B. Clugston

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.

It appears Pierce is making $200,000 a year, according to several media sources. He got a $100,000 signing bonus. It's three years, though it may be two years and an option. According to not always reliable CKNW radio, Pierce's deal includes a renegotiation clause that allows him to significantly boost his $200,000-a-year salary if he replaces Dave Dickenson as the team's No. 1 quarterback in '08. Toronto has asked the Lions for permission to talk to Printers. Hamilton is also looking at Jacques Chapdelaine for coach.

Casey Printer’s best case scenario in the NFL right now is holding a clipboard. If he wants to hold a football in the next two years, the Argos are his best bet. They have coveted him for a while. As for Buck Pierce, he is the Lions quarterback of the future. Pierce and Dave Dickenson get along very well. With the way the Lions now run their offence, Pierce is guaranteed some playing time. With the way Dickenson plays and gets hurt, Pierce is guaranteed a lot of starts. Printers was actually at B.C. Place for the Western final. Dickenson wasn’t pleased. Also, Jacques Chapdelaine and Printers apparently don’t see eye to eye. Printers won’t be back. Hate to reopen old wounds, but that was a dumb move in not playing Printers, the CFL player of the year, in the 2004 Grey Cup final. But some football minds think Pierce is more likely to see NFL action in the future rather than Printers.

They'll try to patent shit next.

There’s a nice article, Q & A and recordings overview here” http://www.pointofdeparture.org/PoD8/PoD8Northbound.html Also a photo here: http://www.pointofdeparture.org I’ve been meaning to give Northbound a full listen. Vesala was the only ECM artist I would buy without hesitation. Most newer ECM releases get a frosty reception from me. Not a fan of the “sound.”

I believe New Grass grew out of Ayler’s wish to record songs with Mary Parks’ lyrics and to reach a wider audience, plus Impulse was trying to tone down the fire and brimstone. If you listen to the demos on Holy Ghost, the original sessions had a rawer R & B feel. It’s a long way from Spiritual Unity, but I actually quite enjoy them. Once Impluse got its paws on them, the songs got butchered with robotic bass lines and an overdubbed horn section. The later stuff shouldn’t be lumped in with New Grass.

Giuffre was already innovative in the 1950s. His Capitol albums provided a different role for the drummer, and then he got rid of the drummer altogether in his trio and even dropped the bass for a bit. Certainly people like John Lewis, Ornette Coleman and Monk were influences by the time Giuffre hit Verve. Giuffre was there when Coleman and Don Cherry were at the Lenox School of Music.

I've outlived Abu Musab al-Zarqawi! One of my co-workers has outlived: 27 10157 -713 Jimi Hendrix 27 10120 -750 Janis Joplin 27 10069 -801 Jim Morrison

I feel bad for Danny Barrett, who is a class act. But the Riders needed a change. Former QB Kent Austin’s name has also been dropped. He’s buddies with Eric “Suitcase” Tillman.

- Space Is the Place, p. 352 As a listener, NEVER be too hip. Guy I love that quote and sometimes use it when music elitists are getting too pretentious.

A further issue is they are not very good. Chick Corea looks like Mick Jagger. Any guesses as to who is holding Ornette's alto?

Hemphill’s Dogon A.D. is a classic. Not a big fan of Julius Hemphill Big Band on Elektra. I’m not too familiar with the WSQ recordings, but Bluett’s Clarinet Family is a huge favourite. Prior to the World Saxophone Quartet, Hemphill, Lake and Bluiett joined Anthony Braxton for a sax quartet composition on the latter’s New York, Fall 1974 LP.