wesbed

I've been listening to the archives as well. I've enjoyed the shows I've listened to. If the archives weren't available I'd have missed all the shows except one. Night Lights Archives

Gone.

I've been buying the hell out of the K2s in the last several weeks. Not because of the sale of Fantasy Records, rather, just because I was in the mood to purchase some K2s. I don't have all the K2s but I do have quite a number of them. I've had to purchase most of my K2s via the internet. Hopefully, it won't matter and the K2s will continue to be just as available as they have been (meaning, the Fantasy product won't become more difficult to locate).

When I purchased AM I BLUE, I was expecting more of a standard Blue Note sound, I suppose. More of an uptown, jazzy sound, for lack of a better description. To my surprise, AM I BLUE offered, to me, nuances of a down-home, soulful, churchy, borderline country kind of sound. I believe wolff makes a good point in mentioning that AM I BLUE is unique coming from the Blue Note label.

Monotony? Hmmm.... As far as the musicianship and playing goes, not tempo choices, at what point does the monotony begin? In comparison to other Grant Green sessions, the 'monotony' begins on AM I BLUE, unfortunately, to my ears, on track one. I will say, though, your initial post in this thread regarding the AM I BLUE session has caused me to listen to AM I BLUE for more than just a second time. I have heard some new things I hadn't heard before. I heard Patton's organ doing things that I hadn't heard it do on previous listens to AM I BLUE. There are some nice notes/styles scattered here and there. Maybe 'monotony' wasn't the best word to use. Still, these tunes, in comparison to so many other Blue Note sessions, to me, seem lifeless and dogged. Which is difficult to understand when considering the names of the players involved on the AM I BLUE date. I've questioned myself many times, when listening to the tempo of the tunes on AM I BLUE. I've wondered why the AM I BLUE tunes have the 'lifeless' quality, to me, when the title song on IDLE MOMENTS, which is the same kind of tempo, doesn't seem lifeless? It's a question I've not been able to find an answer to.

The first Grant Green I heard was IDLE MOMENTS. I thought it was very good. Since then, I've read (including somewhere on the Organissimo board if I remember correctly), that IDLE MOMENTS may be more of Duke Pearson session than a Grant Green session. The next Grant Green I heard was AM I BLUE. My disappointment in AM I BLUE caused me to believe, for a while, that Grant Green was over-rated. Soon I listened to GREEN STREET and had to scream whoohoo! The trio format of GREEN STREET shows Green's talent like nothing else I've heard. I've always liked the title of the first track, 'Number 1 Green Street.' I just think it's a cool name for a song. Grant plays the song every way it can be played-- forward, backward, inside out and upside down. I've listened to various other Grant Green titles through the years. If I had to pick a favorite jazz guitarist as I type these words it would be Grant Green. To my ears Green is nothing short of incredible in a guitar/organ format. I'm still under whelmed by the monotony offered by Green/Patton and the others on AM I BLUE.

I don't know. Too many polls.

Jim R: It's good to see the mention of Frank Rosolino's name. I'm familiar with Rosolino only via the Kenton Presents Mosaic. From what I've heard, however, I enjoy Rosolino very much.

He's alive dude. Whoops! I didn't notice the poll included only deceased 'bones.

Yeah. What about Curtis Fuller?

... and Joe Zawinul?

I didn't know about the archive function either. Thanks for the information, Jim & Jim.

eBay link for 'Crescent,' ends in three days -- link

I purchased 'Am I Blue,' when it was a new RVG, with great anticipation. I'd never heard the music. I figured, due to the style of the cover and the names of the tunes, the album might be a set of slower/mood songs. I also believed, due to the names of the players on the session, the tunes would have to be good, fast or slow, by default. I played the album the first time and was surprised at how uninspired and dull the players and songs seemed. The last song, 'For All We Know,' is the highlight of the set. 'For All We Know' is good but not great. The players on the 'Am I Blue' set cause me to think of a great sports team on a bad day. The players are falling on themselves, stumbling, and seemingly uninspired. At the end of the game (or on the last track in the case of 'Am I Blue') the players catch their second wind and begin, finally, to play. The fans cheer. The team has a chance to win but, ultimately, loses. Due to other posts on the Organissimo and BNBB boards I've tried to enjoy 'Am I Blue.' I want to like it. I want to understand and appreciate what is good about it. During one of my many playings of 'Am I Blue' I started thinking I liked the music. But it was only a passing thing... I placed the 'Am I Blue' RVG back on my shelf and didn't get it out again till reading posts in this thread. I am not a musician. The only music I know how to play comes from my stereo. As a listener I may not appreciate music in the same way as a player. I've played 'Am I Blue' three times, in its entirety, since this thread appeared. I've tried to take Soul Stream's post and listen to the MUSIC being played. I hear things going on... Patton's organ mixing around, Grant Green's signature playing, and the fading in/out of Joe Henderson and Johnny Coles. In addition, I considered Soul Stream's words in regard to listening for substance rather than tempo. To me, the tempo isn't the problem nor is it a lack of substance. It's a lack of inspiration. These musicians seem like they can't wait for this session to be over so they can get back to doing whatever it is they'd rather be doing. I compared the tempo of the 'Am I Blue' album to that of the song 'Idle Moments.' 'Idle Moments' is about the same tempo, to my ears, as many of the songs on 'Am I Blue.' While the songs on 'Am I Blue' seem uninspired, draggy, and dull... the 'Idle Moments' tune, which also showcases Grant Green and Joe Henderson, is beautiful, inspired, stylistic, and refined. 'Am I Blue' is played well and very musical, I suppose. At the same time, to me, the music sounds clumsy, forced, and uninspired. As if the musicians were surrounded by a strange fog and couldn't quite get going. On the last track the fog thins but it's too late.

Interesting. Maybe you'll get your set? Let us know what happens.

Oh. I'm curious as to whether CD Universe will respond to your follow-up email.

When I read your first post that you'd placed an order for the mystery set AND sent an email to confirm its identity... I'd a feeling you'd receive such a reply from CD Universe. Why would a company desire to sell a product at a loss if it didn't have to? This is the kind of situation where all one can do is pay his money and take his chances. I didn't pay my money and I didn't get my Jazztet set for $16.00. Damn.

How about calvary and cavalry? Sheesh.

Regarding the Traneing In album... I have the K2. What is the song that Red Garland hints at on track 3, Bass Blues? Garland hints at a familiar melody on Bass Blues starting right at 3:57. I'd almost say it's a country song but I'm not certain. Hank Williams?

Oh, but then... LPs are so big and where would I store them? I can hardly find space for my compact disks.

Blue Note Spam

Yeah. There, their, and they're. I'm glad I had to learn the English language as my native language. I'd have never figured it out otherwise.

It seems lots of folks have a difficult time regarding the proper use of affect and effect.

I remember a Thanksgiving Day when I was in college. My Dad had to work on Thanksgiving that year (he worked for the airlines). My Mom decided, with her husband being out of town, she wasn't cooking the Thanksgiving dinner. She took us to one of those all-you-can-eat places for their Thanksgiving offering. As I sat in the restaurant, on Thanksgiving Day, the idea of pizza and beer at home seemed most appealing.

I didn't drink enough.