Sundog

- Thad told me this many years ago and it got to me when he said it. He probably doesn't even remember saying it to me. He just said, 'Whenever you play, imagine that it's the very last chance or opportunity you'll ever have.' So just that thought is enough incentive to at least not be wishy-washy or do something insignificant. At least it will bring out whatever honesty is in you to be applied to your instrument at that time. That's the only philosophy I know -- just to do the very best you can at all times. (Down Beat Oct 2 69 p12) - You always hope that the listener will hear what you are doing. If they hear what you are doing, then they also hear what you feel. If these two things exist ... the insight that occurs when one human being meets another would be realized, and they would come back from the experience more enlightened, a better person, perhaps, or have more tolerance to whatever goes on and exists around them. I don't think that you can force anything on the listener. (DownBeat, November 1997) - It's the honesty you apply to your playing that makes music enjoyable. The style of the music has little to do with it. It's only honesty makes it beautiful. (Melody Maker Dec 19 72 p16) RIP Elvin

Barney Kessel: Solo Real nice version of People on this album.

That sounds interesting. Anybody have the album Summit Meeting? I heard A House Is Not A Home off that one and was favorably impressed.

$2.24 in the 'burbs of Chicago.... I was thinking about this song as I filled up this morning. The Kinks- Gallon Of Gas I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS TO BUY A BRAND NEW CADILLAC BUT NOW I'VE GOT ONE, I WANT TO SEND IT RIGHT BACK I CAN'T AFFORD THE GAS TO FILL MY LUXURY LIMOUSINE BUT EVEN IF I HAD THE DOUGH NO ONE'S GOT NO GASOLINE I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO SEE IF HE COULD SET ME STRAIGHT HE SAID THERE'S A LITTLE GAS GOING BUT I'D HAVE TO WAIT BUT HE OFFERED SOME RED HOT SPEED AND SOME REALLY HIGH GRADE HASH BUT A GALLON OF GAS CAN'T BE PURCHASED ANYWHERE FOR ANY AMOUNT OF CASH I CAN SCORE YOU SOME COKE AND SOME GRADE ONE GRASS BUT I CAN'T GET A GALLON OF GAS I'VE GOT SOME DOWNERS SOME SPEED ALL THE DRUGS THAT YOU NEED BUT I CAN'T GET A GALLON OF GAS THERE'S NO MORE LEFT TO BUY OR SELL THERE'S NO MORE OIL LEFT IN THE WELL A GALLON OF GAS CAN'T BE PURCHASED ANYWHERE FOR ANY AMOUNT OF CASH WHO NEEDS A CAR AND A SEVEN-FORTY-SEVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T BUY A GALLON OF GAS WHO NEEDS A HIGHWAY, AN AIRPORT OR A JET WHEN YOU CAN'T GET A GALLON OF GAS THERE'S NO MORE LEFT TO BUY OR SELL THERE'S NO MORE OIL LEFT IN THE WELL A GALLON OF GAS CAN'T BE PURCHASED ANYWHERE FOR ANY AMOUNT OF CASH YOU CAN'T BUY A GALLON OF GAS

Barney Kessel: Plays Some Like It Hot

I've been hearing a fair amount of Eric's music lately on a local jazz station. I have to say, I'm fairly impressed with his playing. My curiosity is peaked and I'm looking for recommendations. Thanks in advance....

li'l ol' groovemaker....Basie!

Interesting that the label is listed as Koch Entertainment. Am I missing something? Let me rephrase that- am I missing something else? Wondering if the packaging will be identical?

What's the deal with this?

I couldn't find anything on the web. I'm really hoping this isn't true!

I know a few Jobim tunes...mostly the usual suspects. I really love playing these tunes. The changes are always so logically connected, and the melodies are so memorable. GFI, Wave, One Note Samba, How Insensitive, and Desafinado are currently in the rotation. On a less serious but true note... I always make it a point to be up on a few Jobim tunes since "Hot" chicks tend to request his music and I aim to please...

for the up!

