The Magnificent Goldberg

"But I was cool" is terrific. It's on the Atlantic album "Fresh". There's a few other good 'uns on that album. In fact, I think the songs overall are much better on "Fresh" than "Movin' on" but the band is better on "Movin' on". The lady concerned is Jean Pace, Oscar's lady. MG

A nice bunch of LPs turned up yesterday from Dan Gould's sale. So I spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening listening to them. MJQ - Blues at Carnegie Hall - Atlantic - I got this back in the day and it was one of my favourite MJQ albums, in the days when I had lots of 'em. Roland Alexander - Pleasure bent - New Jazz (Fantasy) - I used to have a DG mono of this. Glad to have it again. Didn't know Fantasy reissued it, probably in the late seventies. Never came out in OJCCD form, I think. Junior Mance - That's where it is - Capitol - nice set. Bobby Timmons - Live at the Connecticut jazz party - Chiaroscuro - completes my collection of all his albums as a leader. Surprised to see Sonny Red in there. Very nice. Ramsey Lewis & Jean DuShon - You better believe me - Argo - another nice one. King Fleming - Weary traveler - Cadet - really enjoyed this one. I've asked Dan for the other two he had for sale. Etta Jones - Love me with all your heart - Muse - one of Etta's Muse LPs I missed. Jimmy Witherspoon & Jack McDuff - The blues is now - Verve - about time I got this! Sonny Stitt - Primitivo soul - Prestige (blue label) - I've wanted this for ever! A real prize. Can't understand why this was never on OJCCD. Good time yesterday! MG

As I recollect, and without checking, I think this was about the first example of Duke Pearson's arrangements for a medium-sized band. It was certainly the first I had heard. So, when it came out, it seemed tremendously innovative within the framework of late sixties Soul Jazz. So I was very excited by it and still love it. But I can see that, coming to this later and taking it in a different order, one could be disappointed with it. MG

Oh, I agree. Never saw that video on UK TV when the record was a hit. She looks a lot nicer on it than on the record covers. MG

Because it's his birthday - Herman Foster - The one and only Herman Foster - Timeless also Buddy Tate - The Texas twister - Master Jazz Mildred Clark & the Melodyaires - Peacock (ABC) Brooklyn Allstars - Rise - Atlanta International MG

I don't generally care for this sort of thing - and I thought it was crap. MG

Also The One-And-Only HERMAN FOSTER!!!!! (as Lou used to say) 26 April 1928, Philadelphia. MG

Glad to be back home so I can read stuff I didn't have time to look at on hols. This gets my vote as "Thread of the year" MG

Chewy nailed it. MG

No - I spent two days looking at the African exhibits in the Museum of Modern Art and the Natural History Museum, neither of which I'd visited before. Also bust a filling in a French restaurant and spent most of a day deciding not to have it fixed until I got home (going on Monday). Do go sometime, Chris. It's around 116 St. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Petit_Senegal MG

I enjoyed that one a lot, too - particularly the Paul Desmond longest pun in the world. RIP Gene. MG

Tuesday's haul in Dallas 2 CDs from Rewind - Dr Charles Hayes & the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir - Have thine own way lord - Savoy Rev Jasper Williams - Life is like a leaf (sermon) – Jewel (Atlanta International) A few from CD Source Nicholas Menheim & le Super Sabador – Nene cherie/Che Guevara – Origines (Popular African Music) Yoro Diallo – Pekos - Yalla Yalla Toure Kunda – Mouslai - Sabar Brooklyn All Stars - The new sound of the Brooklyn All Stars - Jewel Billy Harper – Somalia - Evidence Marchel Ivery - Marchel's mode – Leaning House Jazz (Jim found the last two for me - I was trying to keep away from the jazz section) An LP from Half Price Books Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church Choir - Mt Pisgah remembers Roberta Martin - Jewel And two CDs from Jim Booker Ervin - Booker 'n brass - PJ Al Benson - Swing and sway show – Rock-it Radio For which, many more thanks! MG

Likewise ! £4 is a bit more like it. 350 of those or a crackly original... Hear, hear! It IS a good album, though. MG

