Dave James

I've been having a ball with the iPod I got myself for Christmas. I'm trying to upload my entire Mosaic collection, but it's taking longer than I thought it would. The reason? Apparently the 3-4 year old HP laptop I'm using does not have a high speed port. Whenever I log onto iTunes, a pop-up tells me I've attached a high speed device to a non high speed port. It says in order to correct the problem, I need to have a hi-speed USB host controller. I've asked around a bit, and it appears to me that this is not just something you can plug into your existing computer and you're good to go. So, my question is, is there any way I can upgrade from a 1.0 to a 2.0 USB, short of buying a new computer? Thanks. Up over and out.

I'm not a guitar player, but the question of style I think goes deeper than just, as several have suggested, playing with "soul". The technique each of these two incredibly gifted players employed was as different as night and day, two entirely distinctive approaches to the same instrument. Wes' signature sound was the full octave chord. Also, becuase he eschewed the use of a plectrum, even his picking sounded markedly different and unique. Everything very lush and very harmonic. Green, on the other hand, was strictly a single note picker. I've listened to just about everything pre-funk Green ever recorded and he just doesn't use chords. So, I'm thinking that the difference in the accessibility of their sounds as well as the exposure Wes got in his later year's when Verve "strung up" his recordings made all the difference in terms of general acceptance and noteriety. I can actually recall seeing Wes on a network TV show playing "Bumpin". In you wildest dreams, can your ever imagine Grant Green on network TV in the '60's? Up over and out.

Lay it off to my own quirkiness, but as much as I like Ella and Louis as separate artists, I never quite warmed up to any of their pairings. I wound up trading off my copy of the Ella/Louis box about three years ago. With regard Art Pepper, don't ignore the Hollywood All-Star Sessions. That's got a lot of really good stuff on it. Earlier vintage than the Galaxy. On Dex, if you don't have a lot of his single CD's, I'd hold out for the Blue Note. Just the fact that it includes the albums Landslide and Clubhouse makes it extra desirable. Those two have been rara avis for many years. To these ears, Dex is just better on Blue Note than he is on any other label. I second the many endorsements of the Kirk Mercury box. Full of surprises. And don't forget the Wes Montgomery Riverside. That's a good one too. Although crucifixtion is the likely result of this next recommentation, I would also endorse the Wynton Marsalis Village Vanguard box. Not only is it full of good live jazz, but it can be had for peanuts relative to the cost of any other boxes under discussion. Last but not least and speaking of live jazz and even though it's not a box, I'll throw down a thumb up for the five Shelly Manne Live at the Blackhawk CD's. I reach for those as often as anything in my collection. Up over and out.

DTMX, Air Hockey is one of my favorite songs. How did you handle the bridge? Up over and out.

It's not that I don't like organ jazz, I do. I have at least a dozen Jimmy Smith's, three Freddy Roach BN's, Reuben Wilson, the Big John Patton Select AND a Jimmy McGriff LP that he autographed for me years ago. Still, I feel the B-3 is underrepresented in my collection. What I like is guys who play the instrument, as the expression goes, with all the stops pulled out. I like that huge, fat sound - like the Gerald Wilson Mosaic cuts that feature Groove Holmes as part of the GW big band. So, my question is where can a guy, and everyday guy like me, get a little action...some genuinely house rockin', balls to the wall B-3? Recommendations please. Up over and out.

Before this thread completely unravels, another quick plug for Walt Dickerson. I've had "Sense of Direction" for years and I recently downloaded "Relativity". Good swingin' stuff. Andrew Cyrille is a helluva drummer. While I can't comment on the balance of Dickerson's catalog, I can say, unequivocally, that these two are keepers. Not to mention ones that probably wouldn't survive a trip under the "owner-scope". Up over and out.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Even those on the right side of the political spectrum and even to Boston Red Sox fans...and, yes, even to Dan Gould, the worst of that squirrelly bunch. Weird how you look upon the members of this board as friends even though most of us have never met. Oh well, as Martha says, "it's a good thing." Here's hoping that 2005 turns out to be a better year than 2004 for lots and lots of reasons. Up over and out.

Congrats on the new gig. I'm coming late to this thread and my first reaction was that I wasn't sure I'd want a potential employer bringing up "Bye-ya" as part of their interview process. Too much chance of there being some sort of subliminal associative message they were hoping you'd pick up on. Now that you got the job, that's clearly not the case. Good luck! Up over and out.

Happy birthday to cou(w). Up over and out.

When you can get Selects directly from Mosaic for less than $40, I can't imagine why anyone would go through CDU unless they were completely clueless. Given Mosaic's price, it also makes me wonder how CDU established their list price of $67.98. That would not appear to be based on much of anything other than the fact that they want you to belive you're getting some kind of deal. At this level, is it really any wonder that the sales ranking for the Selects is in the 300K range? CDU is usually pretty reasonable, but this is a ripoff. Up over and out.

