John Tapscott

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.

Not sure I get your reference to the Salvador "fusion" dates, Jim. They're pretty straight ahead IIRC.

Yes, it is good news. A real bonanza for bop fans. I don't know what the unidentified sessions are but I have 5 or 6 of theses sessions on LP. On the other hand, I didn't know there were so many releases. This looks like a 9 or 10 CD set. Wow!

Calgary - 55 points

The man likes it and wants it - nothing wrong with that. Dan, I would personally put it the other way around. Another studio date I might not be interested in, but a live date would be of interest to me. For instance Scott's new Smalls Live date is one I would like to hear at least, if not add to my collection. And just taking a glance at the info. available on Stardust Live in Tokyo 1993, I notice it has Gerald Wiggins on piano. Now considering that Scott's best ever CD is arguably Radio City with Wiggins, Dennis Irwin and Connie Kay, I can see how this live date might be of considerable interest to Hamilton aficionados.

Hope you had a good birthday Don. Best wishes.

Would seem appropriate to the moment:

Ellington's Mount Harissa from

I suppose we could always post some pictorial examples; however, they would likely be deleted by the mods.

I thought it was in the spring, maybe the long weekend in May. But no matter, I remember seeing the trio sometime that year in Basin Street, above the old Bourbon St. club. Crowd was noisy and it was uncomfortably hot weather wise; not sure they had the A/C on. Evans seemed a little perturbed or frustrated by the whole scene. But yes, it was intense. Evans must have known his time was short.