BruceH

A great big for the two Impulse albums. The second one includes Sonny Stitt, a good thing as Martha would say. All three Riverside albums are excellent; near essential I would say. Ritual---not essential, but good. OK, so I like Blakey!

If I hadn't ditched my RCA box it would be 137! I'm going to calm down on Ellington purchases for a while, so I wave a fond farewell as you leave me in the dust.

Was it me, or did Wynton seem determined to not look at Stewart for the first half of the interview?

If you count both LP's and CD's, then Duke is the reigning champ of my collection. Last two purchases brought the total up to 113. EKE BBB can ya believe it?? When you said you had 111, I thought "Wow, he's a bigger fanatic than me." Then I realized that my figure of 66 Ellington discs was a count I did years ago. Recount brought the total to 111, then bought the recent re-issues, and we're still neck and neck. I didn't plan this, honest! If you count only CD's, then I'm down to 32 though. Easy come, easy go. Other than Ellington, highest CD count would probably go to Mobley and Blakey. I knew I had gone a little overboard with Blakey when I counted 25 CD's. You may say that doesn't compare to the Duke total, but the Blakey's were bought over a mere year-and-a-half. That's seriously sick, for me. Thank God my wife doesn't read this board (I hope)!!

What a handsome dude. (Not that I usually notice that sort of thing..... )

How about: "Music that swings, and includes some element of improvisation." Like most single-sentence definitions, especially of jazz, it begs more questions than it answers. "The sound of surprise" and "Jazz is freedom" are fine with me also. How about: "The opposite of Kenny G"?

Are there any majors that AREN'T dropping jazz artists?

This is making me feel old....most of my doo-wop is on warped, scratchy, analog, vinyl. Girl groups, too, come to think of it.

Yes, the Mosaic is all the studio albums, but NOT this. Kind of an annoying omission, but then I wouldn't have the joy of getting the live set now, with all its extra tracks. So it all works out. Kind of.

Interesting, that this is such a harder choice than the favorite 60's album.

All I can say is: Go for it! (And good luck!)

I didn't much like Man On the Moon either. But The Truman Show only had one or two moments that didn't ring, um, true. I think you'd like it.

Boy, NPR sure is going to hell in a handbasket.

Just picked up At the Half Note Cafe in a store today. Ever since I got the Byrd/Adams Mosaic (about 3 or 4 years ago) I've been wanting this! About time it came out, and it doesn't disappoint----I've only listened to disc #1 so far, but this is GOOD! Adams, in particular, burns.

Which one has "Mighty Moe and Joe" on it? I don't have my albums at hand right now, this ain't fair!

You're right, of course. Can I vote again? I voted for Soul Station, but for the last year or so I've been listening to Hi Voltage the most.

Thanks dana. I should've known that. Pauling was a remarkable songwriter, too. Some of the 5 Royales songs have a lot more substance than the usual run of doo-wop/r&b of the time. Damn, I've get to get home and spin some their stuff!

Hey, did anyone catch Steven Colbert on Law & Order: Criminal Intent last week? He played the bad guy, and did a good job. Way to go, Steven! Now I'm waiting for Rob Cordry to show up on L&O:SVU.

I'll be watching and taping it. Of course, that's true most every night. For the past few years this has been about my favorite show on TV.

Did Steve Cropper ever acknowledge a conscious influence? I've sometimes wondered about that, 'cause it sure seems like you can hear it. Some years ago, a company put out vinyl reprints of the albums that the 5 Royales came out with (the King ones anyway) with the original front and back covers. Have you seen them? They are a sight to behold!

Indeed---one of the many wonderful things about the MGs was that bit of garage grit in their sound. Hey, doesn't anyone else out there dig The Remains? They were great!

Yes! Reading that chapter is what inspired me to buy my first 5 Royales compilation, lo these many years ago. It was written by Ed Ward, I believe, who does occassional "rock history" radio segments for Fresh Air. It was in the book "Stranded" in which various writers described their personal 'desert island' record; why they chose it, what's so good about it, yadda yadda yadda. Ward's chapter was completely unlike all the others, and very moving. For a while I reread it obsessively. Another great single of theirs: "Something Moves Me (Deep In My Heart)" ---the last or penultimate song on the Dr. Horse compilation. And how about the scorching guitar solo on "The Slummer the Slum"?

I'm waiting for Tony to move up to Vermont and open a Vegan restaurant.

I agree. The Truman Show was alright. Have you seen it, Alex?

This book is the real deal, Wesbed. Get it and enjoy it. Then check out Gioia's West Coast Jazz, which is perhaps even more interesting. Sure, no book that attempts such a broad and multi-detailed subject as the "History of Jazz" is ever perfect, or will please everyone. But overall this is value for money and time spent.