felser

Kitu is a more likely spelling, but "thing" or "object" perhaps an odd nickname.

He was 18 when his first album came out in 1989, and he was making waves years before that in the Philly area.

I object to that.

Good to hear. WRTI has needed new blood for a long time.

+1

Loved his playing when in a good context. RIP way way way too soon.

Paul Desmond - Pure Desmond. Great record.

He did, but there is a difference in doing that well (Sebesky) and doing that poorly. Those differences are meaningless if you reject the form in general (for instance, I don't know the difference between good or bad gangsta rap, or good or bad opera, because I can't stand gangsta rap or opera), but have significant meaning if you enjoy the form. I have room for both AACM and CTI in my collection and listening enjoyment.

I think he lost his mojo when he lost Don Sebesky at CTI. Bob James was a large step down, and David Matthews was then another large step down.

I find that many of the early 70's CTI recordings have aged incredibly well. The music is really good on its own terms in retrospect. RIP.

Really good bio, thanks for posting it.

I saw her at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square in the 70's, one of the great concerts Leo Gadson presented. Forget who she opened for, may have been Juju or else Carlos Garnett. Performances there were always good. She could play, did a fair amount of singing at that concert, and was a very commanding presence. I couldn't fully comprehend her at that point (I was about 21, she was in he early-mid 20's). Agreed some of the Steeplechase music is really good. RIP. 70 is young to pass.

Agreed on every point you make.

Some of the greatest work on the label happened between 68 and 72. They were less consistent, but the highs were very high (Tyner, Elvin, Hutch, Patton, Lee Morgan, etc.)

Here were mine, the first two jazz albums I ever bought. Got both at the same time at Franklin Music in Plymouth Meeting, late 1972:

None of us would be allowed to own this one:

My five (no particular order), off the top of my head - but how can you pick only five ?!? Lee Morgan - The Gigolo Donald Byrd - Free Form Jackie McLean - One Step Beyond McCoy Tyner - Expansions Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers - Indestructible

I never even knew the 1981 recording existed! No CD reissue. Well aware of the 1976 Columbia Montreux sets, which I enjoy a lot more than I probably "should".

Great album. Etc is fantastic on piano, plays a lot like McCoy Tyner 🙂

I still need a reasonably priced "Complete on the Corner"!

Motown isn't Motown without the songs of HDH. RIP.

By far the best collection of that seminal group. Had a pretty decent set of lead guitar players throughout their history, (Clapton. Beck, Page) and their singer and drummer went on to birth the spectacular Renaissance, probably my favorite group ever in their mid-70's prime. Could have been the first thing on the list! That album changed the direction of popular music in 1971. I believe it remains the second longest chart run of any album, next to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"?

Mark, I agree with the previous suggestions, "Extensions" is great, to me his best single album, and the Impulse's are the period I like best ('Tranquility', 'At The Top: Poinciana Revisited', 'The Awakening', 'Freeflight, 'OutertimeInnerspace'). The last two are from the same 1971 Montreux Festival Concert. The Impulse titles are easy to come by, and most have been two-fer'd.

+1. My favorite era of Jamal.

Some of Blakey's most exciting groups didn't get to do much recording. Billy Harper passed through, Julian Priester passed through, Gary Bartz passed through, Carlos Garnett passed through, John Gilmore and John Hicks got to make one undistinguished album. Woody Shaw/Carter Jefferson got to do some good recording on Prestige. And so on. And so forth. And I think Bobby Watson's early contributions (writing and playing) were outstanding, as was (dare I say it) young Wynton Marsalis's trumpet work.