John Tapscott

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

Thanks Chris, for a very interesting reflection/review. One small correction - Cuban Fire was recorded in 1956 and released in late '56 or early '57.

It's available now at the Jazzed Media website. http://www.jazzedmedia.com/jm9004.cfm I have it. It's good.

Just what I was thinking! Happy Birthday, Rooster Ties!!

I think it's what you're looking for, Jim. I just got mine and can't vouch for accuracy, but a quick look-through reveals that the musical analysis is very detailed and technical. Probably way over my head for the most part, but I'll give it a go. Obviously has to be read with recordings at hand.

I ordered from amazon.ca for $15.29. Probably won't read it until my summer vacation, but figured for that price, I might as well go for it. They only had one in stock and the re-stock likely won't be cheaper.

I've got a couple and they are VERY good. "Two's Company" with NHOP (Steeplechase) and "Portrait of An Artist" (Elektra) The movie should be rather disturbing if this is any indication: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-albany-p5989/biography

Happy Birthday, FFA!!!

I am with those whose collections have grown so much that I don't listen to any one recording all that often. But from my earlier days of collecting (30+ years ago, gee, more like 35 +) here are some that sounded good to me then and still sound good to me now. John Coltrane - Blue Train Hank Mobley - Roll Call Miles Davis - Miles Ahead Miles Davis - Miles Smiles Modern Jazz Quartet - Last Concert Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie - Bird and Diz Thelonious Monk - Monk's Music Thad Jones - Mel Lewis - Presenting the Jazz Orchestra Woody Herman - Woody '63 (now part of the Mosaic Select) Duke Ellington - The Great Paris Concert McCoy Tyner - Enlightenment

Not sure it was the best but one I enjoyed a great deal - "Dobbin" by Pepper Adams, Kenny Wheeler, Hank Jones, Clint Houston& Louis Hayes from Conjuration, Fat Tuesday's Session (Reservoir)

I concur. Me too. A few days ago I received all 3 and have just finished listening to them once through. Outstanding music, and as Rooster says, The Point of Departure band is especially strong.

Not sure which Concords are still in print but two I really like are a quartet date called Radio City (w. Gerald Wiggins, Dennis Irwin and Connie Kay), and a duo date with Bucky Pizzarelli called Red Door. Definitely get the latter if you can find it. Any of Hamilton's recent dates on Woodville, either as a sideman or a leader, are very good.

Now listening to Disc 2 of the new set that was delivered to my office 2 hours ago. I really give Amazon.ca credit for customer sevice on this one. A new set delivered in 2 days. Of course, the fact that the Canadian Amazon warehouse is only 15 minutes from my office helps!

Having heard CD's 1 & 3, I would answer "Yes" to that question, though the "Stan Getz Plays" material is arguably the best.

You can still buy Reservoir CD's at http://www.reservoirmusic.com/ They may not be completely out of business, but it seems that they haven't made any new CD's for a while. They are selling off their catalogue at $10 per CD.

Check the website (which is a bit tricky to find since a Google search fails to bring it up) http://www.uptownrecords.net/home/ Some in the list are on CD; others are not.

Even something positive and in today's terms, "affirming"? (although I somehow doubt that is the gist of it!!! ) Must say that I have a number of Uptown CD's and am positive to very positive about all of them. Wish they would re-issue that Frank Wess/Johnny Coles "Two at the Top" date. It's a dandy.

I am listening to Discs 1 & 3, since Disc 2 is missing in my set. Sound is lovely, music is grand. After I finish listening to these CD's, I am returning it to Amazon for a replacement set. The packaging is nice, but a bit awkward. I'm not crazy about in-between size sets that don't quite fit anywhere properly. But I'm sure I'll find a place for it. A very nice set.

Just now listening to the latest release - Happy Reunion - it's a very nice Ellingtonian date!

Peter: I originally bought them through John Norris. Over the past year I have ordered them directly from the Woodville Records website. They accept Paypal, etc. The service from London is excellent. Sometimes I've had the CD within a week; other times it takes a few more days. With the exchange rate a CD runs about $16 Canadian, so it will be about the same in US$ (and that includes shipping). http://www.woodvillerecords.com/Home.htm