CJ Shearn

I dunno Jim, listening to the track now, it sounds fine to me

I picked up the set the other day, I actually think Wayne's playing is pretty good, the resequenced set order of the original album makes for a more enjoyable listen I think over the French reissue.

I think I saw the webcast for one of the shows. It was very good, Elvin played an really long solo with mallets that was amazing on a half hour tune, "The Truth" maybe?

Golt the album today, very nice. I dfidn't realize "107 Steps" was a Bjork song, my friend Daniel is crazy about Bjork's stuff, I've heard a lot of tracks he sent me and quite a bit of "Medulla" at B&N the other day, but I gotta say, I don't really like her even if she is very unique, however I do like Watts "107 Steps".

I have no idea why their dated April 2003 maybe thats when he wrote them and they did the mastering and everything, just a guess. And no, I don't think you're being unfair about Wayne's playing at all, I see your point about his playing seeming quite mild.

GregK, scroll up to my post from August 1st, I hope that could provide some info as to Wayne not sounding that great.

wow, sounds like an exciting listen.

Anyone hear this one yet and care to offer an opinion? I just ordered it off CDUniverse, I really like Watts' debut "Citizen Tain" and saw that the new live album has Kenny Garrett, which is definitely a plus.

Picked it up this afternoon and just finished listening. Very nice album, "Gloomy Sunday" is very nice as is "The Lonely Swan". Last all ballad album I listened to was Michael Brecker's "The Nearness of You" and to be honest, after holding on to it for a year and a half maybe I sold it, b/c from all concerned, it was just too sleepy for me. Even though I love guys like Metheny, Herbie and DeJohnette.

TTT. Anyone grab this?

I've wanted to hear this new album. I have "The Dark Keys" and "Requiem" and enjoy them both. Those two albums were recorded analog at the Tarrytown Music Hall, which I understand is the venue for this new recording, the sound on the above mentioned albums is excellent.

Got my copy in the mail today. No booklet either, and I'm bummed about the edits, but the playing is great (Jimmy really gets off on the title track and "Fingers") its much better than some of the big band stuff he was putting out like "Livin it Up", and the sound is very good too. Just glad its on CD.

I have most of the material in this box as well, the set would definitely be worth buying if you don't have any material from his first few sessions (especially what's included in the Mosaic set) and to hear remastered versions of the Back At the Chicken Shack/Midnight Special stuff. the tracklist DISC 1: 1. You Get'Cha 2. Preacher, The 3. Champ, The 4. Bayou 5. Judo Mambo 6. Willow Weep For Me 7. Fiddlin' the Minors 8. Well, You Needn't 9. Get Happy 10. Groovy Date DISC 2: 1. Yardbird Suite 2. Summertime 3. All Day Long 4. Duel, The 5. I Can't Get Started 6. Body and Soul 7. Slightly Monkish 8. Blues After All 9. 'Round Midnight DISC 3: 1. Sermon, The 2. Flamingo 3. Hackensack 4. I Got a Woman 5. See See Rider 6. When Johnny Comes Marching Home 7. Sista Rebecca 8. Old Folks DISC 4: 1. Back at the Chicken Shack 2. Minor Chant 3. Midnight Special 4. Jumpin' Blues, The 5. Squeeze Me 6. Ain't No Use 7. Pork Chop 8. Can Heat 9. Come Rain or Shine 10. Prayer Meetin' 11. Fungii Mama

bummer......... I'm sure whats there is good anyway. Thanks for the info

Free For All, Are the tracks on "The Boss" restored to full length or are there still edits? my copy should be here from CDUniverse tommorrow.

Jim, any luck contacting Cyber Cafe West?

I'd second a reissue of Tony's Live in Tokyo double, have a CDR of it. I'd also want to hear the two Don Grolnick's, I enjoy his playing and writing on the first few Steps Ahead albums (back when they were Steps) however I am a little underwhelmed by his '86 album "Hearts and Numbers", only really like 2 tracks on that one.

I wonder how Donald Bailey got the call for this gig, didn't Jimmy have another regular drummer around this time?

Looking forward to this reissue, heard a couple cuts on Scott "Organfreak" Hawthorn's site a few years ago, and it smokes, especially with George Benson and Donald Bailey on board. Anyway, I seem to recall the feww tracks I heard as being edited, will the new Verve LPR reissue restore the track lengths like on "Root Down" or should I expect just a straight reissue of the original album?

I haven't finished listening to the At the Blue Note box yet . There is a lot of variety within the standards, I agree with Lon, especially when they hit on those vamps (the incredible 26 min "Autumn Leaves" on disc 3 of the Blue Note set) I also find out of the recent "free" albums I prefer "Inside Out" to "Always Let Me Go", sure the latter might go farther out, but "Inside Out" is more cohesive. Both emphasize a melodic approach to free improvisation that I prefer over more dissonant stuff.

Bertrand, thanks for correcting me........... Para Oriente is *not* the two tunes I listed, I just remembered that "Angel Street" has the same melody but expanded on I think.

I'm confused too Mike, thanks for the info. "Para Oriente" (aka La Maison Goree, and Ancient Eyes, Soweto Nights) and "Domo" are issued on the French version of "Live Under the Sky" which is the edition I own, still I plan to upgrade. According to the liners notes "Eye of the Hurricane" was recorded, but not released b/c a version already appeared on "Tempest in the Colosseum", also "Eye of the Hurricane" was performed before the horrible rainstorm which you hear affecting the instruments (especially Wayne) resumed.

I had the Hancock for a while upon release and I sold it. The playing by all (Hargrove, Brecker, Herbie, Pattitucci, Blade) isn't at fault, its just that the Massey Hall gig wasn't the best show. I have a CDR of a concert on that tour from 9/20/01 and the tunes are longer, and the playing much more intense. Herbie really locks on in his solos and he has that real big rhythmic kick that Mike Weil likes so much. On that show, the intensity of Herbie's playing reminds me of the VSOP stuff.

This whole Monk, mental illness discussion is interesting. I had heard somewhere (can't remember the source) that Monk may have had tourette's syndrome. I never noticed anything with him in the Straight, No Chaser footage that had anything like a facial tick or involuntary awearing, noises, etc (I knew someone with tourettes who had facial ticks) Could maybe having tourettes possibly explain his weird behavior of spinning around? Tony, your points about hearing marks of mental illness in Monk's playing are interesting as well, I don't really think of a musicians' music in those terms, but in the case of Jaco Pastorius, I hear less invention and more relying on licks in his bass passing, post his manic depression diagnosis, but his arrangements and writing still very creative.

I think Tony certainly got louder, and heavier, and his cymbals got brighter and splashier from the 70's on for sure. I was listening to a few tunes off of Herbie's "Quartet" last night, and one thing Tony definitely does often on that, perhaps maybe too overdone by that time, was the high hat on every beat, maybe the way the high hat was mic'ed but real pronounced on everything from that era on, I've heard.