Eric

uhm, I think I will wait for the Conn (or go without): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...me=STRK:MEWA:IT

Chris, Not avant garde at all ... but not really soul jazz either. It is a nice date. The three horns create a pretty big sound. Tunes are pretty mainstream (mostly written by Gordon) and are pretty decent. Reminds me of a Woody Shaw Muse date as much as anything else. Eric Edit - After 3-4 listens today, I will upgrade my assessment to "pretty darn nifty".

I snagged me a John Gordon CD, originally on Strata-East. Never heard of the guy - he is a trombonist. Standard disclaimers apply ... One of the most obscure sessions on Strata East -- and an excellent groover that really keeps up the label's soul jazz spirit! Jon Gordon's a lesser-known trombonist from the 70s, but he's working here with an all-star group that includes Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Stanley Cowell on piano, Roland Alexander on reeds, and Andrew Cyrille on drums -- all coming together with a spirit that's quite similar to that of Tolliver's classic Music Inc recordings of the time! The titles are mostly all originals by Gordon, played in a loping, lyrical mode that often bursts out with a free-thinking approach to the solos. Titles include "P&G Incorporated", "No Tricks No Gimmicks", "Activity", "Step By Step", and "Dance Of the Ymas".

Just have your kids explain it too you - iTunes that is B-) Seriously, I've had it on my "family" computer for about six months - it is a snap to get going once you download the "client" software, i.e. the stuff that sits on your PC so you can interact with their online site and download/play/burn tunes.

While I would love to have these in hand (literally), this news really, really KICKS ASS - good for Verve!!!

Free shipping by registered mail ... nice change of pace!

Discovered this funky little re-issue label, Wounded Bird. They seem to specialize in really crappy 70s rock, but have done some stuff by the MJQ and other jazz artists. AND, I saw they just re-issued Kevin Eubanks "Guitarist", which came out on Musician. So ... I emailed them to ask for the two live Woody CDs that came out in the early 80s on Musician. Here is their web site if you are inclined to do the same. http://www.woundedbird.com/about.htm

I know there were a couple of Japan only live VSOP records - I wonder if these bonus tracks come from there?

Fresh Sounds just re-issued this earlier this year (i.e. the Roy Brooks date). http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/newreleases.php

I am sure Alfred is rolling over in his grave ...

looks like he also has a brand spankin' new one coming out next Tues as well: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?...&cart=198669937

ah yes - duh

up for a little air ... I have been listening to the "Love Dance" lp inlcuded on the "Last of the Line" CD issued by 32 Jazz. How in the hell have I been asleep on this one??? IMHO, it is just as good as "Little Red's Fantasy". Frankly I think I was scared off by the album title (and "flowery" lettering on the cover) all these years - figured it was some watered-down junk. Not so. Sidemen include Billy Harper, Rene McLean and Steve Turre. "Love Dance" is a very strong original by the pianist on the date - Joe Bonner. The lp also includes "Obsequious" by Larry Young (which Woody also recorded on "Cassandranite" AND " "Live at the Berliner Jazztage"). It also includes "Zoltan", a great great Shaw original (where else does this appear???) as well as a nice Harper ballad. This thing really cooks - check it out folks!!!

Phil Ranelin -- Vibes From The Tribe . . . CD . . . $14.99 List Price: $15.98 (Item: 41840) Tribe/Hefty Records, 1976 Condition: New Copy An excellent lost classic from Detroit soul jazz powerhouse Phil Ranelin! Trombonist Ranelin was one of the key figures in the city's Tribe Records scene -- and this album is one of the greatest that the label ever issued. The set features Ranelin on trombone, Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, Kenny Cox on electric piano, and Harold McKinney on piano -- plus other luminaries from the incredibly strong Detroit scene of the time. The set includes the funky classic "Sounds From The Village", the slow spacey breakbeat number "Vibes From The Tribe", and the jazzy groover "For The Children". Also includes "He The One We All Knew", an extended piece that features members of The Griot Galaxy -- and the reissue features 3 bonus tracks "Vibes From The Tribe (extended)", "Vibes From The Tribe (8 track)", and "Sounds From The Village (extended)".

one might think the value would be stable for a while - six of the original albums (including the Grant Green) are out on CD with a 7th on the way this fall ...

I would chime in for Grant Green's "Born to Be Blue" with Ike Quebec and Sonny Clark. Seems to be sometimes overlooked ... I find it to be very soulful - not the same instrumentation, but much of the same feel. I would also vote for the Jimmy Smith albums with Turrentine and Burrell (Back at the Chicken Shack and Midnight Special). Obviously the organ changes the dynamic a bit, but again, I get the same bluesy, soulful feel. Yeah and damn it, we need Freedom!!

Wes Montgomery Trio is also coming out in Aug from Fantasy as a SACD hybrid. What gives?

Wow - that is a complete shocker. So young ...

Freddie Hubbard - Rollin'

Hey, I happen to be one of those fellows ... and while your point of view may the conventional wisdom, I have never seen it in 20+ years. Why risk everything to make a few stupid dollars? More importantly, it is illegal and unethical. I would venture that the vast majority of corporate executives are honest, hardworking people, with strong ethics or at least enough good sense to know when not to cross the line. Trust me, I am as pissed as anyone about those FUCKS at Enron, WorldCom, etc. I hope they get what they deserve but they probably won't. In the mean time, they make the rest of us out to look like scum. Eric

All the Impulse Trane at Ravi's house ... B)

The man knows about what he speaks ... and his prior posts say it all. It is damn near impossible to convict on insider trading. So you catch them in a lie. Same concept applies to org crime ... hard to nail the higher ups with the specific crime so you nail them on tax evasion. I work in the financial industry too. For the 99% of us that are honest, we want to see these people fry. If you think you are above the law and take a risk, you should pay the price if you get caught. BTW, she started her career as a stock broker ... she knew EXACTLY what she was doing.

Never Fear Jazz Is Here! aint that the damn truth

I don't mean to argue with Claude. Music is a personal thing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is no right or wrong opinion. However, The Cookers has created much discussion and debate for being only an average session. It is definitely the line-up ... one wishes for a hard-bop version of Abbey Road ... yet is left with:

I believe, if Cookers was only an obscure live session, we wouldn't discuss it because we wouldn't be aware of it. It is a Blue Note session, however. It is known, available, and perfomed by some of the best. Obscure or not, there are some big jazz names involved with this recording. To my ears, they are playing in a most excellent, live, raw format. Gives me the tingles. Claude couldn't be more right about this session. This one is a dog and not one with fleas either. Just because it's on BN doesn't make it good. They took a flier on it and it didn't work. They figured it would sell. Maybe it did but it's a bad bad session. Should have stayed in the vaults. I have bought and sold this thing at least three times in the last 20+ years. RVG-treatment notwithstanding, I am through. There is way too much worthwhile music out there to listen to. Even Rudy can't polish this proverbial turd