Need to get me a good Sam & Dave compilation. My trusty Best Of disc has "mysteriously" disappeared.

Joe Henderson's solo from Blue Bossa on the In Japan album. The tension just builds with each chorus. Each chorus slightly more dissonant than the previous without ever really losing sight of the melody. Then at the about the 3:30 mark he throws in this atonal descending lick that's one of the coolest "F"ing licks I've ever heard. Every time I hear it I just imagine a house of cards tumblin' down. The tension that he has built up over the entire chorus just melts away. Go listen to it. I really can't do it justice. It must be heard!

Jim, I appreciate your informative and enthusiastic posts regarding among other things Brazilian Music and "all things" guitar. Keep um' coming! P.S. Those bastards at Dusty Groove are evil!

Jim, I will certainly defer to your extensive knowledge of Brazilian music. I realize that Charlie Byrd isn't a totally authentic representation of the style and I don't necessarily think of him as "important" in anyway whatsoever. I simply like his music. If anything, his biggest legacy might be as an ambassador for Brazilian music. Additionally, you have to admit that Jazz Samba does represent a nice snapshot of the crossover appeal of Brazilian music. So in that sense some might consider it definitive. You have posted extensive lists of Brazilian music from time to time and I have bought a number of recordings based on these lists. Artists such as Gilberto, Castro-Neves, and Bonfa, so thanks for that. Looking forward to buying many more as time and funds allow.

Up for one last shot, plus my additional commentary...... Heard a few more songs from this one. I'm reminded of Ahmad Jamal, and Bill Evans' great trios at times. That's not to say that the album is derivative in any way. I think this band is well worth watching. I'll be buying this one.

Charlie Byrd was a terrific guitarist in many ways, but... I must say when it comes to Brazilian music, he never quite showed much understanding of the rhythmic aspects of the music. After listening to Joao Gilberto, Luiz Bonfa, Oscar Castro-Neves, Baden Powell, Roberto Menescal, Durval Ferreira, and any number of other veteran Brazilian guitarists, I find it kind of difficult to enjoy those Verve recordings with Byrd anymore. I'm not so sure that Charlie didn't understand the rhythmic aspects of the music. Maybe he's not totally "authentic" to the traditional style. But so what. I've always viewed his playing in this genre as an "american" take on Brazilian music. I mean that in the best possible way. I think he kind of boils the music down to the core and puts his own personal stamp on it. It's really a wonderul thing (that cross-pollination) that he a handful of other musicians managed to do in the early 60's. That music took off and still remains popular to this day. His bluesy, countryesque, lines add a real warmth to the music that you just didn't hear from other more "traditional" brazilian players at the time. Take a song like One Note Samba, he totally reharmonizes the first 8-bars in a beautifully simple, effective manner. It's certainly different than what Jobim would later record, but no less compelling to my ears. Charlie Byrd played like Charlie Byrd! That's cool in my book.

I voted for Jazz Samba. Getz & Byrd make it definitive in my book.

No list, however I just noticed that he played guitar on Sam Cooke's, Another Saturday Night. With this news, now I'm really in an awful way... RIP Barney.

Great set, fair price. I picked mine up through Zweitausendeins for about $25 american, about a year ago.

Heard a nice version of In Walked Bud off this album the other day on the radio. Very good interplay, and fine soloing throughout. It really caught my ear. Anyone own this album? Care to comment?

A coworker bought this album and gave it to me to listen to over lunch today. In a word....underwhelmed. I like most Diana Krall to some extent. This is probably my least favorite so far. I'm fairly sure that repeated listenings won't change my opinion. Oh, well. As we say in Chicago, wait until next year...

Thank you.

Chuck knows of what he speaks. A whole different discussion though. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on KB. I gather your not his biggest fan? That's certainly cool. Would appreciate your perspective on his playing. Of course, I'll understand if you decline. As the saying goes, if you have nothing good to say...