John Tapscott

Good to hear Peter, we've missed you lately. And that's a good CD. Now:

...again.

A very good Basie set from the 1969 New Orleans Jazz Festival

Full Personnel according to Steve D. Harris in the Kenton Kronicles (p. 219) Saxophones: Ray Reed, Gene Siegel, Gary Lefebvre, Bob Dahl, Bill Fritz Trombones: Bob Fitzpatrick, Jack Spurlock, Bill Moffet, Graham Ellis, Jim Amlotte Trumpets: Dalton Smith, Ronnie Ossa, Larry Ford, Gary Barone, Bob Behrendt bass: John Worster drums: Darryl Goes

Yes, enjoying it, though I know I'm not supposed to.

from the Mosaic set - a very fine session.

Yes, those teeth hold the CD's very tight. My solution is simple and works very well. I use the thumb and forefinger of my left hand to gently squeeze the teeth inward. That seems to release the pressure just enough so that I can quite easily remove the CD with my right hand. Never had any breakage.

More incredible music from John Birks.

Having just finished reading the Stan Levey biography, I've been listening to some albums with Stan on drums. This playing by everyone on this album is unbelievable really, the highest level imaginable. And there was tension in the air at the session, too. Norman Granz deliberately brought Stan Levey and Sonny Stitt together for this record. A few years earlier Stitt got a lesser jail sentence for himself by snitching on Levey (who wound up spending nearly 2 years in jail). All drug related, of course. Thankfully Levey got off drugs in prison and really straightened his life out. But there were fireworks in the studio that day, let me tell you.

From the Mosaic set. Both excellent sessions. IMHO Legacy may possibly be the best album Beehive ever released.