The Magnificent Goldberg

I bet the guy on 14 is a well known jazz musician or DJ. MG James Booker is the name I couldn't remember for #12. MG

Oh, what a fun set to close with, Bill! 12 Ah, “Tico tico” not by Ethel Smith. Sounds kinds New Orleans to me. But not Longhair. What about that guy who recorded “Gonzo”? 13 The saints. Rap version. Nice. The rapper reminds me a bit of the guy who rapped on some albums by Pucho & the LSB. Now what was his name? Ah, looked it up – MC Babee Power. Would the band be the Rebirth Brass Band? 14 The lady saying “presents nice” sounds v sexy. Does she make phone calls now? Well, that was nice! MG

(Looking innocent) I've never ever had a digipak CD with broken barbs. Plenty of the jewel cases, but never a digipak, nor even one of those 32 Jazz cases. Only Organissimo's "Groovadelphia" has a set of barbs that don't hold the CD, so it falls out when I take it off the shelf. It's not broken - it's more a design feature. MG

Aha! Frank "Floorshow" Culley Hal "Cornbread" Singer Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson

Me too. And "Love bug". And "Blue mode". Those were really nice albums and terrific to see BN was getting on with finding new organists like Reuben and Dr Lonnie in the post Alfred Lion days. MG

Is that a recent recording? Is it issued on Sterns? I must get it: I have all her albums. MG

It's funny the stuff we DON'T buy. I've got tons of Doggett, but NOT "Honky tonk". Why not? No reason, just lackadaisical stupidity, I guess. One of those records I always knew I'd be able to buy at any time, so I never have. MG

One of our local shops in Cardiff - a real non-jazz market, if ever there was one - even stocked "Have no fear" on LP in the 70s. I now regret not buying it then, though they did sell me the Atlantic LP. MG

Great to hear, papsrus. I'll happily suggest the music for the jig! Yes - it's very good to hear. Ask Hot Ptah for his BFT - good jigging music there And stimulation MG

Yes - best wishes to you for good treatment and a good recovery. MG

In his autobiography he complains that the didn't get to play jazz often enough! Well, in a fifty-something year career, that's not a lot of sessions; something like one every couple of weeks. The real measure is live gigs. MG

Yes, absolutely! MG

Von also didn't make all that many albums, did he? (Well, more than George.) Part of the local hero stuff, I imagine. MG

I knew I had that one! But that sounds thinner than mine. I'll have to compare the two later. MG Err, not to cross-post from your iPod thread, but it's likely because the disc was burned from MP3s (bitrate 192k). Well, I was listening to it on my computer MG

It's nice; but it's not terribly... funky. And it's not terribly... hard boppish, either. It's one of my favourites (though it depends what I've played lately and I just got that CD, so I'm playing it more than usual). There are really four late period GGs that many regard as suspect: "Final comedown" (BN) though there are some nice things in it, too much film soundtrack stuff though; "Shades of Green", (BN) which is OK, but the band was overdubbed later; "The main attraction" (Kudu) which is not very good and the band and GG were overdubbed later; and "Easy" (Versatile) which has some lovely playing from GG and Hank Crawford but the rest of the band are just a bit too easy listening. And some of the tunes are not up to the job. But GG's playing, if you ignore the rest, is some of his best. All his other stuff on BN post '68 is terrific, as everyone else says. As a sideman, "Soul brotherhood" by Charles Kynard is one of the best. Also Don Patterson's "Brothers four" and "Donnybrook" (released on CD under Stitt's name), and Reuben Wilson's "Love bug". Houston Person's "Real thing" (not reissued on CD) is like the curate's egg. The GG stuff is fine but the material with Robert Ward I find less than wonderful. But there's one cut with Marcus Belgrave and Wild Bill Moore which is fantastic! Person's "Person to person" is good too, but not quite up to the mark of the other stuff. I like Fats Theus' "Black out" (CTI) a lot too, but it's also not been issued on CD. MG

