Ken Dryden

I remember attending the 2003 IAJE and sitting next to Ken Franckling during a great set by the Denny Zeitlin Trio. After finishing the first song, he started a beautiful ballad, playing softly, though the clown sitting on the other side of Ken chose that moment to snap a picture. The rather loud click of his SLR camera caused the two of us to look at each other with a frown and obviously thinking the same thing: "Amateur...." Of course, there were more than a few veteran photographers during IAJE who thought nothing of slowly walking up the center aisle and then in front of those of us seated in the front row to get a shot, taking their sweet time, no matter how many of us had their view blocked. I will have to admit that I've got my share of unissued jazz broadcasts, many of which I recorded during my many years in public radio. There is a wealth of material that merits being issued to the public, if only in download form.

Lorraine Feather told me that her father's record collection wasn't all that big. He and his wife suffered the effects of an earthquake and it could be that he donated or otherwise disposed of many records and CDs accumulated over the years. I think most of us collect or keep stuff because we treasure it. If we don't, why allow it to take up shelf space?

Doug Ramsey told me that he has thinned out his collection due to his many moves during his broadcast journalism career. It's funny but he worked in New Orleans twice, but before and after my four years at Tulane. He still occasionally posts a huge stack of promotional CDs sent his way and how it is impossible to hear them all. I've got more aggressive about thinning out new arrivals, especially the projects featuring unknowns (especially vocalists) doing all original material with musicians I've never heard of at all. I have to draw the line somewhere and unless artists are savy enough to include a familiar tune or musician, I'm afraid that a lot of writers and broadcasters have the same reaction. Surprisingly I haven't slowed down on buying CDs and LPs much (until around the time of the move, which is still in progress), but I have slowed down acquiring books. After moving 55 or 60 boxes of books, maybe that had an effect.

Frankly, I am not sure of how many CDs and LPs I own, it's been years since I attempted to count them. 20,000-22,000 might be a good ballpark estimate for my combined CDs and LPs, but it's a guess. I just moved and I am awaiting delivery of my prefab CD shelves to put out the rest of the jazz, the unheard discs, rock, classical, bluegrass, blues and comedy stuff. Scott's total is over 60,000 CDs and LPs, but he did get started writing about jazz in 1975.

I didn't realize that there was a collection competition, though I was amused when I shared the recent radio station CD sale list with my friend Scott Yanow (whose collection is likely triple the size of mine) and there were actually five CDs on it that he didn't already own.

I've long enjoyed Nat King Cole and this set will be a nice addition to my collection. Maybe I'll be able to part with some of the earlier LPs and CDs that end up in this anthology.

The thing I love about baseball is you can't run out a clock, you have to score and get the other team out at least 27 times. Unless a game is a total blowout, you can find yourself second guessing the manager: When to pinch-hit for the pitcher, pinch run for the slow catcher, when to hit and run, sacrifice or attempt a squeeze play. With changes in strategy by the team in the field, it's like a chess game at times.

Since I already voted in the critic's poll, I skip the reader's poll. One round of voting is enough for me.

Like JSngry, I have never understood the hype about Dave Douglas. I didn't care for his Mary Lou Willlams tribute and had a number of his CDs at one time. I even saw him at Tonic and his music just didn't interest me. But everyone is entitled to their own taste.

Hooray!

I have had more than one person ask me to ship out of the US. I have bought, traded and sold with Felser on numerous occasions, always using tracked media mail. Unfortunately the most recent package with 50 CDs is bouncing around like a pinball and has been all over Tennessee and Pennsyvlania without getting to him and I shipped it 8 or 9 days ago. Please do not ask me to ship out of the US. The proceeds from this sale are going to the radio station, not to me, I am just handling it for them. I do not want to assume the risk of lost packages.

I have two orders pulled that haven't shipped. If you have not been invoiced and you asked about 2 to 3 CDs, please message me.

Yesterday I sampled all 7 CDs of the Columbia Piano Moods boxed set for my upcoming Timeless Jazz broadcast airing this Sunday, 3-5 pm EDT on wutc.org. It was fun revisitng the music and I especially enjoyed the Ralph Sutton, Joe Sullivan and very familiar Art Tatum tracks, the latter also which appeared on the LP and CD Piano Starts Here.

I made the first shipments today and future shipments will go out on Mondays when I record my program. Any outstanding orders paid by 7am Monday will go out that day, the rest will wait until the next week. I am juggling a move with this project to help out my station, thanks to everyone who made a purchase.

Media mail shipping is $3.50 for the first CD, 50 cents each after that. Reduced shipping available for larger orders of 10 or more selections.

