The Magnificent Goldberg

Interesting question. My guess is that they liked the tunes and, particularly, the changes. Otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered writing new tunes over those changes; they'd have thought up some changes that they DID like. Course, they did that, too This stuff was a general part of the musical language of the time and formed a communal resource for all kinds of musicians/singers and the audience. MG

Just got an e-mail from Sterns to say they'd sold out of the Jabu Nkosi. Sending my cash back. Oh well, I was overspending anyway. MG

I got my new hard drive from Amazon.uk, and have been doing a lot of stuff with them lately. Hopefully, you'll get a cheque soon. (I suppose a hard drive counts? Not just music.) MG

I've had several versions of "Iron city" on LP and CD and I've never thought it was an RVG session (but what do I know? I can't tell the difference between most BN LPs and RVG or McMaster CDs back to back). But the Verve discog doesn't actually SAY it was RVG (though that's pretty certain, given how much Creed Taylor used RVG). MG Well I've never really felt it was an RVG session. Perhaps because the sound and levels b/t the organ and guitar are not as seamless as you'd expect (or my own ears suggest) they are on other sessions. That is not to say that it's not an RVG maybe mitagating circumstances made it an anamoly of the times. Who Knows. Surely anyone still alive that was involved in the Verve sessions would have memory of Grant doing Chim Chm Cheree. Is Ben Dixon still alive? Does he ever speak about this time in his career. Maybe the Iron City as we know it might have a context with the TV tapings documented by the photo in jaziz of Grant,Larry and Ben Dixon??? I still think the presence of Fat Judy suggests big John is involved. Why don't you have 'Sunday Morning' Chewy,, Don't you like Grant with piano? and they do a film theme,'let my people go" Ben Dixon is still around. MG

Original US release was on Columbia. It was a French film, wasn't it? So maybe it was originally recorded for Fontana in France/Holland, with Columbia's agreement to the use of Miles' services - given that Philips in those days was the European licensee for US Columbia. I never appreciated that before because all of Miles' albums were out on Fontana over here. MG

Dincha get the memo about the Verve Group staff cutbacks? OK, seriously, looks like the Verve releases are Billie Holiday - Lady sings the blues Ella Fitzgerald - Ella in Hamburg Gato Barbieri - Ruby Ruby Miles Davis - Lift to the scaffold (I thought that was Columbia?) Oscar Peterson - Trio +1 Sarah Vaughan - Live at Mr Kelly's Wes Montgomery - Goin' out of my head Shrug. If the Wes is CHEAP enough, I might pick it up. MG

It has been a matter of real regret to me that the word "covers", which used to have a real meaning - that a cover version was specifically intended to steal sales of a probable hit recording - has been used for a couple of decades to indicate any tune that anyone has ever recorded before; a completely meaningless definition. The Bad Plus make that point very clearly. Good. One can't dictate how people will (mis)use a word. But one can regret. And can keep on using the word correctly despite the eforts of the uncomprehending. MG

The first 2 of my latest tranche of OJCs turned up this morning This is fuckin' fantastic! Nat, whose stuff I listen to more than Cannon's, is spitting fire on this! And Johnny Griffin is rolling me over! And the 3 Sounds are great! Another terrific one! Oliver Nelson and Joe Newman really make this into an extraordinary album! Perhaps not as in your face as the Adderley, but still a blinder! I could have been listening to these for forty years!!!! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!! MG

Never heard of this bunch, ut thanks for the warning. MG

Looks like I can get one over here for a not too unreasonble price. I'd be interested to hear if anyone here has read it and what they think. MG

Larry Frazier George Freeman Thornel Schwartz (All with McGriff)

There are 29 with my name in the US. I solemnly swear that not one of them is me. MG

My goodness! I don't think I've ever bought more than four copies of anything (for myself, that is). MG

More from Jimmy Smith's Verve period Jimmy Smith - The incredible (Berlin concert in Nov 1965) - MFP (originally issued on MetroJazz 607) Jimmy Smith - Portugese soul - Verve UK Polydor issue MG

King Curtis - The new scene of King Curtis - New Jazz OJC Jack Wilson - The Jack Wilson Quartet with Roy Ayers - Atlantic Discovery reissue MG

It always happens! The morning after I buy 11 OJCs from Amazon.uk, Sterns e-mail me to say they have a sale on and would I please cancel all my Amazon orders and spend all my money with them. So I didn't. But I did order a conservative few. I got a real cheapo of Souleymane Faye's "Guew", which I've already got on the original K7, but what the hell - it's a brilliant album. Mbalax, but with good solos from good French jazzmen. Also pretty cheap, I got Linda Kekana - I Am An African £3.95 This is on the Gallo Jazz label, so I'm wondering what it's gonna be like... and, not quite so cheap, Jabu Nkosi's City Jazz 7 - Remembering Bra Zacks £7.95 According to Sterns' blurb, Another that looks to be of interest to fans of SA Jazz. Here's a link to the UK site's South African sale items list. http://www.sternsmusic.com/sale.php?srchin...=on&from=25 MG

Blue Mitchell - The cupbearers - Riverside Ace UK Nat Adderley - Work song - Riverside Ace UK Nat Adderley - Blue autumn - Theresa Bellaphon Germany MG

Charles Earland - Perceptions - Mercury orig Charles Earland - The great pyramid - Mercury orig Charles Earland - Smokin' - Muse MG

Oh, all right, if you insist. Your daughter and wife do them when you're not looking. MG

Betty Roche - Singin' and swingin' - Prestige OJC Freddie Roach - Mo' greens please - BN Liberty Jimmy Forrest & Shirley Scott (with a rather good drummer ) - Heart of the Forrest - Palo Alto orig MG

My solution too. And it's cheaper! MG

I've had several versions of "Iron city" on LP and CD and I've never thought it was an RVG session (but what do I know? I can't tell the difference between most BN LPs and RVG or McMaster CDs back to back). But the Verve discog doesn't actually SAY it was RVG (though that's pretty certain, given how much Creed Taylor used RVG). MG

Learn summin' every day. Not so long ago that I learned what 101 means. Thanks. MG

I just changed mine again. This one is a photo my wife took in South Africa in 2004.

The stuff I'm looking for doesn't seem so hard to find. I ordered a bunch of OJCs from my endless list from various sellers (mostly Thermite UK) on Amazon UK last night. Nat Adderley – Branching out Nat Adderley – In the bag Kenny Burrell – Soul call Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis & Johnny Griffin – Battle stations Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis & Johnny Griffin – Tough tenors Shirley Scott – Blue seven Red Garland – Bright and breezy Buck Clayton & Buddy Tate – Buck and Buddy Buck Clayton & Buddy Tate – Buck and Buddy blow the bues Junior Mance – Junior’s blues Coleperson Hawkins – The Hawk relaxes All between dead cheap and reasonably cheap (by British standards). About fifty quid the lot (inc postage). MG