Alexander

For some reason, even though I was born in 1970, I developed this MAD crush on Dusty Springfield when was about 13. I still own the albums "The Look of Love", "Dusty in Memphis", and "Brand New Me"! Anyway, I remember liking "What Have I Done To Deserve This" because Dusty was involved. I think I was the only teenager in the 80s who even knew who Dusty Springfield was!

You beat me to it. I used to watch "Bizarre" when I was a kid. Usually while I was waiting for "Dave Allen at Large" to come on. Anyone ever watch that one? Starred an Irish comedian. Somewhat vain attempt at Pythonesque humor crossed with David Frost.

Yeah! "Centerfold" was an awesome video! There was something about girls with Martha Quinn hairstyles...ouch! I had a customer in the store last night who was looking for a CD by some country singer (she had heard the song on an awards show the night before). She said that she was pretty sure that it was a song, and not just a video. From the way she spoke, you'd think that music videos were a recent invention!

It may be that words like "dick" and "pussy" slip under the S&P radar, since they have other meanings. It's perfectly ok to say "Dick Nixon" or "Pussy Cat" (or even "Pussy Galore", if you happen to be watching a Bond flick) on network TV. I've noticed that over the years "bitch" and "bastard" have become acceptable, as has "ass" (although "asshole" still gets bleeped). "Shit" and "fuck" remain no-nos, however.

Ouch! What do you have against Ratliff?

Re:" Am I Blue" by Grant Green I, too, thought this disc was a bit of a let down when it was RVG'd last year. I still don't love it to death, but it had definately grown on me. I like it best when played over the in-store system at work. It's absolutely perfect in the background. Damning with faint praise, I know...

It is a tough choice, but in the end I voted for Wayne Shorter. Lee and Wayne were a classic "hot and cool" pairing, by which I mean that Lee was an extrovert and Wayne is an introvert. They contrasted nicely (as Miles and Trane showed, contrast can show a performer's strengths to best effect). They made for a killer front-line in the Messengers!

As to the list, I would have put Hank at #1 and Cash at #2. No doubt about it, Johnny Cash is the most important *living* country musician. As with the best artists, Cash's music trancends the genre's boundries. It's great music, full stop. Not just great country music. I love George Jones too, but to me he epitomizes the genre, rather than trancending it. And, excuse me, where the hell in Gram Parsons? I guess introducing country to rock music isn't important, huh? Come on! "Sweetheart of the Rodeo"? The Flying Burrito Brothers? Kickstarting Emmylou Harris's career? Hello! Anybody home? I defy anybody to listen to "How Much I Lied" and not declare it one of the finest country performances of all time. How could they bury Chet Atkins at number 28?

Yeah, I've heard bits of the so-called "Blue Version" too. I agree. As far as Shania goes, the international version is by far the most interesting (which means I'll leave it on for ten seconds rather than five).

The first time I heard him was with Tom Harrell, but he immediately caught my attention. He's on Stefon Harris's "Grand Unification Theory" and has a trio album out on Fresh Sounds - New Talent (The Innocence of Youth). His first album (a quartet with Don Braden on tenor) came out in 1999 on Metropolitan. His playing is fresh and exciting. He's a tremendous talent. I want to hear more from him!

The only thing I've heard Beirach on is "Stan Getz: Live at the Left Bank", along with Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. I'd never heard of Beirach before, but he blew me away! I haven't really seen anything else with his name on it. I'd be interested in hearing these trio recordings.

Count me as a Moran fan. I've enjoyed all of his albums as a leader (although "Soundtrack to Human Motion", which has just gone oop, is still my overall favorite). Very original with a refreshingly new sound. Love him as a side-man on Osby's dates too. I saw him, Osby, and Stefon Harris in Boston a few years ago. Didn't get to talk to Moran, but I did chat with Harris for a few minutes. That whole group of musicians strikes me as very humble, despite the fact that they are among the freshest and most exciting musicians on the scene.

I spent months doggedly pursuing a live Stan Getz CD that I had as a part of a boxed set. It's not ENTIRELY my fault. I had forgotten that it was on the set. I couldn't find any info online (including on the AMG site) that indicated that this set was now available on a boxed set. It was only when it finally arrived in the mail that I knew that I had heard it before. I wound up giving it to a co-worker...

I've only heard a couple of albums with Hersch, but what I've heard I really like. He's definately a good'un.

Similar in what way? Guitar records? Jazz interpretations of spirituals? Albums with Herbie Hancock as a sideman? What? I agree that this is a terriffic album. One thing I've always loved (can't remember which tune its on now) is that Herbie Hancock sneaks in a quote from "It Ain't Necessarily So". For those who don't know the lyrics to the Gershwin tune from "Porgy and Bess" (I can't imagine that anybody *doesn't* know, but it's possible), the chorus goes: "It ain't necessarily so...the things that you're liable to read in the Bible, they ain't necessarily so..." To quote that on an album of spirituals seems witty in a very nasty way, and I've always relished it.

