vibes

We always went around the room, with each person opening one gift, showing everyone, and then moving on to the next person. I've always hated this, and unfortunately, my wife prefers to do things this way as well. I'd much prefer to have everyone tear into everything at once. I mean, really, why should I give a rat's ass about what everyone else is getting?

Here's me as a Mormon missionary - Hong Kong, 1999.

Here's me in a choir show, my senior year of high school (1994).

That's correct. Hope you enjoy it.

I downloaded this one awhile back over at eMusic.....nice music but several tracks sound slightly warbled and distorted as though someone had recorded the stuff straight off the old tv soundtrack. Does the actual cd sound like that? Maybe the Mp3 files were just crummy? I think the files were probably crummy. If you like the music, I recommend picking up the recently released hybrid SACD. It's pretty easy to find and isn't too expensive.

Amazing album. I've listened to it at least 15 times in the last couple of weeks. Highly recommended.

Tod, how do you like the set? Any first impressions you'd like to give?

Lots of different music today, especially Verve Elites: Listen to Art Farmer and the Orchestra Sonny Stitt - Only the Blues Verve Elite Collectors' Disc Roy Eldridge - Swingin' on the Town Clark Terry w/Thelonious Monk Duke Ellington & John Coltrane John Coltrane - Live at the Village Vanguard, disc 2 Bud Powell - The Scene Changes I just got "Swingin' on the Town" and it's got me pretty excited about picking up the Mosaic.

While I think the blindfold concept is interesting, I don't feel that I would have anything to contribute to the discussion (other than whether or not I like the music, and that's not much of a contribution). Like Lon, I also don't like games. While the idea of hearing new music sounds appealing, I don't want someone else to go to the trouble of burning and mailing CD's to me if I'm not going to participate in the discussion as it was intended. I already have too much music that I need to listen to anyway.

The site that Jim's graphic came from is absolutely hilarious. Go check it out if you never have before.

I think my problem is addiction to being connected. I'm so obsessed with getting the most up-to-date information, whether it's on a computer or my cellphone or someplace else, that I can't put electronic devices down long enough to finish a book or even get very much into one. In fact, in the last year or two, the vast majority of books that I've been able to finish have been in electronic format. Anyway, I read a ton online - various news websites, a few bulletin boards, etc., but can rarely break myself away from the computer long enough to read a real book. It saddens me sometimes, because reading is pretty much all I did in my free time until I went to college. Between work and online time at home, I think I'm in front of a computer 16-18 hours a day now.

Knowing that my wife wouldn't do it, I just ordered myself the Duke Pearson and Curtis Amy Selects, and the Gerry Mulligan set.

Up - any help would be appreciated!

Not an entire album, but I believe Jimmy Smith did a few solo organ tracks in the material that is in the Mosaic set.

For those of you who are collecting the Verve Elite series, there's a copy of the Billy Bauer release for sale in the store currently. I would say the buy-it-now of $14 or so is a bargain. This is a very nice, very mellow CD.

Shrdlu, maybe you'll be able to see it this way:

Great find, Tony! You'll have a great time with this box. If you haven't listened to it yet, look for the session with Gary McFarland. You're in for a real treat.

Conn, if you haven't checked out "Moon Rappin'," you're really missing out! I picked it up when it was the AOTW and have listened to it more times than I can count. It's definitely one of my top 5 CD purchases for this year. I just wish I could find more music like it.

I don't think you'll see anything too enticing on those for a while. If Best Buy is any indication of how things are going, these camcorders aren't being manufactured fast enough. We're having a very difficult time keeping them in stock.

I just got through playing that for my wife, so it's funny that you should mention it. It is very fun to listen to. I wish he would have recorded some other Christmas tunes. I have four different versions of him playing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," but have never heard of him doing any other Christmas-related material. I've often wondered why he liked this particular song so much...

I just picked up this one: This is the first time I've ever heard a Stan Kenton album. First impressions? This is some of the liveliest Christmas music I've ever heard. Both my wife and I thought it sounded like a marching band. Are all Kenton albums like this? Anyway, the sound is pretty good, but I think it'll take a little while for this one to grow on me.

I'm looking for a few Verve Elite Edition CD's to complete my collection: Louie Bellson - Skin Deep Meade Lux Lewis - Cat House Piano Dinah Washington - The Best in Blues Jack Teagarden - Think Well of Me If you have one you'd be willing to sell, please PM me and name your price. Thanks!

Most of the jazz I listen to is small group stuff that was recorded in the 60's, but I've been trying to branch out recently, with purchases ranging from Jack Teagarden to Duke Ellington to Hugh Masakela. There's still a lot out there that's missing from my collection, to be sure, but I'm glad there's still a lot that I haven't discovered. Having listened to jazz for only 7-8 years means that there are still many discoveries left for me to make.

Never had that either. Hmmm...

Apple pie should have been on here. I've never had sweet potato pie, but I don't like sweet potatoes so I probably wouldn't like the pie. Apple pie is far superior to pumpkin pie, whatever the case.