Milestones

Can anyone point out some of Edison's solos on Basie's Decca records?

A talented player to be sure, with the ability to play fast and set off fireworks.

Any fans of Harry "Sweets" Edison? He seems to be something of a forgotten player. I guess people usually recall him as being in Basie's orchestra during their early peak. But he had a long and diverse career with his sweet but decidedly jazzy style. He backed singers a lot, including Sinatra and Nat King Cole on After Midnight (that's Sweets on the immortal "Route 66"). He put out quite a bit of small group work on Verve and later on Pablo. With Verve you can hear him on several of Lester Young's last recordings, as well as with the great Ben Webster. On Pablo we hear him with Basie, Oscar Peterson, Zoot Sims, and others. Check out Sweets and Clark Terry together on Basie's Get Together. We don't think of him as producing great albums (generally true of the swing guys), but there is a wealth of material that is never less than outstanding from Sweets Edison. Just check out his opening on "Hanging Out" (Basie Jam), that wonderful late-night blues vibe.

On # 3 I will speculate James Moody or Frank Wess. I am thinking of who would be playing flute in the 50s and just guessing.

Number 12 appears to be Old and New Dreams playing "Guinea." Or is it a different, yet similar, group? Good tune and performance, but a lo-fi recording.

No one said Sonny Rollins on #2? It's early Sonny--maybe 1954. The piece is "Silk 'n Satin." You spin this and say, "This is why I love jazz."

Cool. I did listen to some samples of Good Hope with Chris Potter and Zakir Hussain and that sounds like a fine record.

I certainly wouldn't mind hearing a record by that group. Most musicians (and not just in jazz) keep playing/touring/recording until they drop.

Is anyone longing for Dave Holland to return to more compelling music? The man is a legend, one of the great bassist leaders along with Mingus and Haden (and ahead of Ron Carter, who has been putting out sedate records for quite a long time). Holland peaked on ECM with one of the great runs (ever!) on that label. Most notable were the two quintets—the first with three horns, bass, and drums; the second with sax, trombone, vibes, bass, drums. Holland really established himself as bandleader, bassist, and composer; and he gave exposure to young and veteran players (Kenny Wheeler, Steve Coleman, Robin Eubanks, Steve Nelson, Chris Potter, Kevin Eubanks, Julian Priester Billy Kilson and many more). To my mind he created some of the best jazz of the last two decades of the 20th century and a bit into the 21st. He also had nice records on the Dare2 label in sextet and octet format. But his later projects have not really engaged me. He has worked in a lot of duos and trios, and nothing is really sticking with me. I was hoping Another Land with Kevin Eubanks would be a good one, but I found it to be pretty disappointing. Well, he is up and years and owes us nothing. But this was a guy I followed closely for a long time, and that just isn’t the case anymore. I welcome comments of any sort on Dave Holland and his usually superb music.

It doesn't even sound like the same tune on some versions.

A major loss in American music, to be sure. He created music that will outlive the man.

So the track is "Blue" with DeJohnette on piano, Abercrombie on guitar, Holland on bass.

On #11, I am thinking it's John Abercrombie and Richie Beirach, coming from one of the Abercrombie Quartet records released in late 70s (but no drums on this track). It sounds rather familiar--maybe another Abercrombie record, maybe Gateway, maybe a Beirach record. It certainly has the ECM moody atmosphere, for better and worse.

Outstanding drummer--R.I.P. I will hear plenty of Foster as I carry on through my life--his work with Miles, McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Sonny, and many more.

That Scofield album (Country for Old Men) is a mixed bag. Several tracks are quite interesting and enjoyable; the one on the BFT is not. I have followed Sco's career pretty closely and I've seen him in concert, but there are albums and tracks that are quite dissatisfying. But I give him credit him for making plenty of unusual choices of tunes.

I find Lewis to be brilliant. Give Evolution II a try, especially "Cain and Abel."

Has no one said that #10 is "Blame it on My Youth"? I agree with those saying it is Burton, but I have not been aware of a solo album. #3...some Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell I have not heard before. Fine stuff, and that certainly includes Jordan and Ware. Thanks for including this.

Anyone up on Junko Onishi? I believe she was signed to Blue Note for a while, and she appeared on an album with Jackie McLean: Hat Trick. In fact, that's all I really know of her work. Her playing actually was more enjoyable than his. I know she did a record with Joe Lovano before the turn of the century--and I certainly wouldn't mind hearing that. I have found some recent live stuff that sounds good--listened to tracks "Water Reflection" and "Rain in March." She may have moved on to her own compositions, as opposed to jazz classics and standards. Perhaps we need to be more accepting of Japanese musicians.

I have only just become aware of this record, which I am sure is a fine quartet session but probably not essential. I'm pretty intrigued, but also baffled as to why it's such a rarity. Every now and then you come across a record that is ridiculously expensive. With all the streaming and the many outlets, you wouldn't think this would be the case anymore.

Just seeing this now. R.I.P. A fine writer indeed. Last night I just happened to be paging through his book Like Young, and especially the long and excellent essay on Charlie Haden.

I think he's a cool guy too. His humor and sense of fun tend to sneak up on you.

Besides his playing, one should consider Lovano's compositions and arrangements, his associations with tons of major jazz artists, and his ability to work nearly the entire spectrum of jazz.

I'm perfectly happy with the video that Kevin posted.

What about the Us Five records Folk Art and Cross Culture? No concept on those.

Joey Alexander? He's just a very young man (no longer a "kid") and can be forgiven for drawing wild perceptions, good and bad. Joe Lovano has paid his dues, playing and recording for 4-5 decades.