wesbed

I recently purchased Lee Morgan’s The Rumproller in my attempt to complete my collection of RVGs. I’d delayed my purchase of The Rumproller because I had a gut feeling it would be The Sidewinder Part Two. In fact, the Rumproller liner notes say the Rumproller title was Morgan’s attempt at recreating The Sidewinder. According to the liner notes, The Rumproller was never close, in sales, to that of The Sidewinder. The notes go on to say how The Sidewinder kept selling and selling much to the surprise of Blue Note and Lee Morgan. The notes say The Sidewinder was on the best-seller charts for several months after its release. I am 37 years old so am too young to have knowledge of the sales activity of The Sidewinder. It was before my time. Was The Sidewinder played on the popular radio? Did people, at the time, know who Lee Morgan was? Was his name mentioned on the best-seller and best-of lists? Were people humming the Sidwinder tunes while driving in their cars and working in their offices?

I made a weekend trip to Columbus, Ohio this past weekend (from Tucson, Arizona). I did some looking at jazz CDs in the chain stores (Borders, B&N) and in a local store my friend recommended (I forgot the name). All the stores had several RVGs in stock but non had Jazz Immortal or Groovin' at Small's. As I wrote earlier in this thread, I know I can purchase these RVGs from the internet whenever I choose. It's interesting, though, that I've never seen certain RVGs in stores.

I've tasted various flavors of Samuel Smith's. They are all good. I'm sometimes not a lover of oatmeal stout but Samuel Smith's is quite good. I've never tried the Winter Welcome. Does it vary by year? Is the brew supposed to be a little different each year? What's the story?

Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

Man, I don't get it. Peckin' Time and a picture of an alien being (for lack of a better term) in a toilet? It seems kinda funny and kinda creepy but, no, I don't really get it.

Have you seen the Straight No Chaser Thelonious video? Back in the day, Monk was just cool as hell. He had the hat, the dark sunglasses, the quirky touch on the piano. Nobody was cooler than Monk. I always laugh out loud when I watch the video during the film clip where Monk is asking for liver in France. Monk = funny & cool as hell.

My favorite 'one name' name is Thelonious.

Man, thanks. This is good stuff! Ever since I received my Carmell Jones Select I've wondered why I couldn't find more good pictures and information in regard to Carmell and his life.

I have to agree with this comment. I purchased the Miles Davis/Jazz Giants when it was initially offered as a K2. I purchased it because it was Miles Davis with other recognizable names, and was a K2 Remaster. I didn't expect much but figured it would be a good addition to my collection. I wondered why Fantasy would spend its time/effort to remaster this set of music, of all things. I played the CD several times and was constantly pleased at what a nice collection it is. When I get in the mood for Miles on Prestige I will usually pull the Jazz Giants off my shelf before I look to the Workin/Relaxin/Cookin/Talkin/Eatin/Smokin/Sleepin' albums.

I know the question is in regard to OJCs. However, I narrowed my interest in the Fantasy catalogue by considering for purchase only those titles that had been remastered with the K2 process. Even if you don't care about the remastering, you can use the K2 remasters as a guide to which OJCs to purchase. Purchase the less-expensive OJC version of a given session in place of the higher-priced K2 version.

I wish... I wish... I wish Mosaic had been authorized to add some music samples of the Atlantic New Orleans Jazz Sessions to the Mosaic web page.

My comment, to follow, means nothing negative in regard to Veteran's Day. My Dad spent twenty years in the Air Force. I grew-up surrounded by the military and by military people. The company I work for wants us to 'appreciate' Veteran's Day and not forget it. We aren't 'closed' or anything like that. However, the management did place a torn 1-foot by 2-foot poster of a soldier by the back entrance so we see it when we walk in. I work for a 'major software corporation,' a company with name-recognition and with a budget to provide more than a torn poster, I'm sure. This seems dumb to me, and a little underwhelming.

