John Tapscott

Argo's are done for the season if Ray is gone.

Not reading it yet, but just ordered it (to be released next week). I really like Peter Leitch and I've followed his career/recordings ever since seeing live him in his struggling days in Toronto circa 1980. Here's the write up from his website - looks very interesting ( at least to me) Off the Books: A Jazz Life Coincidental with the CD release is the publication of Peter Leitch’s memoir Off the Books: A Jazz Life by Vehicule Press in Montreal. Slated for summer release in Canada, September launch in the U.S., in it the author recounts the in vivid detail a life lived in search of excellence in music and art, learning his craft on the bandstand in the days before jazz education, while battling depression and drug addiction. His depiction of the Montreal of his youth reveals a long-gone vibrant club scene in that city. Peter’s moves, first to Toronto in 1977 and then to his present home , New York City, in 1982 are also recounted in detail. There is a great deal of humor in some of his recollections and observations, and more than a few hard truths leavened with bits of absurdist fantasy. Also ordered Peter's new CD release referenced above:

Ditto. Edited to add- I have paid customs on Mosaics in the past, but not for 10 years, at least.

Ben Riley?

Lovano's recordings generally leave me feeling a little disappointed. But the one time I heard him live was one of my greatest and most exciting listening experiences ever.

Misty - just about all versions - just don't like it, that's all.

Found a used copy of Tale of the Fingers on amazon marketplace for $3.99 (the value of my music collection declines daily!) plus shipping. Ordered it.

John, you're right that they're both very good, but I'm not sure I'd call any release 'obscure' with those musicians contributing, to say nothing of the fact that I wrote the liner notes for Volume One! (There's also a Volume Two, which doesn't include Cedar but does have Ellis Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Oliver Jones, Kenny Barron, Barry Harris and Renee Rosnes as pianists with Dave on bass. Cedar is a particular favourite of Young, 'cause there's yet another trio release not yet noted: "Tale Of The Fingers" (Justin Time JUST 143-2) with Cedar, Dave Young and drummer Barry Elmes, recorded in Toronto on Feb. 24 & 25, 2000. It features two of Cedar's compositions: Bremond's Blues and A Bell For Bags. It's a terrific 'groove' album, and I recommend it highly... Edited to add that the duo releases are all on Justin Time, and Walton's NPS is one of the three tracks Young and he recorded for the duet project. Fair enough, Ted. I meant "obscure" in the sense that most Canadian jazz releases, no matter how good, fly under the radar virtually unnoticed by the wider jazz world. And I'm guilty in this case, too. I do not own, nor have I heard (in fact, have not even heard of it) the Tale of the Fingers CD you mentioned.

Add these two obscurities with Canadian bassist Dave Young (but both are very good)