Jim R

Glad to hear it. It seems that most of us are either happy (in my case, by having successfully downgraded), satisfied, or indifferent. I still think the changes in 11 were a step backward, but at least they're addressing some of the bugs.

HUGE picture window?

Well, I finally took the plunge on downgrading from version 11 back to 10.7, after researching the hell out of it. I found a tutorial that I could follow with no difficulty (and I'm not anywhere close to being a computer geek), and this inspired me to go ahead. It required me to do three (free) downloads (a program called "AppZapper" to uninstall version 11; a program called "Pacifist" to perform a thorough installation of the 10.7 dmg file; and the 10.7 dmg file itself). Everything worked to perfection, and with Time Machine, I was able to restore my media files and the entire iTunes folder contents with a few mouse clicks. The only thing that was "difficult" about this operation was the wait. With over 300 GB of files, it took Time Machine roughly 6 hours to transfer all of my files from our external backup drive. I held my breath when I finished and opened the application, but somehow I knew it was going to work (thanks to the person who created the tutorial), and it did. For anyone who may be considering this (whether or not you have Time Machine, even though it would be more tedious without it), here's a link to the tutorial: http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3415032&pagtype=allchandate

The reason they are saying you need Time Machine (or any type of backup program) is because you need to restore the previous 10.7 version of your iTunes folder (which contains the library files, those were converted when you installed 11). If you installed 10.7 now it wouldn't be able to read the library files, that's why you need prior copies from your backup. Understood, but I'm still in a state of limbo when it comes to feeling ready to try anything. The reason is that even the most detailed tutorials that I find in the various Mac discussion forums invariably leave out some details that a novice would need to understand. People always take shortcuts when listing steps, and make assumptions about how much everybody understands their directions. There are different methods for downgrading back to 10.7, but although the methods that employ Time Machine are a bit simpler, I still haven't found one that I can follow completely. For example, something like: "Step 1: delete iTunes 11 using Terminal. 1) In the terminal, run: sudo rm -rf /Applications/iTunes.app 2) Also in the terminal: open ~/Library/Music". I do have an application called Terminal, which I've never used or even opened, and didn't even know I had. I opened it just to see if I could make sense of these directions, but I couldn't. And I have no idea what "sudo rm -rf" means. And this was one of the better tutorials I found. Anyway, that's just one example. I feel like I'm much closer to grasping the overall process, but threads on those forums are generally inactive, and people often don't return to answer follow-up questions. Even when they do, they invariably continue to fail to explain things in sufficient detail.

I found that drop down and it still didn't work for me. The search function still doesn't access my iPod, it only searches my iTunes library. Maybe it's because my machine is back on Snow Leopard, and not the current OS. I had high hopes that changing that search setting would alleviate my problem, but it didn't. Still bitter over here. Sorry to hear that, Noj. I'd sync mine and see if I could help find any solutions, but I don't want to sync my iPod yet (I still haven't synced it since the "upgrade", and in case I go back to 10.7, I don't want to subject it to anything weird). So, anybody else using Time Machine to backup their Mac data?

Okay, time to step up and admit when I'm (at least partially) wrong. Score one for Shawn and others who urged patience and study... I just found something that tempers my frustration and disappointment (I still think I may go back to 10.7 if it's not too difficult, though). After spending many hours over the past few days seeking info about 11, I just discovered that the search function was not in fact ruined. Going to the dropdown menu under the search window's magnifying glass, you can de-select "search entire library" (not sure why this was set as a default setting when I upgraded), and it seems to work pretty much the way it used to- even finding criteria from multiple fields as I described above, and bringing them up in a list that can be interacted with. I guess tutorials (and just about every damned review I've read) don't have time to get into these kinds of details.