Agee with Dan that "Black & Blue" is not to be missed. "Another Star" is a dynamite opening track. I'm also partial to another Harris release on Concord, "Listen Here!" Some good 'uns on that one including my personal favorite, "Lullabye". Up over and out.

sjarrell, Sounds like a little Ralphie Parker Red Ryder Carbine Action 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle action from the Christmas Story. Well if it worked for him, then you've got an even chance. Just be careful you don't shoot your eye out. Up over and out.

OK, Ed, for those of us who are still on the fence about the Dinah Mo, you owe us a review once you've had a chance to digest it. Fair enough? Up over and out.

I barely remember this guy, but he sure seems to elicit some pretty strong reactions and opinions. Was he the "tome" guy on the BNBB or am I thinking of someone else? Up over and out.

Scott, That high wattage equates to big sound is a common audio misconception. It's the efficiency of your speakers that drives the need for power. If you have incredibly effieicnt speakers, you can run them on one watt. If you don't, then you need more power and if, as Kevin has already said, a chunk of your available power is going someplace other than to your speaker array, then you're not going to get the kind of aural experience you were anticipating. Two things to consider. 1) free is a very good price and 2) things that seem too good to be true, generally turn out to be. Up over and out.

I like this one a lot. I was surprised by how much I enjoy it. I'd always looked at Stitt as something of a one trick pony. This set proved me wrong...in spades! Up over and out.

Jim, Finally, something I can speak to with some level of authority. This has to do with your wife's Short Term Disablity claim. The decision here should not be rendered on the basis of finalizing a diagnosis, it should be completely dependent on whether Alison is unable to perform the duties of her regular occupation. As long as her doctor will certify that she cannot do her job as a result of her current physical limitations, then you should not have any trouble getting her STD claim approved. By the way, I'm assuming this is a group insurance product. Is Blue Cross also Alison's STD provider? If so, they should already be cross-referencing the medical information. I would think that would help facilitate the approval of her claim. Up over and out.

I'm not sure how good a deal this will turn out to be, but I bought 10 unopened and OOP Xanadu CD's for $50.00 last night. At $5.00 apiece, I couldn't pass this up. Titles include: Barry Harris - The Bird of Red and Gold Dexter Gordon - True Blue Bud Powell - Bud in Paris Short Rogers and Art Pepper - Popo Wynton Kelly - Blues on Purpose Red Garland - Keystones Georgie Auld - Homage Joe Farrell - Skate Board Park Jimmy Raney & Sonny Clark - Together Dolo Coker - California Hard Should be interesting. Up over and out.

Kevin, Yes, what DrJ said...Leapin' and Lopin'. IMHO, Clark's best. Up over and out.

Welcome. The more the merrier. Up over and out.

Does Foxx do his own singing? I've heard he does and then I've heard he doesn't. Up over and out.

I never saw the original Butterfield Blues Band, but I did see a slightly later iteration called Better Days up in Seattle many years ago. I believe they opened for another pretty good, underrated and long forgotten band called Blues Image. I'd love to have seen the original group with Bloomfield, Bishop et al. East, West is one of my all-time favorite tunes. Certainly some jam band-esque extensions going on in that one. Up over and out.

I'm the "Other" vote. Lars Gullin. Up over and out.

I almost hate to admit this, but I'm so clueless when it comes to things that involve computers and computer functionality, it's pathetic. What's even more pathetic is my twin brother runs the entire network system for the company we both work for. Guess he must've gotten all of the genes that were meant to be divided between the two of us. On the upside, he can't stand jazz, so he was also shorted on some of the necessities. Anyhow, it appears highly likely that I will be getting an i-Pod for Christmas. Is there someplace I can go on the Net or elsewhere that would provide me with an easily (and I cannot emphasize the word "easily" enough) understood tutorial that will allow a cyber-moron such as myself to actually avail myself of the music that's available on the Internet? Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Up over and out.

I recently began exploring jam band music, an interest that was primed by an extended dalliance with Phish. One band I've stumbled across that I'm enjoying a great deal is String Cheese Incident. Their studio output is fairly limited, but they've released tons of live material from their 2002 and 2003 tours. Some seriously good musicianship going on here and some pretty interesting music. They do across-the-board covers, everything from Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" to Coltrane's "Impressions" in addition to their own original material. They tend to get into extended and lengthly jams that go off in many different directions, none of which are not interesting. Anyhow, I'm finding this music to be very enjoyable. Anyone else out there share my enthusiasm for these guys? Up over and out.