jeffcrom

Yes, MG noticed the dearth of records and CDs at my house and took it upon himself to correct the situation - at my expense, of course.

A guilty pleasure: Chick Corea and Return to Forever - Where Have I Known You Before (Polydor). When I was a teenager, this is one of the albums those of us interested in jazz listened to. I had it on 8-track tape. I had mixed feelings about it even back then, but then, as now, I think "Song to the Pharoah Kings" is pretty good music.

Earlier: Bunk Johnson - Early Bunk 1942-1943 (Dan). More rare American Music recordings. Now: Hank Mobley - Far Away Lands (BN)

"Choctaw Blues" from Home by the David Murray Octet (Black Saint)

A full evening of music. There's a music festival going on in the park about a quarter mile from my house; today's headliner was the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. My wife and I walked over and heard about 45 minutes of their set before I had to go to my gig. They're as much a funk band (albeit with a tuba) as a brass band these days - the guitar and drum set keep it from really sounding like a New Orleans brass band. But funk is its own reward, as George Clinton said, and they were good. Then the 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra, in which I play sax and clarinet, opened for the psych/funk/jam band Noot d' Noot at the Star Bar in Atlanta. I like the energy of playing in a rock club, but the sound guys never know what to do with us except make us all really loud. The folks dug us, though. I stayed for some of the Noot boys' show. Even though I play on their first album, it's not really my thing. But it was a fun evening.

Happy birthday, Ubu Roi!

I've always loved the TV Action Jazz album and didn't know there was a Volume 2. Who's on it? Winding down after a 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra gig with: Abdullah Ibrahim: Soweto (Chiaroscuro)

Paul Bley - Turning Point (Improvising Artists); w/ John Gilmore, Gary Peacock, & Paul Motian. Really beautiful stuff.

What a bizarre series of events.

Jimmy Smith - Plain Talk on BN Liberty from 1969, which was the first release of these 1960 recordings.

Okay, has anyone else showed up at the wrong place for a gig? I seem to do this every couple of years. Tonight I arrived way early at the club, only to sense the wrong vibe. I was right - I'm playing there tomorrow night. A quick call home, punctuated by my wife laughing at me, and I was on my way to the correct venue. I made it on time, but I was a nervous wreck. I think it came out in some particularly wild, intense solos. I ain't too bright....

Very cool. I might have to plan a visit. Relaxing before the gig with some clarinet 78s: Boyd Senter (Jazzologist Supreme, according to one of the labels): Eniale Blues/Somebody's Wrong (Okeh black label) Original Stack O' Lee Blues/No More (British Parlophone). Boyd was pretty corny, but he always had good musicians with him - the Dorseys, Vic Berton. Eddie Lang is very good on "Eniale" and "No More." Buddy DeFranco on MGM: Out of Nowhere/Dancing on the Ceiling - With a big band. DeFranco is stunning on "Out of Nowhere." Pennywhistle Blues/Buddy's Blues - A nice quintet with Kenny Drew, Jimmy Raney, Teddy Kotick, and Art Taylor. Mickey Katz: Sin/Herring Boats (Capitol). Pretty silly, but there is some good klezmer playing mixed in with the "comedy."

The Meters The Hawkettes The Neville Brothers

I was in New Orleans last week (they were filming all over the place), and the general feeling is that people are cautiously optimistic about how the show seems to be portraying their city.

Muhal Richard Abrams - Lifea Blinec (Novus)

Dave Tarras/Abe Ellstein - Jewish Melodies (Period). Tarras has become my klezmer clarinet hero, but he's actually not that prominent here; this one is a real ensemble effort. Tarras's son-in-law Sam Musiker, who played clarinet and tenor in the Gene Krupa big band, plays tenor here, and I suspect he did the arrangements.

Joe Daley Trio At Newport '63 (RCA mono). The one with Hal Russell on drums. Found a stone mint copy at the record store a block from my house. My first impression is positive, but I'll have to give it a few listens to really get a handle on it.

That's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time.

Bump....

Keeping the Beat on the Street: The New Orleans Brass Band Renaissance by Mick Burns. I expected this to be informative, but I didn't expect it to be so moving - it was to me, anyway. The "modern" New Orleans brass band scene is explored through interviews (pre-Katrina) with all the important figures, starting with the guys who played in Danny Barker's Fairview Baptist Church band and the Hurricane Brass Band (which turned people on their ear before the Dirty Dozen). Musician after musician speaks with wonder about how lucky he was to grow up in New Orleans. And Jerome Smith, who runs a social club for the young people of Treme, has a powerful interview. His anger over the decimation of Treme by the construction of Armstrong Park and the I-10 expressway almost leaps off the page. Recommended to anyone interested in New Orleans music.

Jimmy McGriff - The Way You Look Tonight (Solid State)

John Carter Quintet - Night Fire (Black Saint) w/ Bobby Bradford and James Newton

You guys have been very helpful with information about some of the odd 45s and 78s I find, so I'm going to the well one more time. One of the 45 RPM singles I picked up on my recent New Orleans trip was Sweet Inspiration/By the Time I Get to Phoenix by Bunky Green on the Met label. It's not earth-shattering, but it's nicely played pop/soul jazz. It's not listed in the Lord discography or in the Bunky Green discography at JazzDiscography.com. Paul Serrano was the producer, and there's a Chicago address on the label. I've included a scan of one side. I have another Met single, by Sonny Stitt - The Very Thought of You/Funny. These were recorded in 1968 and appeared on a Delmark album, but I can't find any evidence that the Bunky Green tracks were issued elsewhere. Any info/insight? Thanks.

Florida Mass Choir - Be Encouraged (Savoy). Picked up this one on the recommendation of The Magnificent Goldberg.

Staying up late, playing some sweet/soulful New Orleans 45s: James Rivers - Closer Walk/Take Your Choice (Instant) With Allen Toussaint and the great guitarist Roy Montrell. Roland Stone - Just a Moment/I Can't Help It (Ace) One of the unsung heroes of New Orleans pop/R & B. Aaron Neville - Tell It Like It Is/Why Worry (Parlo) As perfect a six minutes of music as any I've heard. Bobby Marchan - There's Something on Your Mind, parts 1 & 2 (Fire) Based on the Jay McNeely version, but beautifully performed. Bill Sinigal and the Skyliners - Second Line, parts 1 & 2 (White Cliffs) A little-known, but important recording in New Orleans music history, from the mid-1950s. With Milton Batiste, James Rivers, and Ellis Marsalis. And three by one of the great voices of the Crescent City, Chuck Carbo: Tears, Tears and More Tears/I Shouldn't But I Do (Ace) Promises/Be My Girl (Rex) Second Line on Monday/Meet Me With Your Black Draws On (504). And just before I go to bed, I'm ending with the New Orleans single I would take to a desert island: L'il Queenie and the Percolators - My Darlin' New Orleans/Wild Natives (Great Southern) I miss Little Queenie (Leigh Harris) - she left the city after Katrina. This 1981 single is just perfect - eight minutes of funk/rock/Dixieland bliss, with a great tenor solo by the late Fred Kemp. If "My Darlin' New Orleans" is the last piece of music I hear before I die, I'll die happy.