John Tapscott

"Gerrylike" from Nick Brignola's "Flight of the Eagle" (Reservoir) - not sure it's the "best", but it is a nicely swinging track and the melody really sticks with me.

I don't have Dark Blue, but do have Dancing in the Dark and I concur with Dan - it's a very strong date. Almost anything with Smulyan on it (as leader or sideman) is good. Another strong Reservoir date is Peter Leitch's "A Special Rapport" with Hicks, Drummond and "Smitty" Smith. Jay Collins' "Uncommon Threads" is a good one, too. There have been rumors that Reservoir is winding down. I don't know for sure, but there are a few signs. They haven't recorded a new CD for nearly three years. Their latest release is the re-issue on CD of a 1987 Jed Levy date (which is very good BTW), and every CD in the catalogue is now available for $10 (and the shipping rates are very low, no matter what the quantity). They used to use some kind of on-line marketer for their CD sales, but when you do an on-line order now, it is sent to you directly by owner Mark Feldman. So, if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, this is a good place to spend it. http://www.reservoirmusic.com/

A fairly recent CD with Jimmy Wormworth on drums. He really lights up this Tardo Hammer date.

Happen to be listening to a dandy at the moment - Nick Brignola - "Things Ain't What they Used to Be"- Last Set at Sweet Basil (superior IMHO to the First Set CD) I really enjoy the music on the Reservoir Label. Some favs: Nick Brignola - On a Different Level Nick Brignola - Tour De Force All the John Fedchock NY Big Band CD's Joe Puma - Shining Hour Valery Ponomarev - Profile J.R. Monterose/Tommy Flanagan - A Little Pleasure Rob Schneiderman - Back in Town Gary Smulyan - The Real Deal John Hicks - Beyond Expectation Peter Leitch/John Hicks - Duality Dick Berk - Let's Cool One Kenny Barron - The Moment Jon Mayer - Full Circle Pete Malinverni - Theme and Variations Hod O' Brien - Live at Blues Alley (all 3 volumes)

I very much doubt if Capitol (or their current owners, I can't keep track) would re-issue City of Glass. Japan would be the only hope. But check out Kenton Presents from Japan with the original cover art. More accessible than COG and sounds great, too. http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=35cr4g9myt&ref=browse.php&refQ=incl_oos%3D1%26amp%3Bincl_cs%3D1%26amp%3Bkwfilter%3DStan%2Bkenton%26amp%3Bgo_x%3D17%26amp%3Bgo_y%3D15

I saw this news earlier this evening on another board. One of the greatest lead trumpet players ever. I heard him first on Thad and Mel's "Central Park West" LP and remember thinking, "Man, that guy's a strong lead player." RIP Snooky, and thanks for firing up all those great big band recordings. Great YouTube video here of Thad in Mel in '68 with Snooky on lead. Notice the shot around 2:35 of Snooky enjoying Roland Hanna's amazing solo.

Amazing that there was a time that the sales of an experimental, avant-garde jazz album could have been measured in the tens of thousands. Less than 10,000; probably closer to 5,000. Kenton's name was big in the early 50's. Likely a bunch were sold just on his popularity. True story. Overheard at Mole Jazz in London. A guy goes with a pile of used LP's to sell. As the clerk goes through them he comes to City of Glass, and the guy says, "That one's only been played once." Clerk replies, "Never seen one any other way."

Hope Detroit takes the series for selfish reasons - 3 of the games against Vancouver would be EST, meaning I can watch them without having to stay up late. Plus Detroit/Vancouver would be a GREAT series. Amen, brother. A Detroit Vancouver series would be epic. Winning in San Jose isn't going to be easy, but the Wings seem to be hitting on all cylinders right now. Jimmy Howard has dialed up his game in a way I wouldn't have thought possible. He's come up big time and time again and kept his team in games. That's what good goalies do. Several days ago, I was thinking of changing out my avatar. I'm going to put that off for awhile. Dave, you won't say "Amen, brother" to me if Detroit wins, because for me in that series (or if the Sharks win), it will be "Go Canucks, Go!"

