Ken Dryden

I think most journalists don't claim that their personal "best" lists are definitive, after all, not all of us get serviced with the same releases and there is never time to hear all of the ones we receive. There is a certain arbitrary factor to compiling them. I wonder if a label or instrument is over-represented, am I picking the same artists as last year, etc. What puzzles me is when someone can choose multiple boxed sets without including a single Mosaic. But I'm flattered that Francis Davis has invited me to take part in the VV poll for the past few years. I enjoy reading other's lists, simply to see what I didn't hear or possibly overlooked. It's no different than those who try to compile the ten best or hundred best jazz recordings of all time, no one is ever going to agree with every selection or the ranking of them.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I also have reservations about primitive "solos only" recordings, even if it is Parker. I'll probably give the Jazz Crusaders a try. Still haven't heard any of the new Ellington which arrived recently.

I received a gift card and am considering either the Charlie Parker Dean Benedetti box or the Jazz Crusaders. I know the first consists of just solos recorded under a wide range of conditions, while I have never explored the Jazz Crusaders much at all. Which one do you recommend, particularly if you own both sets? I already pretty much have the rest of the sets that I want, so other choices aren't necessary.

The session was suggested by Rushing. I've long enjoyed it, having first acquired it back in the 1970s. I remember that being in one of Leonard Feather's Encyclopedias of Jazz. Smith talked about Brubeck having heavy hands, but if it was played at a party, people would dance all night long. Smith had no tolerance for pianists with a weak left hand.

Looks great, I just ordered it.

Most wives would have stormed out of the room after a few seconds of that behavior. Fortunately, my bride of many years leaves my records alone (though they are alphabetized and take up a goof 50 feet or so of shelf space) and lets me pick the CDs to play at home.

I routinely save signed correspondence from jazz musicians, though I have slacked off from taking CD booklets or LP jackets to be autographed during concerts or conferences. I have maybe 20 publicity photos, including personalized autographs by Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Marian McPartland and Milt Hinton. I also have a copy of the Great Day in Harlem with a letter from McPartland on its back, while I loaned her a copy of Stephane Grappelli's first piano album for her to show to him the day they taped her Piano Jazz show and he autographed it for me.

I don't think Evan ever released anything of his father's work after the second CD, though I bet there is more remaining. He ought to start issuing the various illegitimate broadcast recordings of his father, a la Frank Zappa's Beat The Boots! boxed sets.

Brubeck recorded the soundtrack to a Canadian mystery movie titled "Ordeal By Innocence" back in the 1980s, though he doesn't appear in it. Featuring his quartet with Bill Smith, Brubeck plays a number of familiar works, in addition to an unusually slow setting of "Truth."

At least Kenny G was listed under instrumental pop rather than being labeled jazz. I imagine a lot of the Grammy voters are too cheap to buy Mosaic sets, since they don't exactly provide many comp promos of their limited edition collections. I'm eligible to join but I'd rather use my money elsewhere. Congratulations to the jazz nominees, especially Lorraine Feather and Denise Donatelli.

Julie sounds like she was a wonderful lady. My condolences to you and your family for your loss.

One could only imagine the tripe that Randy Weston would have been asked to record if he had been on Dick Bock's World Pacific label, such as Bud Shank's A Spoonful of Jazz or Joe Pass' The Stones Jazz, both wretched ideas that should have never been recorded.

Lazaro, I think Randy Weston was in Europe at the time of the 1994 Festival, I have a broadcast from Switzerland date 9/4. He did appear at the Chicago Jazz Festival on 9/6/1992 with his Spirits of Our Ancestors band, which was broadcast by WBEZ-FM and carried by additional public radio stations. I taped the broadcast, it includes: African Village Bedford-Stuyvesant African Sunrise The Healers African Cookbook The band included Talib Kibwe (T.K. Blue), Billy Harper, Benny Powell, Jamil Nasser, Clyde Lucas and Neil Clarke, with arrangements by Melba Liston.

The only thing now published on their website is a memorial to John Norris (www.coda1958.com). I was a contributor at the time Coda ceased publication and I had a long talk with the new owner the next summer. He told me that he was intending to get it started again. One new issue (Nov/Dec?) was listed as being published that I never received, nor was I paid for anything of mine that may have appeared in it. I believe it is gone for good.

Why would anyone fall this? I would think most of us would go to law enforcement, especially the FBI, if we thought this was an international crime issue.

