John Tapscott

Hey what are you talking about!! The Stitt is a great set. Seriously. The Pass is very nice, too. I'm kind of tapped out, but may take a stab at the Q Jones on March 31. Somebody please wake me up on that day! Of course, by then I will have visited the sale page a hundred times and convinced myself that I need 3 or 4 other sets, as well!

I just got a new Venus CD by the Phil Woods Quintet - Ballads and Blues. rec. 2008. It's my first ever Venus recording. Honestly, I've never heard Phil's alto recorded with as much warmth, resonance, and presence. It was quite a shock when I first heard it. The recording quality overall is excellent.

Stan Getz - Kenny Barron - The Complete People Time Recordings (Verve) - was supposed to arrive in May, got it yesterday But as to the music - breathtaking, spell-binding, etc. etc. Fabulous

Happy Birthday, FFA! Later, I'm going to get our the Gallery CD and listen to it in your honor.

Hey, do you think maybe some "bail-out" money could be directed towards Mosaic? Mosaic's product lasts longer than GM or Chrysler vehicles!

I'm no bean counter but really, how much can they save by shutting down their warehouse? You would think it would be marginal. Now they have pay a third party to store all their sets and and to ship all their orders (wonder if this will result in an increase in shiupping costs). And what will they lose in terms of customer service? You had committed jazz people shipping the sets but now you have people who couldn't care whether they're shipping a Mosaic set or a toaster oven (and probably don't know the difference). I love Mosaic and have many sets but this move is not a good one IMO. But I guess if it's keeps them alive a little longer it's OK. They must know what they're doing.

Thanks for the tip, Brownie and Ted. That's a great price. Just ordered it. I added Stan Getz at the Shrine for $9.99 and got free shipping on the order. But the shipping date is 1-2 months hence. We'll see if it comes through.

Shelly Manne & His Men - Complete Live at the Blackhawk (American Jazz Classics)

Oh dang! We just lost Ed Thigpen and now another drummer who qualified for the title "Mr. Taste". I loved Jake's Hanna's playing. One of my all-time favorite drummers, not just with Woody but with small groups too. RIP Jake Hanna!

Well, it was a pretty good game. I listened to jazz at half-time. I picked the Colts but it was good to see the Saints win for a lot of reasons, especially to see a new team added to the roster of Super Bowl winners. That only happens about once or twice a decade. The Colts coach Jim Caldwell seems like a good guy but he was really out-coached by Sean Peyton. I know the game is played on the field, but the Saints made better side-line decisions than the Colts. Coaching mattered in this game. One of the biggest blunders was when the Colts decided to try a 50 + yard field goal on 4th down when they had already converted a 4th down play earlier in the drive.

The Complete Verve Tal Farlow Sessions

Colts by 4, say, 31-27, late TD pass by Manning.

Curtis Amy Select

I bought many records and CD's from John over the years, first at the Jazz and Blues Centre in Toronto he co-owned with Bill Smith, and later by mail- order. I saw him last summer after several years and I was shocked by the decline in his health. Beyond his obvious love for jazz, John was a tireless worker on behalf of jazz and a man of integrity in his dealings with customers. He will be missed but I am glad that John and Sackville records went out on a high note with their most recent release - a beautiful solo recording by pianist Rosanno Sportiello, "It Amazes Me."

That's fair enough, Allen. A lot of Kenton fans seem to be in denial , but I think she's likely telling the truth. In any case, a couple of people "in the know" have quietly corroborated her story. Edityed for the sake of fairness - I have been chatting with another person today "in the know" who vehemently denies Leslie's claims.

There was definitely a melancholy mood to a lot of Kenton's music which may be related to something deep in his personality, an unresolved sense of regret, guilt and sadness. Who knows? But the booze sure got the better of him. This article is very sad reading, for sure. My big question is why is Leslie bringing this out now - 30+ years after his death?

Bennie Green Select

Absolutely, I feel the same way. I've heard a lot of the music before and have had 4 or 5 of the LP's. But I'm sure glad I have it in this format. The first four discs plus track one of Disc 5 (Japanese set) are really, really good; the rest of the set not so much IMO (some Ok tracks here and there). I will be revisitng the first four CD's again and again. The rest perhaps once more. But again I have to say that Joe's playing is excellent everywhere on this set (JH in Japan is on fire!)

I have his earlier CD on Mighty Quinn with the same personnel, called Energy Fields. It's a good one too. Always enjoyed Ralph with the Vanguard Jazz Orch. and with Danny D'Imperio's groups.

Some of the best Eric Alexander I've heard is on a CD I'm listening to now - Cecil Payne's Chic Boom Live at the Jazz Showcase (Delmark). I seem to enjoy Eric's playing most when other horns are on board.

I agree with Kenny. The website is not nearly as efficient as it used to be. Plus they've jacked up the cost of shipping significantly.

Joe Henderson - The Milstone Years - thanks to Newbury Comics - can't say I love all the music on this box, but Joe's playing is exceptional throughout, perhaps the strongest playing of his career, certainly better than the later Verve sessions.

I have a 2009 Ford Fusion. It's Ok; no problems yet. Wish I had got the V6 version, though. I thought I'd save money with the 4, but the gas mileage around town is mediocre at best; the V6 would not be much worse. Agree with Kevin about the Fusion headrests. I don't notice it when I'm driving, but when my wife's driving and I want to settle back for a rest in the passenger seat it's extremely hard to get comfortable. That headrest is always forcing your head forward. I noticed the same thing in a Cadillac GTS I rode in recently. I guess the thinking is that headrests are there to protect you from whiplash in case of accident, not make you comfortable. So they place them very close to your head.

55 minutes seems to be a pretty good set. I'm foggy on the details but I recall reading that Lorraine once said she only looked upon the VV patrons as suckers to be milked dry - something to that effect, probably more colorful.

Best in the world or not, my guess is that $130,000 - $140,000/year in Cleveland would be looked upon as pretty good money by most citizens of that fair city.