The Magnificent Goldberg

listen, i'm not arguing that DA saved music or anything. all the same, i hardly think he "stinks". by this are you saying that he ruined more sessions than he aided? i'm curious why you feel this way... also, i believe it's worth mentioning that most folks deep into the Axelrod funk camp are there for the beats and not the solos. in fact, i'd be willing to argue that MOST fans of the funky Axelrod dates are there for the beats and not the solos. (this makes you neither right nor wrong, of course. just an observation.) the same can probably be said for Ozzie as well, i think... I think DA stinks because he isn't anywhere in even the nearby league compared to producers who really DID (and in some cases still do) know how to make great jazz records: Bob Porter Houston Person Esmond Edwards Ozzie Cadena Orrin Keepnews Alfred Lion (through the agency of Ike Quebec, then Duke Pearson) Francis Wolff Nesuhi Ertegun Joel Dorn Richard Bock Lester Koenig BobThiele That's like the first league, in my view. DA isn't even in the second, which would have people in it like: Bob Koester Don Schlitten Kenny Clarke Cal Lampley League 3: Sonny Lester Creed Taylor Ed Michel Maybe Axelrod fits in here - simply for the few great recordings he did produce with Cannonball, Land etc. Lester and Taylor had their moments, too. And their overproduced stuff was a lot better than Axelrod's overproduced stuff. MG

Bennie Green/Gene Ammons - Juggin' around MG

Jack McDuff - Do it now MG

I like the Curtis Mayfield cover and the song "Goodbye, So Long" on Superfunk, as well as the title track from Priced To Sell. I'll have to check out the previous 3 Funk, Inc. albums if they're better! Thanks MG. There isn't a Curtis Mayfield cover on "Superfunk". The CM cover is "Give me your love" from the "Hangin' out" LP, which was their 3rd. That's on the same CD as "Superfunk". I love the Steve Weakley solo on that track. I also love "Smokin' at Tiffany's" from that LP; it's the same tune (though credited to Funk Inc) as the title track from Jack McDuff's "Do it now". Think I'll play that next. If you've got the CD with "Superfunk" and "Hangin' out" - CDBGPD058, you only need CDBGP040, which has "Funk Inc" and "Chicken Lickin'" on it, for the complete set of their first bunch of records. I don't think "Urban Renewal", which they recorded in 1995 (produced by Bob Porter - PRCD11001) is still available. The only people from the earlier band still there in '95 were Bobby Whatley and Cecil Hunt. Still a fine album, though. Think I'll get that out and give it a spin (also). MG

Those ar BOTH great stories. "Thongs ain't what they used to be" does have a Hodges feel about it. Or even "Things..." MG

No - Page cannot be displayed. I'll try tomorrow. Thanks for the link, anyway. MG

I've got the Wright on LP; that's very good indeed; Gloria Coleperson is one of my favourite organists. Glad that's come out on CD. Never heard the Byard Lancaster. Wasn't he on one of the Larry Young Blue Notes? - the Young LPs are buried behind a pile at present, so I can't look it up. I didn't like the Gale LPs when they came out. Had the same feeling about them as Bobby Hutcherson's "Now" - got that one a few months ago and decided I was right in 1970. Can't win 'em all. The Vortex I really want is the Clifford Jordan, "Soul Fountain", with John Patton. Anyone seen if this is coming out? Does Water have a website yet? MG

Axelrod produced two LPs of Funk Inc for Prestige - "Superfunk", which wasn't as good as any of their first 3 LPs which had been produced by Bob Porter and Ozzie Cadena, and "Priced to sell" which was vastly inferior even to "Superfunk". The former LP did have a few good solos on it. He also produced Gene Ammons' "Brasswind" which, in my view, was the worst album Jug ever made! Frankly, "Domination" isn't as good as most Cannonball's albums. But Cannon rose above what Axelrod was doing, I think. Basically, I think Axelrod stinks. My guess is that "The fox" is good because he did what a producer of jazz records is supposed to do; make sure the beer and sandwiches come on time; oh, and the musicians, as well. MG

I think it's a great album; not quite a perfect classic like "Alligator Bogaloo" and "Midnight Creeper". The title track is the weakest, and it ain't that bad, by god! Water are doing a good job with Blue Notes that the powers that be in EMI don't give a toss about, in my view. "Brown Sugar" and "The Phantom" are both terrific releases they've done recently. Are there any other's (that I should be getting)? MG

Jimmy McGriff - State of the art MG

Oh, and Cochemea Gastellum MG

And my next number will be "There, I've said it again" MG

I've got "Stablemates"; I like it OK, but it's a bit to much like a bop record for me to really love it. All you bop heads can take that as a strong recommendation... MG

I've got "Stablemates"; I like it OK, but it's a bit to much like a bop record for me to really love it. All you bop heads can take that as a strong recommendation... MG

OK Patricia, there's a safe way to do this and the Army way. Buy a 180g pressing of any Kenny G album; spread a mixture of marmalade and cat hair on it; then try out the instructions. If you muck it up, well, it was only Kenny G. (Works as well with old Barry Manilow or George Shearing LPs.) MG

Lou Donaldson - Pretty things MG

George Freeman - Birth Sign MG

Pretty things. An album I've always liked, though not a classic. MG

I posted subsequently on that thread saying that Houston Person's version of "Only trust your heart" is credited to Benny Carter and Sammy Cahn. So, a third set of credits on that one! MG

Larry "Wild" Wrice - Wild - Pacific Jazz ST24. I don't play this LP often enough. Alto, tenor & flute by Jim Spaulding (Jim!); trumpet, Bobby Bryant; organ, Bobby Blivins. This is coming out frequently in 2006. Must be Spaulding's first recording. MG

Houston Person - Very personal Wynton Kelly - It's all right Duke Pearson - Wahoo MG

Looks like the only way to be certain which is which is to watch those two old films. MG

Fela Kuti - Teacher don't teach me nonsense MG

Terrific album!! MG Curtis is very heavily underrated. I was really surprised, but delighted, they brought out that Mosaic Select. MG

Oops!