Ken Dryden

About to spin, won on ebay a few days ago for $.99 and shipping from Japan. The last piece of the puzzle, as I already owned volumes 2 & 3.

Great music, it was really an underrated trio. Chuck Israels isn't as aggressive as either Scott LaFaro or Eddie Gomez, but his interactions with Evans and Bunker are intricate and memorable.

That exactly what I requested. I don't want to stand in line to return it and the weirdest stipulation was that I had to return it within fourteen days to get credit. So they will be paying for first class mail, I am not risking the adventure of media mail. By the way, the USPS recently did away with optional insurance on media mail for items valued under $500. Pretty dumb, as I can't imagine there are a high percentage of successful claims.

I recently placed a large music order and discovered two copies of one CD, cursing myself for my carelessness. But when I reviewed the online invoice, I discovered that I had only ordered and been charged for one copy. I requested that the vendor email me a prepaid postage label so I can return it. I was thanked for my honesty, then directed to pay for the return shipping and they would reimburse me. Not exactly the response I was expecting...

It was always amusing to me when Frank Howard was a manager and visited the mound, where he towered over his pitcher.

I feel like odds are strongly against the Diamondbacks at this point, but Yogi Berra's quote comes to mind.

Two historic new releases arrived in yesterday's mail and both are enjoyable with great sound. The Bill Evans CD features his trio with Chuck Israels and Larry Bunker, plus a bonus track from the sessions issued earlier this year that didn't fit on the 2 CD set due to time contstraints. The Brubeck CD features early remote recordings made by Wally Heider and the audio is outstanding.

Losing a pet is always tough, especially with a drawn out illness. Hope another fine cat will add love to your home, though Pyewacket will never be replaced.

Pre-ordered. Denon did a crappy job with the CD reissue, omitting all the alternate takes that were a part of the Savoy Jazz 2 LP set. I pre-ordered this set when I saw my email during lunch. I am also looking forward to Con Chapman's bio of Don Byas, though i don't know when it is scheduled for publishing, probably some time next year.

While I agree that Sonny Rollins’ discography has some highs and lows, my experience doing a phone interview with him for a feature promoting his 50th anniversary Carnegie Hall concert in 2007 was very enjoyable and I managed to convince my editor to let me run a few hundred words over the usual limit.

Back when I was writing for the short-lived Jazz Review, I learned of some Croatian CDs issued by Jazzette, which Cadence sold for a time. Sadly, I didn't take immediate action and they disappeared from print. Other than Discogs or ebay, does anyone know of an online US source for them with reasonable prices? These are the titles I am seeking: Springtime Jazz Fever '98 ‎(2xCD) Jazzette BP2CD 030 Zagreb 900. Jazz Gala Jazzette BP2CD038 Golden Box Of Blues Jazzette ‎BP 2CD 031 Joe Pass – Solo - Duo - Trio Jazzette BPCD-005 Johnny Griffin, Bob Mover, Gianni Basso, Scott Hamilton, Sal Nistico, Dusko Gojkovic – B.P. Club After Midnight Volume 1 Jazzette BPCD-012 Art Farmer Quartet – Live At BP Clup Jazzette BPCD 032 Bob Mover – Yesterdays Jazzette – BPCD 035 Philip Catherine, Ulf Wakenius, Primož Grašič – Body And Soul / Sensational Guitar Summit Jazzette – BPCD 039

Arrived today, but there are stacks ahead of it right now.

I am probably well short of a ziillion LPs by any artist, particularly since many of my LPs were replaced with better sounding CDs with bonus tracks. But I still have a good amount of Tohshiko Akiyoshi, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, Stephane Grappelli, etc.

Good news, I got emails today from both PayPal and the credit card company that a full refund will post in two days . The credit card issuer must have lit a fire under them, as I filed a complaint after PayPal’s rejection. I also filed a complaint with the FTC so hopefully they will investigate this shady business.

