skeith

As to personality and its relation to one's music. I have read that Paul Desmond was a rather wild person in his private life, but I would say that his solo style is by intention rather restrained. Back on the Soapbox: Clementine, you were not surprised that two jetliners were hijacked in this country by mostly Saudi nationals living in this country and flown into the WTC and they collapsed. Jeez, you may be the only person in America, wish you had alerted someone. By the way, included in my definition of a hero is anyone who goes into a burning building to save someone's life he or she doesn't even know. I am not aware that any member of the NYFD has killed anyone, black or otherwise. And yes those 400 firefighters (a number of whom were black) and other uniformed service people, including the cops who put their lives on the line to help others but died on 9/11 are heroes in my book. What am I missing here? In hasn't the war on terrorism produced a frightening cache of materials by terrorists, showing plans of the NY City subway system, landmarks, bridges, etc. You aren't grateful, the US military is rounding up a lot of these guys? I guess you are not happy they caught the guy who was planning to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge? Wasn't that just last week? Oh I am sorry, you have already managed to get over it.

JSangrey and Clementine, Sorry but I guess the impact of 9/11 on a person apparently has a lot to do with how close you were to it. As someone who watched it from 5 blocks away and know several people who were directly impacted, I guess I have a different perspective. And as for telling people to get over it, Clementine, maybe you would like to tell that to some of the kids who are missing parents or some of the people who were until quite recently going periodically to a refrigerated morgue to take home the body part of a loved one. Glad you are over it, but please don't lecture the rest of us. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox. JSangrey, I have seen Sonny Rollins live at least a dozen times since the mid 70's and I agree for the most part, allthough I would not compare it with 9/11, with a lot of your comments about the transforming power of a good live Rollins concert. I have one quibble with your analysis of personality relating to one's music. It seems to me that often times there seems to be an inverse relationship. A good example might be Johnny Hodges, if you have seen film clips of the guy on the bandstand, or read stories about him, he seemed to have been taciturn, or perhaps not particulary emotional as to his facial expression, body movements, etc. But man, he seems to me to be one of the more expressive players when it comes to the sound that came out of his horn. I can think of other examples.

JSangrey, Not sure what you mean by "safe"- I agree it is not "Our Man in Jazz" in terms of outside playing and there are no duck calls like on "Sonny Meets Hawk", and maybe you are referring to the high percentage of classic tunes (standards) on it, but I find Rollins's solos on both "The Bridge" and "John S." to have some remarkably adventurous playing on what many consider to be a sort of ballads album. And as for the ballads such as "God Bless the Child" or "Where are you", I find the playing to be not safe in this sense, it is some of the most emotionally charged ballad playing I have ever heard. The guy is pouring his heart out and that is never a safe thing to do. The ballads also contain some remarkable intros and cadenzas that express a lot of adventure to me. My favorite RCAs would be this one, the Standard Sonny Rollins, and the Sonny Meets Hawk.

Soul Stream, You didn't ask me but I"ll put my 2 cents in. I like the Stitt Mosaic and I'll grant that Lon's comment about much the same instrumentation has some validity -it's mostly Stitt, with piano, bass and drums, sometimes another horn - but that's Sonny's forte and I really don't prefer him with big band or another format. Maybe it seems like a lot the same since it is a whopping 9 cds. But I suppose you could make the same criticism of Hank Mobley's Blue Note sessions. (On the other hand, there is quite a good date with Stitt and an organ on this set) If you are afraid to take the plunge on the Mosaic, you can probably find 2 of the best single sessions from that box, "Sonny Stitt Plays" and I think the title is "Sonny Stitt and the New Yorkers" - they were both available from Fresh Sound in the 90's and didn't sound very audiophile quality, but I think they have come out in that blue note mini lp series from japan done by Ron McMaster which sound very good. If you can find it the 32 jazz cd called "Endgame:Brilliance" is quite good.

Yes, I am also mystified at the general view of this album. I like it so much better than other Stitt albums that critics and fans seem to like such as Stitt Plays Bird or Only the Blues. New York Jazz is much better than either of those.

Several posters have commented on these and please excuse my inarticulate description, but I hope you know what I am talking about. It seems Verve and BMG releases in digipaks have gone to these and it is so hard to get the cd off of it, you practically have to bend it in half. Does anyone know if they sell trays to replace these solid ones that have teeth and whether it is hard to replace without tearing up the paper under the tray. This can also come in handy for those of us who wish to replace broken trays in those digipaks.

Soul Stream - the actual title is called New York Jazz and yes I agree it is a killer. I have tried on several threads here to generate interest, but it seems I am invisible, probably my Mobley comments. Poor Sonny Stitt - he never really gets his due credit. THis one has Oscar Peterson on piano and great Basie drummer Joe Jones.

My other favorite Frank Morgan is called I think "Double Image" and features duets with George Cables. It's great.

I picked up the latest US release and yes it sounds a bit better than the French 24 bit digipak

I really like this one too Jazzmoose, it is a cut above the usual all star session.

