Christiern

I haven't had time to listen, yet, so I can't tell you how the audio is, but the credits on the back should tell you something.

I finally acquired (on e-Bay) a tape deck that works and, in fact can handle 101/2" reels at 15 i.p.s. This means that I can now begin to transfer some of my old analog tapes to a digital format and post new old stuff to my blog. Here is the first of these, a single selection, "Chicago Buzz" played by Humphrey Lyttleton's band at 100 Oxford Street. This is the very first live recordingI ever made and it isn't bad when one considers that it has been here and there in the world before landing in my closet 48 years ago. I don't think 58-year-old tape stored without regard to temperature is supposed to last this long. So, this is a beginning—there is more coming, including Lionel Hampton hitting the piano keys with his rapid index fingers on the night (also in '53) that I recorded Brownie and that jam session.

Thank you, Ted R. Big Beat Steve is right, that is Elmer Snowden on the right. I appreciate the Stereo Review comment. I also appreciate your comments, John L. I finally found (on E-Bay) a working reel to reel Tandberg that runs 10"/15 i.p.s. tapes, so I hope to bring more music and interviews to my blog very soon, including more from the 1953 jam session w. members of Hamp's band, and recording of Humphrey Lyttleton's band that I made in London that same year. I also hope to find interviews with Willie "The Lion" and Rex Stewart. If I'm really lucky, I'll come up with a Billie Holiday interview. Sorry, I realize that I just took this thread in a new direction. Back to Lonnie, here are a two more pictures I took of him in 1960—he is playing a Gibson that I bought for him (on time payment that I thought would never end!).

Lonnie in my Philadelphia apartment, 1959. Lonnie on my Philadelphia radio show, 1960.

Jazz magazine belonged to Bob Thiele? Pauline Rivelli was the Editor and Frank Kofsky a regular contributor. Of course this publication always favored such labels as Flying Dutchman and Red Baron, owned by Thiele. He sometimes married vocalists and recorded the hell out of them—how else would we have had "Theresa Brewer Sings Bessie Smith"?

I wouldn't befriend him, I understand that he is a vile, anti-Semite.

Schaap and I know each other and we get along well whenever our paths cross. MM's contention that I am jealous is as off the mark as many of Phil's stories, so I guess they have something in common—too bad that it isn't a positive trait. BTW, this is among my favorite albums, and it's not just because I took the cover photo of Phil

I recommend short ones, too, especially when facts are replaced by supposition and the latter is presented as being the former. In short, Schaap lies. In his eternal quest for recognition as the world's greatest jazz authority*, he will tell you things that you never heard anywhere else, and you never heard them anywhere else, because he made them up. Were it truly his "goal" to "educate the masses," he would not let them eat upside-down cake, as it were. The music and facts speak for themselves.

I prefer the young lady who, in a near-whisper, reads from the liner notes and labels. She does not illuminate, but neither does she orate. Who wants to feed on the kind of nonsense and assumptions Phil dishes out.....endlessly?

I just received an e-mail advertising this box, which will sell for $39.99 At first glance, I thought I might buy it, but then I read the details and saw that it includes a documentary, "The Story of Jazz." written by me. I might buy it, anyway. · DVD1: Lady Day - The Many Faces of Billie Holiday: Aimed at the aficionado and novice alike, this documentary swings, both visually and aurally. What a Little Moonlight Can Do, You can't Take That Away From Me, Lover Man, On the Sunny Side of the Street, God Bless the Child, Strange Fruit, Fine and Mellow, and Swing, Brother, Swing (among many others) all come brilliantly to life on the screen. · DVD2: Celebrating Bird - The Triumph of Charlie Parker is the first and only authorized documentary about one of the great legends in American music. · DVD3: Sarah Vaughan - The Divine One: This production recounts the stellar singer's career of Sarah Vaughan, from her beginnings at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, to her debut at the Apollo Theater and her pre-eminence in nightclubs, concert halls and jazz festivals around the world. · DVD4: Thelonious Monk - American Composer: Pianistic ringleader of the bebop revolution, Thelonious Monk is maybe Jazz' major composer after Duke Ellington. · DVD5: The Story of Jazz: The Story of Jazz puts the crown on the brilliant, highly acclaimed Masters of American Music Series, which has profiles some of the music's pivotal figures: John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan, Miles Davis, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker. The film places these important artists into historical context, allowing us to see them in the proper perspective. Picture format DVD: NTSC 4:3 Sounds formats DVD: PCM Mono 2.0 Region code: 0 Booklet notes: English, German, French Subtitles: German, English, French Running time: DVD1 59 mins, DVD2 59 mins, DVD3 56 mins, DVD4 59 mins, DVD5 98 mins I should add that I have no financial interest in this set and assure you that no animals were hurt in the making of these films, but I do recall successfully swatting a fly as my scripts left Congo Square.