Considering the fact that most of us here have large collections, I'm kind of amazed that nobody but me seems to be complaining about (or just disappointed with) the new search function. As I said, I used it frequently, and it was an amazing tool. The way it worked in 10.7, you could (for example) search for all the versions of "Walkin'" by Miles Davis, just by typing in "Miles walkin". Because I stored personnel data in the "comments" field, I could even add a third element in the search- the name of a sideman. You could just type in the text ("Miles walkin Cannonball"), and every track containing those words would come up in a list (not a dropdown menu), which you could scroll through, sort, edit, whatever. Just an amazing resource, not just to find something to listen to, but to look at things like a discographer, or to edit files as a group. They have almost completely taken that function away now. I miss cover flow like most people who are unhappy with 11, but that's a relatively minor beef for me, compared to the butchering of the search function. I've been on the Apple forums looking for info on downgrading/reverting back to 10.7, and there's one person who is telling me I can easily achieve it by using Time Machine (which we bought along with an external backup drive about two years ago). If anybody here has thoughts on this, I'm still seeking more opinions from anyone who is computer savvy.

Maybe I didn't try hard enough, but that one seems to be Google-proof. I did find out who Lew (don't call me Lou) Darkstader was, but I found no traces of info about this recording.

Thanks, Noj. I read the page you linked to, and I'm in the process of checking the other links. I'm hopeful that I can sort this out, but it's a little scary for a non-computergeek like myself. If not, I may seek professional help... I would pay somebody to get me back to 10.7. This new software is pathetic, and it's going to drive me bananas.

Noj, do you have any idea if it's possible to uninstall and go back to the previous version without too many major headaches and risks? The more responses I read here, the more I regret installing this.

Interesting. I was going to mention Rufus as one of the "vibes" that I felt, even though I knew it wasn't Chaka. James, I hear you re #5. I may have given the wrong impression with my response. I was definitely charmed by the language and delivery, for sure. I guess I was too busy trying to figure out the mystery to bother paying it a compliment. So, on #6, I guess I added a one-letter word to the title? Damn it... SO close! I see that the tune came from one of the few Capitol LP's that I didn't have at some point. It also contained "Non Dimenticar", which is another tune I slept on for a long time. The distorted/multi-phonic (is that a word?) sounds near the beginning of the tenor solo on 8 definitely rings bells for me, but I'm struggling to put a name to it. Pretty sure I don't have the Jug track in my collection. Good stuff. I never got around to "Les Is More". May have to remedy that, if it's not too late (I doubt that it's too late, because I was inspired to go back and listen to "Swiss Movement" earlier today, and it hit me as powerfully as ever). Okay, back to sleuthing...

