BruceH

Count me as a fan also. Some of my favorite Shaw is on the above-pictured "Last Recordings" compilation, and a 2-CD followup called "MORE Last Recordings"---has a b&w cover where he looks like he just got his head shaved. (!!) The music is terrific though; I'm not near my collection, but I believe it includes Hank Jones and Tal Farlow. Just amazingly musical small-band stuff.

Thanks for the warning about Cookin' the Books. I was thinking of getting it, but will now give it a miss.

Right on! I grew up eating cinnamon poptarts and a few months ago I got two boxes in a row that were, not to put too fine a point on it, HORRIBLE. I have not tried one since. I'm glad someone else has noticed, because my tastebuds couldn't have matured THAT much (I still like any Drake's product, for instance).

"San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, New York Yankees stars Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield and three other major-league baseball players received steroids from a Burlingame nutritional supplement lab, federal investigators were told." ---San Francisco Chronicle, Tuesday, March 2, 2004 I guess we can stop arguing about whether or not Bonds took steroids. It saddens me though...to think that sleepy little Burlingame is involved in this.

Cool. Now, on to Europa!

Found it!!! So far March, August, and November are standouts for me. Does anyone have the album My Man Benny, My Man Phil?

Take a look at the third Godfather movie. If you dare.

I thought it was kind of cool that The Fog of War won for best documentary. Errol Morris was way overdue for some "official" recognition. If only they could do without renditions of the best song nominations maybe they could get the running time under 3 hours. I don't know anybody who gives a damn about those songs.

Have opened them all. Getting a Mosaic in the mail is like finding presents under the Christmas tree on December 25th. That thing is opened FAST!

Gotta give my this album as well.

I'm sure I saw Aspects in a used store some time ago. Hope it's still there.

Anybody seen the new Will Elder book put out by Fantagraphics? It looks great, but it's pricey.

It sounds damn good...I'll have to keep my eyes peeled.

About the Blakey, I'm in the same boat as you. What's the point, indeed? About the Byrd/Adams though: C'mon, get the thing...you KNOW you want it.

To that mythical, eager fan I'd recommend the Time/Life Giants of Jazz box, which you can now get in some used stores for $5.

I'm assuming you mean the Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers & Arlen. You absolutely must hear Night in Manhattan, then. And now it's available along with the Berlin & Youmans Columbia songbooks, a later R&H date, and a few other tidbits on a 2-cd set from Jazz Factory, The Complete Fifties Studio Masters. The LP of A Night in Manhattan had the contents of the 10-inch version, plus several tracks from the Berlin & Youmans projects, which may have never made it beyond 10". I think this set was the first time all that material was released on CD. Also on the set is a 1965 date with Joe Bushkin as accompanist, and she still sounded fine. I also have several discs of airchecks, some with alternate versions of the Night in Manhattan repertoire. You assume correctly sir. Thanks for the recommendation---I'll keep my eyes open for Night In Manhattan!

What about Fountains of Wayne?

Along with the Bennie Green, these are my favorite Selects so far. I'm sure you won't be sorry!

If I had to pick one, it would be the Blanton/Webster period (which I sometimes think of as the Smithsonian era).

Clearly, SOMEbody should write a book about Indiana jazz. ...Ah, ghost???

Poul Anderson. Come to think of it, he was really into his Scandanavian heritage...

"Wake Up, Little Su--" no, wait, not THAT kind of standard... "Just You, Just Me" "Fascinatin' Rhythm" "You Go To My Head" "Looking At You"

I completely missed Aspects. ( ) Does it have Jimmy Rowles on it?

The Complete Blue Note Recordings of Thelonious Monk, lo these many years ago. Long available in "conventional" sets. The Port of Harlem Jazzmen and Tina Brooks sets soon followed, and the Pacific Jazz Art Pepper, the first Pepper I ever got. Ammons/Lewis and Herbie Nichols around that time, too. (Mid-80's.) For a while I got them all---got the first 10 or 11 sets, then started taking periodic Mosaic sabbaticals. (Should start another.) Don't know which is worse, heroin or Mosaic.

That's pretty much where I stand. Go Mosaic!