Peter Friedman

I had a very large collection of LPs. I bought my first CD player in 1984 and from that point on began collecting CDs. Over a number of years I began selling off most of my LP,s usually for high prices. At present my CD collection totals many many thousands. Initially I was skeptical of streaming and was concerned about audio quality. I eventually became aware that the audio quality of streaming greatly improved. Also I had reached the age when I needed to think of downsizing and figuring out how to dispose of my CD collection. So rather than acquire any more CD's, I began to get involved in Streaming. I signed on to Apple Music and have access to a huge inventory o jazz (and classical music which I also enjoy). So now I stick completely with streaming though do play some of my CD's now and then.

Michael Weiss played one night in Tucson,AZ last winter. He was with a good local bassist and drummer. He was terrific. Hard swinging and highly interesting solos. My wife and i were in the first row. Weiss is one of the jazz piano players I have liked a great deal for a long long time. First saw him live with Johnny Griffin when I was living in Rochester,New York back about 35 years ago. Am looking forward to his new release.

I did not like Chick or Herbie's fusion things, nor did I like (with just a very few exceptions) the ECM recordings current listening below:

Haydn- String Quartets Op.50/4, Op.50/5, Op.50/6

Yes, both those Dick Collins albums are highly enjoyable. Too bad the he did not record more often before leaving the scene. Though as I recall, he is on one or two albums recorded in Paris with members of the Herman Band and some French musicians.

I am very happy that I have all those Junior Cook albums referred to above on CD. Also we should not leave out the many other recordings on which Junior Cook plays. With - Horace Silver, Clifford Jordan, Louis Hayes, Blue Mitchell, Lois Smith and a few others. A hell of a fine tenor player!

I saw McPherson live spread out about 5 or 6 times over a period of roughly 50 years. He was playing great each time. This is one of his very best albums( in my view), recorded with a Canadian rhythm section.