubled Water *Stan Getz - Jazz Giants '58 *Louis Armstrong - New Orleans Nights (thanks, Swinging Swede) April 22, 2008 B.B. King - Live at the Apollo Grover Washington Jr. - Inner City Blues Ramsey Lewis Trio - Live at the Bohemian Caverns in Washington D.C. Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Vibrations (Amazon lists this, CDU doesn't) Terry Callier - Occasional The Jazz Crusaders - Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes June 3, 2008 Antonio Carlos Jobim - Rio Revisited Antonio Carlos Jobim /Elis Regina - Ellis & Tom Astrud Gilberto - Look to the Rainbow Astrud Gilberto - The Astrud Gilberto Album Astrud Gilberto/Walter Wanderley - A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness Luiz Bonfa - The Brazilian Scene Luiz Bonfa/Maria Toledo - Braziliana *Stan Getz - Getz/Gilberto #2 *Stan Getz w/Laurindo Almeida June 10, 2008 *John Coltrane - A Love Supreme *John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman *John Coltrane - Live at Birdland *John Coltrane - Impressions *John Coltrane - Crescent July 1, 2008 George Duke - Faces in Reflection *Norman Brown - Just Between Us *Walter Beasley *Will Downing - A Dream Fulfilled July 29, 2008 *Return Of The Brecker Brothers Dizzy Gillespie - The Cool World (all of this is available on the Dizzy Gillespie Mosaic) *Dr. John - City Lights *Hugh Masekela - Home Is Where The Music Is *John Klemmer - Barefoot Ballet *Maynard Ferguson - Octet *Milt Jackson - Live At The Museum Of Modern Art *Ramsey Lewis - Goin' Latin *Stan Getz - Sweet Rain *Willie Bobo - Bobo Motion September 23, 2008 *Cal Tjader Plays The Contemporary Music Of Mexico And Brazil *Crusaders - Pass The Plate George Duke - Feel *Grover Washington, Jr. - All The Kings's Horses *Joe Sample - Swing Street Cafe *Lalo Schifrin - Piano, Strings And Bossa Nova *Luiz Bonfa Plays And Sings Bossa Nova *Roy Ayers - You Send Me *Stan Getz - Big Band Bossa Nova *Terry Callier - What Color Is Love October 21, 2008 *Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Goes Hollywood (all of this is available on the Dizzy Gillespie Mosaic) George Benson - Tell It Like It Is George Duke - I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry Grover Washington, Jr. - Soul Box *Jimmy Smith - Hobo Flats (Amazon lists this, CDU doesn't) (all of this is available on the Oliver Nelson Mosaic) *John Klemmer - Arabesque *Little Jimmy Scott - Everybody's Somebody's Fool *Oscar Peterson with Strings - In a Romantic Mood Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Change Up the Groove *Sonny Stitt Sits in with Oscar Peterson *Stan Getz In Stockholm *Walter Beasley - Intimacy Walter Beasley - Just Kickin' It Will Downing - Come Together as One January 27, 2009 *Bud Powell - Blues in the Closet *Gato Barbieri - Chapter One: Latin America *Stan Getz - Dynasty *Grover Washington, Jr. - Feels So Good *Nina Simone - Let It Be Me *Count Basie - On My Way and Shoutin' Again *Louis Armstrong - Satchmo at Pasadena *The Oscar Peterson Trio & Nelson Riddle *Roy Ayers - Ubiquity *Quincy Jones - You've Got It Bad, Girl April 14, 2009 *Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Soul Finger *Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy On The French Riviera (all of this is available on the Dizzy Gillespie Mosaic) *Ella Fitzgerald - Ella In Hollywood *Freddie Hubbard - The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard *Roy Ayers - He's Coming *Gato Barbieri - Chapter Two: Hasta Siempre *Stan Getz - At the Shrine *Terry Gibbs - Swing is Here *Johnny Hodges - Used to be Duke *Keith Jarrett - Treasure Island John Coltrane - Ascension John Coltrane - Kulu Se Mama John Coltrane - The John Coltrane Quartet Plays John Coltrane - A New Thing At Newport John Coltrane - Meditations June 9, 2009 *Gato Barbieri - Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata *Gerry Mulligan & Paul Desmond - Blues in Time Crusaders - Images *Max Roach - As Quiet As It's Kept *Grover Jr. Washington - A Secret Place *Quincy Jones - Explores the Music of Henry Mancini *Oscar Peterson - Plays The Jerome Kern Songbook *Roy Ayers - Virgo Red *Count Basie - Basie Land *Wes Montgomery - Down Here on the Ground August 11, 2009 Gerry Mulligan - Lonesome Boulevard Grover Jr. Washington - Reed Seed Oliver Nelson - Musical Tribute to JFK: The Kennedy Dream Stan Getz - Apasionado McCoy Tyner - Today and Tomorrow Roy Ayers Ubiquity - A Tear to a Smile Quincy Jones - Smackwater Jack Joe Henderson - Porgy and Bess Gato Barbieri - Tropico Dave Brubeck & Paul Desmond - 1975: The Duets *Available at yourmusic.com

