John Tapscott

I know Jim wouldn't go near this but I'd buy it in a heatbeat and a click of the mouse: The Complete RCA recordings of Phil Woods (would have to include "Live at the Showboat", though)

Well, it's not just a matter of individual musicians, but a group of excellent and compatible musicians working together. Very few did it better, IMO, than the Herman Herd of the Mosaic Select (philips) and Mosaic single (Columbia) period (late '62-'65). And among the arrangers for that band was the incomparable Bill Holman. You've got to start with Holman because musicians love playing his charts. Jake Hanna, Chuck Andrus, Nat Pierce, Bill Chase, Phil Wilson, Sal Nistico, man, those guys were on fire. Woody always had a smile on his face. Who wouldn't?

This is the only Curson as leader album that I own, and it's a good one. R.I.P.

I want my notice!!!!

5 CD's. Some really prime stuff on this set.

I'm of very little help because I too have the CD (and it's pretty good), and you're right - no arrangers are listed. Track 8 "Down Home" is probably a Shorty Rogers chart since it's a Shorty original. Is Pete Peterson still around? Why not do a google search, email him and ask him. P.S. Well, there you go. Jim nails it, as usual. Yes, Don Schamber, recognize his name from somewhere - a Chicago based arranger, IIRC.

Just listened to the samples on NPR and ordered. Can't be without this one, I'm afraid. No lunches in Nov. But I'll survive somehow!

Two tracks Keen and Peachy followed by Pennies From Heaven from Disc 2 The first has a marvelous solo by Bennie Green (who is excellent through both sets IMO), and the 2nd has a very fine solo by Hank. Great stuff all around.

Fade-outs.

Thanks for the b'day greetings, everyone! It was a busy day with not much time for music but I did get a chance to watch another DVD in my recently acquired Jazz Icons 5 series. Today - the Johnny Griffin, very enjoyable.

I don't care what Miles said, or even our dear Chuck, for that matter. That was a very fine band, often excellent. The only thing I will say is that the track Feather chose for the blindfold test was rather strange and not totally representative. Remember that it was a Garnet Brown chart and honestly, it wasn't among the band's finest moments. Certainly I wouldn't include it on a a "Best of Thad Jones/Mel Lewis" compilation.

Happy Birthday, Marcello!!

All true, except that I believe "Balanced Scales = Justice" was by Tom McIntosh. Brookmeyer's chart on 'Presenting' is his original "ABC Blues" , a real tour de force and one of my all time favorite big band charts and performances.

Paul Desmond

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" - MJQ Mosaic set, Disc 2 Track 2

Rock - quite possibly. But "and roll"? Doubtful ... (Yes I know you were just quoting what the website said ) Don't know what the Horse Flies are exactly but certainly not "rock and roll" in the actual sense of the word, judging by their Youtube clips ... "Progressive Bluegrass", maybe? Cowpunk? Dunno ... But certainly fun. Good to see, though, Dick Hyman is still so very active. Whatever it is, Dick should be able to handle it quite nicely.

Happy Birthday, Ken!!!

Gee, I feel like a fool on a couple of these which I should have gotten - esp. the Rogers, the Pomeroy and the Moore. I have the latter two recordings; man, that tells me I have way too much!

Very fine jazz trombonist. RIP.

Our Man in Paris

I have Vizutti on this Direct-to-Disc LP from 1978. Cost me $20 at the time (ouch!) Allen plays a virtuoso solo on his own composition, Fire Dance, which is the the 1st track on the LP. Guess they figured they'd get the tough one out of the way first.(Those d to d Lp's must have been brutal to record). Anyway, Allen plays wonderfully on it. BTW, in one of the Herman bios, it's told that Herman wanted to get rid of Vizutti soon after he joined the Herd. Seems Woody wanted a strong player in the lead chair rather than a virtuoso soloist. But the other trumpet players recognized how great Allen was and begged Woody to keep him on, even adjusting their playing a bit so Allen seemed stronger than he was. Soon, Allen was giving Woody the power from the lead chair that he wanted, though it was a bit of a learning curve.

Good but not of the quality of the Black Lion dates and much of the SteepleChase material. The Columbia stuff traces the end. I know, but I still like it a lot. My favorite Dexter albums are actually "The Apartment" on Steeplechase and "Our Man in Paris" on Blue Note.

Again - love this set!