Jim: I sent you the info. If you want to pay for UPS insured shipping, I'm fine with selling CDs. But I can't be responsible for lost shipments, which is why I don't ship outside of the US. The sales proceeds benefit the radio station, I am merely helping them. They can't set up a Paypal account because of university regulations.

I sent out the list via email or pm to everyone who requested one.

If anyone has messaged me for a list and not received either a return message or email of the list, let me know. I could have missed one with the volume.

My radio station decided to liquidate most of its CD library, so I agreed to help them sell it off. I culled several hundred jazz CDs. Most were issued prior to 2000 (I forgot when during my tenure that the PD stopped reporting spins for jazz and only did AAA). Many of them are out of print, most will be priced around $4, a few as low as two, while there are some that will go for a bit more due to demand. If you would like a list please PM me. Many of them will have stickers or remnants of them on the front and/or back covers, yet most of them were relegated to a back library and show little signs of use. US addresses only. I am still in the process of creating a list for the final batch.

It is frustrating that I can't take a look at my books on the shelves, as they are all boxed up at our new house. Doug Ramsey's bio of Paul Desmond is simply one of the best and most thorough works I've read. I should add Paul deBarro's bio of Marian McPartland, Shall We Play That One Together?

It's been a blur for me, too. My packing process has been compilcated by the amount of stuff we have, which has grown during the five years we spent in our current residence. I will share pictures of the new music library once it is set up.

i don't own it, but the one United Archives release I acquired (the Miles Davis set( had audio shortcomings.

