Balladeer

The Fools "Psycho Chicken" (Talking Heads ´"Psycho Killer") Tiny Tim doin "Stairway to Heaven" is gorgeous - although I doubt that it was supposed to be a parody, more a peculiar cover version

Dex - unforgettable. So many only with cool atitude. He w a s cool. Wonderful atmosphere, too. The French sure know how to make movies. Some scenes and moments have remained in my memory since I´ve seen the film a decade ago. Nevertheless would see this anytime again for a second time.

Chet Baker - Portrait in Black and White (from Live in Tokyo)

Such sad news. We ve been losing many of the last really great ones during a couple of years. Seems to me like the end of a whole era. And now Charlie Haden. I loved the way he played and his tone, so natural. I´d like to hint to his Soul Note with Enrico Pieranunzi, Billy Higgins and Chet Baker which is (now the more fittingly) titled. "Silence". Thank you Charlie Haden for your music.

Kenny Dorham - Grand Street

I´m at present reading about N.Y. underground in the early Fifties, Beat generation and "lost souls" like Tony Fruscella. Therefore I may be somewhat biased. But my post wasn´t meant by no means as an evaluation, sorry if it has come across that way!

Yes, Gene was called 'Jug' because he could drink anyone under the table And there was Brew Moore ... Yes, Brew and Fru and..... The list of boozers is long in early bop. Times have changed when you look at todays clean smart jazz cats

Sound: Importance of stereo system (High End, State of the Art) is overrated. Crucial is sound quality of CD. Two points in general: I´m glad there is streaming technology and services because you can discover and listen to complete recordings.. Lateley I´ve been doing more streaming.But I cherish my collection of records and still buy regularly and too much . Two reasons:They make me independent of any company and cloud service. And it´s a pleasure to leafe through booklets and study artwork, graphics, liner notes. Those things are as dear to me as my collection of books. And if want to listen intensly I do so by using my stereo.So to me it´s not either/or: I am using both: streaming service and home stereo.

Loo-Padoo - Tony Fruscella/Bill Triglia Septet (Tony´s Blues, Jazz Factory)

Good book! The exact circumstances of Chet´s death in Amsterdam have always remained a mystery. Moody knows the facts and he knows how to entertain: dialogue, atmosphere and even some suspense. Recommended!

Such a beautiful sound, indeed! And a gorgeous sampler by Fresh Sound. Discovered Wilder late but will cherish his music. Love his version of Cherokee, elegant, old-fashioned yet classic style, Love the fact that Hank Jones and Kenny Clark are on board and the color of a guitar on the latter set with Pete Brown. A precious CD and a nice way to honor this great trumpeteer!.

Jazz isn´t dead, it just smells funny. (Zappa) I don´t believe it.Modern jazz has almost always been a minority program. My experience in Germany: (Scandinavian) female singers draw the masses and soft pop fusion artists like our smart trumpet hero Til Brönner. Sometimes you have a little more interest as with bands like during jazz rock age in the Seventies or with bands like EST. But the real stuff will remain for aficionados and true believers. .

Lars Gullin - Ma

Thanks for the idea for this thread and all of its contributors. This is terrific!

The Sixties are not my dearest decade in jazz. A few exceptions:: Lucky Thompson - Everything he did during the first half of the Sixties. Art Farmer recordings with Jim Hall Carmen McRae Bittersweet

Those five albums have been realesed during the mid Eighties in celebration of the 20 years this phenomenal band has been working together.One of the most outstanding acoustic jazz formations IMO. You´re right, this is far away from your usual American post bop fare: the music of this band is gentle with a touch of mystery but never shallow. They´re from Italy. So you have a strong emphasis on melody and subtle interplay. Every single of these five Blue Notes is dedicated to the compositions of each band member. Every one is excellent, PARTE maybe the softest of the bunch, Rosso, Verde, Giallo E Blu the most exquisit.. If I should single out one CD for small budget recomendation I d choose Kosmopolites. By the way, talking about being prolific: After Songlines/ Night & Blue the quintet is once again back in the studio for another double cd - comemorating their 30th jubilee!

Have a nice and peaceful Xmas!

Howard McGhee - Blue Note New Faces New Sounds Vol 1 & 2 (Kenny Drew, Tal Farlow) as an affordable twofer!

Stromae - Formidable