Eric

I said screw it and bought the "premium priced" CD. He has had a hot streak with his last 3-4 Milestone CDs and this one is no different. I love Bobby Broom in place of the piano. Sonny sounds great - chilling - and the tunes are good too. I am no music critic, nor am I a musician, so I can't really describe in more technical terms, other than ... .., this kicks ass

Absolutely the rest of the world has caught up, which is great (gives us hope for soccer). I think it is the showboating AND the losing that causes me frustration.

I agree. I think that on the whole, he was a pretty amazing guy, although this kind of fate might have been inevitable. RIP

Obituary from the KC Star: Ronald James Rooks, 54, of Kansas City, MO, passed away Monday, August 28, 2006. He died at work, surrounded by the music that he loved. Ron was born July 28, 1952 in San Mateo, CA but moved to K.C. when 2 years old. He was preceded in death by his father Donald Wood Rooks, mother Joyce Marie (Stackhouse) Rooks, aunt Irene (Stackhouse) Hetrick and uncle Gilbert "Bud" Hetrick. Ron is survived by Nancy, his wife of 33 years; son Kelsyn D.S. Rooks and wife Amie and grandson Kelsyn D.S. Rooks, Jr. of Overland Park, KS; and daughter, Kristyn J.O. Rooks and future son-in-law Richard Colon of Kansas City, MO; brother Donald W. Rooks and wife Lynnette of Raymore, MO; niece Natonya Pasley of Denver, CO; and nephew Donald W. Rooks III of Kansas City, MO. Ron attended Francis Willard grade school, Paseo High School, and graduated from Lee's Summit High School. He got his BA in Communications from UMKC. In 1979, a few years after leaving the Water Department over "refusing to cut his hair", Ron decided to take his career into his own hands and scraped together enough money to buy The Music Exchange in Westport. This was also convenient because it gave him a place to move all the "extra" records he had been hiding from Nancy. For 27 years The Music Exchange stayed true to providing the people of Kansas City and of the world an amazing place to buy, sell, or just talk music. It was a sad day in February 2006 when The Music Exchange closed the doors in Westport, but Ron and many of his staunchest supporters felt it would rise again in its new home in the West Bottoms. With his passion for music, and so many talented friends, it is no surprise that Ron's band, Three Businessmen, was assaulting this city for almost 30 years. With his alter ego altering between Skoor Nor and Redondo Flats, Ron brought his odd sense of humor and political commentary to light with lyrics performed to frenetic but often inspired music. One needed to catch the show early in the night for the true glimpses of genius, for as the evening went on the songs had a tendency to get drawn out and more likely to offend the weak-hearted. What Ron lacked in skill and training he more than made up for in enthusiasm, and over the years many musicians asked him to sit in with them. Husband, father, businessman, writer, musician, and friend, Ron touched so many people in his life that he will never be truly gone. To help us reflect on and celebrate the life of Ron Rooks there will be a visitation and a memorial jam. The visitation will be held at the Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost, Kansas City, MO on Friday, September 8, 2006 from 6 to 9 p.m. The memorial jam will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, September 9, 2006 in the Valentine Room at the Uptown, 411 Valentine Road, Kansas City, MO. Memorial contributions can be made to the Coda Jazz Fund, P.O. Box 412116, Kansas City, MO 64141-2116 which provides for final financial assistance for all musicians. (Arrangements: Muehlebach Funeral Home, 816-4442060).

YES

If one of you KC guys hears about the show in Westport next weekend, please post here - I am traveling all next week.

Image this x 1,000:

