John Tapscott

...because of the fine sound quality.

No matter what one's position is on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, I have to say this is not cool. I hate this kind of stuff, no matter where or who it comes from. Just let the man play! Were you planning to attend, Bill?

You know, I picked OP almost arbitrarily to make a point, and to illustrate what I consider to be the absurdity of Ethan's statement. (I still think it is and I'm not sure I really grasp his defense above - my bad). But the point I was trying to make was not really about Oscar. I could have said this way. If I say that Art Tatum or Bud Powell was the greatest jazz pianist, I'm good. If I say that Bill Evans was the greatest, I'm a racist. I heard someone say the other day that Charlie Parker was the greatest alto saxophonist and Benny Goodman the greatest clarinetist. What would we say about that person - racist or good? See how bizarre it gets?

Well said JT! I tell all my musician friends that there's a web site called Organissimo where they all hate Oscar Peterson, and they all let out a series of epithets that I would not care to write here. In fact, I just got off the phone with a musician who was on the road with Curtis Fuller in Gates' Band (LH), about the consensus on OP, and his reply was*%($(^$(&$% them! LOL

"In light of the Whiplash phenomenon, I have no problem saying that if you think Buddy Rich is the greatest jazz drummer, you are racist." I haven't even seen the movie and probably won't. Maybe I don't get the context or what is going on here, but that is a terribly inflammatory statement, uncalled for. I'm not sure Rich is the greatest jazz drummer, but awfully close, certainly the greatest for what he did. So I'm racist. Sue me. But I could redeem myself I guess, by saying that I think Oscar Peterson is the greatest jazz pianist (a statement many or most here would not agree with, I'm sure). But at least in saying it I'm not being racist, am I? I'm sorry, but this whole thing is the height of stupidity. Greatness is greatness, is it not, regardless of race?

I don't have any of Don's recordings as a leader but his playing is very strong IMO on this live Valery Ponomarev Cd on Reservoir.

I agree. I'm listening to it currently, and I very much like Cables' playing here. In fact, it's often quite amazing. To me it's not a distraction at all, but yet another attraction of this fine group.

You make some good points. Of course, in any given Gordon set there would have been one ballad feature. On this CD it's all ballads, all taken from various sets. So while someone may not like George's playing on this set (I do), it's certainly wasn't like this on every tune, not by any stretch. And I heard this band live. It was great. Your post also reminded me of something that I think John Lewis(!) once said - to the effect that though jazz is an improvised music, there is usually far less real improvisation going on than we think. There's generally a standard routine which is mostly worked out ahead of time (even before the tour begins) and for the musicians at least, there are few surprises. And he wasn't just talking about the MJQ. That´s it ! It´s a ballad album. Maybe the next set should be an album just with medium tempo tunes. Medium tempo, thats George Cables at his best. Tunes like Cheese Cake, Fried Bananas, and above all "The Panther". I heard George playing fantastic things on that stuff. The way how he´s more laid back , more loose at the beginning of his solo, and then how he creates the tension, how he builds his solo . full of surprises. The audience went nuts, they loved it..... Make an album just with medium tempos, and people will praise it. Don't know whether such a compilation will ever be released, but there's this one which is more along those lines, not entirely, but closer.

You make some good points. Of course, in any given Gordon set there would have been one ballad feature. On this CD it's all ballads, all taken from various sets. So while someone may not like George's playing on this set (I do), it's certainly wasn't like this on every tune, not by any stretch. And I heard this band live. It was great. Your post also reminded me of something that I think John Lewis(!) once said - to the effect that though jazz is an improvised music, there is usually far less real improvisation going on than we think. There's generally a standard routine which is mostly worked out ahead of time (even before the tour begins) and for the musicians at least, there are few surprises. And he wasn't just talking about the MJQ.

I have this CD and enjoy it, and with all due respect don't agree. I think Cables' playing is just fine here, quite amazing actually. But I like his playing in general, anyway.

I got 25/30 and I'm Canadian! Surprised myself actually. I expected about 20 since I knew 20 for sure. Logical guesses on 5; no clue on the 5 I got wrong.

Listening to some Jackie Mac tonight.

Second that one. My favorite Kenton record! "Reuben's Blues" is a great track, but the whole album is wonderful. gregmo Agreed. Terrific record. And Side A of an album recorded at the same time, "Adventures in Jazz". Side B not as good, but side A - holy cow, just about as good as anything ever recorded by a modern big band. Turtle Talk, Stairway to the Stars, Limehouse Blues, Malaguena. Awesome big band jazz IMHO. And Live at Redlands U., man. Talk about atmosphere. A band playing its collective a** off, as if the world depended on getting it right. And it did, in a way. The success of that album and that band was the basis of the whole 70's Creative World thing that Kenton did, basically on his own nut without support from a major label.

I am a horn-rimmed and tweedy old fig. Oh well. Seriously, no one needs to apologize for one's taste. You like what you like.

No, but judging by the track provided in the "Jazz Profiles" article it's well up to standard! Yes, I agree. That is a very nice track. Thanks for posting.

Some I know and like; some to be investigated. Agreed. I've heard and like all 3 you posted in # 12 above. Here's three more I like from 2014. A wonderful straight ahead player. My "discovery" of the year. (Woodville) This one has way more "fire in the belly" than most JJ/Kai recordings which I generally find over arranged and too gentlemanly. This one makes you sit up and take notice. Sharp Nine David Hazeltine playing his piano idol's compositions plus "Over the Rainbow". An inspired date.

It was recorded in 2/14, so it's definitely a candidate, one I would strongly support. I don't buy as many CD's as I used to, but I actually did buy this one, so I could listen to it anywhere.

I've not heard the set you speak of, but I have heard some Davis/'Trane music from that tour. Let's face it, 'Trane was not always easy to listen to, perhaps more often than not. He almost always challenges listeners. Sometimes I am open to that; other times I need the more predictable and even comforting playing of Stitt. (And I'm not putting Stitt down by saying that - he was a GREAT and often inventive player, IMO). Plus my understanding is that 'Trane was in a sour mood on that tour (didn't want to be there), and his mood seemed to be reflected in his playing.

Not exactly what you're asking about, but Mercer recorded Koko shortly after Duke's passing on this one. I'm sure the Ellington experts will dismiss it but I think it's at least OK. In fact, I think that overall the band plays rather decently on this one.

Reminds me that I must soon listen to Willie's Christmas For Moderns from the MF Mosaic set (it was also released as a bonus track on the CD reissue of Kenton's Christmas).

Yeah I thought about that but I was answering the question - which two would you grab - and I don't think the question was intended to be restricted to post -75.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Capuchin Swing and I understand that. It's on the more conservative side esp. compared to the rest of Jackie's BN recs. No real forward looking stuff here. But man there's some good playing on that recording. Jackie just sings his heart out and Blue Mitchell nearly matches him. The rhythm section is very solid. I think it's one of the happiest recordings Jackie ever made, or maybe joyful is a better word. Anyway, I would be OK if all that I could grab on the way out were Capuchin Swing and the Mosaic set. I'd miss the rest but I would be OK.