Cali

I just bought my G4 a month and a half ago.

Dmitry, I'll get back to you on that. Hey, Al does a gig on the first weekend of the month! I can't remember the name of the club, right now (it's late), but I'll call him tomorrow to get the particulars and let you know. He has a good quartet.

What's up, Dmitry?!! Read your post about coming to L.A. Looks like I'll be in Cuba while you're here. Hate to miss seeing you. Check out "L.A. JAZZ" newspaper and "ALL ABOUT JAZZ" newspaper when you get to town. They're available at Tower Records and they're free. They'll give you a rundown of where the music is. There's a lot of good free stuff happening in the summer. Go online and look up MOCA (Museum Of Contemporary Art), California Plaza, Skirball Center (museum) and the Los Angeles County Museum. All of them have some stellar line-ups in the summer on thursdays and fridays, from 5-8 pm. These are free, outside in the courtyards and wine and beer are sold. Also, check out the Calendar section of The L.A. Times on friday, saturday or sunday. Enjoy!

Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit it, but I am a longtime boxing fan. I have a sizeable boxing video library that includes fights of all the all-time greats, from John L. Sullivan up to the fighters of today and I have several books on boxing as well as a valuable collection of Ring magazines. Having said that, I think the cut Klitschko suffered was one of the worst I have ever seen. It reminded me of the cut Ali inflicted on Jerry Quarry in his comeback fight that forced the stoppage of that fight in the third round. Klitschko eyelid could have become detached with a few more well placed blows. That was a huge, gaping cut. I've seen fights stopped from cuts a lot less severe than that one. Boxing has enough of a reputation as being barbaric. What do people want to see, someones eye laying on the canvas? I acknowledge that Klitschko's cut man was awful. Also, I saw an over-the-hill, out of shape Lewis. But I saw something else, too. In the last two rounds Lewis started connecting vicious uppercuts that were snapping Vitaly's head back. Uppercuts really bust up a fighters face. If you look at Klitschko's interview after the fight, you will see that he had three cuts around his left eye and a cut to his mouth. These subsequent cuts were caused by those uppercuts. IMO Klitschko was going to be knocked out within the next two rounds. As tired as Lewis appeared, he had figured Klitschko out at the end of that fight. As far as the doctor being incompetent because L.A. isn't experienced in big fights. That's just wrong. L.A. is not the boondocks. I've gone to big matches here for years, including the Roy Jones bout, a couple of years ago, and the Shane Mosley/Oscar De La Hoya match. I'd venture to say that L.A. puts on more than three times the amount of fights as Vegas per year, even if they are not the mega-fights that only the casinos can afford to put on. All of the boxers deserve and receive just as much expertise in L.A. as in anywhere else in world. Los Angeles has one of the strongest and most respected boxing commissions in all of boxing. Ask anybody in the fight business. I'd like to clear up one last bit of misinformation. A referee or doctor can stop a fight not only when a fighter is unable to defend himself (which, BTW, is a decision a referee makes in the heat of battle), but also if there is the "risk of serious injury". A cut doesn't necessarily render a boxer defenseless, but it can lead to a more serious injury, such as a detached retina, or other permanent eye damage.

What EBrew said.

Miles Trane Wynton Chambers Philly Joe

Just yesterday, I heard the tune "My Life" by Mary J. Blige and was stunned! I think she has to be included on the basis of that song, alone. For me, it was a revelation. Never paid much attention to her before. Also, include me in the Ray Charles pulpit.

Bought this one the first week it was released. On first listen it was a "Wow". After repeated listenings, it became like a "pseudo-Miles" recording and I lost interest. Lately, I've listened to it frequently. I've even included it in my "itunes" library on the computer, so, I hear it when I'm working. My current feelings about this album is, it's good background music and occasionally stimulating. I think I "get" what Roney is doing, and I can appreciate it on different levels. I even picked-up on the Prince reference on "Virtual Chocolate Cherry", remembering how much Miles respected Prince. I like this album, but it is not music that commands my undivided attention.

Hmmmm.