1. The Mazola tv ad, featuring the unmistakeable Jon Hendricks. Haven't heard this in ages, and… why would I have? And why do I suddenly have the urge to go make some popcorn the old fashioned way? 2. I have to admit to being skeptical at first, with the smooth-jazz-ish elements going on. However, sticking with it and paying attention, I found this to be rewarding in a very groovy retro almost nostalgia-inducing kinda way (for some reason, I'm assuming that the recording isn't that old (...??), but I was reminded- whether directly or indirectly- of several things from the early-to-mid 70's. The vocal arrangement almost sounds like it could be from a Stevie Wonder LP from that era (without Stevie's voice, of course). There's also kind of a "Midnight At The Oasis" vibe going on here for me (probably just for me). Really nice composition, and a nice arrangement. I like the way the singers don't try too hard to impress. Instead, the soprano saxophonist takes care of that. In this setting, I wouldn't have expected this degree of real jazz chops (conditioned to expect otherwise, I guess). The chops, combined with the soprano sound in this general context brings back memories of listening to Gerry Niewood on the "Land of Make Believe" recording with Esther Satterfield and Chuck Mangione. But I digress. I dug this, and I'm glad I stuck with it. 3. This is really nice. This does sound like it's from the 70's, and I feel like I should know who this singer is. I don't think I own this, though. Again, there are elements here that remind me of Stevie Wonder. The backing is also reminding me of The Crusaders. Downright groovy, and I will probably look for this if I don't have it already. 4. I got a Deodato vibe at the top of this, but not so much after the guitar kicked in. I can't say I recognize the recording or the guitarist, but names start to pop into my head... names that I probably never fully explored, but came across many times, like Boogaloo Joe Jones, Melvin Sparks, O'Donell Levy, Freddy Robinson... Can't glean anything from the bari... The overall groove puts me in the mind of Les McCann & Eddie Harris, but that's not a guess. Like it. 5. This isn't Imo Phillips, right? No, of course not. There are similarities in the sound & phrasing at times, though. Anyway, I don't really have a clue. I was expecting more of a surprise at the end (a stronger punch line), so I felt a little disappointed when he just repeated what he had already stated (that he didn't think about Lou during the act). Hmmm... just hmmm on this one. 6. Wow. Oops, I mean WOW! I have a lot of Nat, but this doesn't even sound familiar. WTF? I love great discoveries, but I also hate discovering that I've been missing something like this for so long. I also hate it when I do stupid things, like losing my database to a hard drive crash, or upgrading to a new version of iTunes which now doesn't allow me to search my ****ing files the way I used to. I'm not even sure what the title of this song is ("Win Or Lose"? "I Can't Help It"? ???), so a search would be tricky nonetheless. Oh well, the good news is that this is tremendous, and now I've heard it. 7. Once again, I'm getting a vibe right at the top... this time, the keyboard sound I associate with Brian Auger. I'm not feeling this vocalist, nor the background vocalists, for some reason. Not quite as attracted to the composition here, either (as compared to tracks 2 and 3, for example). This isn't bad, by any means, but just not as appealing as those, to my ears. 8. I'm no connoisseur of this style, but this is pretty hard not to feel/dig. Nice composition, great execution and a strong groove. The momentum is maintained all the way through by the fine soloists. The only thing missing here is not being able to watch the dancers. 9. This is strange... I don't think I could have missed this the first time around, and yet it's not sparking any memories. I have the sense that they didn't let this ad run for nearly as long as some of the garbage we're being bombarded with these days. 10. This is bugging me, just trying to identify the tenor. I feel like I own this. Gotta clear my brain (not hard to do) and come back to this one. 11. The keyboard really reminds me of the sound that Tom Coster got with Santana. Haven't heard this much wah-wah in years. For whatever reason, I'm reminded of some early Larry Coryell stuff I used to have. Not really something that would have been on my radar recently enough to be able to muster much more of a reaction... 12. Sounds like mid-50's...? The singer has a little bit of a Dinah Washington sound happening, but it's not Dinah. Sounds more caucasian, and there's even a touch of a country feel in her voice. I'm pretty much stumped on it, without using the internet to try to figure it out. Was Johnny Mercer involved with this song (if not the recording)? 13. The tune I recognize from the score of "The Aviator", but I've never known what it was. Stan Kenton? I like the tune, which has a haunting quality about it, but the comments are a little bizarre. 14. Ah, recognized this tune immediately. Back in the 70's, I had it on an LP called "Second Movement". Although this was my favorite track on the record, I couldn't have told you what the title was, but I just checked my iTunes library, and I see that it's called "Samia". This live version is a nice treat, and a nice way to wind down at the end of this grueling exercise. Jk, this hasn't been grueling at all, just fun. Thanks for the adventure.

I can't believe this. How could they F up such a good thing? I also just realized that you can't search for an artist and a song simultaneously like you could before. The old search allowed you to enter an artist and a song title together, and quickly find exactly what you were looking for. Now it's either/or, and the results come up in a dropdown menu instead of a list that can be sorted and scrolled. I hope to god they receive enough complaints that they re-design this.

I know- I mentioned that in my first post today. It's not really the same thing, in terms of being able to scroll in cover flow. Plus, it involves more effort to open the new window and manually resize the image. Aren't upgrades supposed to make things more convenient? The re-designed search function is really disappointing me. It used to be that you could just enter a word (a name, a title, whatever), and a grouping of everything containing that word would automatically come up as a group that could be sorted, edited, played, etc. Now, results come up as a drop-down menu where you can only select one result. It's now less useful, less convenient... a big step backward.

