BruceH

I gave Blowin' Country a spin again this morning and I agree that its not the cream of the crop (out of the ones I've heard so far) but overall its not bad either. I bought this one about four years ago and I've played it maybe on average once a year. I think though that the first date on the disk is slightly better than the second (the bonus tracks 12-5 from '56), which seems to drag on a bit. I'm not saying it's BAD. But it's certainly not a favorite. It would be fair to say it's given me the least amount of pleasure.

I've actually found myself getting more into Buddy Rich in the last couple of years. Never thought I'd say that....

*sigh*...RIP

I'd recommend it.

All the giants are passing, one by one. Well, you gotta expect that. RIP

Amen to that.

Let me also offer my condolences on the death of your wife. I've been half-way to where you are now, listening-wise. Not quite as bad, and it usually ended after a day or two. For me it had more to do with just burning out on listening than anything else. It sounds like yours might have a significant depression component. One thing that seemed to cure my occasional spells of music-aversion is that now (and for the past few years) I seem to mainly listen to music as background, as I'm doing something else, even with albums I've just bought, admittedly. So I listen to music, on average, much less intensely (and intently) than I used to. So while I don't have those bouts of music-avoidance anymore, it would also be fair to say that compared to the way I USED to listen to music, I barely listen at all anymore, in some sense. But perhaps listening in a more relaxed way has been more mentally healthy for me. Who knows? I just hope you're doing better soon.

Well I wouldn't go that far.

He did have a "rough" tone, no doubt about it. Allen, you're sounding like the Hulk there. Old comic book gamma-ray accident acting up?

He was like rock candy! Seriously, you could also call it being a "synthesizer" and, no disrespect to Miles, isn't it more or less what every artist above a certain talent level does? That is, pick up on things already in the air, process them through their own sensibility and come out with some "new" synthesis?

I tend to agree. He watered a lot of seeds.

Social Call is quite good, but Soul Mates is a classic.

Well, from a commercial standpoint, no one was listening from day one.

Thanks Larry; that was great! (73!!)

Must admit, there's one West Coast Classic I don't love: Blowin' Country. Just never did much for me. All the others I really like though.

Congratulations on a great find, Ghost! For a while WCC's were pretty easy to find at various used stores. That's no longer the case though.

Yes, I'd call it West Coast bop/hard bop, with an edge at times.

You said it! That's why I said L&L and MC should be RVGed, since the RVGs are at least kept in print for a decent stretch. Don't even get me started on the 10" Series...if I knew then what I know now I would have grabbed every one the day of release. As it was, the damn things were even more expensive than regular Connoisseurs, which I think had a real deterrent effect on the consumer. I know it did on me until I learned how damn good they were.

Same here in SF. As is, you can only get anything like that on the fake news shows, like when Douglas Feith recently appeared on The Daily Show.

You'd think BN would do better by their ertwhile house pianist. They long ago should have RVGed Leapin' and Lopin' as well as My Conception.

Eno is 60. Wow.

Whenever I hear about Rouse's "limitations" I wonder: Am I just too damn numb to hear the flaws in his playing, or does he bring some extra magic to the table that more than makes up for them? Damned if I know. But I like him. I like him with Monk, and also with Clark, Louis Smith, and a bunch of others; I also like his own albums. (Maybe I'm easily pleased.)

What's the fucking problem, anyway?

smithville smokes!!! Indeed!