John Tapscott

Montreal 36 Sask 24 Total 60

Happy Birthday to a fellow bopper!

Yep, excellent jazz music. Von and the whole band, the music, the sound, the hard swing - all first rate. A great release. Thanks Chuck.

Supposedly they consulted with some people who were at ad firms in the 60's and they said MORE drinking went on where they worked back then. Yes, that's right Bruce. A couple months ago there was an article in one of the Toronto newspapers in which they interviewed people (execs and others) who had worked at ad agencies here in Toronto during the 60's and 70's. They also spoke with ex-servers and managers at some of Toronto's fanciest corporate watering holes. They said the Mad Men portrayal is accurate enough but is quite mild, actually understating the reality of the life-style. But apparently it's quite different now.

One of the best, for sure. This seemed to be a more fast-moving episode than some, at least in terms of the plot unfolding rather quickly. Loved the way they cleaned out the office over the weekend, basically leaving it a wreck and how Roger told Don not to bother locking the door. Too bad the season is so short, but lots to think about for next year - how will the new company go - will there be some major lawsuit hatched by the English firm that takes them down? Will Bets come crawling back to Don at some point? Lon's right- how long will Bet's new boyfriend last - wasn't that him in the seat beside her in the plane - already seemed a little distant. Wonder how he'll take to his new family and the baby crying at night? Will Don take up permanently with the schoolteacher or with someone new? Good entertainment anyway. Just about the only non-sports and non-news program I watch regularly.

Happy birthday, Jeff!

Art Blakey's 1960 Jazz Messengers Blue Note Recordings - I've been neglecting Blakey lately, great way to get back in.

No, this is the Canadian David Lee. I believe he plays bass.

Happy Birthday, GA!! 99 eh? Well, many more!

Sounds like more than a "slight" injury to his shoulder. Get well Joe. You are truly one of the bright lights on today's jazz scene. P.S. A Lovano concert I attended nearly 10 years ago (just Joe on tenor with bass and drums for 2 hours) stands out as one of, and perhaps THE greatest live jazz experience I have ever had. And I got to talk to him after the concert. A real friendly cat. I enjoy many of Joe's recordings, but he's one of those musicians whose greatness really comes through when heard "live."

Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends - 4 CD's (MPS)

Just ordered one. I also wanted to order the new Dizzy Big Band double CD on Uptown. Sorry to learn that Chuck no longer sells Uptown.

Let me make it plain - he was fired, canned, axed, down-sized, right-sized, out-sourced, laid-off, let go, whatever term you prefer. Ferguson didn't think his chops were up to the task. A season under Bud Brisbois and Dalton Smith in the Kenton trumpet section was just was Bill needed.

I think the whole band was pick-up. I believe that at that particular moment Chase was between Ferguson (whom he had just left, under a cloud apparently) and Kenton, whom he joined shortly thereafter. Bill was not yet the player he would become just a few years later. Edited to say that on my CD, Chase is listed with the trombone section, a mistake obviously.

Herman fans will definitely want it. It's a good session, and how couldn't it be, given the musicians. Mel was a good fit for Herman. And there's Ted Richards' great blues chart "Like Some Blues Man, Like..." Good recording quality despite an overhead plane which you can hear in places. A couple of cautions, though - very short playing time - around 35 minutes, as I recall. A bit frustrating. And this was a "pick-up" band by the looks of things, not Herman's regular Herd. Does that make a difference? Yeah, maybe a bit. Not the best Herman record and not the worst either. Might fit in the top 25, but certainly not the top 10, IMO.

Just got my HINI shot at the local hospital 90 minutes ago. Since I do some work at the hospital I'm considered staff, and got priority Took five minutes. Some people are lining up 3 and 4 hours for a shot, especially since a local 13 year old boy died a couple of days ago from the swine flu.

George Shearing Live Capitol Recordings

Have a great birthday, David!

I am generally positive on Eric Alexander, but not always. I have perhaps 8 of his CD's plus some sessions on which he's a co-leader or sideman (eg. with Grant Stewart or One For All). Sometimes I really enjoy his playing; other times I can hardly wait 'til his solos are finished. His tone, though technically perfect I suppose, doesn't always get along with my head (as opposed to Grant Stewart, for example, whose tone always seems pleasing to me). Occassionally it seems like Eric's almost playing for playing's sake, if I can put it that way. Also like he's trying to cram everything into one solo and doesn't edit himself all that well - like a writer who just keeps going and going with no paragraph breaks. (Yes, I know 'Trane could be like that - but honestly, though Eric's very good , he's no 'Trane.) Now having said more negative than positive, let me say that there are some Eric CD's that I like very much - like "Dead Center" on High Note, on which the van Gelder studio brought out the warmer side of Eric's sound.

Happy Birthday! Have a great day!

I'm pretty sure this box will make you a big fan of late Pepper. Great set, great music.

Happy Birthday!!

Thanks for the wishes, everyone! No GA, I haven't been to an Argos game this year. They're really awful, perhaps the worst Argos team ever, and that's saying something. Every Toronto sports team SUCKS this year - Blue Jays, Argos, Raptors, and especially the Maple Leafs. This is a hockey town first and foremost, and Southern Ontario is in shock at how pathetic the Leafs are this year, from goaltender out they look disorganized and befuddled, the worst team in the NHL. Not one win so far. And our adopted NFL team, the Bills, is just as bad as the rest (T.O in T.O. yeah, great!)

Happy Birthday Ken!! I enjoy reading your reviews.

Sonny Rollins - The Freelance Years (Riverside and Contemporary)