Soul Stream

I know I sound like a broken record , but there is some unreleased takes from the Blue John session that I'd love to hear. Extension being one(I don't have the BN disc. book). I recognize that some of these sessions didn't quite make an album's worth of useable material. But something like Blues For Lou, though flawed at times enough to see why it wasn't released on it's own, is still one of my favorites. That said, I think 1st session by Grant Green didn't have much to offer as a whole. These unreleased sessions are usually very subpar by Blue Note standards I think, but in the scheme of music more that make the grade for a label like Prestige.

hank's piano intro into Autumn Leaves on Something Else....I mean think what you want about the rest of the brilliant record, but that alone is worth having it(not to mention everything else about the session!) Anyway, I actually like hearing these personal confessions.

Yes, I agree 100%. George represents a musician who's independent in every way. Jsngry...if you liked the Braith Family Singers CD, YOU'LL LOVE BOPTRONICS!!!!! It's a masterwork. A year in the making for George and it shows (his computer went down about 6 months ago and he lost some of it and had to redo what was lost). His arranging of vocal harmony is downright scary. The last track is his composition "Alpines" done totally acapella by himself and the Braith Family Singers....it's AMAZING! Not to mention every track on this thing...I LOVE. His horn playing is...well...at it's peak. I can't imagine what George would be able to do with the likes of "genius" grant the likes Vandermark got this year. Hell, I can't imagine what he would produce with a $10,000 budget for a CD! The fact that he created this virtually on his own is absolutely astounding. The imagination and intent is priceless and more than makes up for the defeciency in sound quality imho. The website is up as of now, but the e-mail can't be accessed by George right now. Dig those pics! The one with Sonny Stitt is priceless (as they all are really).

...just curious...has anyone NOT liked this recording? I always like to hear a dissenting opinion if there is one. Just for balance!

I've always enjoyed Roney. Don't have any of his CDs (hey, I'm still working on Miles ). But I'd like to hear that album. With that lineup, how could you go wrong. He maybe "ghosting" miles, so to speak, but in reality...who ain't? It's on my "to get" list....

Eddie Floyd's all-time greatest is "Get On Up Big Bird" hands down!!!!

I usually find what I don't like today....I can't live without at some point in the future.

Hopefully, one of my local brink and morter stores will have this in stock. However, I think it's a great choice. Criss Cross is ALWAYS good imho and I'm a big fan of Ryan Kisor's work on the label. It's jazz like this that needs our attention as well. Think about this also, getting a board such as this to zero in on an artist like Walter Blanding has got to be a nice boost for a current artist such as himself. Definately might move a few copies of an otherwise overlooked album. As usual, an inspired choice.

Will do B3-er. Honestly, George may have them ready to go now. He was just going to re-mix one last song, and that was as of last week. I'll call today.

Hey everyone. I wanted to let you know that I just finished writing the liner notes for George Braith's new CD "BOPTRONICS". George basically produces these as CDRs himself on his own Excellence Records label. Recorded and mixed on his home computer, George is the most underground of the underground as usual. It will be completed soon and imho is a real monster. Those who are fans of George's work should really try and pick this up. To me, George is an absolute genius, and while the rest of the plastic world turns---George is in his secret harmonic laboratory cooking up the real stuff. George plays all the keyboards, horns and sings. He's aided by guitar and drums as well as his own Braith Family Singers. The vocal harmonies are absolutely amazing, like a jazz George Clinton almost. And his basslines kill. It's truely an amazing record. Like nothing you'll ever hear again. Braith's unique harmonic sense is at times completely overwhelming to me. Also, in a world full of cookie cutter jazz albums, this couldn't be further from the norm. I'll let you know how to get it when George has it ready. The e-mail address on his website doesn't work, so I'll keep everyone posted. ----this is my second set of liners I've written for George. The first was for a CD of his last performance with John Patton, live in Austin Texas just before John passed away. It's also available through George. While not the greatest recording quality or even a very good Patton performance(the pick up drummer was absolutely horrible), it does have it's moments. Some may enjoy it, I certainly do (of course I'm a real Patton and Braith completist ) .

That's O.K. You're not alone. Matter of fact, I think I'm in the distinct minority of people who consider themselves fans of Braith's work. However, that doesn't deter mine extreme, extreme love of his Blue Note recordings.

Here' a quartet that I think would have been a great one together in, say...1968.... John Patton-organ Billy Higgins-drums Lee Morgan-trumpet Joe Henderson-sax

Glad you dig the new avatar B3-er, it's my all-time favorite picture of Patton! That's wild about Shirley trying to get that organ together for the gig. Lord knows the late 70's wasn't the best time to find a nice working B3 on your gig I'm sure! What's the story behind that gig? Was Randy working in a steady trio with them at the time? I'd love to hear what Randy has to say about the whole thing. Playing with Shirley, I'd like to hear about that from a drummer's perspective.

Shouldn't you be damning my ears!

So which ones don't you like Jsngry?