Steve Post, eh? Are you pining for those glory years at WBAI? Ooops! I had just finished posting about that bastard (Post) on another board! Actually, I have more disgust for Post than I have respect for Jobs—and that's saying something! BTW How do you know about Post?

Steve Jobs obviously also made some good decisions to arrive at the point where he was "well in the game." BTW, if you really do your homework, I think you will find that Jobs' decision also had a lot to do with the existence of the Android system, which seems to have your approval. Your venom is not becoming, nor justified.

Your TV probably only gives you excerpts, but here is Jobs' Stamford speech in fullL

No, Steve Jobs was not an inventor, but he was certainly an innovator and it is easy to feel that the heavy tributes to him are a "stretch," but think in terms of influence, lifestyle, how we look at things, what we do. Steve Post had a lot to do with that and all one has to consider is the enormous following that took place in the industry....he shaped it, he took great concepts and made them into viable realities. He called the shots. And, Alexander, please read about the details regarding the firing of Steve Jobs before you make more rash comments on it.

It's the new Logitech K750 solar powered keyboard. I got it from Amazon back in July, but that was the PC versions, so I missed the Mac-specific keys, When I learned that there also was a Mac version, I contacted Amazon and—although they had not yet received it—they allowed me to return the PC keyboard for a full refund. I then ordered this one from Logitech. Both are great and neither requires the sun, they get enough power from a desk lamp, and will even work ofter 3 months in the dark.

His name is Jeff Haas. Ever heard of him or his show? It is apparently carried by several NPR affiliates. The man is also a composer, or so his blog tells me.

"He took Apple to real heights" is true, but he really took a whole industry to real heights. His vision can be seen way beyond Apple. Very sad news, indeed.

This afternoon, I found myself in a small cubicle on West 26th Street. I was there to give an interview to the NPR station in Interlochen, Michigan—the subject was John Hammond and I was contacted at the recommendation of Lewis Porter. The host (and co-producer) began by asking me about John's family background. I told him what little I knew about that and explained that I could best talk about the John Hammond I knew, i.e. from 1959 on. He seemed somewhat disappointed, but told me to go on. There were no questions, so I explained how we had met (this jazz host/producer of a show called "New Jazz Archives" seemed unfamiliar with Lonnie Johnson and Elmer Snowden). He let me go on for a good half hour, so I did, telling him about John's real as well as alleged achievements, and giving what I thought would be an interesting (if unconventional) portrait of the Great White Father. My "interviewer" finally broke in and complained that I had not been sufficiently "positive". I pointed out that I had made many references to John's actual achievements and how I considered them to be important enough to warrant his stature in jazz history. That, apparently was not the right angle for Mr. host/producer, who told me that he probably would not use anything that I said! I told him that this was okay with me, but that I found it odd that he wanted to put a positive twist on it, and do so at the expense of the truth. This happened once before, many years ago, when I was interviewed by CBC (Canada) for a very lengthy series on John's life. The interviewer was only interested in having me perpetuate the many myths. That interview never made the air. What do my fellow Organissimoans think of such an approach? I think it is very wrong and, certainly, dishonest.

and I bet the Solo Art quality is much higher. Riverside's reissues were technical abominations.

I produced three sessions with him and spent much time around him, but I never, ever heard anyone call him "Pa Pa". Except Schaap.

Another record industry mogul who I had the great pleasure of never meeting.

I was saddened by the news in today's Danish papers that a major fire has destroyed KB Hallen. This was a large sports arena, built in the '30s, where I heard much memorable music, starting with the first jazz concert I ever attended. Here, as I was getting into jazz (in the late '40s), I enjoyed Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, JATP, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sidney Bechet, and many, many more. The next event would have been a sex toy show...sign of the times.

Maybe Chris believes if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything. That should be obvious, by now. Apropos Budd, Maynard Ferguson once told me that his most embarrassing moment as a performer occurred at Birdland. Maynard had invited his in-laws down to hear the band, and given them a front table and introduced them from the bandstand. At one point, Budd delivered a particularly torrid blues solo, which prompted Maynard's father-in-law to exclaim, rather loudly, "Listen to that ni...ger go!" I don't recall my liner notes for the Riverside album, but Ray Fowler was always the engineer and I would be surprised if Orrin wasn't present. Had he written the notes, he would have been mentioned at least once in the text! Budd was, indeed, a very sweet guy—as Chuck said. We shared a memorable, somewhat bizarre day in Scranton back in 1962 I write about it (and give an audio sample) on my blog.

Three weeks away from 80, I have never been to a funeral and I don't want to make my own the exception. I don't care where they sprinkle me, because—like Lonson—I won't be there, and those who might care will have me in their memory.