Peter Friedman

1984 - There were very few jazz CDs available. I did find a few Pablo (Japanese) CDs which were among the very first I acquired. There were many more classical music CDs around, and as I had just purchased my first CD player, I stocked up on those. This resulted in my re-awakened interest in classical music. I had listened to a lot of classical music in the 60's, but drifted away from it after that until the CD era came around.

Billy Taylor made a number of important contributions to jazz. Not only as a piano player, but as a commentator on the Sunday Morning television program, and as a key person behind the Jazz Mobile Program that took jazz to the people and provided great music at no cost to the listener. I recall seeing free Jazz Mobile Concerts in Rochester,New york a number of times and they all featured top level musicians from (primarily) New York City. i will play one of his CDs to honor him.

The Rushing / Brubeck session is a very good one. I like pretty much everything by Jimmy Rushing as well as Brubeck recordings on Fantasy and Columbia. Don't care much for most of the Brubeck things after Desmond was no longer part of the group.

A major contributor to recorded jazz. R.I.P.

Marcello, Were these from the gig at the Roundtowner Motel in Rochester, NY? I lived in Rochester at that time and heard this all women's group one evening at the Roundtowner Motel. The music was very good.

I had the opportunity to spend time with Jack Tracy while attending jazz events in California. Jack was a very nice guy and had been heavily involved in jazz as editor of Down Beat, jazz writer, and record producer. jack produced many many excellent recordings over the years. Jack was a regular contributor to the current Jazz West Coast List online. Peter F

I quite like the cd on Timeless of David Newman & Marchel Ivery.

Dave Brubeck & Jimmy Rushing

I like Sal Nistico a lot, but didn't care for this tune or solo. Much too frantic for my taste. Lacked musicality (whatever that is?). Just playing very fast with out telling a story. One man's opinion.

Pee Wee Russell & Thelonious Monk Pee wee Russell & Jimmy Giuffre Steve Kuhn with Pee Wee Russell & Henry "Red" Allen

Another elder statesman of jazz has left us. The numbers are shrinking rapidly. James Moody was a wonder jazz musician. I am glad I had the opportunity to see/hear him live a number of times. R.I.P.

A lot of very good ones have been mentioned already. Here is another trio date I especially like. Tete Montoliu Trio - The Man From Barcelona - Timeless with George Mraz & Lewis Nash

I agree that this is a good one. Coincidently I was just listening to "Art Tatum - I Got Rhythm,Vol.3 (1935-44) on a Decca CD. This CD has a mixture of solo, trio, and small group tracks. Two tunes that I especially enjoyed were by a small group consisting of Joe Thomas(tp),Ed Hall(clt),Tatum,Billy Taylor(b),Eddie Dougherty(dr) from January 1941. Both these tracks are good examples of Tatum fitting in well with horns.

My favorite Art Blakey and the Messengers band is the one with Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, and Doug Watkins. The runner-up choice would be the one with Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, Jymie Merritt or Reggie Workman. The band with Jackie McLean and or Johnny Griffin and Bill Hardman is underrated. That band was hard swinging though a bit rough around the edges.

I was living in Detroit back in the late 50's and early 60's. Heard the George Bohanon / Ronnie Fields Quintet play quite a few times. I recall drummer Bert Myrick as a solid player. If I remember correctly (?) that group played for quite a while at a club called The Congo Lounge. Reading about this brings back many memories of listening to live jazz regularly back in that period in Detroit.

Just ordered 3 more CDs from Smalls Live: Neal Smith Quintet Ryan Kisor Quintet Steve Davis Quintet

I have always liked the music on the Fresh Sound CD, but do agree that the sound is not the best.

Though I can't identify the musicians, I am positive the tenor player is NOT Harold Land. The tone and phrasing don't sound (to me) a bit like the way Land plays.

Claude Williamson's early recordings were very much under the influence of Bud Powell. A bit later he incorporated some influence from Hampton Hawes too. As has already been mentioned a few times, Claude's Fresh Sound CD - Live At The Jazz Bakery would probably be my first recommendation. Williamson must be quite popular in Japan as he has recorded many trio dates for Venus and Interplay. All of them make for good listening, in my view, but I would go for the Jazz Bakery session first.

I really enjoyed that tune . Jimmy Knepper was a marvelous trombone player who deserves, in my opinion, to be considered among the very best modern jazz trombone players. The solo by Lew Tabackin was also excellent.He is a highly creative player with a big tone and a swaggering style that swings like mad. Both Knepper and Tabackin are favorites of mine. I know that some here don't think much of Tabackin, but I am not in that camp.

All my choices have already been mentioned except for J.R. Monterose. The others already mentioned I would select include Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Wardell Gray, Tina Brooks, Carl Perkins, Sonny Clark, Charlie Christian.

I am reminded a bit of the way Coleman Hawkins played at the last period prior to his death. Personally I see nothing positive about experiencing an artist's music when he has declined to the point where he has become just a thin shadow of his former self. I think Larry's commenr about seeing Bird's autopsy photos is on target.

Very sad to hear Hank play so poorly. Duke Jordan played a fine solo though the piano deserved to be burned,

I never was particularly interested in Shearing until about 15 years or so ago my friend John Norris took me to see him live at The Montreal Bistro in Toronto. He had Neil Swainson on bass and Reg Schwager on guitar. Can't recall the name of the drummer. There was a delicate chamber music feeling to the 2 sets I heard. The group interaction was wonderful and the rich harmonies were beautiful. Though by no means was it hard swinging jazz, the solos by Shearing and Schwager were delightful. Following that live encounter I picked up quite a few of Shearings recordings on Capitol, Sheba, MPS, Concord, and Telarc. While I wouldn't want to listen to Shearing every day, I now find his music very enjoyable when I am in the mood for the mellow chamber jazz approach.

99.8% of my listening is on CD's. That includes both the house and the car. My house is filled with CDs in almost ever room. Also I have some form of CD player in almost every room at home. I have LP's but never listen to them. I listen on my iPod only during my morning walk and when away from home on vacations.