Rooster_Ties

My CD's are 1,000 miles away (else I'd look myself) -- can somebody remind me of the details? I'm not sure I remember anything about Bradford having supposed to've been on FJ.

Or rather, we HOPE Art Yard knows where to go for clean Sun Ra vinyl...

I never 'got' Ascension, but I took to Free Jazz fairly quickly. The playing on Free Jazz seems a touch more restrained, slightly "less chaotic" chaos - if you want a soundbite to describe it. Not having my copy with me at the moment, I wanted to remind myself of the personnel... Left channel Ornette Coleman – alto saxophone Don Cherry – pocket trumpet Scott LaFaro – bass Billy Higgins – drums Right channel Eric Dolphy – bass clarinet Freddie Hubbard – trumpet Charlie Haden – bass Ed Blackwell – drums I've forgotten, are the channels isolated well enough that one can listen 'mostly exclusively' to one half of the group without the other? - and vice versa? Maybe that's the dumbest idea ever (probably not a first for me!), but I think I would have tried that trick years ago, when I first discovered the piece.

Jazz Record Mart

Damn! I've got that 2-CD compilation of the Kashmere Stage Band, and a movie about them could be very interesting!

Maybe I need a hip transplant.

That could explain why it took me a good 10 years really, to finally get inside the Bitches Brew studio recordings (and even now, I'm not always sure I did). The funny thing is - I took to nearly everything Miles did in the 70's (even "On the Corner"), before I felt like I even "half got" those Bitches Brew sides.

Personally, I like it a fair bit better than Ascension, but I hear what you're saying. I think it's an important recording, and one that I can enjoy a lot. That said, I don't think it showcases the very best of what I like in the rest of Ornette's music -- which is really great tunes (writing), with incredible and imaginative melodies - both the heads, and the soloing (as a near organic extension of the heads). In that way, I see "Free Jazz" as an extension of the other kinds of things Ornette did around that time - but one that is better enjoyed 'viscerally' (almost as a sound collage), than with a keen ear towards every detail. For instance, I'm not sure there's quite the level of nuanced interplay to be found in Free Jazz, as in other smaller-group Ornette recordings from that timeframe. "Free Jazz" is a marvelous thing. But I understand and can even sympathize with Ornette fans who find it to be somewhat lacking, in comparison with a lot of other Ornette and similar extensions (Cherry, etc.). FWIW, I think "Happy House" is just a damn great tune, so I think it works better. Plus, to my ears, I don't think it sounds like two independent groups playing at the same time - quite like "Free Jazz" does. Haven't heard either one in a while, so this is all based on my memory of the recordings.

How many Phil Ranelin solos?? Does he get more than a chorus or two, once or twice? I'm sure it's a fine album either way, but I'll admit he's the draw here for me.

Yes, with Miles Davis's ex, Frances, as the greeter. Had a fine little conversation with her last time. Damn!

I'm not even sure if I'm artificially hip. How can I tell?

OMG, really? That's crazy. The Kansas City Symphony has had a near totally flexible season ticket policy, for the entire 15 years I've been going. Buy a half-season classical package, and move the tickets around however you like to whatever other classical concerts you want. There's an up-charge if you want to switch something to a pops concert (especially their most popular Xmas concert), but basically you can move everything around however you like. I'm the same as Hoppy T. Frog -- I cherry pick the 20th century concerts, and those with less played-to-death late Romantic stuff (especially concerti that one might not get to hear every decade -- like, say, Amy Beach's piano concerto - which I saw once in St. Louis). That's insane that the National Symphony and others don't do something similar. I'm sure as hell not going to buy any season ticket packages if they lock me into specific concerts. Hell, half the time there was one weekend I would be out of town, or something, and have to switch tickets around for stuff like that.

I think I have that same 10" Capitol LP. Belonged to my mom, actually. (Seriously!)

Amazon has an upvote/downvote system ("was this review helpful?") -- and over time, the most useful reviews (whether positive or negative) will float to the top. As my esteemed colleague Mr. Ptah states, I don't think Amazon reviews are bound by journalistic standards. (Hell, anymore, most of what passes for journalism these days doesn't either.) In any case, I wouldn't worry about it. The public's reaction to whatever reviews are there will provide another layer of editorial input to the process. Crap reviews, good or bad, will basically be ignored in good time -- and only the "useful" ones will prevail -- entirely based on the content of the review, and not the number of stars given.

I only pay attention to 1 and 2 star reviews on things like vacuum cleaner, and lawn mowers. When it comes to something like recordings, or movies and the like -- I find it's best to ignore negative reviews, and see if the content of the positive reviews can win me over. Negative reviews of music, especially, seem more often to come from people with axes to grind.

Texting while driving your car or SUV?? Rank amateurs... This is the real way to text on the highway.

Quake shifted Japan; towns now flood at high tide

Several well-written 4-star ratings wouldn't hurt either.

If I'm moved to DC by the 10th, I may try and make it to the Heath Brothers. Looking like my flight may be sometime around the 7th at this point. I'd especially be interested if there are any local names on the 'progressive' end of the spectrum -- names I wouldn't know -- appearing towards the end of the run of the festival. The very earliest I could be in town is June 2nd, but more likely closer to the 7th, give or take a couple days.

A whole slew of us should do that.

Didn't realize there was such a thing as inessential Mobe

I'm sure these will not disappoint... Stunning film clips of the Sunset Strip in the mid-60’s

Somebody remind me to check this out when I get to DC next month. (I'm on an old PC, without any sound.)

Best recap of the events in Fukushima I've read to date, from The Economist. Those with even a mild interest should take a gander... Piecing together Fukushima