randyhersom

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.

The Revenant Ayler box is now available, albeait with the dreaded "One or more tracks from this recording are unavailable at this time". A comparison of track lists reveals that the only music missing is: Pharoah Sanders Ensemble w/Albert Ayler January 21, 1968 in New York City 5. Venus/Upper and Lower Egypt from disk 6. I went for a booster pack and am grabbing the music before they change their mind. I have decided to pass on the interviews for the time being. I already own the Joe Lee Wilson on Candid they just added and like it. Also picked up the Ron Thomas Trio - Doloroso. Have wanted to hear more Ron Thomas since his great performance on Pat Martino - Live. That was on electric piano, but Doloroso is all acoustic and very good.

PS - What did Maupin record with McCoy Tyner?

If I see it on eMusic I'll grab it and post.

I've got to mention the great Harrison Ridley Jr. at Temple University. Not a working musician, but communicated his great love of Ellington and the other greats with a down-to-earth tone. He did a show concentrating on pre-1950 jazz on the Temple radio station every Sunday. His being a college instructor without a high school diploma was downright inspirational. His favorite dialog, repeated more than once. Student: "That's old music" Harrison: "It's new to you"

I'm listening to Dennis Gonzalez - N.Y. Midnight Suite right now, sounds good. D/Led the Julius Hemphill Hard Blues and found out afterward it was recorded after Julius's death as a tribute, haven't listened yet.

Jazz in Paris has wandered over from Universal to Sunnyside and started appearing on eMusic. I grabbed: Mary Lou Williams Don Byas Slide Hampton Sonny Criss Eddy Louiss Lucky Thompson

Abdullah Ibrahim - Solo piano arrived today. I grabbed it and have listened through once. Nice. The style is medium to slow tempo with churchy rhythms and a sense of profundity. Burn without pauses between tracks - the tracks flow into one another.

You know, if I listen real close I can tell an alto from a tenor about 80% of the time

Wonderful set, I'm realizing I really don't get enough listening time to recognize tones, so I end up working mostly from playing style. 1. Familiar, but can't place it. Max or Blakey on Tympani? Nice overture type track to kick things off. 2. Got to be Mal Waldron on piano. Jackie McLean? 3. Nice Piano trio with a Bill Evans - Scott Lafaro influence. The number of people it could be seems pretty large to me, so I'll go with Evans, but with a post-LaFaro bassist. 4. Renee Rosnes with the European big band? 5. Farmer - Golson Jazztet? 6. Sounds like Art Pepper to me. 7. It's got that Hawk/Ben brawny tone, Coleman Hawkins comes to mind here, would have to be pretty late. 8. Johnny Griffin is coming to mind just a bit more than Dexter Gordon. 9. Totally in the dark here. Milton Nascimiento just because I don't think it's Joao Gilberto. 10. Getz with Kenny Barron? 11. Another stab in the dark. George Wallington? 12. Shirley Horn? 13. Grant Green? 14. Stanley Turrentine? 15. I think Bird's in there somewhere, second soloist not the first. 16. Was Getz/Gilberto recorded live?

I have heard and enjoyed Songs and Lullabies with Fred Hersch. I'll have to put it on again.

Long time Terje fan here. Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away is my favorite.

Yeah, I noticed you and he were both on Dennis Gonzalez's Little Toot.