Motown got the Washington KUDU albums when he signed with them. The Benson was an A&M/CTI album. Motown and A&M are all part of the same family as Verve now. Did not know that. Thanks!

In addition to those two, these are also slated for the 21st: According to CDU, the following are all Verve Originals slated to be released on October 21: George Benson - Tell It Like It Is Grover Washington, Jr. - Soul Box John Klemmer - Arabesque George Duke - I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Change Up the Groove Will Downing - Come Together as One Oscar Peterson with Strings - In a Romantic Mood Little Jimmy Scott - Everybody's Somebody's Fool Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Goes Hollywood Walter Beasley - Intimacy Interesting that they're releasing some CTI-related titles (the Washington & the Benson). Wonder how they got the rights to those?

It's a good story, but that's all it is. It's "The Dreamsicle" story that's been used on Redford, Nicholson, etc. Sorry to be a poop. That's cool. The story just sounded like it was in line with his personality, so I figured it might be true.

Yup, that's right. Believe it or not, I was fighting sleep while watching (literally trying to keep my eyes open, it's been a loooooooong week) and even this excitement couldn't keep me completely coherent. Wow, two-out rally! That makes the ending that much more exciting! And like I said, show's you how much I was paying attention.

I have no idea if the following is a true story, but it sure sounds like something he'd do:

The computer was shut off but the TV remained on. Helluva finish! I had a feeling it was over when Longoria made that error. Youk on second, no outs..... only a matter of time. Still, Drew's hit even sent shivers down the spine of this life-long Red Sox hater. Seriously, I may hate a team, but I LOVE a good ending, and that one was one of the best!

Holy cow! Who'da thunk they'd tie it?

Well, it's just as I'd kinda predicted. The folks starting with sidewinder and immediately following have already responded, and I imagine I'll hear from Nate in the next few days (I have no reason to believe he won't respond, since he's still around and active). Realistically, I don't expect to hear back from the first four, since none of them have posted anything since June. I figured once sidewinder did his BFT, we'd be back in business. Will keep everyone informed, though.

Sidewinder, I didn't include you on the PM because a) that would've made 13 cc's, and I'm only allowed 12 and b) you stated in the previous thread that you were ready to go.

Mikeweil has graciously consented to let me take over the reins of the Blindfold Test for a while (indefinitely, at least four games ). Here's the list as it stands as of Thursday, October 16: # 60 - Eloe Omoe - August 2008 # 61 - fent99 - September 2008 # 62 - Mr. Bassman - October 2008 # 63 - Claude Bartee - November 2008 # 64 - sidewinder - December 2008 good to go # 65 - Durium - January 2009 good to go # 66 - Nate Dorward - February 2009 # 67 - RDK - March 2009 good to go # 68 - Dan Gould - April 2009 good to go # 69 - Bill Barton - May 2009 good to go # 70 - wordsand sounds - June 2009 # 71 - mikeweil - July 2009 # 72 - EKE BBB - August 2009 # 73 - Dmitry - September 2009 I will send a blanket PM to everyone on the list. Whoever I haven't heard from by Sunday night 10:00 pm US central time will be moved to the end of the list, and everyone else will be moved up accordingly. December is my target date to start discussion on what will be BFT #60. Once the new list is set, I'll figure out a way to start a new Master BFT thread carrying all the links to the previous BFTs. Post any and all questions here. Thanks again, Mike, and thanks especially for heading it up all this time.

Done and done. I'll take it from here!

This list was posted and Eloe Omoe responded on June 30. That was over two months ago. Is the BFT dead? There was little to no response to Thom Keith's BFT, Mike's been extremely busy, and we haven't heard from the August, September, and October BFTers. I hope this isn't the end, as this exercise has been a great introduction to music I would not have otherwise heard. In fact, I'd even be willing to moderate it for a while until Mike's able to take the reins back again.