In case any of the real Mac experts show up here, I'd be curious to know about the possibilities of uninstalling version 11 and going back to the previous version. I've tried searching for info on this, and it looks like it might be messier than it's worth, but I'm open to ideas.

Over the years, I've conditioned myself to just go ahead and update my Mac's applications whenever I'm prompted to do so. As mentioned above, this sometimes requires adjustments (literally and figuratively), but I've rarely run into any major hurdles or felt any real regrets about doing so. Today, I've just installed the iTunes (version 11) update, and I'm feeling a little bit regretful. I know I can adjust to this, but it's so goddamned disorienting when they re-design the interface to this extent. As per usual when designers tweak things, they seem to have removed some nice features and options. I'm literally just beginning to test this out, but here are a couple of observations (which you can also take as questions, in case you have ideas or solutions). The first thing I noticed right out of the gate is that when viewing the music library, they have removed the "cover flow" formatting at the top of the screen. At the moment, I see no option for restoring that. There are now five headings for viewing music: "songs", "albums", "artists", "genres", and "radio". I don't see how these in any way make it easier to view things, but there you go. Click on "songs", and you get a list layout of everything (with the headings you've set up previously under "view options", which fortunately can still be clicked for sorting purposes). No album artwork, except for a small thumbnail at the very top, adjacent to the player controls. If you click on the artwork, you get a new player window that can be enlarged (as with the old design). So, it seems to me they have only taken away something we had (and gotten very accustomed to), which was cover flow. In addition to this, I no longer see the option for changing the view layout (list, grid, etc). Wtf? Again, they have taken away. When you click on the "albums" heading, you get a grid layout, which is organized alphabetically by artist (under the "view options" menu, they can only be organized by title, genre, year, or rating; and secondarily by title, artist, year and rating). When you click on an album, a horizontal bar comes up with tracks and timings. The odd thing is that the background color of the horizontal bar is automatically taken from the main color of the album artwork, and the artwork itself (to the far right of the bar) becomes slightly blurred. When you click on the "artists" heading, you get a column on the left with a small cover thumbnail and an alphabetical artist list; and a combo grid/list with an album cover thumbnail. Under "view options", this thumbnail is adjustable in size, but with just 5 preset sizes. Far less flexible than the old interface. Okay, now I'm annoyed. I just discovered that the "search library" feature (which has always been the primary saving grace when all else fails me) has apparently been significantly altered. As a test, I just tried it for the first time in this new version, and it no longer searches in all data fields. I have always entered sideman data into the "comments" field, and I could always bring up a list of all the albums that a given player was on. This no longer seems to work. It appears that it now only searches song titles, artists, and album titles. That's all I have (and all I can stand) at the moment. If/when you try this, please share your reactions...

Holly Near Femme Fatale Clyde Crashcup

See post #3.

Wow, not sure what Jim's got against Billie Holiday, but I'm doing my Christmas dreaming a little early this year. Hoping to hear something from the Chipmunks' Christmas album... yeah, that would be almost good. I'll take a download please, any way I can get it.

I had altogether forgotten about the Vuckovich. I was going to mention Jordan, but forgot that it was as part of Art's quintet. That was a nice one. Forgot about Joe Pass, too. I taped a lot of these shows, but I don't think I have many of those tapes anymore. Was there a Jon Hendricks performance?

Off the top of my head, I remember... a Barney Kessel performance, and also (I think separate) show where he was teamed with Herb Ellis. James Moody (quartet, I think) Hank Jones? I know some of these can be found on Youtube (maybe most of them) Guitarist Peter Sprague was another, if memory serves.

paperback writer J.R. Rider a man called horse

Rip Van Winkle Wink Martindale

Photo of Freddie Green's guitar now up on Gruhn's site: Doesn't get much more legendary than this in the world of jazz guitars.