Soul Stream

I'm not sure how you could resist them. Some of those Blue Note titles are must have and japan only.

Yes, "The Scorpion" is a classic, and one of the best unheraled organ records. Maybe the late date hurt it. But the song selection is great (and a typical Lou set, even to this day), and it's certainly one of Lou's best BANDS (equal to the green/dixon/patton linup I'd argue). I'd LOVE to hear the full recording of this which includes Brother Soul, Bye Bye Blackbird and others. Wish they'd reissue the full night ala' Miles at the Blackhawk. Too bad they only seem to afford that kind of attention to "real" jazz classics.

Tommy Turrentine does deserve special attention. Especially his work on "The Natural Soul" w/Lou Donaldson. That is another example of trumpet/sax/organ masterwork.

Also noticed Julian's on the Ray Charles DVD w/Tina Brooks.

Hey Conn, can't pass up the RVG versions on those organ classics. Think I might would have to wait a while for the domestics.

Yes, I think you're right about Blue Mitchell. He was THE best trumpet player w/organ imho. John Patton's "Oh Baby" is certainly a highpoint for the combination of tenor/trumpet/organ. I do agree that Alligator and Creeper, Say It Loud, ect have a sameness to them. But I would argue that so does Art Blakey's and Horace Silver's groups of certain eras. So, it's not a bad thing for me. Just a winning formula.

just sent you an e mail about the jimmy smith's vol 1 AND 2...

Glad you dug it! To me things like "Midnight Creeper" and the rest of the Lou Donaldson organ catalog represent the best that organ jazz ever offered. That is, those records are real BAND recordings. I love the interplay of horns, organ, guitar and drums. And those guys really are playing together for the good of the song. Sometimes the JOS catalog leaves me flat to a degree. My favorites are always the ones with horns (The Sermon, Midnight Special, Houseparty, ect). The organ trio can get a little, to "organy" for me, (hey and I'm an organ player!). I always dig a horn or two added to the mix and Lou Donaldson ALWAYS does it right. And with Blue Mitchell along for the ride on Creeper, that's just grade A stuff....

....uh...err...where's the guest of honor?

Thank goodness Scotttb, I thought you had gone insane. And yes, I agree the Verve series DOES suck. B-)

The cover art for the series is without question hideous, but is in stark contrast to the high quality of the music. I've also got the Willis Jackson, iirc. This series is far, far, far from "hideous" imho. Yes, like Noj I agree that the cover art isn't all that great. (But, I love this series so much, I've actually grown to enjoy the bad artwork too!) Anyway, any series that starts off with Don Patterson's "The Exciting Organ Of" is awesome. This series has the only CD available versions of some of the best organ (most very, very, very hard to find before this) sessions ever cut. I don't know if I even would recognize the orgiginal LP covers of many of these. I just think 'Shirley Scott Legends of Acid Jazz Vol 1. "The Red Cover"'. I LOVE this series because the music contained within is some of my favorite music in the world.