The thread didn't specify jazz sessions. MG

I knew I had that one! But that sounds thinner than mine. I'll have to compare the two later. MG

BFT69 VOL 1 PT 1 1 Something reminding me of Ray Anthony or (less likely) Billy May. Nice bootin’ number to get us off the ground. Don’t recognise the tune, but I’ll go for Ray Anthony. Oh, is that Mr Anthony himself with a two second wail at the end? 2 Wow! “Ascension” goes big band! What a sound! This has, if nothing else, reminded me that I should get “Ascension” again. (It would have been great if Trane had had an organ player for that recording.) No idea who this is. I should be able to recognise the trumpet player but I just can’t be asked. And the pianist! Pooh gosh! The alto player’s on fire, too! And, OF COURSE, the drummer who’s driving them all mad. To judge by the sound of the organist, I’d guess this is European. Bleedin’ wonderful!!!! 3 Some nice stride piano. I don’t know who it is but I’m going to guess a KC connection and say Jay McShann. Very, very nice. 4 Acoustic guitar & violin. There is so much grace and delight in the violinist’s approach, so I’m going to guess Stephane Grappelli. I think I should buy a lot of this guy, whoever he is. Lovely! 5 Oh, another piano player from the thirties generation. So, who’s this, then? Actually someone a bit younger, as the piece develops with interesting changes of rhythm, pace and direction. This is quite off my chart, but very likeable. 6 Another wild drummer with bongo player and equally wild trombonist. Oh my, that’s a rare groove starting. And then something that ought to be Les Baxter. Ah, it’s Sun Ra! I think this is going to be my next one from the Arkestra. Oh, would he have used sitars? Now some doubt coming in. No, I still think it’s Sun Ra. 7 This one is kind of meandering. I get the same feeling with this as when, on very rare occasions, I play the Mingus piano LP. I know I should be getting more out of it, and I’m reluctant to get rid of it, but it’s not getting through. 8 Completely different, but the noises off initially put me in mind of Le Nimba de N’zerekore’s album “Gon bia bia”. Then I was reminded of Bob James’ “Explosions”. I think they weren’t really necessary – the tenor player has something interesting to say. But I found the background (even the musical background) irritating. 9 This one’s good, but doesn’t really excite me as I expect it should. Maybe I’m just not feeling right for this. Or perhaps it’s the combination of Bebop type tune/arrangement with a somewhat out tenor player. Is the alto player Earl Anderza? I have a definite antipathy to guitar players like that one (except Floyd Smith, of course). BFT69 VOL 1 PT 2 On to part 2. 10 This one’s not getting through, I’m afraid, though it’s not uninteresting with its stalking bass line – the best bit, for me. 11 I guess an original that sounds as if it’s a jazz adaptation of a popular song or a TV ad. I can’t hear a bass on this. A familiar line or two makes me think I should know the pianist. The left hand comes near to Ray Bryant, but I don’t think it’s him. 12 This sounds as if it ought to be one of those KC bands of the late twenties/early thirties, like Moten or the Blue Devils. But at 3:43, it can’t be. Or could it be a transcription of that white KC band that used to broadcast from Chicago? Can’t remember the name. Ah, Jeter-Pillars. Damn fine trumpeter! 13 Not much in this one for me. 14 “Stormy weather”, done at an old nag’s clip clop. But speeding up to get home before the storm really hits. Must be one of those Kansas twisters. Yeah, here it comes!!! Good fun! 15 I love this one! Must be Andy Kirk. Would that have been Mary Lou making those encouraging noises? 16 “Every day I have the blues” must be Basie/Williams. Except it’s B B King. So whose band is it? Well, it still sounds like Basie’s band. So maybe it is. Onto the bonus disc. 1 I’m sure I don’t know this one, but there’s something very familiar about that intro. Then when the piano starts, I still think there’s something familiar about it. But I know I don’t know it! But is it Jack Wilson on piano? This is suggesting Gerald Wilson to me – something from the post-Pacific Jazz period. But the arrangement isn’t quite as round as Wilson’s usually are. But I’m not at all familiar with his more recent work, so maybe. I’m not convinced though. Also the rhythm section’s not quite as loose as Wilson likes it. Pooh, that is one nice tenor player! No, this ain’t Gerald Wilson, he said as the climax got farther and farther out. Enjoyable and intriguing. 2 I think I’ve got this. Yes, sure I’ve got it. But what the fuck is it? Well, it’s Ska. But I don’t think it’s a Jamaican band. Damn! I can’t even recall the title! Try again another time. 3 Beautiful melody. Can’t say it did anything for me, though. 4 “Chance of a ghost”. Well, it reminds me of Fats Waller, but I suppose that’s too obvious for a BFT. It’s not really quite as exuberant as Waller, I feel. 5 This one isn’t for me. A big McCoy Tyner influence in the pianist, it seems. But not for me. 6 Film soundtrack music, it seems. But, despite being very atmospheric, it doesn’t evoke pictures or anything, really 7 Clarinets. Circuses. Hm. An accordion. I was wondering what ten minutes of clarinet circus music would be like. A singer now, singing in some Eastern European language. Oh, is this what Klezmer is? Never heard any before. Not for me, now we’re back to the clarinets and circuses. Time to nip downstairs to make a cuppa. 8 Perez Prado? No, not with a bari player like that, surely. More like Tito Puente. Phew, what a blast! A delight. Machito? 9 Thirties swing band. What a lovely trumpet solo! Do I hear the dulcet tones of Ben Webster? 10 House. Fascinating! Tenor solos are fine, but too much playing around, rather than playing, between them. Ace groove! 11 “Summertime” (seasonal bonus!) not played on an electric bass. Truthfully, I was expecting “God rest ye merry, gentlemen”. Not something I could listen to over and over, but enjoyable while it was on. Well! That was interesting and often terrific! Thanks Bill. MG

