wesbed

I’m consistently surprised at the negative criticism given to the Bud Shank box. To me, Shank swings with the best on his alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, flute, (even a penny whistle!). Where else can you hear A Night In Tunisia played on a flute? You know? I live in Tucson, Arizona. It’s not quite the West Coast but very, very close. I was driving home in my car one evening when I inserted the Shank (disk #3) into my car’s CD player. I had the thought, “Damn, this is nearly perfect. The sun going down, the shadows of the palm trees in the foreground with the sun and the mountains in the background, the warm air, Bud Shank playing on my car stereo.” Maybe you have to live in this part of the USA and experience the climate, to fully appreciate this music? I don’t know. When it’s 108 degrees in Tucson, a cold cerveza and the Bud Shank box make the warm evenings ever so much more pleasant. I lean toward Blue Note and the East Coast sound. However, there is something about the Shank set that continues to intrigue me. The music is light, lyrical, deep, shallow, well-played, elegant, easy, complex… mostly very warm, genuine, and comforting. Is this my favorite Mosaic set? No. Does this set break the West Coast mold as advertised by Mosaic? No. Is it excellent West Coast jazz? Ohhhhh, yes. There are several musicians mixed through the set including Bud Shank on various wind instruments, Claude Williamson on the piano, Carmell Jones on the trumpet, Gary Peacock on the bass, Chuck Flores & Shelly Manne on the drums, even some great guitar playing from Dennis Budimir. Not a great set? Get the freak outta here. Go! This is excellent music from Pacific Jazz. I recommend it highly (whoops, but you can't buy this one anymore).

Here is a short interview with Van Morrison at the USA Today site. It contains a little blurb about why he signed with Blue Note. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/20...rrison-qa_x.htm

Not fair! I already own all the listed RVGs.

What does 'OBI' stand for? Seriously, I don't know. I've always been too embarrassed to ask. Additionally, what is the point of having the strip on the Japanese releases? The US RVGs don't have the strip.

I'm liking the Fat Judy whole bunches. B)

Jeez. This is going to make me have to get the Pearson box. I'll need to order it, possibly this week, so I'll have some time BEFORE Christmas to enjoy the Merry Ole Soul tunes. Damn, damn, damn.

I'd still get one. Yeah, it a real collectors item, a limited edition. Just like some of those Blue Note releases.

I have one of these great Plymouth Breeze things: You know, it's an historic vehicle (since they don't make 'em anymore!). But, don't buy one unless you want to replace the head gasket, the rear seal, the motor mounts, the brakes, and the A/C compressor at 30,000 miles.

Whew! I believe I'm feeling much better.

Shaddup! You're going to make me wish I hadn't missed the set.

Does anybody have a copy of this (the Mobley) picture that could be posted?

It seems the Illinois was in Last Chance for-freaking-ever. I considered purchasing (and not purchasing) the box for the duration. I finally decided to not purchase. I don't know much about Illinois nor do I have an interest in the set. I decided I'd not be purchasing the set simply because it had the Mosaic label on the box.

I could sense the Amy would be good via the sound clips at the Mosaic site. Please, now, move along to the Pearson box so you can advise me (and all of us) as to the enjoyability of the material included in the Pearson box. Should I place an order for the Amy and the Pearson, or just the Amy?

Good news.

Methinks there is not much jazz activity in Columbus either.

A new record number of users as of 12/01/03. B)

If McDonald's says it enough... the new McCoffee, the new McBeer, the new McCafe, the new McChicken McSamwich, the new McJazz on the new McMenu... The McSheeple will go from 'just lovin it' to 'really believin it.'

There are certain ‘old things’ that have made my life more comfortable and familiar through the years. I have a digital radio/alarm clock that my parents purchased as a birthday gift in 1976. It was a time when the digital alarm clocks weren’t necessarily yet the norm. I’ve been using the clock since my birthday in 1976. The clock has relocated six times with me (including a three-year stint in England when my Dad was in the Air Force). The alarm, from said clock, awakened me through all my high school, part-time job, and college years. The same alarm has awakened me each and every day of my life as a full-time working (but not necessarily functioning!) adult. When I went to bed last Friday night, I set the alarm per my usual habit. The mechanical slider- switch that enables the alarm snapped off in my hand. I decided it was time to retire the old clock and get a new one. While I unplugged the old clock and replaced it with its new counterpart, the memories of the old clock sitting at my bedside, its music putting me to sleep, its alarm waking me up, always there, and always dependable through so many years (since 1976) flashed through my mind. I realize the old clock is a dumb machine, only a material thing. However, the old clock got me to thinking about how many things in our lives are quietly ‘there’ for us. So much ‘there’ that we take them for granted and don’t miss them till they are gone. Things such as an old alarm clock, an old pair of jeans, an old jazz record, a parent, the person who cuts your hair, the person who knows how to work on your car, and on and on. Monday (tomorrow) morning will be the first time in my entire life that I will get up to go to work and will not be awakened by the old alarm clock, but with the new alarm clock sitting in its place. Rest in peace, old friend.

I received the John Patton select last week. My only exposure to Patton, before the Select, was his playing on Grant Green’s ‘Am I Blue’ and Lou Donaldson’s ‘The Natural Soul.’ I didn’t think Patton was anything special on ‘Am I Blue’ (of course, none of the players play to their potential on this title, for me). ‘The Natural Soul,’ for whatever reason, has not yet caught my attention. It seems good but not great. I started through the first two disks of the Patton Select and didn’t, at first, think much of them. I couldn’t easily link Patton to Jimmy Smith or Larry Young. My mind was frustrated that I couldn’t easily categorize Patton’s style with the other Blue Note organists. Upon further listening, however, Patton seemed to emerge, for me, as his own man. I can’t explain his style (yet). It seems he’s playing notes that are simple yet not simple at all. Like he is attempting to not overshadow the other players but still shines through them from the front, the back, from underneath, and from the sides of the song. I had a passing thought, something like, that Patton is playing minimalist organ (if there is such a term?). There is something about Patton’s playing on the Fat Judy tune which reminds me of Steely Dan. No, not that Patton sounds like Steely Dan, but that Steely Dan borrowed something from John Patton.

Damn. I haven't listened to Maiden Voyage in a very long time. I'll go spin the RVG now. Ed: I know there have been several CDs played-through since the Bud Shank set was available at the Mosaic site. Before your post today, I was listening to the Shank surfing music. I don't kow why, it was on my mind this morning. If I recall, I discussed the Shank with you at the BNBB when it was in the Last Chance category. Have you listened to the set much? Just wondering. It's intresting that I was listening the Shank box right when you decided to submit a new post to the board.

Ed: Hey man, glad to know you're still around. Yeah, I used to enjoy watching the stock boards before 9/11/01. It has not been much fun since that fateful day. I've not watched the stocks for several months. Rather, have spent much of my online time, here, at Organissimo. I was surprised, when I checked my 401k numbers a few days back, that the investment had grown a little. What do you paint?

Yes, this is my problem. Some of the AOWs have become too darned obscure. I'm sitting here with all but two of the RVGs. However, not many of the AOW titles. I agree with ss1, a monthly cycle would be a good amount of time for a series of reviews per selected RVG title.

To anybody who pre-ordered the Amy and/or the Pearson Selects: Have you received anything from Mosaic as to whether the sets have shipped yet? I'm waiting to get some feedback before I order my own sets. -_-