The Magnificent Goldberg

Whenever I think of Butler, after I've stopped fulminating, I think of that tune from an unreleased Lou Donaldson session - "Don't worry about it George". I not only want that session released, I want to know the story, too. MG

Sly Dunbar Robbie Shakespeare Shake Keane

He's playing tenor on some of those Bob Belden videos too. Perhaps he has got a bit of a health problem, then. I hope not. Just remembered he played a sensational solo on Slide Hampton's "Sister Salvation". MG

Decided to stay up late and finish it tonight. MG

Fred Jackson, Leroy Cooper and Leo Parker for me in 2, 3 & 4 place; but most of all Ronnie Cuber. I saw him at the Brecon Jazz Festival in 2000, with Dr Lonnie, David Bernstein and a drummer whose name I didn't catch subbing for Idris. I could have died happy at that gig. It was the best I've ever been to. MG (He wasn't as good with Cornell Dupree and Les McCann last year - but he was playing tenor. Has he got a problem with his lungs? Or was it that Ronnie's wouldn't let him play loud music?)

Astounding! When you look at the product description on the link, here's what you see: WTF? MG

John Handy - "Hard work" Gil Scott-Heron - "Three miles down" And the greatest ever Smiley Lewis - "Blue Monday" - which says it all. MG

I was very sad when I heard the news this morning. My wife was very annoyed - she watches him all the time. MG

Karen Carpenter Cole Porter Gene Taylor

Allan Lowe Gracie Allen Al Klink

That's strange; according to Brian Rust, Brunswick-Balke-Callender made billiard tables. I suppose that different parts of the operation made different things - I can remember seeing the name Brunswick on bowling alleys, though. Billiard balls would, I guess, be made out of similar stuff. MG

As well as Gene Ludwig's birthday today, it's also Gerald Wilson's. So I've been playing the Mosaic box discs 1-4 (all I've got time for - will finish it tomorrow). MG

A lot of the early record companies were owned by firms in the furniture business. Generally, gramophones were sold in furniture shops, as pieces of furniture. Brunswick was owned by a firm of billiard table manufacturers; Vocalion and Gennett by (different) piano manufacturers. In Paramount's case, what gave them an edge was that they had the services of one H C Speir, who owned a store (it doesn't say what he sold) in Jackson Miss. Speir knew what his black customers wanted and would arrange for blues singers and others to go to Chicago (where Wisconsin Chair had their recording operation) to record. In Chicago itself, Paramount was managed by Mayo Wiliams, about the first black executive in the recording industry. Between them, and one or two other contacts in the South, I imagine, they put Paramount in the lead for what was then called "Race music". If you can find a book in your local library called "Little labels - big sound", by Rick Kennedy and Randy McNutt (Indiana U Press, 1999) ISBN0-253-335548-5, that gives potted histories of Gennett Paramount Dial King Duke-Peacock Sun Riverside Ace (New Orleans, not London) Monument Delmark MG

Moby Dick Dr August Mobius August Strindberg

There was a TV programme over here, about ten years ago I think, called "Say Amen, somebody", which outlined his story and those of some of the people in Chicago that he developed. It culminated in him, aged about 90, conducting the GMWA Mass Choir. I never saw anyone with such presence! He was completely dominating the choir and the audience, just by small movements of one finger - and an gaze of almost unbearable intensity! Wow! MG

I've seen that photo many times, but its never looked so clear. I guess it shows the power of computer enhancements. MG

Precisely what I was getting at. All the funky Soul Jazz albums, which some people dislike, were produced by Francis Woolf. MG

Koo Nimo Nemo Jules Verne

I think Duke Pearson did what he could during the circumstances. For example, he did produce Herbie Hancock's last two BN albums, and they're good in my opinion. Oh yes, they're very good! But they're in a totally different direction than the things musicians like Donald Byrd and a bit later Bobbi Humphrey and the Mizells did... I assume that's the stuff that went down the toilet? Of course it's a question of taste, in the end, but I do consider most of the late 60s BN output in a different category (and a less intriguing, at that) than the stuff they released up to, say 1966 or 1967. But that stuff wasn't produced by Duke. It was early 70's material anyway; after Francis had died and George Butler took over. As far as I know Duke didn't have anything at all to do with any of that material. MG

Gerald Wilson - today's other birthday boy! Joseph Wilson Richard Armitage Really! I'd better get a few of his on later, then. Richard "Groove" Holmes Sherlock Holmes Larry Holmes

Not according to Wayne Shorter!! Wayne did not have a high opinion of Pearson's musical taste. He might be part of the reason Blue Note went down the toilet in the late 60's. Which late 60s albums do you think indicate BN going down the toilet? MG

I like "Cool struttin'" as well. Did anyone ever pick up this album? MG

Ox-tail soup. MG

Well, I've written a mild note to ask how to find out what they've got. We'll see if they care. MG

Received the discs this morning Luca, thank you. No time to listen 'cos I'm having a Gene Ludwig day. MG