pryan

Mine is also fine.

Strange how these threads pop up at just the right time. I was spinning QUIET KENNY yesterday for the first time in a while and just really dug every minute of it. Then I thought to myself how much I dig all of my KD albums, both as a leader and a sideman. However, I only have some of his mid to later period stuff (ie. 1955 onward); what are some good earlier KD sessions?

I'll go with 16 if no one else wants it.

Hmmm, maybe we do get that channel; I wasn't aware of the change in name.

Thanks for the description, Chrome. Unfortunately we don't receive the Spike channel up here. Maybe another station is picking it up in Canada, I'll have to check the local listings. Sounds like a pretty hilarious show.

Couldn't tell ya, I've never ordered coffee on a flight before.

I've had Tim Horton's a few times, and don't understand the hype it gets. Perhaps it is slightly weak, as GregK suggests. There's a chain up here in Canada called "Second Cup" which brews some fine coffee. I still haven't tried a cup of Starbucks, although maybe I will the next time I'm in Chapters. Personally, I feel somewhat intimidated with the huge number of choices there are at some of these coffee shops. 7-11's latest coffee promotion is centered around making your own personal cup of coffee, combining various flavours, et cetera; they claim there's over 1300 possibilities.

I'll confess to not knowing a thing about MXC, although I'm assuming it's a TV show of some sort, no? My TV watching is extremely limited. What channel is this on?

I've recently seen a bunch of BN Lps around town (which is quite rare, indeed) but the CLIFF JORDAN Lp that I purchased doesn't have the address that you mention, Leeway. The rest of the details that you included in your post seem consistent, however, with the Lp that I picked up.

I'm just waiting for the wise ass to say this album is "out of this world". Whoops, I already did. Seriously, though, someone else will have to help you out on this one, because I haven't heard it.

If Mosaic does ship some sets that have the picture reversed and then subsequently corrects their mistake, we may see some of the the "defective" sets pop up on e-bay, all the more collectable of course because they're rare. "Roy Eldridge left-handed Mosaic", coming to an e-bay auction near you! B)

This thread spurred me to give this one a listen yesterday, and my feelings are quite the opposite from those of the previous poster. I really enjoyed hearing these amazing musicians interact and create beautiful statements of improvisation. Byard, in particular, seemed to be most adept at "thinking on his feet", listening intently to every phrase that Rivers would play in his solos and countering said phrase with a complementary one of his own. Tony Williams might be seen as more of an "accompanist" on this album in comparison with NEFERTITI or THE SORCERER, for example, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. His drumming is, as always, superlative and his brief solos are brilliant in their economy and wealth of ideas. The same can be said of about Ron Carter. Amazing album, great choice as AOW.

Ditto. I haven't received a reply yet, either.

Tristano/Konitz/Marsh

Suprisingly two of my favorite Prez sessions have yet to be mentioned specifically: PREZ AND TEDDY; JAZZ GIANTS '56. It's pretty hard not to dig these ones.

Well, I went back to the store with the intention of purchasing the album but, alas, someone had beat me to it. I kind of randomly chose another one, not a Dexter title but something by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, NICE GUYS. This is my first AEC album, although I do have Roscoe Mitchell's SNURDY.... so I am at least somewhat familiar with a couple of the musicians.

While browsing in one of the local record shops I noticed an Lp of Dexter Gordon's called: DEXTER BLOWS HOT AND COOL. It caught my eye because it was from the 50s and I knew that Dex hadn't recorded much during that time. The AMG review describes it as having "no surprises" but some "fine playing". What are your thoughts on this one?

I also browse the board in this fashion.

Those look pretty hip, indeed! X-Mas wish list just got a little bit longer.

Gotchya.

As I previously noted...

Is it (THE RAJAH) a sequel to LEEWAY because of the Cal Massey tunes? I don't totally follow you, Chuck, although admittedly it's been a while since I've listened to THE RAJAH. Could you elaborate a bit on that sequel comment?

I suggest you dig it out again. The McLean blues is a gas, with all soloists contributing great statements. In fact all tunes on this session allow the participants an opportunity to stretch out. In some cases (ie. other hardbop sessions of the era) this "space", for lack of a better term, creates a sense of monotony and solos drag on too long. LEEWAY, IMHO, does not suffer from meandering, as you put it. With PC and Blakey driving this ensemble, it's hard for the soloists not to deliver inspired statements.

Sounds like an excellent deal Jim, everybody wins.

I traded this or sold it, can't remember which, due to the poor sound quality and general lack of energy/inspiration. Good tunes yes, but the solos leave much to be desired considering the musicians taking part, especially the front line. Get CORNBREAD, CHARISMA, even STANDARDS before grabbing this one (to compare albums from a similar time under Morgan's leadership). Rooster, if I may ask, why is LEEWAY your least favorite?