B. Clugston

If it’s the Lighthouse version you mean (I’m not fluent in Chewyese), it’s a fantastic, hard-driving version. A firecracking solo from Maupin spurred on by Morgan, nice solo by the composer and fantastic funky bass by Jymie Merritt. Morgan’s solo is surprisingly subdued, but perhaps this was to provide contrast to Maupin’s solo.

It's kind of like Clare Torry's contribution to Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig in the Sky." The song already existed, but she made the song. If the song already exists, however, would these examples not be cases of arranging, not co-composing. I mean should Kenny G get a songwriting credit for "What a Wonderful World"?

The ECM sound doesn’t appeal to me, so aside from Vesala, I haven’t given much of the label’s output of the past 20 years much of a listen. I’m not discrediting fans out there, but the ECM stuff sounds like it was recorded in a domed stadium. I do like a lot of the 1970s output, however. Never heard the Waldron and much of the Wheelers, but wish I had. Here’s my Top 10: Edward Vesala, Ode to the Death of Jazz Edward Vesala, Nordic Gallery Edward Vesala, Lumi Dave Holland, The Conference of the Birds Marion Brown, Afternoon of a Georgian Faun Circle, Paris Concert Bennie Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus Kenny Wheeler, Around 6 Edward Vesala, Satu Jimmy Giuffre, 1961 Edited to add the Giuffre, even though it's a Verve in ECM clothing.

Mike Patton on John Zorn's Astronome. I'm only sort of joking because it was the only new release with vocals that I bought.

Jazz reissues are alive and well...in Andorra.

Haven’t heard many new releases from 2006, but of the few I've heard, the one I enjoyed the most was: Anthony Braxton, 4 Compositions (Ulrichsberg) 2005 Phonomanie VIII Favourite archival release: Harry Miller’s Isipingo, Which Way Now Favourite reissues: Ned Rothenberg, Solo Works—The Lumina Recordings Lee Morgan, The Gigolo Favourite concerts (all in Vancouver): OrkestRova Fe-Mail Billy Bragg Wolf Eyes

The Royal Albert Hall live "bonus" could be the oft-released Live at the Proms concert with the Ratledge/Hopper/Dean/Wyatt line-up.

The rap on Aebi is undeserved. Her vocals may be an acquired taste to some, but she never ruins the music. I think she compliments Lacy (and Potts) quite nicely. It’s not like Yoko warbling in that Lennon Christmas song.

Listened to a lot of everything, but these ones got spun more often: Miles Davis Cellar Door box set Sergei Kuryokhin, Don Carlos and France Anthony Braxton with Wolf Eyes and the 4-CD Ulrichsberg set The Naked City box and live CD Leo Parker’s Let Me Tell You ’Bout It

Brotzmann appears on the 2 CD+1 DVD Mauricio Kagel Edition on Winter & Winter. He adds a few characteristic saxophone honks to “(Hörspiel) Ein Aufnahmezustand,” a tape collage radio play from 1969. It’s not a necessity, but Kagel nuts will want it anyway. The other CD includes Kagel on bandoneon and voice, a warped tango, and a piece for three people playing bird calls. It’s easy to hear Kagel’s influence on John Zorn. The radio piece sounds like an honourable ancestor of Zorn’s file card compositions, while the bird calls remind me of Classic Guide to Strategy. The DVD is Kagel’s Ludwig van from 1969.

Jacques Chapdelaine has been scooped up by Edmonton as assistant coach. Damn! http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/news_story/?ID=188082&hubname= Steve Burratto will be the Argos new offensive co-ordinator.

I'm with you on Kenny G and Mannheim Steamroller. I hate McCartney's Christmas song more than Lennon's. Sounds like he drafted Mannheim into the keyboard section. Yoko's warbling is priceless on the Lennon Christmas ditty. Usually she's buried below the sounds of turning nobs and winking eyes in the mix.

Tina Brooks, True Blue Kenny Dorham, ’Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia (Disc 1 of Complete version) Freddie Hubbard, Blue Spirits Freddie Hubbard, The Night of the Cookers (2 discs) Thelonious Monk, Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2 Lee Morgan, The Sidewinder Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vol. 2 Leo Parker, Let Me Tell You ’Bout It Larry Young, Unity Regretfully sacrificed: Thelonious Monk, Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 Andrew Hill, Black Fire

Meet Kent Austin, your new coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/news_story/?ID=187335&hubname=

I think the alternate take on the Ayler tree was from Spiritual Unity, not Prophecy. That track appeared on the the first pressings of Spiritual Unity and one Japanese reissue. Should Bernard Stollman ever get around to doing his own box set, it should appear there. It wasn't on the last ESP reissue. There have been all sorts of ownership issues over the Cellar Cafe material, which is why they have never beenissued together, other than briefly on Albert Smiles with Sonny.

The Riviera date has a killer "Ghosts" and a few other interesting moments, but it's overall average. It sounds like the rhythm section doesn't know many of the songs. The Water disc is much better with Call Cobbs added to the mix. They do a great "Holy Family." Healing Force is much better than New Grass. There are no working versions in the Holy Ghost box. Prophecy is worth it.

One of my favourite Pepper Adams dates is a Dizzy Gillespie jam session gig from the Village Vanguard, which featured Chick Corea, Garnett Brown, Richard Davis and Mel Lewis, with Ray Nance and Elvin Jones coming in for a few numbers. I enjoy Pepper's work with Mingus, especially Blues 'n' Roots. He's also on Monk's Town Hall Concert.

When something is overrated, it’s got nothing to do with the music--it’s about critics building something up and then tearing it down. I look at this more as 'albums most people love, but I don’t.' Among the Blue Notes, Night Dreamer and a lot of Blakey’s Messenger dates don’t thrill me as much as their reputation. Nothing wrong with the music, just my taste. As for The Byrds, I love Clarence White’s playing on the live sides of Untitled.

Copenhagen probably ranks in my top three. To avoid doubling with Holy Ghost, I picked up the three extra tracks off of emusic. So to clarify, if I get the Holy Ghost box, will I acquire the most significant Copenhagen material? Guy Yes. You will get the Ayler quartet playing six tracks at the Club Montmatre. Fantastic stuff. The Ayler Records release has three extras from a radio studio.

Copenhagen probably ranks in my top three. To avoid doubling with Holy Ghost, I picked up the three extra tracks off of emusic.

The real ESP was talking about issuing a box as they jealously watched Holy Ghost being issued, but haven't heard anything about it in a while.

Henry Kaiser and company have recorded a date of Ayler's and Mary Parks' Impulse era songs. For more info, scroll down at: http://www.ayler.org/albert/html/what_s_new.html

New Grass would have been much better if they kept Bert DeCoteaux away from it and all the overdubs. Something weird happend to Bill Folwell's bass playing on this session. Very robotic compared to the demos. The label must have got to him. The later stuff is better.

Get Spiritual Unity on ESP. (Beware of versions licensed by other companies.) Next up, The Greenwich Village concerts on Impulse.

Roland Kirk has transformed many a pop horror into listenable jazz. He does wonders with Bread's "Make it With You" on the Brotherman in the Fatherland disc.