Right or wrong, I tend to view all jazz of the 1950s/1960s era through Blue Note colored glasses. Randy Weston is mentioned in the liner notes to Freddie Hubbard's 'Hub Cap' session. Soulstation1 showed me his copy of a coffee table book of Blue Note photographs. The book contained a photograph of Weston. In addition, I know Mosaic is closely related to Blue Note through Michael Cuscuna. I knew nearly nothing about Randy Weston and purchased the set by placing my trust in Mosaic Records. Also, I desired to have my own copy of the 'complete' Select lineup. I assumed (I know, not smart!) Weston would follow the standard fare of Blue Note. To my wonder, he did not. I'm surprised Weston did not have more of a popular following, as in the fashion of Coltrane or Monk, due to his own unique, complex, and quirky style.

I did a scan of the RVG titles at the Blue Note site. I was checking to see which RVGs I don't have. I counted four titles I don't have. I haven't purchased Blue Train or Birth of the Cool because I already have earlier copies of each. Yes, I know I can order RVG titles from the internet, yet, I haven't purchased Jazz Immortal or Groovin' At Small's because I've never seen the titles in stores. Where are they? Which other RVG titles are not seen in the stores?

I received my Randy Weston from Mosaic. My first impression, listening to the first disk, was, “This is not a Blue Note recording.” And, it ain’t. Weston reminds me of a mixture of Randy Weston and Thelonious Monk. You can hear Monk playing in the sub-conscious of Weston as Weston plays his own compositions. Memories of Monk are all over the place in Weston’s style. I’ve listened to the first two disks. I get a sense of ‘jazz’ at certain times and a sense of ‘classical/new age’ at other times. On certain solo piano pieces Weston was way ahead of his time. Almost like he could have recorded the songs in the 1980s rather than the 1950s. Weston approaches the sound/style of 1980s new age piano, then quickly backs away and shows his new age tendencies as only a teaser. The feeling on the Little Niles set, to me, is more ‘classically’ based and less ‘groove’ based. Lots of good playing and good writing but not so much of the ‘groove’ that is incorporated into much of 1950s Blue Note jazz sessions. I wonder if Mosaic is aware of the type-o on the back of the Select box? For session ‘A’ the title should read ‘Little Niles.’ It says ‘Little Miles’ instead. I get a slight hint, though not exactly, of Charlie Rouse playing with Monk when I listen to Cecil Payne playing alongside Randy Weston. Looking past the music, my favorite part of this set is the incredible remastering job done by Malcolm Addey. This is one of the best remastering efforts I’ve experienced. I mean, these recordings were created between 1957 and 1963. The quality of the sound, even the live Coleman Hawkins set, is better than some sets from the 1990s. What’s with Addey? How in the hell does he do it? The sound of every instrument is nothing less than spectacular. The bass sounds like a bass, not too loud and not too distant. The drums sound deep and full. From Randy Weston I expected more music done in the style of Blue Note. However, Randy Weston is his own man and plays his stuff his way. This set is not what I expected and I can’t say I enjoyed the first disk on the first spin. Upon subsequent listening, Weston’s playing is, somehow, hypnotic, and he gets under your skin, whether you like it or not.

The answer can be found here.

But... errr... I suck with Photoshop.

Man, this is too funny.

Sonic Boom is available at Cheap-CDs.com for $14.41, including shipping and handling.

I found and read the Andrew Hill interview. I'm very glad 'the player' who made the recording date did so. I wouldn't enjoy Point of Departure near as much if 'he' wasn't on it. 'He' is the one I always wait to hear when I listen to PoD. He shines brightly within the Andrew Hill environment of sound.

The leaf blowers are in Tucson as well. But, wait... there aren't so many leaves in Tucson. Oh yeah, the machines are used to blow decorative gravel back into place. Jeez. I don't often go to bed before 1:00AM or 2:00AM. Every single Friday moring, right at sunrise, the landscape maintenance people have their leaf-blowers blowing. I'm awakened sooner than I'd like.

I watched the original Matrix when it was new. The original is still all I've seen and probably all I will see. The Matrix series just doesn't seem to grab me like it does most folks.

This comment made me laugh out loud while at work! I wonder how many 'guests' are regular members who failed to login and didn't realize it? Or, their browser lost the cookie and the user isn't yet aware? I mean, if all you do is browse and/or lurk, you might not realize you're logged in as a 'guest.'

I apologize. I have a broadband connection and didn't think about it.

Isn't this good enough? Damn, I'm in a smart-assed mood since Mosaic reported my CDs as stolen.