Some ruminations on the original poster's question. Yes, I am also confused by the near idolatry that Mobley gets particularly on the old BNBB. I acknowledge his talent, but I think we would all agree that he is not the improvisor that we have with Rollins or Coltrane. Given that we could call him a "second tier" tenor player of his generation, I marvel at the amount of cyber ink Mobley gets over players such as Sonny Stitt and George Coleman, also "second tier" tenor players who in my opinion are much more talented. I think that the Blackhawk recordings (I only have the late 80's releases and don't plan to upgrade)points out some of Mobley's weaknesses. I was playing the tune Walkin' from those Cds. I note Mobley's solo is about 6 minutes, longer than Miles's solo or Wynton Kelly's,which is by the way, longer than his solos from his Blue Note recordings. I note a certain rhythmic uncertainty, and that band demands you get into the pocket so to speak. Also I note a fair number of hard bop cliches and then after about 4 minutes, I thought really Hank you don't need to play another chorus, but he does and then does again and I find my attention wavering, because he's not really adding anything. I then jumped to his justly acclaimed Soul Station cd (also with Kelly and Chambers, by the way)to play "this I dig of you" and note the solo is shorter, more cohesive, and he seems in the pocket, and great composition and good solos. I then played "four and more" and "my funny valentine" from a couple of years later and marvel at how much more riveted I am by George Coleman's solos. SO, bottom line, I recognize the talent, but yes I am also mystified at the level of fanaticism that surrounds him.

I am not clear on everyone's posts whether they think the regular CD layer is also fairly bad sounding as much as the SACD layer. Is the Cd layer really not as good as the MOFI? anyone compared them?

Has anyone compared it to the French 24bit digipak version?

anyone else compared the newest "Motion" with the 3 cd set? As I said in an earlier thread, wasn't too crazy about the reverb, but other aspects were nice.

yes, I was there during the same years-so I'll bet we crossed paths. Record Revolution is the bigger of the 2 stores on Coventry. You may remember this store actually has a number of famous rock group signatures at various places on their walls. And I have been in Burton many times too. I remember it being well known for the Amish community. I grew up in this area and so have a lot of fond memories. Sorry yours weren't so good. Ever go to the Smiling Dog Saloon on Cleveland's west side-great jazz bar. I was saw Dizzy Gillespie and Oregon and Miles (how's that for eclectic) in the early 70's

Hey Lon, When you bought albums in Coventry section of Cleveland (technically it is Cleveland Heights) was it at Record REvolution or the Record Exchange? I'll bet we crossed paths. what years were you there? Were you at Case?

I picked up used copies of these Verve Cds scheduled for release next week. Motion- is a record that I just love and I think the music is some of the best jazz around. I have the 3 cd set and compared it. Initially I thought the sound on the new single issue better and the instruments seem more real and there is more of a sense of space around them. However, the alto has an annoying echo or reverb that detracts from my enjoyment. Interestingly, Verve chose not to include any extra tracks which they had done on the previous single cd, not even the extra tracks with Elvin. I am torn on this one because of the echo. NY Jazz- this is one of Stitt's best in my opinion. It is just so much better than say "Only the Blues" or "Plays Bird" or half a dozen other cds in print that so many rave about. It is a collection of nice blues originals by Sonny , standards, hard bop, no surprises - just very well played and the band includes Basie drummer Jo Jones. this one's a monster and a must for Stitt fans. Curious how others react when they get these.

thanks guys for your comments.

Apparently, on CD what is available is a german import with no extra tracks or a UK version dated 2003 which has alternate takes and claims to be recently remastered. Are the alternates valuable? Has anyone compared these sonically?

My thanks to everyone that commented.

Wondering if they sound a lot better than the US versions?

Dmitry, I have gone to several and the setting is really beautiful and the sound system is very good. I remember particularly memorable gigs with Sam Rivers, the Paul Motian Trio, Joe Lovano Quintet, and Steve Lacy. Some people get good seats under the tent, others sort of picnic on the lawn and talk. If it is very hot, the tent can get a bit hot and I remember sweating a bit one year. The concerts used to be from about 1:00 to about 10:00pm with four or five acts. so it's a long day, but they have clean bathrooms and good food. Also, for those without cars, they have a shuttle bus that runs from the Metro North train station to Caramoor, however it only runs at the beginning and the end of the concert. I would say if you like the lineup, you may enjoy it!!

Can anyone tell me how to do that?

This is a rare, excellent sounding audiophile version of what is available by RCA in the US. Unlike the US version, this japanese Cd (jewel box, not mini-lp) has the original color photo form the LP of Duke in front of the band and the original liner notes as formatted on the LP. I haven't compared it sonically to the US version, but my general experience is the Japanese are superior. I will offer it at twenty five dollars delivered in the US.

These are the Signature CBS Special Products cds, not the Collectables. These are two cds, catalogue number AGK 39137 and 40012. Great live Ellington. Offer them for twenty five dollars us delivered anywhere in the US.