Peter Friedman

The Bill Evans album with Zoot Sims is not one of my favorites. Something seems to be missing on that session. I much prefer INTERPLAY with Harold Land and Kenny Burrell.

I strongly agree. Wynton Kelly is at his best with Miles Davis, Hank Mobley and many others as a sideman. His own albums are nice, but not outstanding.

Jimmy Knepper played great with Mingus, but he was no slouch on his own dates. Those interested might want to check out: Jimmy Knepper in L.A. (Disco Mate LP - reissued as a Japanese CD on 3D) Tell Me ... (Daybreak) - "Nearer My God in G", "I Thought About You", "Nearer My God in G" Dream Dancing (Criss Cross) - "Goodbye", "Of Things Past"" "Hold Back the Dawn" on T-Bop (Soul Note) - co-led w. Eric Felten Primrose Path (Hep LP) - "What Is There To Say", "Latterday Saint" And don't forget the Bethlehem date (another one for the "Bill Evans w/horns" thread...). Sublime! There is another damn fine Jimmy Knepper session. Jimmy Knepper Quintet - Cunningbird - Steeplechase with Al Cohn, Roland Hanna, George Mraz, Dannie Richmond

The Complete CBS Recordings Of Eddie Condon And His All Stars

Just starting the Muddy Waters Chess Box set.

There are recordings on which an unknown player seems to come "Out Of Nowhere" to perform alongside well known musicians. That may be his or her only jazz recording, or perhaps they show up one or two additional times. But then they disappear from the jazz recording scene. The Prestige CD I just played has such a musician. Trumpet player Henry Boozier plays with Milt Jackson, Horace Silver, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke. I suspect there are others many on this board came identify.

Sad news. I have long enjoyed Jimmy Gourley's playing.

Interesting thread. I disagree with about 85% of the comments. I like Jackie McLean's Prestige tone, Harry Allen, Stuff Smith, Stephane Grapelli, jazz organ, Red Mitchell, Bob Magnusson, harmonica(especially blues harmonica),Ken Peplowski, Gene Quill,Phil Woods- even his recent playing! I don't like rock sounding guitar in jazz, electric piano, electric bass, varitone electronics on saxophone or other horns, Bill Frisell's guitar sound.

The Complete Blue Note Art Blakey's 1960 Jazz Messengers

Charles McPherson has been one of my favorite alto players since my days in Detroit long long ago. Many of McPherson's "earlier" recorded works have been posted here. All things of which I am highly fond. But, I want to mention some his more recent CDs as leader. Arguably my favorite is - Charles McPherson - Live At The Cellar - Cellar Live 000726 This is simply a fabulous session that anyone who likes McPherson needs to get. Other recent recordings which are all very good include: Charles McPherson & Don Friedman - A Salute To Bird - Zoo't 2003 Charles McPherson Quartet - Is That It? No, But... - Vega Art 1005 Charles McPherson featuring Steve Kuhn - But Beautiful - Venus TKCV-35331 A very brief memory I have of Charles McPherson. Back in the early 1960's I had a summer job for the City Of Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation. I was assigned to work at a park where there was a lot of basketball playing by neighborhood folks. One afternoon, two guys came over and asked me if they could use a basketball. As a serious jazz fan, I recognized both of them - Charles McPherson and Lonnie Hillyer. I spoke with them and told them how much I enjoyed their music. When they went out to shoot some baskets, I joined them and spent a hour shooting with them. When I saw McPherson live 25 years later I spoke with him and mentioned that basketball incident. As expected, he didn't remember me, but it is something I have not forgotten.

Carmell Jones - Mosaic Select

Complete Master Jazz Piano Series

Roland Kirk as Leader The Mercury Box set has most of my favorite Roland Kirk sessions. Other favorites are : Kirk's Work with Jack McDuff Rip, Rig and panic/ Now Please Don't You cry Beautiful Edith

This was released on CD in Japan a long time ago. I have had it on CD for at least 15 years.

I just received word that saxophone player Joe Romano died from lung cancer earlier today in Rochester, NY. Joe played in many of the major big bands. He was an excellent player on both alto and tenor. Unfortunately Joe only appeared on a limited number of recordings in a small group context.

Yes, but that same sort of variety can be found within most musical genres. Take for example what we think of as "West Coast Jazz". The Mulligan Quartet was very different than the Dave brubeck Quartet which was very different from the Lighthouse All Stars. Mm, but can it be found in Hard Bop? MG Yes, I think it can. Coltrane's "Giant Steps is quite different from Horace Silver's "Further Explorations". Sonny Rollins "Worktime" is quite different from Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil". Andrew Hill's "Black Fire" is very different from the Miles Davis "Bag's Groove" session. Mingus "Ah Um" sounds very different from Art Farmer's "Modern Art" album. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin "Battle Stations" sounds different from Bobby Hutcherson's "Total Eclipse".

It is one of my favorite Randy Weston sessions.

Yes, but that same sort of variety can be found within most musical genres. Take for example what we think of as "West Coast Jazz". The Mulligan Quartet was very different than the Dave brubeck Quartet which was very different from the Lighthouse All Stars.

In looking at Joe Maini's discography on LORD I was surprised to see how the bulk of his recordings were with Ray Anthony. That seems like a strange fit for a serious bebop player like Maini. But I suppose you go where the money can help you pay the rent. It's too bad that a fine player such as Joe Maini made so few small group jazz recordings as leader or sideman.

Hi Mike, I very much liked your 3 previous CDs and was glad to find that you have another one now available. I just ordered a copy from cdbaby. Here in Tucson our PBS TV channel recently broadcast some of the concerts from the Rochester Jazz Festival. I watched the James Moody concert with you on drums. It was a good one. I still recall when you and some friends dropped by my house to check out my record collection. Also the many times you hung out at my table during the record shows in Rochester.

One of the interesting aspects of more than five decades of listening to jazz, and over that time period collecting an extensive library of recordings, is the process of re-evaluation of those recordings. I find that I am sometimes quite surprised when I put on a recording that I have not heard in a long time. Every so often I am amazed at how damn good it sounds. It may have been something I previously enjoyed, but did not consider it to be at the "outstanding" level. I now see that session in a very different light. Other times I discover that a recording I liked previously now sounds dull and uninspired. That one now gets moved to the disposal box. My suspicion is that this is an experience many others have had?

What works for me is to listen to a variety of jazz styles. Though I am an avid fan of Hard Bop, I also listen to a lot of other styles as well. It is not uncommon for me to play a CD by Johnny Griffin followed by an Eddie Condon session followed by a Dave Brubeck album, followed by Johnny Hodges, followed by Jimmy Smith, followed by Buck Clayton, followed by Bill Evans, followed by Louis Armstrong, followed by Charlie Parker, etc. That sort of listening prevents a sense of boredom with a particular formula associated with one style.

The music on Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside, Contemporary, Pacific Jazz, Verve, and a few other labels was what I grew up hearing from the mid-1950's on into the early 1960's as my jazz interest developed and intensified. When certain music plays a vital part of your early jazz experience it is apt to stay highly important to you over the years. Whenever I put on recordings by Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Sonny Clark, Hank Mobley, Stan Getz,Sonny Rollins, Shelly Manne, and other jazz masters of that period I find the experience highly satisfying.

Very sad news. Tony Reedus was a good drummer. I recall seeing him some time ago with Mulgrew Miller.

This is (in my opinion) the cream of the Ike Quebec albums on Blue Note. A damn fine CD.