mikeweil

I'm tired of reading that blah-blah about the "late" period in musicians' lives, classical or jazz. It only makes sense when someone lived a long life and was not torn out of it by an accident or disease or whatever. There was a development in Coltrane's music, it's evident, and he was headed somewhere, and you can sense it, but we will never know what it would have sounded like, we have only hints in his last recordings. Joachim Berendt once wrote a whole book (in German) about the "mystery of the late works" - it was rather mislead due to his superficial knowledge of the life and works of classical composers, and sank without a trace. I'm also tiredof reading judgements about Trane's last rcordings in comparison to his earlier work - some are content to elaborate on what they started out with, some others move on, like Trane. I read But beautiful and thought it was a nice book to give someone outside of the jazz fan scene an impression of the jazz life. Take it as fiction closely based on biographical facts. Dyer was boosted by Keith Jarrett's raving comments about the book - maybe that's his mistified view of the jazz scene, now that he is more or less removed from it at the top of the game. The German translation of But Beautiful was a catastrophe, btw.

He who loves Monk will want to have it all, anyway, after a while ...

James Harrod is the one to ask about that series - AFAIK he has documented all the shows. Don't hesitate to send him an e-mail.

Same here. AFAIK the Columbia two disc set includes the complete concert, three sets, two big band, the middle one in a quartet setting with a Monk solo for openers, and all tracks were restored to full length as the first LP issue had all the bass and drums solos edited out. The monk quartet and Thad Jones and Phil Woods are the only soloists. If I could take only one Monk album to the desert island it would be this one! The only Columbia Monk not yet reissued in expanded form is the Brandeis University concert, part of which was on "Misterioso", and probably some live material from Mexico. I have given up on this, I must say.

Looks like this is to accompany the new book on the Blue Note label: Similar combo as the Verve book and singles collection ...

The list of "jazz" musicians on R&B records of the 1950's is very long ..... a considerable number played regular gigs in these bands, many of which have already been mentioned. Saxophonists, in particular ... George Duvivier knocks out a great beat on some Wynonie Harris tracks, with Specs Powell on drums. Even Coltrane played with Earl Bostic, as did Teddy Charles, or the Tuurentine Brothers.

I hear ya, Paul ...

My criteria: 1 - completeness 2 - great comprehensive discographical information 3 - clear booklet layout that's easy to read 4 - I prefer recording order For #4 I was a bit disappointed by the Monk Prestige set as it does not present the tracks within the sessions in recording order. But it's great to have the music all in one place. I have many that I love, too many to list them, no real standout. Not even one that I pull out more often than the others.

Why not write it yourself?

George Shearing Errol Garner George Duke Didn't know about The Quota - Jimmy Heath, that must be nice to listen to. I love his tunes, and his sextet writing on his Riverside LPs. Billy Taylor Fritz Pauer

Ironically, the Red Garland is the one I never got to hear ... "Auf Wiedersehen" was its title. There was an impressive array of pianists in the MPS catalog. Oscar Peterson Jaki Byard Earl Hines Hampton Hawes Barry Harris Milt Buckner Clare Fischer Wolfgang Dauner Hank Jones Joachim Kühn Red Garland who else? Tete Montoliu Eugen Cicero Martial Solal Francy Boland

I'll pass the Artie Shaw, never wa much of a clarinet fan.But I might go for the Hamp before it's too late .....

What I really love about the Elvin Jones Blue Note sessions is his frequent addition of a conga player and percussionists to the band - and good players, like Candido, who really anchored Elvin's wailing solos. That multi-percussionist album, one of his last, with Omar Clay and others, Jan Hammer and Gene Perla, is a cherished favorite of mine.

Those Buckner LPs are nice, they groove like mad. MPS / Saba had a deal with Prestige for a while, Don Schlitten even produced a number of LPs for them, all worth hearing.

It sounds a lot better now, indeed .... on my ...

It may seem unlikely for a German music fan, but the very first LP I ever bought was "The Spirit of '67" ... I had heard some of their singles on the rado, liked 'em, and that album was the first I could find. None of my classmates knew that band - I always went for something different. I always liked the groove of US bands better than that of British groups, the Rascals were my favourite, for their blue eyed soul tinge, but rock-wise, it was the Raiders. I might still have that LP ... R.I.P.

Happy Birthday, and hang out there, buddy!

I know, as soon as I have the time I will update the list - I'm sorry, but I'm very busy with my day job at the moment.

This arrived here on Thursday, enjoy it a lot.