BruceH

John is right, this album is kick-ass. I can't guarentee you'll give it five stars, but it delivers the big band goods. Get it and you won't be sorry.

YES! I used to live in the Boston area, and all I can say is yes, yes, oh yes!!!! (And you're making me homesick.) The Loft in North Andover? I'm going into Massachusetts withdrawal!

If you like the first one, "DLS is Dead" and "Buhloone Mindstate" are both well worth checking out. I actually like "Stakes is High" a lot as well, but some people found that album a little less accessible. Not quite sure they're "modern rock", though! Hey, less than twenty years old! For me that's a tough criterion. Thanks for the recommendations!

My first impression was quite positive. Of course, I've so far listened to it only once, with the TV on and kids yelling. I agree that the real test will be to make a car tape and drive to it (which is basically how I got heavily into The Nightfly). Did your copy have an extra disc that turns out to be a DVD? I grabbed mine so fast at Amoeba that I didn't notice this until I got home. The DVD is just a sequence of them in a cab, driving around Las Vegas, chatting with various pretty young women who get in. A very unnecessary and pointless extra.

Blues In Orbit by Ellington, and True Blue by Tina Brooks (sometimes Cool Struttin' by Sonny Clark). Since Matthew mentioned a rock album (and such a great one, big thumbs up Mathew!) I've got to mention The La's, the first and only album by the Liverpool group of the same name. I made a driving tape of it a couple years ago and must have listened to it about 75 million times since! I can't stop----it's comfort music and I need comfort, apparently.

I believe Yertle the Turtle is here under a new name, but now I can't remember the the new name.

Ray Charles, first and last. (Lots of people in between though.) B)

I love Sonny Rollins too----one track by Monk w/Rollins that really stands out for me is "Work" on one of the Prestige albums. Also Way Out West is an album that I've worn smooth through overplaying, but I'm still not tired of it.

Clifford Brown Tina Brooks Sonny Clark Butch Warren Billy Higgins

Welcome Evan!!

Yes indeed! I hear ya. But I forgot to mention Blakey's "Drums Around the Corner." Doesn't send me. But I'm keeping it, for the reason quoted above. And oh yeah---don't really like the whole Blue Note catalog, particularly between 1945-1965.

The La's They Might Be Giants De La Soul (I guess, though I only have their first album)

I must admit, I really like Davis Cup a lot. Not something that would change the course of western music or anything, but just solid enjoyable stuff. However.... I agree with the folks who admit to Moncur's sessions under his own name not doing much for them. I got the Mosaic Select and so far Evolution and his other album haven't set my world on fire, to be kind about it. I've gotten ten times as much enjoyment out of the Bennie Green Select already. Thinking of Home isn't one of my favorite Mobley's either, but "overrated"? I'd say it was ignored until very recently. Something about the production could have been done differently, but I don't think anyone even now claims it as one of the great, definitive Blue Notes. Dial 'S' For Sonny always seemed a bit below par for him, at least when compared with most of his other albums. Not terrible, mind you, but it doesn't quite live up to the stellar line-up. Perhaps it was one of those sessions cranked out purely for drug money? Who knows. I like Dizzy Reece's album Comin' On, but haven't heard the others. Some time ago I listened to the old Freddie Redd Mosaic box and decided that his playing is a bit on the dull side. One's tastes change over time, though. Back in the early 90's I came to the conclusion that the famed Baker/Mulligan quartet (for the most part) did little for me. But years later something clicked and I became a big fan. (Still not a fan of Baker's vocals though.) So you never know. I agree with the guy who said he doesn't get rid of CD's for that reason. I've had to re-buy enough to teach me that lesson many times over.

More RVGed Dex! The Organissimo posters DEMAND it!! At least, Swingin' Affair, and Doin' Allright, and...oh Hell, RVG all his BN titles! C'mon people!

Artie Shaw: The Last Sessions. Two-disc set, I think it's still in print-----totally great!

Yes: "Code of the Woosters" is an excellent starting point, then "Jeeves In the Morning." Then you'll be on your way. For short stories, try the collection "Heart of A Goof" or "The Golf Omnibus."

A friend and former roomate of mine wrote a review of the Tristano/Konitz/Marsh----it's the lengthy one titled "An Overlooked Essential." He said he wrote it when he was half-drunk, but I really like it. I told him, man, you should review some more. Your public demands it! But he refuses to listen to his fans and remains silent. With most of the sets I find most or all of what I want to say has already been aired in a previous review. Maybe I should get half drunk.

Anyone see the Gary Giddins column in the June Jazz Times (the one with Greg Osby on the cover)? It's about Don Byas. Nice little article.

Nobody beats Wodehouse on the printed page, that's for sure. Jazzbo, I have that Allen monologue on a record. Haven't played it years. Thanks.

Not a bad idea. Still wish they could make it look better though.

Personally, I don't like it. Looks kind of ugly in comparison to the old one. The old opening page seemed fine to me, so why change it?

A news guy on the radio said that this expanation indicates that Sammy would rather come off as a dummy than as a cheat. The whole thing is sordid and sad. This will be a hell of an asterisk in his record.

1919, the year relativity was confirmed.

Zero, my hero. Sure it's a number. Sort of. What about imaginary? Complex? Transfinite?

This was tough----a lot of my favorite numbers are on this list. Hard to choose between 14,17, and 18. I finally voted for 12 because it's evenly divisible by 2,3,4, and 6. That's four numbers (not counting itself and one, of course). That's a lot of divisors for such a small number. Sure, 18 has 2,3,6, and 9 but look how much bigger 18 is than 12! 12 is amazing! Rooster, why so down on 16? It is, after all, 2 times 8, and eight is great.