Milestones

So do we call Mingus Big Band a "ghost" band? If so, it's one of the best there has ever been in. I think the big band started up around the time Adams passed away, so I'm not sure if he was ever a part. But he was a key player in the 7-piece group on Mingus Dynasty: Next Generation--a fine record.

I love this tune in its various incarnations.

Mingus Moves in indeed a fine record--one of the best from Mingus' last decade.

Adams and Pullen both left us much too early.

Anyone into the music of George Adams? He seems like a somewhat forgotten figure, despite his great work in some late-period Mingus and of course the quartet with Don Pullen. I remember back in the day being very pleased with Breakthrough by Adams/Pullen on Blue Note, and I had their second Blue Note album also (on cassette) which was nearly as good. But the group never got the visibility is deserved. I know he played for quite awhile with Gil Evans (I don't know this work), and he made some appearances with Tyner. Spotify is allowing me get a good look at the Pullen/Adams group.

The Marsalis is pretty nice. Sonny Rollins also did "Glocca Morra" on Blue Note.

I've listened to "Danny Boy" by Bill Evans, Wycliffe Gordon, and George Benson. I'm not sure where else to go for Irish tunes by jazz artists, or Irish music with a jazzy slant.

Yes, indeed the loss of a great figure in music.

You can't make claim to know American music without bringing in Johnny Cash...in a big way. Some jewels from his late career: "Spiritual" and "Rusty Cage" from Unchained. "God's Gonna Cut You Down" from American V.

Cheadle seems to have Miles' voice down pretty well.

I have to second DeJohnette on the record 80/81--amazing and very exciting.

"Greatest living" anything is presumptuous--that is true. But I'm going by what I've seen/heard in concert and what I have heard on record, which is pretty narrow next to your experience.

I would say he is likely in the top 5 drummers ever, and probably the best living drummer. However, to some extent I do factor in his skills as composer and band leader. I'm never disappointed in DeJohnette. So much good stuff, but two records that quickly come to mind are Special Edition (with Blythe and Murray) and Parallel Realities (with Metheny and Hancock).

At first that sounds astonishing. But then...not really. Mr. Carter has been everywhere, and he always adds something to a session. If he only did the stint with Miles and a few trios (like those with Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan), he would be an immortal. But there is, of course, so much more.

R.I.P., Mr Bley, a fine contributor to the music.

I like Tony's playing relatively late playing in trios with Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan. Some of the other stuff (like the quintet), I'm still not so sure.

Miles' fierce reactions are interesting, in that it is known that both Ornette and Eric Dolphy cited Bird as a major influence.

Hard to say. Ornette did not play trumpet on his early recordings, including (I believe) the entirety of the great Atlantic sessions. Miles was already pronouncing his opinions on free jazz.

One that doesn't get mentioned much is the record with Ornette, New and Old Gospel. I think it's a pretty remarkable piece, especially the track "Old Gospel." Ornette sticks to trumpet throughout, which is probably why some are not fans.

I would also like to hear Bill Frisell do Christmas songs.

One can question the wisdom of jazz artists releasing Christmas product, but most musicians do play Christmas music--and there have been some good records over the years. But my question is this: Which artists would you most like to see release full Christmas records? Here are my choices: John McLaughlin Chick Corea Keith Jarrett I've never heard Jarrett do even one Christmas song. Some probably believe he's too much of a Scrooge!

I know there have been too many this past year (past few years really), but what can you do? At least nowadays most jazz musicians die at a ripe old age, and at one time we were losing a lot of them at ridiculously young ages (think Bird, Trane, Brownie, Dolphy, Booker Little, Booker Ervin--and that's just a start). I'm a big fan of a lot of guys who are up around 85 to 90+, so you know they don't have much longer for this earth.

Nothing wrong with electric bass if you're Jaco, Steve Swallow, or Stanley Clarke. Otherwise.....

I'm coming to this discussion late, so maybe it''s been discussed already--but I find Billy Highstreet Samba highly underrated. I recall this one sat in the can for quite some time...for no apparent reason. Getz worked with some fusion guys like Chuck Loeb, quite some time after the electric period with Chick. Anyway, it's a first-rate record all the way through.

Are these possibly the tunes from Lester's first recordings session, which I think was technically under the leadership of trumpeter Carl Smith? The year, I believe was, 1936. If so, it is certainly essential Pres and essential jazz.