Eric

It is funny how his solo stuff generally sounds much better today than it did 20-30 years ago. Back then it was all about missing expectations. No, his solo stuff is not "great", but a good chunk of it is quite enjoyable, some of it in a guilty pleasure vein, some standing on its own. I hated London Town when it came about, but now I really, really like it.

15 (real or fake?)

Now that is pretty impressive! Thanks for posting Jim.

Here is a new CD: http://www.speetones.com/music.html

I may well have been that guy. She is now my ex

I think Todd has cranked out a lot of great songs over the years (great albums not so many). But he is very willing to experiment and has made a mark as a producer (XTC's Skylarking among others). He is much, much more than the handful of top 40 songs that he is known for. One album that is a sentimental favorite (but is completely lost in the early 80s soundwise) is Healing, particulary the Healing suite. One of my favorite all-time pop/rock songs is "Something to Fall Back On" from A Cappella (an album created entirely with his voice - synthesized and natural). PS - Never been a big Utopia fan - they are pleasant enough, but hardly "special".

Wizard is a great, great album.

http://www.kcrhythmandribs.com/2007/performers.html I was clueless about this - will definitely want to see Metheny, trio-style (Friday night) and Javon Jackson with Lonnie Smith (late Saturday afternoon)! Looks like some great local talent too!!!

Very nice Hutcherson site, note the album by album commentary: http://www.musicweb-international.com/jazz...erson/index.htm

Goodness, I can see why: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?...54587&BAB=E

I picked up a couple of these for my kids at Jazz Recrod Center last week. Yes, they are tight-fitting. Yes, they are very cool

2005. Read my Rodney Jones web log contribution Keep swinging Durium How can it be 2005??? Kirkland died in 1998. Per the Savant website: "In 1983 four young men got together to record a CD's worth of music they had fermenting inside their imaginations. Young and filled with energy they played like there was no tomorrow. In fact there were to be many tomorrows for these young men and each of them went on to make their mark in the jazz world. Each joined the ranks of the masters of their generation. The present CD, "Dreams and Stories" documents the collaboration of four soon-to-be greats in the early flowering of their careers. The young men? They were guitarist Rodney Jones, pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Jeff Watts. This is the music they made at those prophetic sessions back in 1983 -- music full of hopes, dreams and creativity."

I was at JRC last Friday. The stock seemed kind of "light" compared to prior visits over the years, but still a great experience.

I would seek out the Mosaic set - it sold slowly when in print and hopefully you can find it for a reasonable price. Some of the best mainstream jazz of the 70s IMHO. There is hardly any bad Shaw. All the Muse/32 Jazz titles are interesting and good. I really like the"Love Dance" lp, which does not get mentioned much. My personal favorite from this era is "Little Red's Fantasy". His "demo" record (never released at the time) is also quite good - it finally came out on Muse. He did seem to crank out a lot of live albums after the end of the Columbia era. You probably don't need *all* of it - I would sample one of the High Note CDs as suggested above. He also shows up as a sideman on a number of late 60s Blue Note albums. Lot's of good choices there too.

Very cool!!!

How about my avatar It is in the Mosaic set, but I think it would be a great RG, although it is relatively straight ahead.

As far as I can tell, she only plays flute on one cut (Prints) and it is only during the ensemble work. The notes make reference to overdubbing on two tracks (I am guessing one of which is the addition of her flute to Prints). No mention of drum programming and I didn't get a sense that was going on anywhere. Kikoski does play electirc piano on a couple tracks though. I am not one who gets terribly excited when the new Criss Cross CDs come out, but he has had a nice run IMHO.

His new one, "Prints" is a beauty. And Jim, MM plays flute one one cut!

I can't think of any other album which is so often described as overrated. I ignored it myself for years. But a couple years ago, I bought a copy for my 7 year old daughter and with her, rediscovered it all over again. I can't think of many albums that are as fun to listen to straight through - ear candy abounds, but the tunes and performances are right there too. Is it their best? Is it in the all-time top 10 rock records? Who cares - I really dig it!

That was my take as well.

BTW, has anyone ever seen a gatefold Mainstream lp jacket that is in good condition (well NM- or VG+++++++++++ for you Goldmine purists ). Most of the ones I own (all bought used) are beat to crap. Did they initially market these things to public libraries???

Just checked it out - the lack of a sophisticated search capability (by label anyone?) is not good.

Cliched lyrics - lot's of them. Voice sounds worse than on the last album on a few cuts (even though this one was recorded before it, right?) Tunes generally sound interesting (save for a few outright turds) - I will probably get it (but not expecting greatness). It's so hard to tell with him - he has the maddening ability to sound great and lousy all in the same song (see below). I genuinely enjoyed his last one - this sounds like it has the potential to equal it. I had previously only heard the single which is very good and very crappy at the same time.

No kidding

KC needs a B-Ball team, if you ask me. Always wanted one there when I was a kid. Yes, although Big 12 basketball does a pretty good job filling the hole. I have KU season tickets and given the price tag and the "optional mandatory donation", I don't think I'll be springing for NBA tickets.