I've been busy packing for a major move, so pardon my delay today in posting the list. I'm only going to comment on the unidentified tracks. Track 1 Stephane Grappelli: Piano Explorations (Acoustic Oasis download) - Time After Time/Tea For Two Stephane Grappelli: piano https://www.discogs.com/Stephane-Grappelli-Piano-Explorations/release/13650493 Someone added a third song to the medley, which is likely there. This release was only sold as a download by Acoustic Disc and I can't access this track at the moment to check it. Track 2 John Marshall Quintet featuring Grant Stewart: Frisky (Organic Music) - Junka (composed by Sonny Clark) John Marshall: trumpet, Grant Stewart: tenor saxophone, piano, bass, drums https://www.discogs.com/release/13050088 Track 3 Jackie McLean & Co. Introducing Ray Draper & Tuba - Flickers (composed by Jackie McLean) Original Jazz Classics/Prestige https://www.discogs.com/Jackie-McLean-Introducing-Ray-Draper-Jackie-McLean-Co/release/5494213 Track 4 Trio Da Paz: Somewhere - Seven Steps To Heaven (composed by Victor Feldman, Miles Davis & M. J. Savage) Blue Toucan Music Romero Lubambo: acoustic guitar, Nilson Matta: bass, Duduka Da Fonseca: drums, percussion https://www.discogs.com/Trio-Da-Paz-Somewhere/release/7195868 This CD may not have been as widely distributed as some of their others. A great band and these musicians shine leading their own bands elsewhere. Track 5 Frank Rosolino: Turn Me Loose! - It Had To Be You (composed by Isham Jones & Gus Kahn) Frank Rosolino: trombone, Chuck Berghofer: bass, Victor Feldman: piano, Irivng Cotter: drums https://www.discogs.com/release/5329768 Track 6 Ed Bickert Quartet: I Wished On The Moon - Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me (composed by Charles McCarron, Carey Morgan & Arthur Swanstrom) Ed Bickert: guitar, Terry Clarke: drums; Steve Wallace: bass; Rich Wilkins: tenor saxophone https://www.discogs.com/The-Ed-Bickert-Quartet-I-Wished-On-The-Moon/release/12795693 I ws surprised that this track wasn't identified, but Ed Bickert was always underrated, particularly by US jazz fans. Track 7 Jesse Stacken & Kirk Knuffke: Mockingbird: The Music of Thelonious Monk & Duke Ellington - Sunset And The Mockkingbird (composed by Duke Ellington) SteepleChase Jesse Stacken: piano, Kirk Knuffke: cornet https://www.discogs.com/Jesse-Stacken-Kirk-Knuffke-Mockingbird/release/3328621 I've been very impressed with this duo's work together, while Kirk Knuffke seems to be gaining a bit more attention these days. Track 8 Lem Winchester & Benny Golson: Winchester Special - If I Were A Bell (composed by Frank Loesser) Original Jazz Classics/Prestige/New Jazz Lem Winchester: vibes, Benny Golson: tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan: piano, Wendell Marshall: bass; Arthur Taylor: drums https://www.discogs.com/Lem-Winchester-Benny-Golson-Winchester-Special/release/928396 Track 9 Martin Wind Quartet: Salt 'N Pepper - Turn Out The Stars (composed by Bill Evans) Martin Wind: bass, Scott Robinson: tenor saxophone, Bill Cunliffe: piano, Greg Hutchinson: drums https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=LE7u0EgM&id=C3E9BA76FA32B1F05FA10C8A4589EF4B82556954&thid=OIP.LE7u0EgMPH5lTnSRrGJawAAAAA&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fs.cdon.com%2fmedia-dynamic%2fimages%2fproduct%2fmusic%2falbum%2fimage3%2fsalt_n_pepper_import-wind_martin_-quartet--16326339-frnt.jpg&exph=400&expw=397&q=martin+wind+quartet+salt+%27n+pepper&simid=608032252660614240&selectedIndex=0&ajaxhist=0 Martin Wind is a strong leader, though he may be better known for his work with Bill Mays, among others. Track 10 Gene Bertoncini & Frank Vignola: Meeting of the Grooves - Darn That Dream (composed by Jimmy Van Heusen & Eddie DeLange) Azica Gene Bertoncini: guitar, Frank Vignola: guitar https://www.discogs.com/Gene-Bertoncini-Meets-Frank-Vignola-Meeting-Of-The-Grooves/release/12794625 A great meeting between two virtuoso guitarists. Track 11 Ken Peplowski: Double Exposure - Segment (composed by Charlie Parker) Concord Jazz 4:32 Ken Peplowski: clarinet, Ed Bickert: guitar, John Bunch: piano, John Goldsby: bass, Terry Clarke: drums https://www.discogs.com/Ken-Peplowski-Double-Exposure/release/9189911 Track 12 Claire Daly: Movin' On - Goodbye Porkpie Hat, (composed by Charles Mingus) Koch Jazz 5:28 Claire Daly: baritone saxophone, Eli Yamin: piano, Dave Hofstra: bass, Peter GrantL drums https://www.discogs.com/Claire-Daly-Movin-On/release/6323509 With Claire Daly appearing near or at the top of many critics' polls, I thought she would be identified. Track 13 Franco D'Andrea & Francisco Cafiso: Standing Ovation At Pescara Jazz Festival 2002 - Angel Eyes (Composed by Matt Denniis & Earl Brent) Philology Franco D'Andrea: piano, Francisco Cafiso: alto saxophone https://www.discogs.com/Claire-Daly-Movin-On/release/6323509 This was the recording debut of Francesco Cafiso, who was around 12 or 13 at the time. When he was playing at the nightly late jam sessions at the 2004 IAJE (accompanied by James Williams, Ray Drummond and Ben Riley the final night), I ran into Phil Woods, who brought up his name. I admitted that I hadn't yet heard him and asked "Is he good?" Phil responded, "I'd like to break his arm." D'Andrea's work for European labels as a leader and soloist is very underrated, in my opinion. Track 14 Albert Mangelsdorff & Lee Konitz: Art of the Duo - Creole Love Call (composed by Duke Ellington), Albert Mangelsdorff: trombone, Lee Konitz: alto saxophone 3:57 https://www.discogs.com/Albert-Mangelsdorff-Lee-Konitz-Art-Of-The-Duo/release/4191150 Track 15 Aki Takase & Alex Von Schlippenbach: Piano Duets Live in Berlin 93/94 - You Are What You Is (composed by Frank Zappa) Aki Takase & Alex Von Schlippenbach: piano 5:41 https://www.discogs.com/Aki-Takase-Alex-von-Schlippenbach-Piano-Duets-Live-In-Berlin-9394/release/2746745 It's not one of Frank Zappa's more memorable compositions and it loses something without its lyric, which makes fun of people pretending to be what they aren't. In any case, it was fun running across this track in my collection and I wanted to see if anyone recognized either the song or the pianists.

I enjoyed Gwen Terry's bio of her husband Clark Terry, though I don't recall a funny anecdote that he shared with me during a phone interview being in it. I asked him how he debuted his routine of alternating between trumpet and flugelhorn in a song and he shared a hilarious story about how he premiered it while in Duke Ellington's band. It's a shame that Iola Brubeck's biography of her husband remains unpublished. Evidnetly it was near completion around the time of her death and it remains in the family's hands. I talked to Jill Goodwin last fall and she said that Phil Woods' LIfe in E Flat was being edited by Ted Panken for possibile distribution as an e-book. It seems like it would have been a natural for Scarecrow Press, which published Terry Gibbs' great autobiography that won the ASCAP/Deems Taylor award.

Willie Ruff's A Call To Assembly: The Autobiography of a Jazzman is superb and a compelling story. I've seen this long out of print book on Amazon for a low price in the past. Jon Gordon's book For Sue is about his troubled mother as much as himself and jazz isn't as central a topic as you might think. But I've never read any autobiography that matches the challenges that he faced when he was still in elementary school.