Peter Friedman

Jazz in Sweden : 1949-1961 - The Legendary Years - Metronome/WEA (9 CD Set)

I have been waiting a long long time for this to become available on CD. It is a terrific date. I had it on LP at one time.

Serious fans of Hard Bop will want to get a copy of this new CD by Rochester,NY drummer Mike Melito. The CD is called IN THE TRADITION and it's a perfect title. Grant Stewart on tenor and John Swana on trumpet play beautifully. Bob Sneider on guitar, Paul Hoffman on piano and Neal Miner on bass also contribute some fine playing. The leader shows what an excellent drummer he is here. I don't recall ever hearing Mike Melito play better than on this recording. The tunes they play demonstrate what the (Hard Bop) tradition is all about. "Junka" by Sonny Clark, as well as tunes by Barry Harris, Tadd Dameron and Hank Mobley are joined by 3 solid originals and one well known standard. This CD is one of the most enjoyable new sessions I have heard in a long time. It should be available from CD Baby.

So many many versions and not ample time to go back and review them all to select just one or two favorites. It is a tune i very much like.

The Complete Blue Note 1964-66 Jackie McLean Sessions

I remember seeing Freddie Hubbard with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers at THE MINOR KEY in Detroit in 1961. I really liked his playing as leader and sideman on many Blue Note albums from the 1960's. His recordings on Impulse and Riverside from that same period are also things I highly enjoyed. Most of his later recorded work was not as satisfying (in my view) as his earlier sessions, though there were some exceptions. Hubbard has been an important part of the jazz scene for about 50 years, and I am saddened to hear of his passing. R.I. P.

Terrific holiday music. Thanks for posting this.

Two tunes played by Dexter Gordon top my list of favorite individual tracks. The Christmas Song - Prestige Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Columbia When it comes to complete CDs, these are ones I particularly like. An Uptown Christmas - Uptown (Barry Harris,Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Walter Davis,Jr., Frank Wess, Al Cohn, Sahib Shihab,Carl Fontana, Johnny Coles, Jack Sheldon,Charlie Rouse etc.) Niels Jorgen Steen Quintet - Bebop Christmas - Storyville (Bob Rockwell on tenor sax) Dave McKenna - Christmas Ivory - Concord Jazz Rob McConnell and The Boss Brass - Big Band Christmas - Concord Jazz Jim Galloway & Jay McShann - Jim & Jay's Christmas - Sackville

When reading the booklet for the 2 CD set JOHNNY GRIFFIN/SAL NISTICO/ROMAN SCHWALLER - THREE GENERATIONS OF TENOR SAXOPHONE I saw that the piano player - Paul Grabowsky - was born in Lae, New Guniea , but raised in Australia. That got me wondering how many other jazz players were born in locations not even closely associated with jazz? Any suggestions for other unusual birthplaces for jazz musicians? By the way, Grabowsky plays very well on this session.

Scott Robinson C-melody Sax on "Melody From The Sky" Jimmy Giuffre plays Baritone Sax on "Lennie Niehaus The Sextet" Maynard Ferguson plays valve trombone on "Bud Shank and 3 Trombones" Med Flory plays baritone sax on "Dave Pell Octet Plays Again" Sahib Shihab plays alto Sax on "Curtis Fuller And Hampton Hawes With French Horns" Barney Wilen plays alto sax on "Art Blakey Paris Jam Session" Mike LeDonne plays Hammond B-3 on "Smokin" Out Loud" Don Thompson plays vibes and piano on "Ask Me Later" Richie Kamuca plays alto sax on "Charlie" Don Menza plays alto and baritone sax on "Hip Pocket"

I am currently listening to volume one/ disc one on THE COMPLETE NOCTURNE: JAZZ IN HOLLYWOOD SERIES box set.

The John Young Trio session titled "Serenata" was reissued on a Delmark CD. It has Victor Sproles on bass and Phil Thomas on drums.

I recall seeing Kenny Cox play a number of times back in the mid '60's when I was living in Detroit. Am sorry to hear that he is no longer with us. R.I.P.

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