jazztrain

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.

The "Harry Carney and the Dukes Men" session is from 1960.

Here's a dentist (Ron Odrich) who can also play: http://www.parkaveperio.com/staff/odrich.htm

Spanier also wrote the tune "Oh, Dr. Ochsner" to honor his doctor at the Touro. How about "Bellevue for You" (Pete Brown)?

Go here: http://www.jazzdisco.org/trane/dis/c/ Search for "Giant Steps" and other tunes of interest.

Garth: Buddy apparently has a recording session set up for next month in New York: http://www.buddydefranco.com/itinerary.html

Chuck is right. There's a lot of material from the box that was not reissued on CD. Looking through the LP box set, my recollection is that the following sessions were not reissued on the Keynote CDs: George Hartman and His Orchestra. March 14, 1941 date. Lionel Hampton Sextet with Dinah Washington. December 29, 1943 date. Benny Morton Trombone Choir. May 30, 1944 date. Pete Brown's All Star Quintet Featuring Kenny Kersey. July 19, 1944 date. Billy Taylor's Big Eight. August 1, 1944 date. George Hartman and His Orchestra Featuring Frank Froeba. September 27, 1944 date. Cozy Cole and His Orchestra. February 2, 1945 date. Willie Smith and His Orchestra. May 2, 1945 date. Milt Hinton and His Orchestra. July 6, 1945 date. Irving Fazola's Dixielanders. October 19 & 24, 1945 dates. Bud Freeman and His Orchestra. November 15, 1945 date. Bud Freeman's All Star Orchestra. December 5 & 10, 1945 dates. Babe Russin Quartet. February 20, 1946 date. Manny Klein All Stars. February 22, 1946 date. Babe Russin Quartet. March 8, 1946 date. Herbie Haymer's Orchestra. March 30, 1946 date. Clyde Hurley and His Orchestra. April 3, 1946 date. Marie Bryant. April 29, 1946 date. Ann Hathaway with Ellis Larkins and His Orchestra. June 20, 1946 date. Gene Sedric Orchestra. December 11, 1946 date. Bernie Leighton Quartet. August 9, 1946 date. George Barnes Sextet. September 20 & 23, 1946 dates. Danny Hurd Orchestra. October 15, 1946 date.

My recollection is that material from the session was issued on four EPs issued by RCA in Sweden and also in Germany. I tracked down all four of the EPs (a mix of the Swedish and German issues) many years ago and also the LP reissue on RCA Camden CAL 9 which, upon closer examination, appears to be a German issue ("Made in Germany" stamped in the run off groove area and mention of Germany but not Sweden on the label). The English liner notes state that "Originally released on four EP records Camden now offers the complete batch on one LP record." However, despite this claim, the LP only contains six of the eight sides originally issued, omitting "All the Things You Are" and "Blues for Ava." The Gazell CD issue contains all of the material originally issued along with an alternate take (shorter than the original and with a vocal by Tony) of "Blues for Ava." For those who are interested, the back cover of the Camden CAL 9 LP shows pictures of other LPs in the same series: CAL 1: Towa Carson and others (very small print). My Fair Lady / Annie Get Your Gun. CAL 2: Lars Lonndahl. CAL 3: Mats Olsson Piano and Rhythm. Cocktails for You. CAL 4: Arne Domnerus Quartet and Orchestra. CAL 5: Hans Wahlgrens Orkester. Far Jag Lov? CAL 6: Bentgt-Arne Wallin. Isn't It Romantic. CAL 7: Inger Wikstrom. The Washington Concert. CAL 8: Towa Carson. CAL 9: Tony Scott Quartet. Swingin' in Sweden. CAL 10: The Many Faces of Svend Asmussen. CAL 11: Domnerus / Wickman / Theselius. Golden Fifties.

Check out Dave McKenna's album "A Celebration of Hoagy Carmichael" recorded right in Bloomington. I have a fondness for Hoagy's own version of "Moon Country" with some beautiful Jimmy Dorsey (available on the Timeless CD). I love that Sheila Jordan version of "Oriole." Not long ago I played another version I really like--the one Helen Merrill does on her Milestone album with Dick Katz. Thanks much for the suggestions.

David: Many years ago (must have been six or seven, during his centenary), I devoted the better part of a year on my show to Hoagy's compositions (except for Stardust, which I still mean to do at some point). I'll see if I can find the old playlists to jog my memory. What other songs are you thinking of covering? I remember that Keith Ingham did an album (Star Dust Memory) that had some performances that you might want to consider for use. - Jon

Dave: The original label was ABC-Paramount, not Impulse. At least parts of the similar album where he overdubs on alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones were issued on CD by GRP, but I think you're correct in the "Four Alto" record not having been reissued.

Van: The issue boils down to the use of low power wireless transmitters. They are supposed to have a very limited range, but there is a suspicion that many of the devices used in conjunction with satellite radio receivers in automobiles exceed limits on power and range with the result that they interfere with FM reception in nearby vehicles. Here's a far more detailed article on the problem: http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/spe...RF_mods_2.shtml