I am obsessed with the two albums he recorded with Les Baxter, "Jungle Jazz" and "African Jazz." These must be reissued NOW. Perhaps you should write to Mosaic and ask them to issue a twofer. I'm sure Michael Cuscuna loves Baxter. Tell him, I'll buy them, too. I'm sure that'll make all the difference. MG

Happy Birthday, Eric!!! MG

DEFINITELY. Nice to bring this back up. Reminded me that, though I've got "Four" I STILL haven't got "For real". (5/10; could do better) MG

No, she's not really a music fan. Doesn't buy albums. She just likes some songs - opera, folk, pop, etc - and is sometimes prepared to spend a few pence to download one from itunes. In the past, she's had me creating mixed tapes of them for her to play in the car. No tape player in the new car though, so she wants an ipod she can load her stuff on and plug into the radio. I suspect she's the sort of buyer ipods were really made for. But she won't do it herself; so I'll have to learn. And if I'm going to learn, I'll do it better if I have my own. A small one for her, a biggish one for me MG

Herb Geller Herbie Hancock Herbie

That's the trouble with a lot of these threads. If it's for recommendations of an artist eventually almost EVERY record by that artist gets mentioned. MG, just buy an Ipod (any Ipod) and dive in. You'll work your way through the whole thing and it's a lot easier than you think. I eventually ended up with 3 of them and I think they have made listening to music on the go easier than ever. Oh, all right then (I do have to, for my wife, so, as Mrs T used to say, TINA.) MG

I can't agree with that ; I think a soul fan would have a greater affinity for the gospelish I'm Tryin' To Get Home , than for the AM-radio pop commercialism of Up With Donald Byrd , which is a really weak record in my opinion . Yes, it's pretty weak, but most of the material is Soul/blues stuff. Good question. It is now. Ta. MG