Ken Dryden

I've owned a few of these LPs and CDs, but the label was often sloppy about proper listing of song titles and composers, an indication that this was basically, a bootleg operation paying royalties to no one.

I saw the band in 1974 and again during the reunion tour (1988 or 1989) and I wasn't really impressed with the Moon-less version. I can't imagine that they're up to snuff today.

I find it funny that folks complain about new release and reissue lists failing to be comprehensive or current, but it is one helluva lot of work to keep up with everything. Unless someone's paying you, it would be hard to do for very long. Kudos to Jazzmatazz for doing it as long as he did.

I was well aware of Natalie Cole's career outside of jazz prior to my post. I am unimpressed with her work as a jazz vocalist, period.

Natalie Cole was a jazz artist? News to me...then I guess Michael Bolton, George Winston, Yanni and others must be, too... Natalie, it's time to quit riding on your late father's reputation.

I remember going to meet a man named Harv Taratoot for job interview. I was staring straight ahead and was surprised when he opened the door and was easily a foot shorter than me, causing me to quickly awkwardly redirect my gaze forward. I made it through another round of interviews with him, but didn't get the job.

I've enjoyed the late Red Mitchell's recordings, particularly the duo meetings with Herb Ellis and Joe Pass. I love the story from Bill Crow's Jazz Anecdotes, where Red asked how he got hired for a gig with Marian McPartland. He was told she requested, "Hire a bass player who sounds like Red Mitchell." Anyone ever heard the LP with Red, Whitey and Blue Mitchell, Get Those Elephants Out'a Here? A rarity from the 1950s that I managed to acquire awhile back.

Actually, I think I have all (or most) of the Davis material on a bootleg LP that also included some rare Art Tatum broadcasts (which have since appeared on the Live series issued by Storyville).

Other than rules regarding formatting and word count, I've paid little attention to AAJ's writing guidelines. Other publications, especially the glossy but empty Jazziz and the sometimes sloppy JazzTimes could stand some serious editing, though I've never subscribed to the former and dumped the latter several years ago.

I've been an AAJ contributor since 2000, though I only sporadically write CD reviews. I devote more time to my column (which has been neglected somewhat) and occasional performance reviews (tricky, since I have to go out of town usually to hear quality jazz).

One of the things I own with featuring Tjader is a live concert excerpt from the 1977 St. Francis Jazz Festival, aired on NPR's Jazz Alive! I'm not sure of any of the personnel, though Poncho Sanchez has to be present. Dave Brubeck described Tjader as a war hero who served in the Pacific theater. He said that the vibraphonist ignored his physician about touring overseas, evidently he had a heart condition needing treatment.

As much as I've bashed jocks over the years, the three Duke University lacrosse students should have never been presented in a team photo for the supposed rape victim. Any jury that convicts these three is voting on emotion instead of the law; the district attorney deserves to be removed from office for going ahead with this very shaky case. If traditional photo arrays with men (none in uniform) from a variety of backgrounds had been utilized, the still-shaky case probably would not have brought so many brickbats bup the D.A.'s office.

A band is booked to play a party hosted by a mobster. One of his henchmen approaches the leader and says "De Boss wants Come Rain or Come Shine. If I were you, I'd play both."

Credited to Russell Malone: Did you hear about the new Kenny G CD, Kenny G Plays Monk? Among the cuts are "'Round Noon" and "Straight, No Changes."

Obviously, no dealer can possibly do anything other than visually inspect the covers and vinyl. But I would be hesitant to list LPs with visible scratches on ebay.

I received a promo of the Fearless Leader box recently. While the music and remastering are good and I appreciate the new liner notes, I'm not too happy about the jewel box design, which causes one CD to lay over the other on each segment of the box. There's too much potential for disc damage.

Likewise, Tom, Happy Birthday...

Because of a tight travel schedule, I need to get Lou Donaldson's contact info ASAP, if anyone can help me? I'm on the road the next few days and I'm facing a tight deadline for Hot House in NYC next week. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

I just a accessed them a few minutes ago...they're working.

One oddity about Ben Sidran's Talking Jazz: Denny Zeitlin's name was misspelled "Zeitland" all the way through the chapter on the pianist. I'm sure that Sidran knew how to spell it, but you get the idea that someone else transcribed the interviews then he never bothered to proofread the text. At least they fixed it prior to issuing the paperback. I like Marian McPartland's collection of magazine articles All in Good Time, among other musicians who have written books.

What about Dave Brubeck's Points on Jazz?

This ebay sellet doesn't even follow his own posted guidelines. The cover is obviously badly damaged yet he lists: CONDITION COVER: VG nice cover & design. no writing or seam splits. some damage to front cover. and then... Grading Scale: VG = Several audible scratches, but not throughout vinyl. Cover will have wear, but no splits or tears. Possible writing on jacket and/or label. I think that this Three Sounds Moods LP has a little more "wear" than most people are used to tolerating...

I've laid off buying music for a few weeks, my wife just got a new truck... But I won't skip Jazz Record Center when we head to NYC $$$. At least the hotel room will be free courtesy of credit card points.

I always got a kick out of rock bootlegs that were labeled "limited edition of _____ copies." Yeah, like they only made 300....

Sounds like a winner to me...I look forward to the Granz bio.