BruceH

Yikes! My sympathies Eric.

The polar opposite of the Connoisseur polls, this one was painless, easy and quick! Thank-you, David.

I was going to pick a user name like "Tricky Sam Nanton" then just said ah, the Hell with it.

Recently saw The Red Circle by French directer Jean-Pierre Melville, the same one who did Bob le Flambour. (My spelling may be off.) The movie was quite good, once I got over being bummed out that it was in color (it came out in 1970, so I shouldn't have been that surprised). His style had gotten a lot icier since "Bob"----there's hardly any humor in it. Still....a solid late French film noir. Amazingly, it had never been shown in the U.S. until now, even though it was Melville's most popular film in France.

I heard about his passing on the radio. I knew he was getting up there, but 84? I'll never forget watching repeats of The Untouchables as a kid. He seemed to be basically doing the same "character" on Unsolved Mysteries. RIP.

Saw it a couple of weeks ago. If you like Christopher Guest's films, you'll like this. His most "gentle" perhaps, but that's not ncessarily bad. This was almost as good as Best of Show for me. I liked it. Fun for the whole family.

Another vote for The Complete Blue Hour Sessions! And if you don't already have it, you can't go wrong with the Mosaic.

It's the power of Brooks! You've got to wonder how much it means, though, when a grand total of about 48 people voted in the poll.

I've got all three of these and can only say that you chose well and have a real treat in store. The one that was closest to being a "discovery" for me was the Turrentine. I expected great things from the Hodges (and was not disappointed) and even with the Mitchell I'd recently bought a lot of his Riversides, but I wasn't all that familiar with Turrentine's work. As a result, I've probably played his set more than most other Mosaic's I've gotten in the past couple of years. Terrific stuff! I predict you won't be sorry. I highly recommend the J.J. Johnson box as well. Mosaic sets usually arrive in three days. Enjoy!

How about the Conn poll-winner, True Blue?

Another vote for Take Aim by Harold Land. And the BN debut albums of Clifford Jordan and Johnny Griffin. While we're on the subject, how about a Clifford Jordan Select? (OK, that's kind of off-topic, but still...)

I own three of them, the McGhee Vol. 1, Foster/Wallington, and Gil Melle, all of which are great. For sheer ear-opening uniqueness I'd vote for the Melle. I was tempted to vote for the one I want the most, Howard McGhee Vol 2/Tal Farlow Quartet. I ended up voting for the one I listen to the most: Frank Foster/George Wallington Showcase. Others have said this, but I'll reiterate---I wish Blue Note would keep these valuable re-issues in print a little longer.

Hey, I wish somebody out there who hasn't voted would toss one to Sonny's Crib. It looks awfully forlorn there with zero.

Afraid it is that good, Bruce. Glad to see that others recognize it too. OK, I'll have to keep an eye open for it. Still, it's good to see True Blue has pulled ahead. Yaye Tina!!

Basra is the ONLY one on this list I don't have...and it's winning! Is it THAT good? I had to flip a coin to vote.

Another vote for Out of the Past, AND Jane Greer. Actually saw it on AMC about 10 years ago, back when AMC was halfway decent. It really knocked me out. A couple of other favorites are Force of Evil (one of John Garfield's best performances) and The Sweet Smell of Success.

So far, it's unanimous! 100% of respondants vote for Along Came John. Can it be toppled? WAIT! Now it's a dead heat. The crowd's going wild!

Not a bad idea. It gets my vote.

OK, I'm ready: Bring on the final (heartbreaking) poll!

I almost voted for McGhee, a worthy choice, but finally had to go with my man Cliff Jordan.

Down With It only got one vote? Damn. At least I know who it was...

I should have mentionsed Grant Green's Solid---one of my favorites.

OUCH!!!! This was the hardest choice yet! I'm still smarting.

Hey! For once the one that I vote for is actually winning. What a feeling! It's close, but with only one vote allowed, I had to go for True Blue, probably one of my favorite Blue Notes. Time to RVG the damn thing! The people (of Oganissimo) have spoken!!

Tina Brooks--True Blue Further Explorations by Horace Silver Sonny Clark--My Conception Jackie McLean--Vertigo Sonny Criss--The Complete Imperial Sessions Honorable Mentions: Byrd/Watkins---Transition Sessions Hank Mobley---Straight No Filter Larry Young---Into Somethin' Dizzy Reece---Comin' On John Jenkins---Jenkins With Kenny Burrell Sonny Clark---Sonny's Crib Freddie Hubbard---Goin' Up Tina Brooks---Minor Moove, Back To the Tracks, and Waiting Game Hey, it's hard to choose!