randyhersom

In the 70's ECM, along with Keith Jarrett and Oregon was what lured me into the jazz world. Keith Jarrett - Solo Concerts Bremen - Lausanne Keith Jarrett w/ Jan Garbarek - Belonging Terje Rypdal - Whenever I seem to be far away Ralph Towner - Solstice Ralph Towner - Diary Gary Burton - Steve Swallow - Hotel Hello Art Lande - Rubisa Patrol Paul Motian - Tribute Albums I know are great but just haven't heard often enough Dave Holland - Conference of the Birds Old and New Dreams Evan Parker - Paul Bley - Sankt Gerold

I dunno, ask Chris Albertson?

Lee Morgan Live at the Lighthouse Evan Parker Elliott Smith Smokey Robinson - Timeless Love Andrew Hill Walt Dickerson

Enjoying the new Ornette Coleman, Dennis Gonzalez's Spirit Meridian - Idle Wild, John Lindberg - A Tree Frog Tonality and some recent Ken Vandermark aggregations.

Jack Wilkins and Jack Wilkins George Benson and Geoirge Benson Michael Jackson and Michael Gregory Jackson

Could have been worded more gently of course, but eMusic is my primary source.

Even considering its biased nature, it's of some interest to me. I'd vote against banning all promotional posts. Some of the nicest moments on this board have been when a relative of an artist interacts with the many knowledgeable fans here.

This is on eMusic now.

Any thoughts on the new Kidd Jordan with Parker and Drake?

Booker Little - Out Front

I love African Space Program. It's a wild big band date with Hamiet Bluiett, John Stubblefield and other notables, and the closest Dollar Brand would get to Sun Ra.

It would be a good time to put on Andrew Hill's Divine Revelation on Steeplechase. Any other additions to the list of finest hours?

I got my Etcetera through BMG or Columbia House, I'm sure that added to the supply.

New on Tzadik, I got mine from eMusic. Evan Parker's music often has a trancelike physical and emotional effect on me and this delivers nicely. No bass or drums, but I wonder if the title hints at overdubbing by Evan. The first track suggests a string quartet, but the tone is that of a sax when you listen closely. Of course it wouldn't be the first time I wondered if I was listening to more than one horn player when listening to this artist.

I'm enjoying this. I have become a fan of Cuong Vu and particularly enjoyed his contribution to Matthias Lupri's Transition Sonic. There are some similarities with that album, with more of an ECM vibe than the other things I have heard from Myra. I'm willing to wait for the next album, or dig up some more of Myra's back catalog in order to hear piano featured more prominently. Myra's harmonium does blend well with Vu and the rest of the group. Brandon Ross reminds me of what I like about Terje Rypdal, without seeming at all derivative. The piano that is here (about half the time) is prime.

I'm pulling this down from EMusic right now. If the street date is the 26th, they may well pull it off soon and reissue it then.

Max Roach - We Insist! Freedom Now Suite is up now.

OK Point made.

When I was at WRTI, Temple university's jazz station, a young man hung around the station a lot, and also started hanging at the Sun Ra house. He eventually got to sit in on a recording session. He reported that Sun Ra was gay, but that he was not influenced in any way to participate and did not. I chose not to believe that Sun Ra was gay at the time, and bought Swzed's interpretation of his sexuality when I later read the book. I bring this up only to refute the statement that you had to have a sexual relationship with Sun Ra to hang at the house. I still think it would be possible for someone to incorrectly interpret "not into women" as "gay". I saw Sun Ra perform three times, including once where the entire band went out and hugged members of the audience while chanting. I can buy jealous and a little controlling, but I just can't buy the idea of widespread coercion as described by youmustbe.

Up. Somewhat disappointed that Christina has generated 10 times the number of posts that Smokey has.

There was a Chiaroscuro Frank Wright album (raised eyebrow) that featured Eddie Jefferson on vocals (jaw drop). Am I right that that never made CD?

Well, Smokey's first recording of two of these songs was 34 years ago with the Miracles. Even without that fact, I'd have trouble with the idea that Smokey made an indie label standards album for primarily financial reasons. There's no way I could say Smokey's immune to fads, he seems to revel in them at times. But I dare you to listen to this a couple of times and tell me it's the work of a quick buck artist. Fading star is a rather unkind choice of words. Looking at Smokey Robinson's achievements and career, can you really use the same term used over the years with such luminaries as Donny Osmond, Tiffany and Duran Duran? A couple of second listen observations. Tea for Two, the closer, is completely reworked. I'm faniliar with it done in a bouncy, sing-song fashion. Here both the arrangement and the singing move it in the direction of Smokey's A Quiet Storm. Also he interpolates a line of Cyndy Lauper's Time After Time into Cole Porter's song of the same name, a touch that I appreciate as a big fan of the later written song. On the whole, it swings and on I'm in the Mood for Love, it's clear that Smokey is familiar with the King Pleasure/Eddie Jefferson style in which the song was first sung. I believe Eddie was the first to apply lyrics to James Moody's solo, but King Pleasure's version I think became more widely known.

It's quite fashionable to dis the practice of popular singers singing standards, but I'm a fan of this new effort. It's stylisticially faithful to, say, a late fifties Sarah Vaughan date with piano trio and strings, with just a few rhythmic updates creeping in. In the end it's a great singer singing great songs. Tracks: You Go To My Head I`m In The Mood For Love Our Love Is Here To Stay Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) Night And Day I`m Glad There Is You More Than You Know Speak Low Time After Time I Can`t Give You Anything But Love I Like Your Face I`ve Got You Under My Skin Tea For Two

Enemy is back, I grabbed Highlife and Last Exit. Highlife is much more akin to a Santana album than a jazz album, but still quite good. I already have Guitar and Ask the Ages and they are great places to start. Two new Marc Cary albums, I downloaded and am enjoying Focus, nice piano trio. Two new George Garzone's. Alone is quite mainstream, The Fringe in New York somewhat more adventurous but still plenty melodic, with vibes added to the usual sax, bass and drums. Very nice. I have to organize my collection in order to find which Funkadelics I don't already have.

On the Ayler box, Disc 2, the second of three versions of Spirits is also missing from eMusic.