John L

Yes, I hear Bobby Benson songs sometimes, especially Taxi Driver. Other highlife musicians who are still loved and played include Sir Warrior, Victor Uwaifa, Victor Olaiya, and Oliver de Coque.

Having lived in Nigeria now for a year and a half, and going to "classic" live music joints on the weekends, I can report that the four artists whose music is played the most often are Bob Marley, Rex Lawson, Fela Kuti, and Chief Osadebe. Bob Marley is actually played even more than the other three. It is rare to go to a Bush Bar with live music and not hear at least one set devoted almost entirely to Bob Marley performed by a Rasta Nigerian. After that, Rex Lawson is the King of the South South (Niger Delta), Fela Kuti is the King of the South West (Juju and Fuji are not played much any more), and Chief Osadebe is the King of the South East. Of the three Kings, Cardinal Rex Lawson is probably heard the most. His music is loved all over Nigeria. I heard a lot of Rex Lawson when I was in Ghana as well.

OK, I think I got it now. This is not really about Robert Johnson or specific myths about Robert Johnson. You are using Robert Johnson as a figure through which the issues that you describe above can be illustrated in your play.

After all the massive discussion of Robert Johnson and recent revisionist books, I still cannot understand what the "white critical myths" about Johnson are supposed to be? That he sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads? What is particularly white or liberal about that myth? What are the other myths?

Happy birthday, Philly Joe, and thanks for the incredible music!

But the pool float probably said "yes."

Are those other broadcasts available on cd? ____________________________________ Adding to Ubu's comments, the Argyle Lounge concert is the one that has been issued on Savoy in several forms over the years. It was released on CD first as from the "Jazz Immortal Series." It was then included in somewhat better sound on the 2-disc complete Savoy recordings. it was also reissued on LP by Savoy in the 1970s as "Pres Lives." That was the first way that I obtained it. The rhythm section is Kenny Drew, Joe Shulman, and Jo Jones. As Ubu writes, there are various CDs that contains parts of the Savoy Ballroom broadcasts. That includes the one on Charlie Parker records (Pres) and the Archives of Jazz Vol. 1 release. The Japanese box set (Complete Perfect Collection) contains 3 full CDs of mostly great Pres from those broadcasts. I have King Ubu to thank for hooking me up with that.

Ditto

Maybe you can sneak an iPod with ear buds in during their naps?

No time for Pres? What a terrible thought. I've been enjoying my copy quite a bit. There is maybe nothing here as earth shattering as some of the broadcasts from the same year that we have from Savoy Ballroom (NYC) and the Argyle Lounge (Chicago). But Pres is in fine form and the CD sounds excellent.

Try telling Ornette what you think that harmolodics really is. He will tell you that you are wrong. I have never gotten harmolodics, but that doesn't keep me from loving Ornette's music.

I think you mean posthumous releases Art is a man who died many deaths.

Damn! An inspirational musican and singer for me. RIP

Great list, MG! So the idea is that people like Gene Ammons and Arnett Cobb are too much jazz to be called R&B?

I am also particularly fond of the Winterland Box set.

That is the set that I keep coming back to as well.

Jim - I wouldn't be worried about him having any credibility on the Organissimo board. This thread will be soon buried deeply forever.

This looks to be a fantastic set. Thanks to Mosaic and Ricky for putting it together.

That is indeed a nice site. Thanks, MG Another site filled with invaluable essays on gospel and R&B is that of Opal Lee Nations: http://www.opalnations.com/Articles.html

I really enjoy the Gurrelieder. I have to admit that I haven't really listened to other Schoenberg in years. I had a lot of trouble warming to the 12-tone works.

1950 was a great vintage for Pres!

The recent Storyville "100 Years-Forever Young" included tracks from a December, 1953 Boston date, but that is with Gildo Mahones on piano, not Horace Silver.

Wow! What a surprise. I have never heard this.

Actually, this March 7, 1970 gig is more like a final Miles-in-the-60s thing.

As a boy, I used to hear Steve Miller with Boz Scags all the time on Sundays free of charge in downtown Berkeley. I wasn't really crazy about him then, and feel the same way today. I have a friend who is a big Steve Miller fan, particularly of his most recent blues albums. He played them for me. Strange stuff, is all I can say.