Hot Ptah

Thanks. I am going to look for it.

Anyone we know?

A $1.00 LP copy of Joe Venuti and Earl Hines, "Hot Sonatas" (Chiaroscuro, recorded 1975). This was at the resumption of the Music Exchange liquidation sale in Kansas City last week. A reported 300,000 LPs and 45s are on sale for $1 each. You can't argue with the 300,000 figure--I would have guessed that there are more than 300,000.

My favorites include The 39 Steps The Lady Vanishes The Man Who Knew Too Much (first version, from the 1930s) Sabotage Saboteur Strangers on a Train Shadow of a Doubt Lifeboat Notorious North by Northwest If I absolutely had to pick one, it would be The Lady Vanishes.

Just as Roland Hanna wrote "A Child Is Born," which I have heard from Hanna and from another long time member of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis big band.

I have two of Zenon's CDs, and saw him live twice. He is an intense player in that his every note seems to be bursting with tightness--my subjective impression. He is no doubt "really good", but I have never warmed to him. He seems to have a certain dour or gloomy approach to everything, too. I have never understood why he gets such critical raves. To me, his music is the type that you are supposed to be able to appreciate. But maybe I am missing something big here.

I think that when everyone actually hears this Braxton set, they will think, "what was all the fuss about?" It is hardly the most challenging music of all time, or anything like that. Most of it is very accessible, by the standards of this board, anyway.

I have "Confessin' The Blues." I think that she is an enjoyable singer. She reminds me of Irma Thomas at times, only jazzier. That's meant as a compliment. She is not a major innovator, but an appealing stylist.

I remember in the 1970s, when a Braxton album came out it was a "must get" for many jazz lovers. He was a "jazz star", not to be confused with pop star. Everyone seemed to like his music. I don't understand all of the trepidation here. His 1970's music is not that weird or forbidding. Side 1, Cut 3 of "Creative Orchestra Music 1976" is one of the most fun pieces of music I know.

You've missed some good albums, and some mediocre ones (by Tyner standards). But not all have been mediocre since the 1970s.

This is supposed to be fun. If I want rigorous rules, I will turn to my real life.

Thanks, I could not find a replacement for my initial effort, but you found one.