Hey GA - better not promote that CD too much or you'll be accused of "lacking objectivity", or of being a "friend of Chuck's," or some such nonsense. We must be very careful here, you know, impartial and all. We'd best make sure that all the Amazon reviews average out at 3 stars. BTW, I have the CD and really dig it - especially Eddie's great tenor sound.

Hope Detroit takes the series for selfish reasons - 3 of the games against Vancouver would be EST, meaning I can watch them without having to stay up late. Plus Detroit/Vancouver would be a GREAT series.

I don't think anyone is trying to supress the negative review (that would require somehow removing it altogether). But one negative review can skew the rating. So we're just trying to provide a more realistic view and a rating more in line with the historical reception of this album. I would say that a 4.5 rating represents the broad consensus of people over the years have heard this album and written about it. Justice is now done IMO. (I seem to vaguely recall that Downbeat gave it a 5 star review).

Ditto. The average is now up to 4.5 stars. FWIW, I have loved this album since I bought it (at a guess) some 34 years ago. I still have that LP along with the CD. And along with Warne, the rhythm section is outstanding IMO. Swings like crazy.

Yes!!!

I believe that Harper awarded the Grey Cup last year, didn't he? I believe so. He's apparently quite the sports fan and is working on a book, about, what else, ice hockey.

LOL! John, you're killing me! I don't suppose you watched the French debate. I haven't seen anything about it. Nope, and I didn't watch the English debate, either. Reports were that the leaders were more relaxed in the French debate which is a bit strange since French is a second language for 3 of the 4. This is the most boring election campaign EVER! I know we shouldn't take democracy for granted, but only two more weeks and it's over, one way or another, thank heavens.

In the UK most people are on the "pay as you earn" (PAYE) system. Income tax is deducted from your monthly or weekly pay before you get it and sent to the revenue by the employer. If you're self-employed you have to make an annual tax return. We have that also EXCEPT you ALSO have to make an annual tax return anyway. There's no good reason for such a system. We only have it because a) Turbotax and H&R Block and other tax preparers always lobby hard against this kind of simplification and b) the Republican Party wants to make doing taxes as painful a task as possible for average people because it helps their anti-tax jihad. Nice country we've got here, eh? Same here in Canada. Our deadline for indivdual tax returns is April 30 (though it may get changed if there's an important hockey playoff game involving the Montreal Canadiens on that date )

The set was wonderful. Phil twice did need to use his albuterol inhaler, but he played just fine. There was no notice of his COPD. For a man pushing 80 he can still play. Thanks for the report. Was it the current quintet - Lynch/Mays/Gilmore/Goodwin?

Surprisingly, some musicians have played just fine with COPD. Two off the top of my head include trumpeters Ruby Braff and Bobby Shew. I think Phil has had it for some time and still he sounds fine on his most recent recordings. Gigs at high altitudes are tough for musicians with this disease. I could be wrong but I believe Phil had to cancel one a couple of years ago in the Denver area. NYC won't present that problem. Hardbopjazz, I'd love to read your report/impressions of the gig.

This has been on my wishlist for some time! What are your thoughts on the sound quality? I would assume the band is killer! I will probably order it with the MJQ to save on shipping. THANKS! Well, I'll answer - the sound quality is very good. All the sessions were recorded in the mid-70's. The music is simply OUTSTANDING! I think this was Toshiko's most creative period. I have heard most of, if not all the band's releases on various labels since the RCA period, but nothing quite matches what's on this set, IMO. And yes, the band is superb. Edited to add: There are two live RCA sessions not on this Mosaic set - a 2 LP set recorded in Japan and 1 LP at Newport '77. I have them both, but I wish we could get them on CD. They are equally as good.

This week - the Dizzy Gillespie Verve/Philips Small Group Sessions - so much great music on this set. Reminds me again why Diz was the greatest trumpet of all.

Never heard Eddie Johnson before but I just went to amg and listened to some samples from his Delmark date. Sounds great. I will be getting this Nessa date for sure. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-johnson-p90981

Some of the best Foster I've heard is on Pepper Adams' "The Adams Effect" on Uptown. Overall, this session is a particular favorite of mine. http://www.allmusic.com/album/adams-effect-r182757