As a precaution, I always use a credit card through PayPal with most merchants to provide an extra layer of protection. Last month I bought something from a vendor based in Hong Kong, though they disguised it in their email communications until I made the purchase. The product was unusable and it took me forever to get them to issue a return authorization and return address. I shipped it via insured USPS on 9-30, delivery was confirmed on 10-4, yet I have not been issued a refund. PayPal asked for more documentation and I provided it, my claim was rejected, they said the billing was correct, totally ignoring that the authorized return has never been refunded. My credit card issuer is now handling the case and they have been far more responsive so far. There is plenty of documentation that this company is operating in a fraudulent manner. I hope no one else has had this issue with PayPal, I would have been screwed if this had been a cash payment.

An expanded 2 CD set released earlier this year.

I am interested but given what a disaster Klinkowitz’s book on Gerry Mulligan was, I think that there were better writers available to contribute a blurb. When I interviewed Mulligan in 1995, he expressed dissatisfaction with Klinkowitz’s book.

I think I will pass on this release. There are plenty of trumpeters around that are more deserving of my time.

Bob Haggart was also some a painter, some of his paintings appeared on album covers for some of the Jazzology albums. Marian McPartland told me that Haggart sent her a painting he did of Jimmy McPartland and the bassist died either while it was in transit or just after Marian received it.

Sorry, but Michael Franks' voice and his annoying lyrics drove me crazy when my station played him to death in the early 1990s. Especially "Popsicle Toes" and "When the Cookie Jar is Empty," or whatever that song was called.

Two Lions/Mack Avenue Records Announces Con Alma: The Oscar Peterson Trio - Live in Lugano, 1964 To Release On November 24th Unreleased Live Album Available On CD, Digital, and Exclusive Vinyl for Record Store Day Black Friday October 2, 2023 - Today, Two Lions/Mack Avenue Records announced the forthcoming release of Con Alma: The Oscar Peterson Trio - Live in Lugano, 1964 on November 24th. Recorded on May 26th, 1964 at Teatro Apollo, Lugano, Switzerland, it was the final performance of an extended European tour just before the trio departed for Japan for another lengthy string of concerts. The unheard and unreleased live album from the immortal jazz legend will be available on CD and digital formats as well as an exclusive translucent light blue vinyl for Record Store Day Black Friday. Pianist/composer Oscar Peterson together with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen possessed artistry at its most consummate level. For more than six years, this assemblage continued to grow and perfect itself on virtually a nightly basis in all corners of the world. As demonstrably evidenced by the thunderous applause throughout the performance, the trio was in top form for this set. In Peterson’s always excellent programming, the repertoire features two jazz classics, three items from the Great American Songbook and an original. As always, the music is exhilarating, compelling, virtuosic and, of course, enormously enjoyable. The trio exhibits the essence of ensemble perfection in perfect harmony with the leader’s focus, with Brown and Thigpen fully owning the music without ever losing sight that Peterson is the captain of the buoyant ship. Brown’s playing is exquisite and his solos are marvelous and Thigpen’s playing supports, propels, enhances and scintillates throughout. Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s wife and deeply committed keeper of his immortal legacy, has tirelessly unearthed these recordings, founding Two Lions Records and, in 2017, joining together with Mack Avenue Records to release the finest of her discoveries. The latest gem under this sterling partnership is their fourth collaboration, Con Alma: The Oscar Peterson Trio – Live in Lugano, 1964. Tracklisting: 01) Waltz for Debby 02) My One and Only Love 03) Blues for My Landlady 04) Con Alma 05) I Could Write a Book 06) It Ain't Necessarily So ABOUT OSCAR PETERSON: Bestowed with the title of The Maharajah of the Keyboard by Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson was the embodiment of the history of jazz piano. Recipient of numerous honors and awards (including eight Grammys) and the subject of various documentaries, Oscar recorded more than 200 albums under his own name and as “house pianist” for Verve and Pablo Records, and lent his empathetic and brilliant accompaniment to many of music’s most immortal legends on hundreds of others. One of the most revered and influential pianists even to this day, the upcoming centennial celebration in 2025 will only add new substance to one of the most enduring and important legacies in the history of the glorious art of jazz.

Also due to be heard this week, I have this 2 CD set.

I couldn't announce it before today, there was an embargo. I have the 2 CD set in hand and should listen to it in the next couple of days.