I am! It's kind of like a book club, except with music, and Oprah's not involved... By the way, I'm home sick today, and I thought it would a great opportunity to work through a small backlog of CDs I've accumulated over the last month or so. Well, wouldn't you know it, I feel so sick that I don't want to listen to anything new! I HATE when that happens!

I think I went to high school with that guy...

I'm *not* a youngster, I love good music, and I actually like Ben Folds! His vocal style takes some getting used to, but he's very witty. He's kind of a Gen-Y Randy Newman... Then again, I kind of like Eminem too...

How is that Heath Brothers disc? I've been thinking about that one...

That Hamilton/Pizzarelli disc is fantastic, isn't? I'm surprised that someone said that the selection wasn't as good as last year. I actually think that it's quite a bit *better* than last year. More recent titles! I'm really enjoying the two Potter discs I got. I did order another shipment earlier this week. The Albany store should be receiving another 200 discs any day now.

I saw Osby and Moran with Stefon Harris in Cambridge at the Regattabar several years ago. It was actually presented as a "triple bill". The first set was under Stefon's leadership, the second set was a trio featuring Moran, and the thrid set was a quartet led by Osby. Same group all three times, they just shuffled the personnel around. The show in Buffalo sounds very cool, though. I grew up there, and I always loved going to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Every time I go back to visit my grandmother, I swear up and down that I'm going to hit the Art Gallery, but I never seem to have time. I also used to love going to the Historical Society (not far from the Art Gallery) and the Science Museum (on Humbolt Parkway), although the Science Museum kind of went downhill during my childhood (ironically, as they tried to modernize it. I liked it better when it was all old and decrepit. It had more character). Enjoy the show! Sounds great!

Technically, you can only return an opened CD when it is damaged, and then you have to exchange it for an undamaged copy. I'm kind of a soft touch, though (don't spread it around), and if you are *really* unhappy with the CD, and you bought it recently (the day before, usually) I'll sometimes look the other way and let you exchange it. I do *not*, however, give cash or credit refunds for opened items. Exchange only! I'd really have to dislike something to even consider returning it. If it's just not my thing, I'll usually trade it at a used store, which is what I did with the Haden and the Freeman.

Only five, huh? Damn, that's hard... Herbie Hancock McCoy Tyner Kenny Barron Jason Moran and either Brad Mehldau or Matthew Shipp...I just can't choose! I can't put Iverson on the list because I've only heard the one Bad Plus album, and while I love it, I need to hear what else he can do. I'd also like to include Jacky Terrasson, but I can't...I like him, but not more than the above listed gentlemen. He'd make a top ten, though. That's for sure. I'd like to put Dave Kikoski on the list, but how can one bump Herbie, McCoy, or Kenny? I can't, so I won't. But Kikoski gets and honorable mention from me, anyway. I'd also like to give an honorable mention to Sam Yahel, who is one of the most exciting *keyboard* players to come along in years. He does play piano in addition to organ, but I've never heard him do it (except for the electric piano he plays on "Elastic"). Also, must give a shout out to Andrew Hill! He'd be number six on my top ten...

At the very least, the popularity of the Mulligan quartet showed that it was possible to perform jazz without a chordal instrument (all small groups prior to the pianoless Mulligan quartet, to my knowledge, had either a piano or a guitar). It invited further exploration. Moreover, Coleman had spent time on the west coast during the heyday of the Mulligan group, so it is certainly not impossible to suppose that Coleman had at the very least listened to Mulligan and profited by his example. I suppose it is possible that Coleman would have come to this conclusion on his own, without Mulligan's example, so I concede that you are right about my statement being a little strong. I meant to imply that Mulligan's band with Baker was an important one, and that it's influence was felt outside of "Cool" circles. There is a tendency (and I'm not accusing you of this) to assume that any and all developments in jazz have been made by African-American artists. As I'm sure you know, there are jazz demagogues who dismiss the Cool School out of hand: The music was too laid back. Not enough fire. It was, some would suggest, too WHITE. I'm certainly not suggesting that Coleman copied Mulligan, or that Mulligan is somehow more important to jazz than Coleman because he had the pianoless quartet idea first. And I'm not accusing you of reverse racisim. I just don't think that the idea that Mulligan could have influenced Coleman is so very far fetched. I also seem to recall reading in passing that Coleman *did* listen to and *was* influenced by Mulligan's quartet, although I don't remember the source at the moment. Any Coleman experts care to weigh in on this topic?

I was going to do a post on this very subject. Many stores (including mine) will be getting in more of these CDs (the sale is up through April), so you might want to consider going back to see if any new titles have shown up. We did this sale last year too, and between the two years I must have added more than 50 CDs to my collection! In the last two weeks, I've picked up CDs by the following: Chick Corea Gary Burton Allen Farnham (with Joe Lovano!) David Frishberg Scott Hamilton Andy LaVerne Susannah McCorkle Walter Norris (I've gotten four of his CDs, one with Joe Henderson) Chris Potter (two of these) Steve Wilson Jesse Davis Bruce Forman John Pattitucci Shelly Manne Victor Feldman All are at the very least good, and most have been excellent. Certainly more than worth a four dollar investment! B)