ep1str0phy

At the same time, it's widely held that Lifetime did their best work live...

Yeah, that's a beautiful one.

Yeah, they played "Scratch" on the same pay cable network that I got this doc on. And yeah--this is a legitimate branch of improv.

Has anyone here heard For Four Orchestras?

It's a full-length movie. Some of the links on the side of the youtube video (the ones that say "Keeping Time") are from the same documentary.

I had no idea that Bruce stuck around after the Young/Williams partnership had dissolved.

First thing I ever played for my (now extremely) steady girlfriend was "Davashe's Dream"... (SA Jazz is always a good thing)

Well, "Wildlife" was a tune from Believe It that Bruce often played... (was he present at those sessions?)

...and so begins the cycle of regret.

I still think Maiden Voyage is sort of a disappointment, if only because those cats could really come unhinged of they wanted to (but didn't there--and those compositions demand some stretching out). Some may disagree with me, but I actually like the VSOP versions of some of those tunes a lot better (total lack of subtlety and all).

DAAAYMN!

I think he was ten (does that change the valuation?)... Doesn't matter... I love the album.

Richard Chamberlain Bruce Lee Chuck Norris

Bypassing the obvious snarky comments, this is a recording that needs to be heard to be "dealt with". There's really nothing (in the spectrum of jazz) outside of the music of other early AACM members that one can sufficiently relate this music to--and it's certainly not the "free blowing" as you mean above. (i.e., give it a try)

Ted Danson Woody Harrelson Shelley Long

I think you are confusing it with New Directions. Guy Yeah, I've been doing that for years and it never occurred to me. So yeah, New Directions...

Daisy Bell Nancy (with the laughing face) Laura

DeJohnette with McLean is great, and Special Edition was a fine band (tho it may have underutilized its component parts--never enough crazy-ass Lester Bowie, I say!).

I'm pretty pleased at all the love for Cape Verdean, which gets my vote (edges out Song For My Father, IMO, in the way of originality and fire; it's at least a mild sea change from everything prior--although at times it really sounds like a J. Henderson session. I don't think Horace bested Verdean in the way of "progressive" dates). ...and the Jazz Messengers is a great choice, though... I think the scores of copycat dates might have dulled its impact a bit, but not its luster. Fine playing all 'round. (coded comment: get more than one!)

At their worst, I think those sides are cheesy as all hell; when they come off, though, I think they're pretty galvanizing (like the Further Adventures... version of "Round Midnight"--which, getting past the more jarring elements, is a pretty powerful arrangement, IMO). Then again, I think the better sides from those sessions might be the small group recordings... (re: Monk + Dolphy)--indeed.

Robin Williams Steve Martin Bill Murray

Curtis Mayfield Graham Collier Andrew Hill

I actually found Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus to be very disappointing. Of course, I bought it when I was heavily into the live Antibes album. And I don't think anything could have stacked up favorably to that one. Few, if any Mingus studio dates can touch Antibes, IMO. Dolphy is a man possessed.

You know, I wouldn't have caught that... but now that I have:

Man, you do have some time left on this planet, right?