jazztrain

Waller, for the most part, did not choose the music recorded at the "Rhythm" sessions. My understanding is that he often saw the music for the first time at the recording session and put arrangements together wtih his group on the spot. Admittedly, much of the material was fluff. Part of the fun is seeing (or should I say hearing) how Waller skewers and makes fun of the material.

Immortalized on vinyl with recent technology? How about shellac? I hope he didn't write the blurb...

A few I like that haven't been mentioned yet: Willie "The Lion" Smith and Don Ewell. Grand Pianos. Dick Wellstood and Dick Hyman. Stridemonster.

PM sent on Evan Christopher.

Some of sides by the Louisiana Sugar Babes (1928) include Fats Waller on organ and Garvin Bushell on clarinet.

Coincidentally, I received an e-mail (to which I have no access at the moment) yesterday indicating that Sathima Bea Benjamin plans to make all of her recordings available in a digital format (presumably via download?) later this year. I'll post the information later if possible.

My favorites by Collette are "Nice Day" and "Man of Many Parts." Both were recorded for Contemporary and are (or were) available as OJCs. I enjoy his clarinet playing which is clean and almost polite at times but also recognizable in part due to its understated quality. The title track to "Nice Day" is particularly pleasant. Collette also appears on and solos occasionally on other Contemporary albums by the likes of Barney Kessel, Red Norvo, and Lyle Murphy. His dates with Chico Hamilton are also worthwhile. The two "Swinging Shepherds" albums on Emarcy are less memorable (unless you're a big fan of jazz flute -- each has several flutists) except for their distinctive covers.

Not to be confused with the tune of the same name "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" written by Buddy Bernier and Jerome Brainin and recorded by many jazz musicians (as some of my listeners may know based on a recent program...)

Marsalis Music Honors Alvin Batiste is his first recording in ten years. There are 10 songs totalling 64 minutes. The songs are Batiste originals except Skylark. Only eight of the ten songs are Batiste originals. "I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone" is a Buddy Johnson tune.

The Hep label has just reissued the Stuff Smith and His Onyx Boys sides (with some previously unrealeased airchecks) from 1936-1937. This is essential material, and one expects that the transfers would be better than those on some previous reissues.

In that case, here are a few more off the top of my head: Coleman Hawkins / Buck Washington Coleman Hawkins / Freddy Johnson Bob Wilbur / Dick Wellstood Kenny Davern / Dick Wellstood Houston Person / Bill Charlap Joe Temperley / Dave McKenna Dick Johnson / Dave McKenna Gary Foster / Alan Broadbent Paul Desmond / Dave Brubeck

Perhaps it sounded better back then because there was less talk. AM radio turned into "talk radio" years ago and largely left music behind. My recollection is that the radio industry made a big deal about the superior sound quality that was possible with FM radio. Also remember that most of AM radio is in mono. On the other hand, my understanding is that many FM stations use an unnatural amount of compression to make their signals sound louder or "punchier" than they would otherwise. This comes at the expense of a more natural sound that would normally be possible and introduces some distortion.

Peter: There's still another one of Pee Wee with Alex Welsh: "Pee Wee Russell with The Alex Welsh Band" on Jazzology JCD-322.

If it's "Pee Wee Russell in England" (Jazzology JCD-355), it's not a big band. It's Pee Wee guesting with the Johnny Armatage Band at the Manchester Sports Guild on October 17, 1964. It's been out for a while (I got it a few months ago). It was my first new Pee Wee hit in a few years. The band is: John Armatage(d, ldr), Ray Crane (t), Pete Strange (tb), Cyril Keepher (ts), Archie Semple (cl), Collin Bates (p), and Dave Green (b). Sandy Brown also sits in on clarinet on one selection (all three clarinetists solo on that one) that's listed as "Untitled Blues" but which is the tune "Midnight Blue" that Pee Wee recorded earlier on Swingville. The music is fine. The notes are less than helpful, indicating that Semple takes the first clarinet solo on those titles on which there are two solos. My listening led me to other conclusions in some cases.

I haven't listened to the file, but from your description it's probably: Benny Carter and His Swing Quartet, as recorded in London on June 20, 1936. Benny Carter (ts, t), Gene Rodgers (p), Bernard Addison (g), Wally Morris (b), George Elrick (d). Carter solos for 96 bars on tenor sax and for 16 bars on trumpet. It was originally issued on Vocalion with "Waltzing the Blues" on the other side. What are the label and number? Are there matrix numbers in the wax?

PM sent.

Confirmation. According to the review in Storyville 129, VLP 59 contains the following: Louisiana Sugar Babes: Willow Tree (-1); 'Sippi (-1); Thou Swell (-2); Persian Rug The Devillers: Mediterranean Blues; Hallelujah!; Zulu Wail; You Don't Like It, Not Much Jack Teagarden Orchestra: Junk Man; Your Guess Is Just As Good As Mine Andrew Iona Novelty Four: Hula Girl; Paahana; Keko; That Lovin' Hula Merle Johnston's Saxophone Quartet: Baby, Where Can It Be?; Do Something; Always In All Ways; It's A Great Life Washboard Rhythm Kings: My Silent Love; Hummin' To Myself

Chitownjazz: Persian Rug appears to have been reviewed in Storyville 129. I can check the review tonight for details and get back to you.

That title is an abomination. God, how I hate those "Has/Have ... Will" titles. Who came up with this idiocy that keeps rearing its ugly head again and again? And now in the NYT? Good grief. How about this from 1957: Have Gun, Will Travel: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050025/ Yeah, I know. And this. And ... I give up. To add a final coffin nail: How about HAVE DRUMS, WILL TRAVEL by Mickey Sheen? (on the Herald label)? Must have been released around the same time (1957). (Nice cover, though...) Not dead yet. Try this one for Have Guitar Will Travel: And another: Have Horn Will Travel

That title is an abomination. God, how I hate those "Has/Have ... Will" titles. Who came up with this idiocy that keeps rearing its ugly head again and again? And now in the NYT? Good grief. How about this from 1957: Have Gun, Will Travel: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050025/ Yeah, I know. And this. And ... I give up. To add a final coffin nail: How about HAVE DRUMS, WILL TRAVEL by Mickey Sheen? (on the Herald label)? Must have been released around the same time (1957). (Nice cover, though...) Not dead yet. Try this one for Have Guitar Will Travel:

That title is an abomination. God, how I hate those "Has/Have ... Will" titles. Who came up with this idiocy that keeps rearing its ugly head again and again? And now in the NYT? Good grief. How about this from 1957: Have Gun, Will Travel: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050025/

How about Keter Betts and Skeeter Best? I never can keep them straight.

Is there any confirmation that these four Al Cohn albums would be on the select issue? I can't find anything on the Mosaic website yet. There must have been several of us urging Mosaic to do this, since I had suggested an Al Cohn RCA box to Scott Wenzel a few years ago.

Medjuck: I heard the story as well. I believe he referred to "felonious" monks.

Mike Jones used to live in the Boston area. I recall that he reminded me of Dave McKenna (who had a long playing engagement at the Copley Plaza at the time) in some respects.