Here's some rarely heard grease for you... Jimmy Forrest, Shirley Scott and Randy Marsh (of Organissimo fame!). "Heart of the Forrest" is the LP and it's some bad, live in the club, shit from 1978. It's rare to hear what these folks were really playing in clubs, especially in this under-recorded time frame. Man, Shirley is ripping it up (pedals anyone?!) and they just don't play like Jimmy Forrest any more. What a treat. Randy does a nice job and really lights the fire under these two. Great stuff. The only problem is the mix isn't very good. Low organ. The drums are dry and upfront. I'd love to hear this remixed and remastered for a high quality CD reissue.

An All-organ perspective.... John Patton-The Way I Feel Lou Donaldson-Alligator Boogaloo

Davis Cup was a letdown for me. As was McLean's "Capuchin Swing." Not bad sessions, they just don't differentiate themselves to my ears to demand repeated listening. Also the Jack Wilson Blue Notes I can live without. The early Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley stuff just pale so much in comparison to both of their great 60's BN output that they hardly ever get played at my house. And my dirty little secret ....I don't listen to Jimmy Smith all that much. I used to, but now when I do, it's almost always his early, early stuff like "Groovin at Smalls" or Vol. 1, ect. I've always like the disciples more than the master...Patton, Gardner, Scott, Roach, Groove, McDuff, ect....

Honestly, I'd love to work in a smoke free environment. I hate smelling of smoke when I come in at 2 a.m. and either have to take a shower or just sleep that way if I'm too exhausted. Plus it gives me a splitting headache the next day if I've been in a really, really smokey bar(which happens not often anymore, but enough to make it a drag.) So, maybe it will turn out better. As for now, in these tough economic times, I'm just afraid things will go from bad to worse.

I've been wanting to find a junker myself and figure it out (almost got an A100 for $40 a couple of weeks ago, but missed it by about half an hour ). It's hard to get up the nerve to tinker with a B3 you've got to play gigs on, or a real nice organ. What the B3 is doing.... Starts off fine, but the volume drops from say 10 to 3...slowly fading out. It seems like it may drop faster if I'm laying on the pedals more or play full organ, pedals and full organ really would bring it down fast. Then if I stop playing it for a few minutes, it will recover itself back up to 10 volume and be fine. Then the whole cycle starts again. I've switched tubes, but nothing helped. I'll let you know what the tech says on Monday.

great to hear you guys got together. always curious as to the real people behind the personas. i'm curious as to how it transpired? do you live close?

So that's the type of people who listen to your music, huh? No, really, I can't see the logic on how a ban on smoking in public places should take away your audience. Eventually, they'll filter back in. Well, I hope you're right. But I've been playing in smokey bars a long time. They're smokey for good reason. The "Nightlife" people I play to... smoke. Plain and simple. I'm not saying all of them, but a good number. They're not affluent, educated people for the most part, just work-a-day folks and people that seem to live on the fringe of society. Let's face it, not many white collars stay out late till 1:30 on a wednesday night(unless it's a strip joint ). If affluent, educated and non-smoking people want to go hear live music 7 nights a week till 2 a.m., I can't wait....

I'm not sure what's wrong. It's not the leslie because I changed amps and it kept dying. Changed out the tubes in the organ preamp, but nothing. Aside from that, but tech skills are horrible...tubes, oil, and an occassional obvious solder is about it for me. I had to call the "man" out for a service call on Monday since I've got problems with my A102 at the house too. Figured I'd bite the credit bullet and kill two birds with one stone. One thing's for sure, I need it fixed, and fixed right, by Tues. I've got residency gigs on tuesdays and thursdays(maybe not for long), so I can't really have it sitting in a repairman's garage for 2 weeks.

i've been quite a few very, very, very smokey bars. To the point where it is obviously a major health hazzard. However, to be blunt, these are usually "working class" beer joints where almost everyone is smoking. I don't think health is on anybody's mind here, they're chuggin' back huge amounts of beer and chain smoking. That's not the kind of place the majority of people who want a ban on smoking care about. What they're basically trying to ban is "nucence(?)" smoking. Like shrugs is talking about, 10 people in a bar of 150 who are smoking. Mildly bothering the few people in their immediate vicinity. Not a health hazzard, just an annoyance in today's bar scence where most people don't really smoke anyway. It bothers me, but not much (and yes I'm even "technically" alergic to smoke)...i'm in a bar! that's like bumming about getting wet at the beach. Until these same people ban alcohol (now we can talk about deaths and money spent), I don't buy their argument. I'm tolerant of many things, smoking and drinking are but two of them.

I had a tough one last night. Right before we hit, the club owner (actually a real great guy) came up and said..."so...more funk, less jazz tonight. Right?" It really took me by surprise since he's usually a real hands-off club owner. However, I've been starting a regular gig there and the turnout has been dismal. So I can't really blame him too much. But it was a drag. Also, it's hard to do when you only have about a 6 funk songs in your set list. Anyway, then we got up and the B3 died after 3 songs. It couldn't be revived, and had to call it quits. REALLY a drag because the club was packed due to a street festival that was happening. I've never had the B go out to the point where it couldn't be revived on the gig. I lost money on the gig because I paid the sidmen the full amount. Also, now I've got some major organ repair coming up. All to be done before my next gig Tuesday. And I have no money. Ahhh.... But for some reason, I'm not too bummed out because I like playing so much. Wish I could have been at YOUR gig B3-er, sounds like a blast. Hope it's a trend!