xybert

Anyone end up going to this?

Thanks, now it makes sense!

I rate him very highly. Out of the leader dates of his i have (Paloma Recio, Warblepeck, Voladores, Novela) i've probably spun Paloma Recio the most. He's a sideman on so many great records, two favourites being Hollenbeck's Eternal Interlude (not that he's heavily featured, but still) and Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth Deluxe. If i see his name on an album it's always a good sign. Having said all that i must admit that i haven't felt like listening to him much in the last year.

Thanks for the rec, Steve. It's extra frustrating in that i really dug Ten, a lot! I know he's kept busy with Lloyd's group and he's recorded with Eric Revis, Trio 3 and possibly other's i'm forgetting... but yeah, a new leader date would be very cool.

I've never been that much of a computer guy but this one always puzzled me. I mean, when it says the files are not deleted, does it mean there's still a record of them or does it mean that they are literally not deleted and can be retreived in their entirety? If so, i guess deleting files would be the ultimate storage/compression solution. In other words, if i want to clear 20 gig worth of space off my hard drive and i delete 20 gig worth of music, can i actually restore that 20 gig worth of music at some point?

Interested in all three of those new releases, realistically i see myself possibly picking up the Echo Echo Mirror House Music one on Firehouse 12, although i'm guessing even that will be pricey. I'm way overdue for some new Braxton, though.

Love this album, a real gem, a wonderful group. I'm starving for a new Moran leader date. This album made me want to check out some more Oliver Lake... hasn't happened yet, but the seed has been planted.

This arrived today and i am really digging it. Think i'll have to go back for Trio New York l, and here's hoping for Trio New York lll.

Interesting, i actually thought that Grace was a bit slept on. I might have to pull back now because i don't want to contribute to it being perceived as overhyped! For me it's an album that doesn't look that interesting on paper but whenever i listen to it i just can't deny how much i enjoy it. Maybe that sums up my feelings on Allen in general. Grace has a different vibe to his trio stuff, you could like one but not the other etc. I don't know if it'll be up your alley but if you're wanting to form a picture of Allen i suggest checking out, along with his trio stuff, The Talented Mr Pelt; it's the album that piqued my interest.

I have his last few albums as a leader and really dig them, have also enjoyed his playing as a sideman with Jeremy Pelt's group and also with Allen Lowe. It's hard for me to put my finger on what i like about him... in many ways i could see a lot of people taking a pass on him, as i did for many years. I don't think he'll blow you away based on 30 second snippets or even listening to a full track here or there. I can't think of a song i could post in a "listen to this" way that would blow anyone away. He's not creating interview jazz but he has something going on and i dig his flavour. What's really cemented me as a fan of his is his quartet album from 2013, Grace. It's a masterpiece, IMO. Have been hanging out for the follow up, to the point where it's pretty much my most anticipated album of the year, and i see that Bloom is now available for preorder, however no word on the line up, which i'm very much hoping will be the same as Grace. If it's not, i may pass. The chemistry in that group is amazing, everyone shines.

I've heard so many good things about Blaser but i've never quite managed to pull the trigger on one of his albums as a leader (came very close with Pieces of Old Sky). I feel like i'm a bit sceptical of him in a way that some of the older heads are probably sceptical of some of the younger-ish artists that i really dig (Lehman, Eisenstadt, Hollenbeck etc). JASS appears to be a really collaborative album with the members contributing compositions... I believe it will be a good way for me to check out Blaser in a no-lose situation (edit: no-lose in that in the very least i'll get some new Hollenbeck).

I often felt that the Penguin Guides rating of a lot of albums was a bit arbitrary. The comments don't always match the stars, nor reality, but they can't all be 4 stars so lets make this one a 3 rather than a 4. Just my impression, still a good 'guide' if taken for what it is. I think the ratings are also sometimes internal to the artist or sub-genre. i.e this is a 3 star album for this guy, doesn't mean that it's inferior to a 3.5 star album from that guy. Then there are anomolies for me like how, from memory, Nefertiti and The Sorceror are both 3 star albums. Not to denigrate Lee Morgan, at all, but would you really say that The Sidewinder, a 4 star and crowned album, is 'better' than The Sorceror? I don't think you can but i think that's kind of the point.

You think? Looks like a pretty good size record store, IMO (did you look at it from the back?). Nice to know at least one still exists... Definitely a nice looking store, one i would love to be able to visit; over the years i'd just built up this mental picture of it being a sprawling, dusty warehouse-like space with stacks and stacks of old records... way smaller and tidier than i had imagined it!

Just a random thought: listening to Rhythm-A-Ning from The Jumpin' Blues... Dex just absolutely rocks it. There's no self-consciousness or reverence-to-the-point-of-handicap... it's brotherly love rather than worship. The way he just warmly smiles his way through it in an absolutely nothing to prove way is just so insanely endearing. It's like, it's a celebration of Monk, and he gets it without having any need whatsoever to broadcast that he gets it. There's no agenda, it's just pure joy. It just really stood out to me and something about this song just encapsulates why i'm loving Dex so much right now.

Whoa, very interesting. Thanks for the info.

That's really cool. Much smaller than i pictured it.

Thank you!

My copy of Dexter Gordon's More Power! that i received today is a CDR. Prestige/OJC. T80-VG-5 on the inner ring of the CDR as jeffcrom noted in post #14. At first i was gutted, then i got over it, now i'm kind of annoyed again, as it sits in my collection in a weird, impure way. I ordered it from a New Zealand website called Fishpond, which i have on good authority just orders on your behalf from Amazon sellers and then forwards them on. Sounds pointless but you can usually save a few bucks (i'm not sure how the arrangement is profitable, but anyway. Have ordered from them tons of times before and never had a CDR turn up). On the website listing for this item it says ''ships from UK supplier'' so i don't know which seller is selling, but i'm not sure that it matters. No indication of CDR on the listing.

Heading in to Autumn down under.

I'm really getting back in to Blue Note lately, having belatedly found a love for Hard Bop. The local brick and mortars used to be loaded with Blue Notes for fairly cheap, now many are harder to come by... took them for granted, they're increasingly OOP and with the emergence of CDR on demand... stink.

These look interesting... i've heard O'Niell, Eulau and Norton with Braxton on one of those 20+ Standards sets; would be really interested to hear them on some original Braxton stuff. Any thoughts?

Saw this on the Free Jazz blog yesterday: Jass - John Hollenbeck / Alban Darche / Samuel Blaser / Sebastien Boisseau Hollenbeck is the main draw for me but i have nothing against the other guys Three full tracks can be heard on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/albandarche/sets/j-a-s-s-john-hollenbeck-alban Available from the label's website: http://www.yolkrecords.com/en/index.php?p=album&id=65 I'm hoping it's a CD, doesn't seem to be available on CD elsewhere (haven't looked too hard yet).

I won't front and say that i can hear it, haven't listened to enough Lester Young to confidently say "oh yeah, i fully hear the Prez there", but i think i get it. Will have to look up some James Moody with Dizzy stuff. I have been listening to a lot of Dex's 40s stuff... seriously digging it. I kind of thought that my enthusiasm may start to wane but his music has seriously gotten under my skin. I am cherry picking (i know there are some duds out there) but it's amazing how every album i buy keeps hitting the spot, even the lesser celebrated ones. I won't blather about how he's the jazz musician that i've always wanted to hear but it's like his whole thing is just right.

I guess by civilian standards i am a savant (ugh), by jazz fan standards i would grade myself as an enthusiast but am probably a relative casual!

Thanks for the insights guys, it's helped me to get my head around it and put it in perspective. I've really had blinders on with regards to Dex and his place in jazz history.