mikeweil

Clay's discography is clear evidence that he's underrecorded. That debut LP was marvellous! Here's all I could find (CD issues): A+M CD 5258 - Don Cherry - Art Deco Amazing AMCD-1021 = Meteor CDMT 023 - David Newman - Return To The Wide Open Spaces Antilles 422-848279-2 - James Clay - I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart Antilles 314-510724-2 - James Clay - Cookin‘ At The Continental Blue Note CDP 7 84440-2 - Lawrence Marable - Tenorman Fresh Sound FSRCD 195 - Lorraine Geller - Memorial Heads Up OXCD3017 = 101South Records 7128-2 - Joe McBride - Grace Milestone MCD-47065-2 - Wes Montgomery - Alternate Takes Milestone MCD-9252-2 - Wes Montgomery - Encores, Vol.1 Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-089-2 - Wes Montgomery - Movin‘ Along Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-158-2 - Red Mitchell - Presenting Red Mitchell Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-1075-2 - James Clay - The Sound Of The Wide Open Spaces Original Jazz Classics OJCCD-1790-2 - James Clay - A Double Dose Of Soul Personality PRS 23007 - Ray Charles - Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul Vogue 655018 - Frank Morgan - ? LP only: Soultex SLP-10181 - Roger Boykin Contemporary C-14024 - Billy Higgins - Bridgework Jazz Mark 104 - Paul Guerrero - Texas Tenors

I dunno, but I noticed the influence of Tony's new heavy drumming style was all over the progressive rock scene after "Believe It" was out.

Yes indeed. I've always felt this is why Mason never recieved the props he was obviously due. It seems it was his own choice to make a career as a studio musician - before he joined the Headhunters he was with Gerry Mulligan and George Shearing. He does jazz sessions once in a while - there is a nice one with Ron Carter "When Skies Are Grey". His last release as a leader was a straightahead trio record - I started a thread on it when it came out but it was largely ignored. Check it out, it's a good record.

I've seen the band live with Mike Clark around the time Thrust was released - Herbie did some kind of snake charmers' act with a remote control of his synth during Chameleon - trying to make a show. If you hear that on the live recording without seeing him, it sounds like he was out of ideas. It was a rather weak show part, compared to what rock acts did at the time, and also compared to the musical fireworks the band displayed in other numbers.

You've hit the nail on the head here ... that's exactly what it sounds like! And that's perhaps the reason I like it.

Bruyninckx lists a late 1961 session by Art Farmer and unidentified sidemen for Argo - the tracklisting duplicates much of the Perception LP. I can't find any mention of this session in the notes to the Mosaic box - any explanations or info on this session? Thanks, as always.

Some of it may have been recorded only months before its release, some suggests the latest stylistical developments in Herbie's music. But Shiftless Shuffle was done not only with the Headhunters LP personnel - it was done without overdubs! Imagine the Headhunters album with only the basic tracks, Herbie on Rhodes and clavinet only, and you get the picture. Mason is a genius at the drums - a very competent jazz drummer as well. The funky stuff sounds light and elegant, not heavy handed, when he plays it.

.......Of course the 'Shiftless' on Mr Hands would have been a much later (1980?) recording. The idea of an earlier take is intriguing. Considering the success of the original album one would have thought Columbia would have released an expanded edition (or Headhunters II) if there was unissued material. What makes you so sure - just the release date ca. 1980? The album liner didn't give any recording dates, nor do the discographies. Personnel and sound are identical. I guess Bob Belden just didn't want to touch the legendary Headhunters album, or he didn't know or care or wasn't allowed.

That's Uhuru sasa - Swahili for "freedom now".

Strange thing is, they recorded Tolliver's "The Ringer" in the same studio with the same engineer, probably immediately before or after, and it sounds a lot more balanced ....

I suppose "Shiftless Shuffle" which was released on the "Mr. Hands" album is one of them. An amazing track, with Harvey Mason not making any prisoners .....

One time, I was on a Boeing 757 flight to DFW and when we came in, the pilot just floated the thing down onto the runway. It was so smooth, the whole plane broke out into applause. The flight attendant came on and said, "And after that beautiful landing by Captain Hornblower, welcome to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport." Damnest thing I ever saw. The pilot was out shaking everyone's hand as we left. I still don't know how he did it. I mean, it didn't even feel like the plane was slowing down, never mind touching down! It was a piece of work. So far I have only three flights under my belt, but on one of them - returning from a Bulgaria vacation - the landing was so smooth I hardly noticed. Applause breaking out there, too. Rewardedly so.

Is this the 'big box' version? AFAIK there never was a big box version of the Dexter Gordon - they stopped using LP sized boxes a few years ago.

Which label did the legit release?

I was at their Frankfurt outlet yesterday and only the Mulligan Mosaic was on display on a shelf, but all were in stock when I asked - I bought the Basie and the Farmer/Golson - the very next customer got himself the Farlow and a second I couldn't identify as fast as they were going ..... No trace of the diverse Fantasy/ZYX boxes.

That's what it was!

To me it sounds like an improvised solo - no similarities to anything Herbie recorded before or after. BTW - "the spook who sits by the door" is an alternate (first) title for "actual proof" from the "thrust" album.

Sorry I'm late, but nevertheless: Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Hope you have enough time to enjoy all the nice Zweitausendeins boxes ....

Much too young indeed! RIP. I saw him twice with the VAO - he was bad! and a great high note squealer!

I sincerely hope the roof will not cave in before the piece is finished - this is so slow noone can sense it, so what's the use, except for philosophical accuracy? Cage always underestimated the sensuous side of all music, IMHO.

The Farlow and Farmer/Golson Mosaics cannot be located on their website at all - no matter if I try the names or the order # ..... I will try my luck at their Frankfurt shop later today. Can afford only one or two, but nonetheless ....

Naw, I don't like that chorus LP - Jack de Johnette drums on most tracks, and didn't have one of his best days. I actually like the Hill albums with Chrous better - there is an innocent looseness that reaches me. I blame Keepnews for not recording that live band. Glad you agree on the "stiff" sound - partly due to Fantasy Studio's sound concept and partly to the fact that they were strict studio projects, IMO.

RIP - the Stormy Monday album has given me so many hours of pleasure ... sad news.

Yes they were not recorded very well - but that sound is logical to me, given the raw quality of that music. They had to make some weird adjustments of a multi-track machine for the CD transfer, as the original tape machine was gone - it must have had some bad azimuth maladjustments. This has to sound that harsh and distorted - I cannot imagine that music with a clean B3 sound - PLAY IT LOUD !!!

Indeed. If Harrer was a diehard Nazi sympathisant, he would have been taken apart by critical German journalists, just like Leni Riefenstahl, Heinz Rühmann, or Luis Trenker. I will watch out for critical obituaries and keep you posted.