Bertrand, The memory always goes first. I could have sworn it was Merritt, but maybe I'm confusing the occasion with other dates that I saw The Mesgrs. For sure it wasn't Workman because Reggie is a little guy, and we had to move the front seat forward for the bass player to give him more room in the back. It may have been Sproles. The other members of the band were Wayne, Curtis Fuller and either John Hicks or Cedar on piano. They were staying at the Vine Lodge Motel which was only a few blocks away from The Manne-Hole in Hollywood.

Vincent, thanks for the picture. I had never noticed that before. Maybe Lee was serially mugged back in the day. Excuse me for making light of his misfortunes. I truly loved Lee. Even had the good fortune to give him, Blakey, and Jymie Merritt a ride to their motel after a Messenger gig at the ManneHole back around '63 or '64.

Female - Aretha Male - Sam Cooke, the original "soul" singer If you haven't checked it out, please rent "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" on DVD. It's the story of the band that plays on all those great Motown hits. It gives a lot of insight to Marvin and other Motown artist. A truly great movie with great music and a very touching story.

Or could it have been as originally stated? Not relying on somebody's thesis, but recall from when the said incident happened around 1964. It was discussed on jazz radio programs before The Night Of The Cookers was recorded, years before The Lighthouse recordings. As a matter of fact, before the mugging incident was reported, there was a rumor that Lee was dead. The local jazz station here, KBCA, dedicated a whole day to playing only recordings by "the late, great" Lee Morgan.

Met Big Black a coupla years ago. He said this session was one of the highlights of his career. An interesting footnote is this was one of the first sessions recorded of Lee after he had been mugged and had some teeth knocked out. On Pensitiva at the beginning of his "trumpet duel" with Freddie, you can hear Lee is having chops problems. However, by the end of the tune, he is playing heroically. I've read on both this board and the old BNBB that this is a controversial recording, with many people disaproving of it. I think some of the criticism is valid. But to say the playing wasn't "spirited", couldn't be further from the truth. From all accounts, the audience was in a frenzy. Especially during Pensitiva's trumpet duel, the audience is cheering like they are at a sporting event. If you ever have the opportunity, just ask Big Black.

My vote would be John Coltrane. Trane wanted Lee in his classic group but couldn't hire him away from Blakey, according to liner notes on "Newport '63". Also, Trane asked Wes Montgomery to join his group but Wes, allegedly, said he didn't think he was ready. What a super group that would have been!

McCoy Tyner was listed on several Blue Note album covers as "etc." (see Night Dreamer, Page One and others). We used to say "I see ol' Etc. is on a new album". I believe the reason was contractual. P.S. AfricaBrass, you're our lucky winner!

Big John Patton - The Way I Feel Hank Mobley - High Voltage

Have always loved this album. Great solos by all, and that bass thing that Art Davis and Reggie Workman do on the title track is off the hook. Eric's solo on Aisha is worth the price of the album by itself. As a side note, did you know Eric had an alias on the original LP? If anyone knows the alias he used, you win a free subscription to the new, revised BNBB, whenever (if ever) it re-launches.

My bad!

There was an obscure altoist who made an obscure record for Blue Note, Cannonball Adderly.

A minor correction, "Nommo" was written by Jymie Merritt, and was issued on Max Roach's "Drums Unlimited".

Saw Jackie in L.A. a year and a half ago. He sounded great. However, I have been reading that he is not feeling well, lately.

Nary a flame, here! Excellent point.

Like 'em all, but I'll go with Wayne. That killer front line with The Messengers, Search For The New Land, and just yesterday I was stuck on The Gigolo! BTW, I like the alternate take of The Gigolo even better than the original. Anyone else?

This is a Wayne Alert to all fans in the greater Los Angeles area. He will be appearing Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at Bovard Auditorium on the U.S.C. campus. This is part of the ongoing Jazz @ USC series. Additionally, there will be two concerts on April 14. One will feature a duet of Randy Weston and Billy Harper. The other is a duet of Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Charlie Haden. For more information, check out the USC Spectrum website.