Exploring my new LPs this morning Toure Kunda - Natalia - Celluloid (prod by Bill Laswell & featuring Bernie Worrell) Barrett Sisters - What shall I render (unto God) - New Birth (got 3 of their LPs and am very pleased) now Rev Leo Daniels - The answer to Watergate - Jewel (strange sermon - forgive Nixon! "Whose side am I on? Republicans or Democrats? I'm on God's side.") MG

I asked an insurer about my collection about fifteen years ago. Without a detailed list but a ball park value that I kind of made up, a specific rider to a regular home and contents policy was so shocking that I decided not to go into it. Insurance is a bet. You can alter the percentages in your favour by the way you behave and maybe obviate the need for a policy. But it's another good reason to copy everything onto hard drives (and keep a backup in someone else's house). We want the music, not the money and, if it comes to the crunch, not even the RVG DG Monos, don't we? MG

Got home about an hour ago. All well. The flight home was pretty good, except I didn't have enough time to buy any duty free tobacco when changing planes in Atlanta - good thing I got some on the flight to USA The whole trip home was fine until I got to Cardiff. A lorry had overturned on the motorway and 8 cars had crashed into it - 3 dead. Complete chaos ensued - it took nearly two hours to do a journey that is usually a relaxed half hour! My missus was caught up in it too, taking the grandsons to karate in Cardiff. Anyway, have now had two cups of tea made the way Jack Bruce likes it and am feeling properly human again. A BIG THANK YOU to Cristiern, JeffCrom (& Karen) Jazzbo Shawn Clifford Thornton KH1958 Big Al Rostasi JSangry (& LTB) and all the other guys I met at Jim's BBQ. You've made that one of the most enjoyable holidays ever! MG

Just remembered I have an LBJS gig issued on LP - on the Edmar label, which later moved to Bermuda ( ) It features Mickey Fields, a Baltimore tenor player well known for wiping the floor with visiting tenor players (see Bob Porter's notes to Turrentine's "Jubilee shouts"), accompanied by the Groove Holmes trio. Must have been done about 1968 - Holmes' band included George Freeman and the same drummer as on his PR LP "The groover". Can't remember the title which is simple (but extended) hyperbole. There are two non LBJS tracks done with Fields' own band at his regular gig, which are somewhat lame. My guess is that it was issued not long after the gig. MG

Wow! I gotta find this SAY IT LOUD album, cuz this version ain't from that record, but after looking at the lineup you listed, all I can say is..... WOW!!! "Say it loud" is probably still in print - Water reissued it two or three years ago. Shouldn't be hard to find. And I agree with Tony - it's a hell of an album. But "Summertime" is played to some kind of cha cha rhythm MG

I reckon you're right about this band live. Never seen them myself. I did like the opening tenor solo, though. Nope. But it IS Poppa Lou. It's not Pass, as you say. I think you might be surprised when I get home and post the answers Not Willie Smith, but close. Big Hodges influence on both men. Not any of those guys. Not Bob Wills. Several times here in Texas I've been tempted to pick up a box of Wills, but have resisted. Jim (I think) nailed this one. Not Clarence Williams. This one has been nailed, too, so you can find a number of compilations knocking about, I imagine. Definitely NOT a send-up. I very much doubt if these players had even heard of Jazz/Rock at the time. I think this is the way they naturally play. So it's not Lester. Glad you enjoyed it. MG

A few minutes thought about this made me wonder... I haven't really followed George Coleman's career closely so I'm not at all sure when he began to be an influence on younger musicians. My guess is that would have been after he was with Miles Davis - was that the mid-sixties? So this track was recorded in 1966. George was, of course, on Herbie's version of the tune but, from memory, they weren't imitating his solo on the tune - I've never felt that. Were these sax players trying to play like Coleman or perhaps like someone else? MG

Correct on Maceo, but wrong brass band. But Maceo is the leader. Harold Land is right! Not Sonny. Yes, this is from SA. I think you're right to say these are lesser players. Neither sax player made many recordings. Is it good to be less polished than GC or more polished? I don't know. I think they're themselves. You surprised me getting the Maceo! Thanks Thom. MG

Send a PM to Big Al - he distributed the links. MG

No, I just made Jeff spend money on records That's normal, isn't it? MG

It's pissing down in Fort Worth. This is NOT what I expected of Texas. It's more like home. I said that to the waitress in the restaurant last night and she responded, "well, that's good!" MG

Happy Birthday from Fort Worth!!! MG