John L

As a huge Dexter Gordon fan, myself, I can understand some people not liking Dexter Gordon at all. If his greatest was in his distinctiveness, that doesn't help people who don't like what was distinct about him. Then there was the alcohol and some sloppiness at times. As Pres would say, Dexter could sing you a song. And he could make it pure Dexter. If that is not your brand, OK.

Fantastic! Thanks for the head up!

Calling Sonny Stitt a "journeyman" could be going a bit too far. But I do tend to agree with these comments in general. Dexter Gordon had one of the most distinctive sounds in jazz, a voice that was unmistakable. Stitt was something more like a linear combination of Bird, Pres, and whoever else he wanted to throw in on a given night, which was also a great thing if not quite as distinctive. I saw both of them live fairly often at the Keystone Korner. Stitt could often WOW you the most but Dexter still left the deepest imprint.

Count me in the Lou Rawls fan club. Sometimes he can hit the spot better than anyone else. There are times when I only want to hear him.

Happy birthday to the Amstrongs, Louis and Lon!

Freddie's dead.

Yes, it was exactly that band.

I was just getting seriously interested in jazz in 1976 and went to the Berkeley Jazz Festival for the first time. That was the only time I ever saw Mingus and I cherish the memory. Rahsaan Roland Kirk led the bill. Too bad there was no reunion.

Absolutely. Mavis has often recalled this moment as one of the highlights of her career. But it was always thought that no soundbite exists, let alone video, let alone color film produced with great artistic taste. It lives up to Marvis' hype and more. The whole film is nothing short of amazing.

Yes, I also love Cables with Dex. It recalls all those beautiful nights in the Keystone Korner in the late 70s.

Thank you very much for that info! It is pretty much what I expected, but there are some tracks here that would seem not to have been circulating. The sound is probably also better.

Sounds very good!

The Lord discography doesn't include many of the known live dates. We need a good comprehensive Ornette discography. Ornette was rumored to have been holding quite a lot of unreleased music privately. Maybe someday his family will let us hear some of it?

Oh, that's good. Thanks. I don't even have a turntable any more.

Side A: 1. YOU’RE GONNA HEAR FROM ME 2. EMILY 3. STELLA BY STARLIGHT 4. TURN OUT THE STARS Side B: 1. WALTZ FOR DEBBY 2. ‘ROUND MIDNIGHT 3. I LET A SONG GO OUT OF MY HEART Side C: 1. ALFIE 2. BEAUTIFUL LOVE 3. MY FUNNY VALENTINE Side D: 1. SPARTACUS’ LOVE THEME 2. ONE FOR HELEN 3. QUIET NOW 4. SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME Side E: 1. VERY EARLY 2. A SLEEPIN’ BEE 3. TURN OUT THE STARS #2 4. AUTUMN LEAVES Side F: 1. QUIET NOW #2 2. NARDIS 3. GRANADOS 4. PAVANE This is an LP-only July release coming from Anagram Music of recordings made by the Bill Evans trio in Holland in 1969. Does anyone have detailed discographical information? It looks like some of the tracks might be from the Hilversum Varna Studios session from March 26th that has circulated for a number of years. The track listing on sides E and F look like it could include some of the November 28 Amsterdam concert that has been released on a number of labels as "Quiet Now." But there are some things here that I certainly have never seen before, including "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," certainly not a track in Evans' usual repertoire.

Wow! That is an incredible film! ...and Jaki playing all that piano in the beginning with a lit cigarette between his fingers.

This is from the Lord discography. Apparently it was recorded in October 1951 at Hotel Kenmore in Boston. At Buckminster Square : Johnny Hodges And His Orchestra : Emmett Berry (tp) Lawrence Brown (tb) Johnny Hodges (as) Al Sears (ts) Leroy Lovett (p) Lloyd Trotman (b) Joe Marshall (d) 3 Broadcasts, "Hotel Kenmore", Boston, MA, October, 1951 Nothing shaking but the bacon Enigma 1051, Jazz Connoisseur JCC87 [CD] Let's have a little taste Enigma 1051, Jazz Connoisseur JCC87 [CD], Suisa (It)JZCD361 [CD] The Sheik of Araby Enigma 1051, Jazz Connoisseur JCC87 [CD], Suisa (It)JZCD361 [CD] Very well, thank you Enigma 1051, Jazz Connoisseur JCC87 [CD] Coffee time - - Tea for two - - Sophisticated lady - - Things ain't what they used to be - - (Medley - - I cover the waterfront - - Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - - Man with the horn - - Very well, thank you (2nd version) - - Rabbit's jump - - On the sunny side of the street - - The Jeep is jumpin' (*) - - Castle rock - - How high the moon - - Note: (*) This title also on Musica Jazz (It)2MJP1082. All above titles also on Squatty Roo SR-0296 [CD] titled "Johnny Hodges Live At Storyville"; this release gives the recording date as 1952 and the location as Storyville, Hotel Buckminster, Boston.

Very sad. RIP

I finally got mine.

Nice. I would be extremely happy just to get a good transfer to digital of the Okeh recordings. We have the Victor, Vocalion, and Brunswick recordings in fine sound but the old Columbia remastering of the Okeh recordings really sucks in comparison.

Well, Mosaic doesn't seem to want to answer my questions about when my set will ship. They are certainly not as friendly as they used to be. From now on, I may just wait and download their new sets that I want from blog sites. John

On another Pops subject, I recall hearing that a copy of the October 1938 session with Fats Waller, Jack Teagarden, and Bud Freeman was found in pristine sound. Has anybody here heard that, obtained that?

I would say that the Decca Big Band box is the most essential of the four Mosaics. But there is plenty of great material on all of them.

There is only one this year, but 4 in all: (1) Decca All Stars, (2) Decca Big Band, (3) Live Columbia and RCA, and now this (4) Studio Columbia and RCA.