Ken Dryden

When writing for a monthly magazine, where you might get 3 or 4 reviews assigned at most, do you want to spend your time blasting substandard releases or praising music that you enjoyed? When I was able to write prolifically for one outlet (which paid well), I often pitched nearly everything that arrived in my mailbox and panned releases that merited it. But now I focus on things that attract my attention and deserve repeated listening, rather than condemning uninspired CDs by young, little known artists playing all originals that will quickly fade from memory, or mediocre vocalists who have no idea how to interpret a well known lyric. I was once challenged by an editor for giving "too many" four star reviews (I hate the star ratings system, one should be able to figure out how much the reviewer liked the release from reading the review). My response was that I no longer pitched reviews of bad or mediocre releases. I took Downbeat to task for wasting space on a review of a new Kenny G CD and also featuring it in their "hot box." I was surprised when they printed my letter verbatim.

The Eric Dolphy collaborations are my favorites in the Mingus discography.

Is any of this festival webcast live?

I enjoyed the Saturday broadcast of the Braves-Rays game, except one hapless Fox announcer kept saying a fly ball was heading to Michael Harris (who plays center field) when it is was actually going to Ronald Acuña Jr. in right field instead, a mistake he made at least twice. I'm surprised his on air partner didn't correct him...

There are several Alec Guinness British comedies I need to watch again: The Ladykillers Kind Hearts and Coronets The Man in the White Suit Captain’s Paradise Our Man in Havana

I do as well, but ordered it anyway. Selling off my current BN CDs will help pay for it.

I have avoided these websites and need to close my Facebook account. I am on MeWe because they respect privacy.

Smooth jazz always annoyed me with the repetitious, empty solos and the boring backdrops. Grover Washington was quite capable when he played straight ahead or classical, but most saxophonists tainted their sound where the smooth element never disappeared completely when they tried to play straight ahead.

The poor guy spent parts of five seasons in the major leagues and only had 594 at bats. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ranewme01.shtml

Do you titles to go with artist/bands?

I liked Gene Lees’ story about storing some clothing for Wiody Herman. Bill Evans borrowed his monogrammed sport coat then met Lees and Herman somewhere, wearing the coat. Evans asked Woody how he like the coat and he replied that it looks familiar. Evans responded, “It’s even monogramed,” then opened it to show the initials W.H. “That stands for William Heavens…”

His son Jerry is running the label, the most recent release is by the David Hazeltine Trio: I was happy that Jerry added me to his promo mailing list!

Pepsi was always too damned sweet, it was a poor substitute for Coke.

Matchbook Art School alumni, all?

It’s been awhile since I have received a promotional t shirt in a cd promotional mailing. Maybe they will start sending t shirt downloads with the music to save money… Frankly I am surprised that more artists don’t have tables set up with CDs for sale. When the artist doesn’t have an early morning flight the next day, it is worthwhile to sign CDs and chat with concertgoers. In many cases it is worth having some earlier releases for sale as well, I have been known to spend $80 to $100 for titles I missed or occasionally buy gifts for friends with me.

Five home runs for the Braves tonight, leading the Twins 6-2.

My guess would be home run...

If you order any of The Montreux Years CD series, especially from Amazon, play them promptly. When I opened my copy of the Tyner CD today, there was glue residue on the edge of the playing surface rendering the last track unplayable. I am not always prompt about playing my Amazon purchases and that 30 day window can arrive in seemingly no time.

Sounds good!

The times I heard Phil Schaap on the air it seemed like he talked far too much, though there were points of interest at times. The worst thing is an overly talkative emcee. Make the necessary announcements about house rules and concert sponsors, then get off the stage after introducing the leader, not the entire band one by one, unless that is what the band requested. One of the Concert Vault shows had an overly talkative emcee with a scripted introduction, on the second show the NYC audience shouted him offstage.

We had a pianist here in town who toured with Buddy Rich for awhile and recalled some of his tirades on the band bus, tapes of which have long circulated.

That's just too much talk, nobody is that interesting.

Mel's story about Buddy hitting him in the face with a pie right after he was introduced at the start of a set was startling. He couldn't take the stage, his tuxedo was ruined and it was embarrassing. I doubt anyone in Rich's band found it funny. Torme had some issues with arrogance, but Rich easily had him beat in that department.

Gene Ammons Gene Estes Estes Kefauver