Peter Friedman

I personally don't care for his Atlantic dates, but do like the two on Impulse. I would also recommend "The Hub Of Hubbard" on MPS, and "Minor Mishap" on Black Lion. Don't recall if "Here To Stay" on Blue Note was mentioned, but it's a good one with Philly Joe Jones on drums. I very much like Dexter Gordon's "Doin" Alright" on Blue Note with Freddie Hubbard in good form as a sideman.

Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Kenny Barron, Horace Silver, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Sonny Clark, Cedar Walton, Carl Perkins

A couple of good CDs with Idrees Sulieman. Idrees Sulieman Quartet - Now Is The Time - Steeplechase 31052 with Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, Billy Higgins Red Mitchell Quintet - Chocolate Cadillac - Steeplechase 31161 with the very good Swedish tenor player Nisse Sandstrom, Horace Parlan, Rune Carlsson(dr)

I am an early riser and most often play classical music with my first cup of coffee before breakfast while reading the first section of the New York Times. At breakfast - typically my wife's homemade Granola with fresh fruit and yogurt and a second cup of coffee - I play jazz but usually something like piano trios, the MJQ, Zoot Sims, etc. That early in the morning I am not ready for Jackie McLean, The Jazz Messengers, Coltrane, or the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. After breakfast that changes.

This is also a nice one that I have on CD: Red Rodney - Yard's Pad - Sonet 698 This was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden in March 1976 with Arne Domnerus, Bengt Hallberg, Red Mitchell, and Ed Thigpen. Red's early Quintet date on Argo has the added plus of some fine tenor sax by Billy Root. Red has 2 CDs on Steeplechase "One For Bird' and "Red Snapper". They have Dick Oattts on saxophone, Garry Dial, Jay Anderson and John Riley. Finally I can mention a 1975 session on the Blue Jack label titled "Red Rodney/Herman Schoonderwalt Quintet. It was recorded in Holland with all Dutch musicians including Nico Bunink on piano.

The MJQ provides a good illustration of the diversity that exists within "Modern Jazz". Though Bags sounds great with piano players such as Cedar Walton, the blend he gets with John Lewis, Percy heath and Connie kay is something very different and beautiful. The piano playing of John Lewis has a highly identifiable and individual quality to it not found in the playing of most jazz pianists. Just yesterday I played one of the MJQ CDs in my collection and thoroughly enjoyed it. In my view, the MJQ has been an important part of the jazz scene and it's contributions have greatly enriched the listening environment.

Jack - There were actually 2 CDs issued from the "Live At Sandy's" sessions. Arnett Cobb and The Muse All Stars - Live At Sandy's - Muse 5558 (8 tracks) Live At Sandy's - 32 Jazz 32149 (8 tracks) 4 tunes appear on both CDs. Here are 3 worthwhile Arnett Cobb CDs that have not yet been mentioned. Arnett Cobb Is Back - Progressive 7037 Arnett Cobb/Jimmy Heath/Joe Henderson - Tenor Tribute - Soul Note 121184-2 Arnett Cobb/Jimmy Heath/Joe Henderson - Tenor Tribute Vol.2 - Soul Note 121194-2

Fielder elevated Mobley over Sonny Rollins in the development of the Hard Bop period - 1950's. That strikes me as revisionist history and , in my view incorrect.

Interesting coincidence that I just had pulled this CD by Svend Asmussen off the shelf and put it on the stack of things to play. Svend Asmussen - Prize Winners - Music Mecca with Kenny Drew, N,H.O.P., Ed Thigpen

I recall seeing the Horace Silver Quintet at the Sutherland in Chicago in the year 1957. Blue Mitchell. Junior Cook, Gene Taylor and Louis Hayes were in the band. The music was exceptional. I enjoy "In Pursuit of the 27th Man", but the other Silver recordings from the 1970's don't do much for me.

I have this CD and it's quite enjoyable. Major Holley and The Joe Van Enkuizen Quartet - Major Step - Timeless SJP 364

Sorry to hear this sad news. Eddie Higgins was a fine jazz piano player.

Back in the mid- 1950's when I was developing my interest in jazz, I got a copy of The George Wallington trio session on Verve and also the Live At Cafe Bohemia LP. I loved them both. Have been disappointed that the Wallington material on Verve has never showed up on CD. I do have a CD reissue of the Bohemia date as well as most of the other Wallington sessions from the 50's. Haven't been able to find the Wallington trio material originally on Vogue.

