Milestones

Few things are certain, but this much is actually certain--rock 'n roll would have developed much, much differently without Chuck Berry. RIP, Chuck, your name is up in lights.

Yeah, I'm just questioning some notion of consensus. If anything has been proven, it is that there is NO consensus--witness all those who are defending OP. I am one of those (like almost everyone, I suspect) who just does not "get" certain artists, even "major" ones. I'm happy to read people on the forums praising these same artists; it just may help me to "get" them. I saw Archie Shepp receive a negative comment. I can't say I ever had an appreciation of Shepp, but then I recently got the Goin' Home record with Horace Parlan--and I find myself enjoying that.

Really...Keith Jarrett CANNOT be praised on this forum? Isn't he another case of love him or hate him?

I haven't seen too much debate on those no-talents.

Who would be the third-most controversial "popular" jazz musician, following OP and Wynton? We never seem to get into such debates on more low-profile players.

Just to show there is an exception to every rule. However, Shaq will always be infamous for that.

Maybe we should do another thread on pianists (or anyone, for that matter) who are masters of space. I'm sure Monk would be #1 in most books. I think just about everyone who is great has that quality to some extent--make that to a significant extent. I don't think one can be a great jazz musician while being lousy at playing ballads.

Yeah, it's just mind-boggling to think of the musicians that OP played with, in all periods of his career--Stan Getz, Dizzy, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Benny Carter, Joe Pass, Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Count Basie, Freddie Hubbard, and that's just for starters.

I'm listening to "Georgia on My Mind from" Night Train right now. No space???

For some it's all about virtuosity. You can find it just about anywhere. In jazz it can be a big thing. Classical too. Or blistering speed in a rock guitarist. Or a blazing bluegrass picker. Most people, even those not well-educated in music, can hear the "chops." Determining "art," on the other hand, is another matter altogether.

Any comments on these, both Lewis' own films and the Martin/Lewis movies? I used to like those Martin and Lewis films, and I'm surprised by two things--1) how many there were in such a such time span, 2) that the last one came out in 1956 (well before I was born). Even TCM doesn't seem to do much with these films. I recall The Nutty Professor being pretty good, and I really like Jerry in an altogether different kind of role in The King of Comedy.

Yes, I think that's one of the finest jazz Christmas albums (single artist) out there.

I find the song "If You Only Knew" from an album called Live (1980s) is damn near as good as it gets with jazz piano.

That's young. I have not heard a lot of his work, but I've liked what I have heard (often in a sideman role).

It must be coming...just about everything comes out of the vaults these days. As for Kenny Burrell, this is a bit underwhelming compared to his version on Ellington is Forever.

That's interesting to think of Horace playing "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love." Can that be found anywhere? Don Pullen's solo on the studio version is stunning, IMO.

Definitely a loss. Robert Osborne was absolutely the face of TCM. It will be some time before I can think of the channel without him. RIP.

Happy birthday to Mr. Towner. Another thread is discussing Gary Burton, and I must recommend the two collaborations between Towner and Burton: Matchbook and Slide Show.

Yes, what a weird title, as well as cringe-worthy.

I have at least 7 records by him (in digital format), and certainly would like to add more. I had more of his duos with Corea in older formats; I'd like to update these into digital format. I can't say I'm familiar with his work with Ozone, although I have gone in to Spotify to hear some stuff. Anyone with an interest in vibes must hear Burton, and his overall contribution to jazz is considerable.

R.I.P., Larry. I recall he had a big feature in a very recent Downbeat article. I never explored his fusion stuff in a big way, but I have certainly enjoyed a lot of the stuff he did in his last two decades.

R.I.P. I can't recall ever hearing him, but clearly he has a place in jazz history.

So it's particular paintings rather than artists? I was going to say several pieces by Jim Hall, but these are artists rather than specific paintings. Chasing Paint by Jane Ira Bloom is inspired by Jackson Pollock, but generally rather than specifically. Also of note: Portrait in Seven Shades by Ted Nash.

Let's just say I'm glad they released this 2-CD set. I've been trying to get into Weather Report all my (adult) life. I have gotten into some stuff, but a lot of it never did much for me. I came into jazz basically through fusion records, so WR was included early in my collection (albeit not a high quantity). Of the records I've heard before this one, I think I like the very first one best--possibly because of its In a Silent Way/Bitches Brew vibe (though with rather brief tracks). But this live record shows a band crackling with energy--a group firing on all cylinders. I never saw WR live, and that is certainly my loss. Here are Zawinul so inventive on keyboards, Shorter sounding like the true co-leader (lots of prominence on tenor and soprano, and killing it time and again), fine bass work (and not just Jaco), and the percussion keeping those grooves going. It's a record (2 records) to enjoy from first track to last.

Alfie--one of the finest soundtracks ever. And if one were to preserve only one Michael Caine performance, it would probably be this one.