John Tapscott

I just got the pre-release of volume one of the booklet. Further volumes at bi-monthly intervals. What's that? The Obamacare law? Just joking with our American friends.

Sounds pretty good. Thanks for posting. Any guesses as to how many pages the Uptown booklet will be, and the big issue - will you be able to get it back in the jewel case once you've removed it!? Just pre-ordered a copy along with the Dexter. Actually I ordered through the Uptown website by ordering 2 catalogue items (a 2CD set and a 1 CD set), and specifying that they send me the new ones instead. I just got a note from Robert S. saying that they will be posted on the website tonight. I always like to order directly from the label when I can. Really looking forward to hearing both (and setting an evening aside for reading). http://www.uptownrecords.net/home/

Theoretically. But the probability is very high that the Ottawa Senators will make the playoffs, too. It would be good if the Winnipeg Jets slipped in too, but not likely. Just looked at the standings. Ottawa has clinched a spot; Winnipeg definitely out.

Which one showed?

Uptown's website is strange. You'd think that would be the place where the new releases would be listed first, even made available for early sale. I remember that it was a month after release of the Richards, Christian and Gryce dates that Uptown finally posted them on the website. Looks like it will be the same with the Mobley and Gordon. http://www.uptownrecords.net/home/

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - Toronto 1983. People had gathered at the venue (it was a ticketed event), waited outside, then the announcement came that there would be no concert. Border hassles, perhaps. Disappointing really, and I never did get to see Blakey live.

Holy cow! You are right on, Peter! I just received this CD the other day and it is one of the hottest recordings I have heard in a long while. Nick is just great, and the whole band plays up to his level. Thanks for the recommendation.

In the summer of 2000 I attended a Lovano concert. For 2 hours (with a brief intermission) Joe held forth on tenor only with just the backing of drums and bass (Dennis Irwin and Willie Jones III). It was one of the greatest jazz concerts I have ever attended. Lovano was on fire; incredibly creative and powerful. And he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. It was all one could hope for from a jazz concert. I also met Joe afterwards and had him autograph a CD insert. He was very friendly and gracious. Having said that, I must also say that most of his recordings are but a shadow of what I heard that night, though there are several I enjoy. It's a mystery, but Joe's playing does not come across nearly as well on records, at least compared to what I heard that night.

Recently revisiting this Sharp Nine date. It's a good one. Drummer Jimmy Wormworth (who is really unknown to me) swings his tail off and really brings the date alive. Perfect balance IMO of swing, fire, and finesse. Wondered where this guy came from and why I hadn't heard more of him. Did some searching and came across this. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jimmywormworth The videos at the bottom of the John Marshall Quintet are really good. Very fine sound, and capture Jimmy's playing really well. (Also a must for Grant Stewart fans). This cat can play!

Happy Birthday, FFA, and all the best! Enjoy some Carl!

WTF? I hope this set WILL be released and not fade away.... Good thing I have been bingeing on some Analogue Productions Blue Note SACD's and the Nat King Cole SACD's.... But still....I remember the original release date was November now it's June? WTF, Scott assured me they WILL get the clearances necessary to release it! With the major labels having skimmed most of their staff more than a few years ago, it just takes more time. OK? There are probably days when Mosaic wishes they were called Lonehill.

Well, two factors - IF I live a normal male life-span (no guarantees, though I'm in good health), and IF I basically stop buying recordings right now, (again, no guarantees, in fact, not going to happen), I could probably listen to every thing in my collection at least once, if not twice more. One of my problems is that sometimes I get stuck on something, in other words, I hear a CD (and it might not be a new one) that I like so much that I listen to it fairly regularly or at least 5 or 6 times before filing it. That obviously lessens the probability of listening to everything again. Also, the CDR's that come my way (which I greatly appreciate). But listening to my whole coillection as it stands now is not beyond the realm of possibility. In fact, it's something I'd like to do.

A very swinging version of "As Long As I Live" by Richard Wyands from the CD "Half and Half" (Criss Cross)

Thanks GA for posting this. I just ordered one. While this type of jazz is often not my cup of tea, I do have a soft spot for the trombone, plus the samples sounded quite interesting, actually.

No, I haven't heard it. I think it was only briefly available. Lots of four letter words and off-color jokes which would have been unseemly for the younger audience Kenton was aiming at in the Creative World years. "Hey mom and dad, just listen to this Stan Kenton album I bought at the high school concert!" Not the public image he wanted. But I'll talk to a friend of mine who is really the "go to guy" for Kenton. I'm sure he has a copy and will make a CDR for me.

Jim: I believe there were really only two major concert recordings of the Innovations Orchestra generally available: This one: recorded Oct 19, 20, 1951 and this one recorded Oct 14, 1951 I own the Cornell concert CD but not the Carnegie CD. Listening to the samples at amg, I'm almost certain your posting is from the Carnegie concert. What tips me off is the the sound quality which is I think is better at Carnegie than Cornell.

Anita O'Day June Christy Ella Fitzgerald

Dexter Gordon - The Complete Columbia Albums Collection

I read that one of Ellington's players in the 1940s left the band and slept for a year! I know it's an exaggeration, but still. I am tired after a week on the road, I can't imagine 3 years! When Lawrence Brown got close to 65, he retired from the Ellington band (around 1970 or '71, I believe), went home, put his trombone behind his sofa, and apparently never played it again.

Two very intriguing releases. The Dexter doesn't look like it will have any great surprises, though it will be great listening, I'm sure. Hank's tenor seems massive in that nice cover photo, makes Hank look rather small.

I enjoy this set a great deal, thoguh like a few others, I haven't listened to it lately. The first studio album, sessions A,B,C Presenting the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra is my favorite. I had the LP originally. Now the set kind of turns your head around a bit because the tracks are issued in recorded order rather than LP order (the latter was and is better IMO, but perhaps that's only because I was used to the original). I believe Mosaic changed it's policy on that after some complaints, so that on current sets they issue the tracks in LP order. In any case, I consider Bob Brookmeyer ABC Blues a true big band jazz classic, indispensible.

I use an H.P. printer. I'm no computer guru, but I will say that I've had only moderate success with the ink refill services. Sometimes a refilled cartridge works Ok, but other times when I re-install the cartridges the computer doesn't recognize them (though it was fine before the refill, go figure). I then have to buy new replacement cartridges. I tend not to buy originals, but the knock-offs. They have always worked fine.

Sad news. RIP. The only Jodie Christian CD I own is this one and it's a good one. I will listen to it later in his honor.