O.K Noj... Top 25 Obscure Organ Records you must find 1. The Wildare Express "Walk On By" on Brunswick (Reuben Wilson's group) 2. Leo's Five "Spider Burke's Presents" (killer organ group w/Leo Gooden vocals) 3. Wilbert Longmire "Revolution" (Leon Spencer's debut pre Lou Donaldson) 4. Leo Wright "Soul Talk" (w/Gloria Coleman and Kenny Burrell) 5. Willis Jackson "Star Bag" (w/ Trudy Pitts on organ, killer) 6. Don Patterson "Goin' Down Home" (his first solo outing and only Argo..killer) 7. Groove Holmes & Jimmy McGriff "Giants of the Organ" (Live at Paul's Mall 1973) 8. Jimmy McGriff "Where The Action's At" on Veep (Live, nasty Jimmy) 9. Jack McDuff "To Seek A New Home" Blue Note (spacier follow up to Moon Rappin 10. Willis Jackson "Gator's Groove" Prestige (with the great Jackie Ivory on organ) 11. Billy Larkin "Best Of" Pacific Jazz (Greaze-o-Plenty) 12. Mickey Fields "The Astonishing" on Edmar (w/Groove Holmes live!!!!!) 13. Ronnie Foster "Two Headed Freap" Blue Note 14. George Freeman "Birth Sign" Delmark (Don't know who Robert Pierce is, but he kills the organ on one cut only) 15. Lou Donaldson "Cosmos" Blue Note (kind of lame, cept Leon Spencer saves the day with killer solos on "Make It With You" and other cuts make it worthwile!) 16. Paul Bryant "Something's Happening" (Gatemouth Brown in an organ Group!) 17. Johnny Hodges "Rippin and Runnin" (a young Billy Gardner on Organ) 18. Lonnie Smith "Jazz Funk Masters" P-Vine (Lonnie pulls along an all-Japanese group as he overwhelmes them all with the funk live) 19. Jimmy Smith "It's Necessary" Mercury (Jimmy live at Jimmy Smith's Supper Club, killer) 20. Freddie Roach "Mocha Motion" Prestige 21. Don Patterson "Holiday Soul" Prestige (not on CD and I don't know why) 22. Bu Pleasant "Self titled" Muse (Texas Gulf Coast' female organist's only record) 23. Willis Jackson "Ya Understand Me" Muse (W/groove Holmes live 1980, smokin') 24. Leon Spencer "Bad Walkin' Woman" Prestige (not on CD, essential) 25. Charles Earland "Boss Organ" (first solo lp, pre-prestige...killer)

Kind of off the subject, but still hank-related... I get sick of Coltrane at times. But I've never put in a Hank Mobley CD just to eject it 'cause I've realized I'm o'ding on him. He never gets old. Ever. Can't say that about another sax player (for me at least).

...a blue note calender?

I'd list my grease, but it would take a few days. No kidding B-)

Yes Jim, I heard a reference. He seemed to have basically jacked up the highs to give it that usual "shimmer" you hear in things these days. It was so pronounced, on one song in particular the highhat had become the dominate voice! This mastering was done locally and it seems to have given a "local" result. The recording is now being sent to California to be mastered by Joe Gastwirt. Wondered who you liked to use Jim? Jim, how important is mastering to a well done recording? Seems like an opportunity to have the recording altered in a way you don't want. I've heard of people skipping mastering completely. Even one guy I know did this and got an "CD of the Month"-type award from an audio magazine.

I was just involved in a real straight, no-frills recording done at a small home studio. Sounded great. Natural. The guy has great mics a good room and just a plate reverb. The final mix sounded wonderful. After mastering however, it sounded like a bad 80's Springsteen recording.

Yeah, I'm a Lem fan just from his organ dates. I'm unfamiliar with the alto and pianists. Anybody know these guys?

Hey, I've actually been to Stereo Jack's (yes, quite a few times) when I lived in Boston for a couple of years. GREAT place. So, welcome Jack...glad to see you here.

One list is just the obvious alt. media darlings, and the other is so extreme (I don't know 90% of the artists). I mean to start off with Albert Ayler as number one?! I guess I'm so tired of paid music media and their opinions....

Joss Stone? She makes me want to throw up.

Eddie McFadden and Thornell Schwartz. Two guys who could be pretty funky with their jazz.

I don't think we're in danger of running out of WORLDWIDE tape manufacturers. But, just like tubes, they will be manufactured in Russia, China, ect. I don't have any real knowledge of this based on facts. Just a hunch. It's going to make more than just America to kill audio tape. (Thank god tubes are still being pumped out. Seems like they had a purpose beyond the initial one too. Just like audio tape does I believe.)

Yeah, it's funny. You don't think there are THAT many really good organists out there until you start playing one. Then you trip over them every time you turn around. I'll never forget when I moved to Boston a few years back. I walked into a shitty local corner bar by my house just to get a beer. Inside were 2 B3 organists face to face with a drummer and guitarist. These two guys were playing "Pentup House" at an ungodly speed and one guy sounded like Jimmy Smith's illigetimate child on speed (plus he was in his 20's and looked like a movie star). And that was just around the corner from me!!!! Yeah, you think it's a dying art until you look under the rug.

Jim, Red plays every WED. at Django On The Parkway in Dallas.