Stefan Wood

I checked the All Music Guide, they weren't any help. Basically, last night I was putting some lps onto cds for some stocking stuffers for friends and family. I have three lps by Pat Thomas, which were originally from my parent's collection from a long time ago. So I was listening to her singing as I was making a compilation for my folks, and thinking all the while, man, she has a really good voice! Not on the tier of Ella or Sarah or Dinah, of course, but not bad at all, and I am not partial to jazz vocals -- it's just my personal quirk. Her voice reminds me of Dinah Washington, in fact, with that sweet, bluesy feel, but without the sharpness that Dinah has. Melodic like Sarah Vaughan, but not the range. Anyways, the three lps I have are Jazz Patterns, the one from the Strand label, which is a nice, late night jazz vocal lp. I have no idea who the sidemen are, but it mentions in the liner notes that she worked with Art Blakey and Gigi Gryce, and others. The other two lps are from the MGM label, with Creed Taylor as producer. Early 60's -- one called Moody's Mood, which is more of the same but not as interesting as the Strand lp, and I think it has to do with the arrangements, and not her singing. And aside from the title piece, the songs are that odd mix of jazz standards and stuff that popped up in the 60's. But the best of the bunch is Desafinado, the bossa nova lp she did -- chronologically between Jazz Patterns and Moody's Mood. This is a great bossa nova record, with snappy, punchy arrangements and wonderful singing. I was surprised that this was never reissued in some form, even during the Ultra Lounge craze of the 90's. All the standards are here, but they are not the somber, yearning tunes that Gilberto made famous -- which in a way is refreshing. But these aren't silly upbeat tunes either -- they are dramatic in their own fashion, almost John Barry-ish. I loved listening to this as a kid, and I love it still. I'm wondering if anyone else has heard of this person, and if there are any other lps out there by her. I have run across the Desafinado lp a few times, but never the others.

Opening the presents rather early, no? Or are ya sneaking into the closet to see what ol Santa is leaving for you?

Last week I found a Charlie Parker Complete Dial and Savoy recordings set, still shrinkwrapped, for $40. Some JVC XR20 whachamacallits Fantasy cds as well, also shrinkwrapped, for $8 each. Ho, ho, ho.......

For me it was David Ware's latest on Thirsty Ear. "Threads", I think it was called. Now I recognize that he is doing something very different than his music of the past, but even so, I found the compositions not very interesting.

You gotta be nuts, Claude. The sound is fine on the Mosaic set. As good if not better than TOCJs

I'm with you there, Chuck. 100%.

Got a Good Thing Goin, That Certain Feelin, Understanding and Boogaloo all lay down the law as far as I'm concerned. Smokin stuff!

I like the Emerson set. It is aggressive at bits but, that sits well with me. This isn't the cheeriest of chamber music, but I think they perform it very well.

I can't listen to one form of music exclusively. I need variety. Actually, for the past six months or so I have listened to very little jazz (compared to when I was ravenously trying to buy everything from Blue Note and experiencing the music for the first time). Salsa, blues, classical, some pop help balance things out for me.

Everyone who hasn't heard Curtis Amy should take the plunge and buy this set. It is so far the best Mosaic Select so far....... Top quality playing all the way through! I won't get the Pearson because I had some of the lps and with the exception of The Phantom, I am just not interested in that period of his music.

Got my Curtis Amy set yesterday -- sounds great and no problems! The first disc is a killer!!!!

He's gonna share a cell with Phil Spector. Quacks, all of them.......

Picked this up yesterday and basically listened to it several times last night. My expectations were met!! This is an outstanding soul album. It is a mixture of Hi records past and Memphis soul present -- As I was listening to this I kept thinking of Syl Johnson's "comeback" album on Delmark in the mid to late 90's, and in some ways this is similar, except that this contains all new tunes. There are some classics here - the title track, "I Can't Stop," to "My Problem is You," "Million to One," "I'd Write a Letter," and more. The arranging and playing is excellent, and Al had not lost anything in vocal range. There are a few weak tracks, and they happen to be near the beginning, with "Raining in My Heart" and "You." Weak because of either the compositions or they just needed to work on the songs a bit more -- they leave the mind once the tune is done, and are eclipsed by the foot stomping tunes I mentioned. The sound is excellent overall, except at times I thought the drums or horns were too high in the mix, or Al's voice a bit down in the mix. Again, these were noticable more in the weaker tracks. The cd really kicks in with track 6, "Not Tonight," evoking the mid to late 70's Al Green, then takes off from there for the rest of the cd. Funny how Cucusna's name is on it, but that's because Al and Willie Mitchell were looking for a label, and was brought in touch with Cucusna. This has nothing to do with Blue Note other than distrubution, but what an album! One of my top faves of the year.

Done!

This is an EXCELLENT session that deserves to be reissued on cd. Crack open the vinyl, B3. Whaddya gonna do with the sealed vinyl, be buried with it? Enjoy the music!

I agree that this is a poorly recorded live session. But after seeing Moran play at the Kennedy Center in October, I realise that it is in part due to the way the trio is playing. The piano is not in the foreground at all, rather, it is on the same level as the bass and drums. Often the other instruments will dominate a tune, with the piano in the background, other times not. I find it very challenging.

The only thing is....... from whom are they taking the masters?

The Phantom is an excellent session, however, this may be the first Mosaic Select I will pass on, because of the inclusion of the other albums, which I think aren't that great.

No, I think it is in the brick and mortar stores as well. Why the heck would they do it on a Wednesday?? Make money when more people are NOT at work, like yesterday!

Maybe, just maybe this will improve the reissue program of BMG, in terms of jazz. Sure, there's the Bluebird reissue series, but there is so much more to be put forth from that label! Ahh, maybe it will enable Mosaic to have some RCA boxes.......... The EMI/Warner thing is interesting. EMI is interested in buying Warner, and not the other way around?

Heck, even USPS would be better.

Is it possible that there was a conflict with the Sundazed reissues -- as in, hey we're already doing this, why should Classic Records get in on it?

Weizen, you've come a loooong way since those dark and uncertain days when you thought burning a disc meant opening your Rat Pfink Zippo lighter and torching those unwanted discs..........

They are all good. Andrew Hill, Jackie McLean "Hipnosis", Freddie Hubbard's "Here to Stay," etc.

I have this lp and I recently returned to it when I was putting some lps onto cd -- this is an EXCELLENT release, very advanced music.