I can find anything filed in seconds because I started alphabetizing my collection a long time ago, before the CDs got into 5 digits. The new arrivals and unheard stuff isn't strictly alphabetized, but may be soon when some new shelving arrives next week.

Up with a few more price cuts.

I just got an email from Russell Gloyd, Dave Brubeck's long time manager. It seems that some additional tracks from Dave Digs Disney have been located and a further expanded reissue is planned for 2011. Columbia has numerous unissued sessions in the vault, including a Brubeck quartet with clarinetist Bill Smith tentatively to be titled Witches' Brew which will likely not be released.

Updated with many price reductions.

PM Sent: Wanted: Doc Cheatham: Live at the Windsor Jazz Series $6

I think Frank Zappa's instrumental "Filthy Habits" has a rather sinister edge to it.

Prices have been updated and a number of European and Japanese imports have been added.

I've been listening to a bunch of newly acquired Calliope compilations of 1950s tv broadcasts all titled Sessions Live: Harry James/Les Brown Count Basie, Joe Williams & Art Blakey Herbie Mann, Ella Mae Morse & Jimmy Giuffre Max Roach/Bud Shank Firehouse Five Plus 2 Paul Horn/Paul Togawa Don Fagerquist, Dave Pell and Al Viola Anita O'Day/Curtis Counce Shorty Rogers, June Christy, Irene Kral & Jimmy Guiffre Barney Kessel/Harry Babasin Sonny Criss/Calvin Jackson Candoli Brothers, Mark Murphy, Leroy Vinnegar Charlie Barnet/Mel Torme Modern Jazz Quartet/Chico Hamilton Red Nichols/Firehouse Five Plus 2 Jack Teagarden/Rampart Street Jazz Band Billie Holiday, Leroy Vinnegar, Jeri Southern & Pete Jolly Teddy Buckner/Firehouse Five Plus Two Paul Horn/Buddy Collette Lighthouse All Stars, June Christy & Jimmy Guiffre Art Blakey & His Jazz Messengers Cedar Walton Quintet: Cedar's Blues (Red) Benny Aronov: Shadow Box (Choice) w/Bob Brookmeyer & Tom Harrell

I have the following CDs for sale or trade. All are in like new condition except those marked factory sealed. I'm open to trades as well, please pm me. First class shipping to the U.S. only, $2.00 for the first CD and 50 cents for each additional title. Paypal preferred (no credit or debit cards). Any CDs will be shipped the first mailing day after payment is received. Bill Evans & Monica Zetterlund: Monica Zetterlund (CD, 1991) Westwind $10 Live at Montmartre, Vol. 3: Warne Marsh (CD, 1995) Storyville $9 Live at the Montmartre Club: Jazz Exchange, Vol. 1: Warne Marsh (CD, 1994) Storyville $9 Live at the Club Montmartre, Vol. 2: Lee Konitz/Warne Marsh (CD, 1993) Storyville $9 Unissued Copenhagen Studio Recordings: Warne Marsh (CD, 1997) Storyville $9 Tough Tenors Back Again!: Johnny Griffin (CD, 1998) Storyville $9 'S Make It (Jpn Lp Sleeve) [iMPORT]: Art Blakey (2002) $30 Gatefold mini-LP style with liner notes in English. Chapter 2: Great Jazz Trio (CD) $28 This is the Eastwind Japanese import version in a mini-LP sleeve. John Handy: Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival: John Handy (CD, 1996) Columbia $9 Herb Geller Plays (Jpn Lp Sleeve) [iMPORT]: Herb Geller (2002) $12 Swingin' Machine: Mose Allison (CD, 2006) Collectibles $6 Factory sealed, never played. Art Farmer Quintet At Boomer's V.2 (Jpn Lp Sleeve) $16 In Scandinavia, Vol. 3: Louis Armstrong (CD, 2005) Storyville $7 Teddy Wilson Trio Wilson, Teddy Storyville $15 Revisits the Goodman Years Wilson, Teddy (Storyville-later edition with bonus tracks) $9 Nicki Parrott: Moon River Venus import $9 Ken Peplowski: When You Wish Upon a Star-Clarinet [import] $15 Ken Peplowski: When You Wish Upon a Star-Tenor Sax [import] $15 Sweet Lorraine [import] Pozza, Andrea Venus $8 Ted Rosenthal Trio: My Funny Valentine [import] Venus $10 Archie Shepp True Ballads [import] Venus New $23 Rachel Z Trio: First Time Ever I Saw Your [import] Venus $9

Favorite Smooth Jazz CDs