frm the KC Star blog: Early Tuesday afternoon, we started getting e-mails from people who had heard rumors, if not the hard news: Ron Rooks had died Monday evening in the record shop's new digs in the West Bottoms. Brian McTavish, one of The Star's arts & entertainment reporters (and former pop music writer), talked with Rooks' widow, Nancy, this morning. Here's an abbreviated version of the story he has filed for tomorrow's paper, with assistance from Hearne Christopher. Ron Rooks, longtime owner of the Music Exchange in Westport, died Monday at his recently relocated store in the West Bottoms. Rooks, 54, was found dead by a tenant in the same building that now houses the Music Exchange at 13th Terrace and Hickory, said his wife, Nancy Rooks. "I haven't even gotten the coroner's report yet," she said Wednesday. "But he was at work Monday evening and the police seem to think he choked on some dinner food. "He passed surrounded by that part of his life that was most important to him and that he loved more than anything: his music. I'm sure the music was playing down there. There was always music playing down there." Ron and Nancy Rooks founded the original Music Exchange in 1979 in Westport, where the store's stock of hard-to-find vintage records gained it a reputation as "The Midwest's Largest Music Store." The business's inventory eventually totaled more than 1 million 78s, 45s and LPs from virtually every genre. "It's unique," Rooks said of the Music Exchange earlier this year. "People come in to see the things that are hanging on the walls, not even necessarily to buy stuff. Tourists have heard about it." So what will happen to the Music Exchange? "I'm not positive, but I'm probably looking for a buyer or somebody who would want to purchase the majority of it," Nancy Rooks said. "I personally do not think that I will be able to continue to run the store -- I can't. I don't have the vast knowledge base that he had about music and musicians. He worked really hard to keep that knowledge out there for the young people coming up. And he also really pushed the small, independent unknowns and especially local (musicians). He really wanted to help local people." Roger Naber, former owner of the Grand Emporium, told McTavish that he was helping organize a party in Rooks' honor next weekend in Westport. For information on services for Rooks, e-mail the Music Exchange at musicxch@aol.com

Indeed, especially when they were over on Westport Road. The Music Exchange was my bar after work.

RIP That is really, really sad. I started going to Music Excahnge around 1982. I would drive in from Lawrence. It was an amazing place for a small-town guy. Early on I asked Ron about some Freddie Hubbard record and he steered me directly to Lee Morgan, who I had never heard of. I did not know him well, but he was always friendly, very enthusiastic and yes, very colorful. Wow ...

Through the magic (?!?) of iTunes, it is a-spinnin' This stuff will make your butt do figure 8s

There are also a couple Phineas Newborn lps on Roulette ...

So, if I have 1-6, I opt for the 2nd choice above. I think

You might be surprised More likely friends getting together A-B-ing the various versions. Not that I would actually participate in that sort of activity ...

For some reason my PM is not working, but I will take the AH off yours hands! Eric (Try to PM me if it is still around)

Wow - Andrew! is IT for me

I have lived in the Triangle area a couple times and still visit relatives there every year. It is a nice area. Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill all have different things to offer. The ocean is close enough to visit (3 hours), but far enough away that all you get from hurricanes are rain showers. Real estate should be no worse than the northeast and hopefully less expensive. Enjoy and good luck!!

One of the others reporting in Yes, I too will be PO'd if they don't allow the loyals buyers of 1-6 a way to get the goodies without buying the box!

Who is this guy? Sounds like a great record http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=22856

My son and his band mates (punk rockers) buy vinyl alomost exclusively - and I set him up with a turntable at his Mom's house. I also hooked up a good friend with the local Rega dealer and he made the plunge. Seems the more I talk about vinyl, the more I discover people are either interested or actually playing music on turntables. Some of it is nostalgia and some of it is the presentation of the product - people seem to really like being able to hold the lp jacket, read the notes, etc. I also just think vinyl is hip these days - plus, more and more folks are discovering (or remembering) that music CAN sound pretty good with vinyl. Plus, despite all the stories about the demise of Tower and other retailers, there are a number of solid record stores still out there, many of whom have great vinyl selections (new and used). There IS a different experience associated with flipping through vinyl versus buying CDs online (or downloading music) and I think it resonates with some folks.

And I would love to see the Clifford Brown live stuff, the Joe Albany and the Kevin Eubanks. And the Griffith Park material. And the first Chico Freeman (did not like the second). Now that I think about it, the Tyner session has come out on Collectables as well. I am pretty sure that both the Jimmy Smiths are out too - one just recently on Wounded Bird.

Blue Note put out the Evans records. The Hubbard, Gordon and Powell have also come out on different labels. I think the Sphere records have too. I would also love to see the Shaw.

I selectively watch sports and some comedy. Could easily live without it. Watch maybe 2 hours a week. I have long since given up on the news. It is complete garage. One of the odder things about not watching TV is that when the commercials come on, them seem much more full of crap than they used to. I think that is because not matter how much BS you have to deal with in the "real world", it is still somehow connected to reality. Whereas TV is just ...

I can't say that I will mourn the loss if they don't emerge or go Chapter 7. Their economics have not allowed them to be competitive for many years. Hopefully we will see independents fill the void. I travel the US quite a bit and have been pleasantly surprised how many indie record stores still exist and seem to thrive (as measured by busy stores and deep catalogs in the bins).