Clifford Jordan - Summer Serenade from Live At Ethyl's

I have these two Mickey Tucker CDs on Steeplechase. Both are quite interesting. Blues In Five Dimensions with Ted Dunbar,Rufus Reid,David Jones Hang In There with Greg Gisbert,Javon Jackson, Donald Harrison,Ray Drummond,Marvin "Smitty" Smith

This is a CD I can easily recommend. Gianni Basso & Guido Mansardi Trio - Live at Down Town - Splasc(h) Recorded in 1994 in Milan, Italy

I am a serious record (CD) collector and have been for more than 50 years. Having been involved for so long I have accumulated a lengthy list of recordings by many many musicians that I like. If I feel highly positive about a musician I usually try to get everything I can by that player. So for example, I have just about everything by Miles until he changed in a direction that was not to my taste. I am close to being a completist on a large number of jazz players.

I have these 3 Red Richards CDs on Sackville. LULLABY IN RHYTHM DREAMY These 2 are solo piano sessions. As John Norris accurately states in his booklet notes, "Still evident in Red Richards playing is the bustling energy of Harlem's Renaissance period as well as the quiet understatement of a musician who has found a style which complements his own personality." On DREAMY, Red adds his charming vocals to two of the 15 tracks. ECHOES OF SPRING This is a quintet session. Red on piano and vocals is joined by Norris Turney on alto sax, Claude Williams on violin and vocal, Dave Green on bass, and Joe Ascione on drums. Only 3 of the 10 tracks have vocals. All 3 CDs feature a well rounded selection of tunes.

I have "Walking in L.A." on Elabeth from 1980, with Hemmeler, Ray Brown, Shelly Manne: a wonderful straight ahead piano trio recording. Another nice one is "Easy Does It" on Elabeth, a trio recording from 1981 with Ray Brown and Daniel Humair, mainstream piano jazz at its best. It is a shame that Hemmeler did not record more often. I found that one a while ago (after having posted here), of all places at Mediamarkt in Sihlcity, on sale... fine disc indeed! It seems to be on deezer and on iTunes, as well as still available on CD. Fine album! As you can see from the back cover, Stephane Grappelli sits in on one tune. That's the one. Never would have dreamt of looking for jazz cd's at Mediamarkt though... I can strongly recommend the following: Live In Paris (Challenge), a twofer with Heyn van der Geyn and André Ceccarelli Live in Japan (Cam Jazz), a twofer with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron Ballads (CAM Jazz) also with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron I consider Pieranunzi to be a fine jazz pianist. However, he seems to be , in my opinion, two very different players. Some of his CDs are very ethereal to the point where I find them rather dull and unswinging. On the other hand, some of his CDs are melodically and harmonically rich and to my ears truly delightful. Here are the ones I particularly like. Special Encounter - Cam Jazz Ballads - Cam Jazz Live In Paris - Challenge Infant Eyes - Challenge Alone Together - Challenge

Marvelous!!!!!! Griffin, Wes, and Solal all in top form.

Probably my favorite playing by Ron Carter is in a sideman role on this album. Bobby Timmons - The Soul Man - Prestige This is a quartet session with Wayne Shorter on tenor, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Shorter's tune "Tom Thumb" , and these two tunes by Ron Carter - Ein Bahn Strasse" and "Little Waltz" are all special favorites of mine.

Brownie said it perfectly for me when he said that music was not a hobby, but a passion. I began collecting jazz recordings back in the mid-1950's and have never stopped. Over the years I have branched out into blues and classical music too, though jazz is my first and greatest love. I have close to zero interest in any form of rock, pop, country or world music . I did make the switch from 45's to LPs, and eventually to CDs back in the mid-1980's and now have a very large collection My acquisition rate has slowed down a bit as there are fewer things being released that appeal to me. Nonetheless, I am always on the lookout for new releases or reissues that do fit into my areas of interest. I always seem able to find some that make their way into my collection. One thing I do to at least make an attempt (however minimal) to keep my collection under some control is to every so often identify some recordings that no longer interest me the way they may have when I purchased them many years ago. They go into what I call my disposal boxes.

Peter Bernstein had a very interesting CD released not long ago. It's a trio date titled MONK on the Xanadu label. Peter's approach to Monk tunes is rather unique and well worth hearing. I had an opportunity to hear Bernstein play live a couple of years ago at a Jazz Party and he was highly impressive. At this point, Peter Bernstein is one of my favorite living guitar players.

Billy Higgins plays on a very large number of sessions where the leader is Cedar Walton. You can't go wrong with almost any of them. Here is just a brief sampling of other post-Blue Note recordings with Billy Higgins that I would recommend. Tete Montoliu - Secret Love - Timeless Junior Cook - Somethings Cookin' - Muse Slide Hampton Quintet - Roots - Criss Cross Frank Morgan - Lament - Contemporary Jon Mayer - Round Up The Usual Suspects - Pullen Rob Schneiderman - Smooth Sailing - Reservoir Bertha Hope - In Search Of...Hope - Steeplechase Milt jackson - The Prophet Speaks - Qwest