Christiern

I am watching Fritz Lang's Metropolis (again).

I tried to get the big ones, I really did, but Sol Yaged turned me down. Mingus and Bill Evans made up for that, however. Karl Knudsen (Storyville Records) has whatever master dubs we have been able to salvage--I have a few U-matic cassettes.

No, Alexander, I haven' even thought of releasing those tapes, although there are some interesting ones among them, including one hosted by Coltrane. Some hosts brought guests: Condon brought George Wettling, and Jimmy Rushing brought Buddy Tate, as I recall. Some also performed. As for the records Lee played, I really don't remember (that was 40 years ago, I couldn't even tell you what I played back then!). I guess I should go through my stacks of tape to see what's there. Some are in Copenhagen, well preserved at Storyville Records. There is also a two hour rant by Bill Dixon, who was mad at me for not having invited enough avant gardists to host the show. I gave him one of the afternoons, and he spent the entire 2 hours bitching. When I asked him why he hadn't played some of the music he thought I was neglecting, I thought I saw steam coming out of his beard.

Still love The Honeymooners, it holds up better than many comedies from that period, I think. Also love Barney Miller and Golden Girls, but one of my favorite old shows was Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman--very off-beat. One of my favorite episodes was the one in which the factory blew up and Ferndale's only black resident was accused of doing it, because a Marvin Gaye single was found in the rubble. Just as he is about to be sent up the river, the Mayor's wife appears to declare his innocence--he was sleeping with her at the time of the explosion, she said. For pure camp/nostalgia value, I watch the Ed Sullivan reruns.

Lee did a show for me at WBAI back around '64. It was a two-hour show with him as host--he could do anything he wanted with that time, and--if memory serves me right--he did a dj thing with records. I also seem to recall that he brought in a guest, but I'm not sure. All these shows were done live, with airchecks. I don't know if I have the Morgan show in my tape closet--if so, it's buried pretty deep. However, I sent copies of the shows to our West Coast stations (KPFA and KPFK), which means that some of them may have landed in the Pacifica archives.

You have to help the dog along--with your mouse button depressed.

I wouldn't think that the demise of the BN board has made a dent in sales--prestige (so to speak) is another matter. But BN will surely get over it before some of the board's staunchest posters do.

Since you mention the Cliff Jackson set, may I be so bold as to shamelessly add three more sessions of mine sold to Alan Bates (Black Lion was originally his label): Elmer Snowden Sextet (I think he called it [i[saturday Night Fuish Fry) with Roy Eldridge, Bud Freeman, Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, and Jo Jones. Bud Freeman Quartet with Dave Frisshberg (making his record debut), Bob Haggart, and Don Lamond. Howard McGhee, Sharp Edge, with George Coleman, Junior Mance, George Tucker, and Jimmie Cobb. Bates told me about an evening when he went to Slugs to hear Sun Ra, whom he owed some royalties. At one point, Sun Ra walked between the tables, dramatically waving about a pot of incense, and looking very Cardinal-like. When he reached Alan's table, he discreetly swooped his head down, breezing past Alan's ear as he whispered: "Where the fuck are my royalties?"

I have had more than one musician who was around when Blanche had her band tell me that it was better than Cab's.

Singer Nina Simone dead at 70 NEW YORK (AP) --Nina Simone, the jazz great whose rapsy, forceful voice helped define the civil rights movement, died Monday at her home in France, her manager Clifton Henderson said. She was 70. Simone, who was born in North Carolina, was best known for her interpretation of "My Baby Just Cares for Me" in 1966 and "One Night Stand" a year later. She also recorded the socially conscious songs "Mississippi Goddamn" and "Old Jim Crow." Henderson said she died of "natural causes." Though she remained a top concert draw in her later years, she was quite frail. At a 2001 concert at Carnegie Hall, she had to be helped to the stage, and was later seen sitting backstage in a wheelchair. Simone spent much of her recent time in France. She is survived by a daughter, Lisa, according to Henderson

I thought that might be the caase--thanks for the clarification.

Sorry to hear about this. One correction: Let the Good Times Roll. at least the song Ray Charles is associated with, was written by Sam Theard (aka Spo-dee-o-dee).

Great, I feel like I've just left Elizabeth Arden and slammed that red door behind me! B)

I had the privilege of producing a couple of sessions on which he played drums--he was great to work with. Yes, he did get into a little argument with Roy Eldridge at one of the sessions, but a friendly one. I often ran into him in watering holes around town and he could become quite talkative after a few drinks, often telling stories that most musicians would stay away from lest they reached the ears of someone like John Hammond, who could be extremely vindictive.

Scott, I consider Dannny D to be a friend, but I agree that his remark re Jutta Hipp on AAJ is uncallled-for. I was never a fan of Ms. Hipp, whom I heard at the Hickory House when I first came to New York, but it is terribly sad that she passed away and that none of us knew that she needed financial help. At least it came as news to me.

French Blue Note? Perhaps Berigan will buy a case and destroy it's content!

Thank you for the compliment. I do stand behind anything I might have posted on that board, but I think its manager(s) could have brought about a change in less offensive manner. I guess it's my way of making them know how I feel about their mis-management. The board definitely needed some policing (Greg and Dan Gould's infantile personal attacks come to mind), but I wish they had handled it more prudently. If I posted anything on the BN board that is worth repeating, I will re-post on better boards.

As usual, you are not telling me anything I don't already know, but you obviously are unaware of the fact that the April Fool tradition is not restricted to the U.S. I know it's difficult for you to comprehend, but there is a big world out there, and you are not in its center. Be that as it may, I still intend to erase any posts of mine that might survive the BN holocaust. You might just want to hope that I don't leave behind quotes from some of your more assinine, hateful posts.

The BN board is only back in a highly selective read-only form. It should be back in business on May 1, according to their announcement. At that time, I intend to revisit and delete all my own posts. To hell with that board!