Point taken Al but isn't it easier to deal with when your pathetic team of embarrassing incompetents settles into where it belongs long before the playoff participants are decided? Instead of, say, making you believe they can win it all until a couple of lame-brained decisions a few days ago changed everything? Well, I am a Cubs fan so I guess I have some idea..... But yeah, I hear ya.

Hey, at least your pathetic team of embarrassing incompetents actually reached the playoffs, unlike my pathetic team of embarrassing incompetents (who wrote the book on the subject) and a whole lot of other pathetic team of embarrassing incompetents who also didn't make the playoffs. Also, your pathetic team of embarrassing incompetents got further than BOTH pathetic teams of embarrassing incompetents from Chicago, both of whom finished with better records than the Red Sox. And let's not forget the pathetic team of embarrassing incompetents from New York. Hell, compared to them a LOT of teams fared better this year. In other words, QUIT YER BITCHIN' ALREADY!!!! Start the 2009 MLB thread now so we can all start griping about how lousy our teams are!

Why Would I Bother

Wait a second.... we now have TWO Roy Williams on this team??? That SO cannot be good.... ehhh, Aggie beat me to it. But still.... just how incompetent is Jerry Jones? How much more damage is he gonna do to this team before he realizes just how little he knows about football? And PacMan's suspension is a joke. Wonder what kind of weasel deal Jerry pulled to get that sentence reduced? Good ol' Jerry: never met a human project he didn't like.

Who says irony is dead? Any arrogance from the side of Red Sox fans had a basis in reality, that reality being the most successful team of the decade. Okay, but what about all those years leading up to the first WS win in 84 years?

Yeah, but you'd think that the Patriots would still be a great team despite the loss of Brady. I know that loss is huge, but a team that won every game EXCEPT the Super Bowl (and I'm also not discounting the notion that that one loss devastated this team beyond repair) still ought to be a good enough team to be able to keep it together. Sunday's game looked like it was being played by a team that looked like lost sheep without their shepherd. I always figured the Pats to be better than that.

Who says irony is dead?

Or non-factors, the way they've been playing recently. Seriously, though, this all falls at the feet of Wade Wilson aka Coach Candyland. Injuries are a part of the game, and while I'm not underestimating any broken bones, at the same time there's a thing called "playing through the pain." The greats did that: Troy, Emmitt, Michael Ervin, etc. Yeah they had their share of injuries, but they also had a coach who not only pushed them, but also gave them a reason to put it all on the field and play through the pain. Coach Candyland doesn't do that. Hell, who can blame Romo for wanting out of this mess for a little while? Would you want to keep going out there knowing your offensive line is one of the worst (if not THE worst) in the game; knowing that you still have Flozell Adams on the line, who not only can't block to save his life but commits more penalties (usually false starts) than is even remotely acceptable; knowing that you're chances of getting killed on every play increase as the day wears on and those bums on the line aren't doing their job? And why aren't they doing their job? BECAUSE NO ONE'S GIVING THEM THE ASS-CHEWING THEY DESERVE!!! That's Coach Candyland's job, Mr. Never Won In The Postseason, but I guess he's no more than another Jones puppet. And we all know Jerry doesn't allow negativity when it comes to his team. Jimmy Johnson knew that. Parcells figured it out as well. It's fitting that the Cowboys will be moving to a new stadium just down the street from that other bastion of mediocrity here in DFW, the standard-bearers for okay-but-never-good-enough, the Texas Rangers, run by that great thinker and positive influence Tom Hicks. Jerry and Tom's offices would be so close, they could compare notes on how to continue to put on a happy face and convince others in the organization to do the same thing. Fuck the fans, what do they know, right? Hey, if we can get Cuban to move the Mavs here (and our mayor is such an idiot he'd fall for it (and finance it with my tax dollars) in a heartbeat), we'd have the Trifecta of Mediocrity. The Triple Threat of Almost!

Tony Bennett & Bill Evans. Unreal.

PM sent on the Trane Quintet box

Helluva finish. Unless you're a Red Sox fan, of course. That had to be frustrating to watch. Sorry, Dan.

12:25 am here in Texas and this thing's still going. Here's irony for ya: in trying to find this game, the cable "guide" says that a movie is supposed to be on TBS right now. The movie? Dumb and Dumber.