John Tapscott

Yep, some guys are just made for the road. Wille Maiden was another. Steve Marcus, too. Frank Tiberi. In whatever world they're in now, it would only be just if Stan and Dick are back together again, riding the front seats of the bus to "Nowhere", making up a set list for the night's gig, talking about how the new saxophonist is fitting in or not, and having a little taste of vodka from the band's infamous "blue cup". They were like father and son, actually closer perhaps.

Dick was Stan Kenton's lead trombonist from about '65-77. In an interview somewhere he said that he felt he was born to play lead trombone for Stan Kenton. From his teenage years he studied all the Kenton lead trombone greats like Winding, Bernhart, Burgess and Fitzpatrick, and so was well-prepared for the chair. When I was a teenage trombonist I admired Dick's sound and approach and tried to sound something like him. Now that was a dumb-a$$ thing to do! There was no chance! Dick was a great lead trombonist who could play loudly, softly, and in-between. He was a fine soloist, especially on ballads and had great control in the upper register, sometimes playing missing mellophonium parts by himself, after those horns were dropped from the band. On ballads, as lead, he actually played more softly than the other 4 horns in the section. You can read about Dick's unique approach to playing lead trombone on ballads and its affect on the band's sound here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Shearer. Here's what else I know. Dick was not only Kenton's lead trombonist and sometime band manager, but also Kenton's friend and drinking partner (the latter would play a big role in Dick's demise). Shearer led the band when Kenton was off the road ill, and the last time was in '77 after Stan suffered brain injury from a fall. The band carried on for a few months under Dick's leadership, then disbanded, mainly because it was hard to get gigs without Kenton present. Early in '78 Kenton, far from being well, decided against doctor's orders to reform the band for another tour. Dick was admantly opposed to the plan, and as I understand it, there was a big scene in Kenton's office, and Dick was fired, not by Stan, but by his partner Audree Coke. The first trombone chair was taken over by Roger Homefield, an excellent young player also steeped in the Kenton trombone tradition. That last tour lasted only 7 months, before Kenton, totally exhausted, had to pack it in. That was the end of the Stan Kenton Orchestra. I don't think Dick ever recovered from being fired or from Kenton's death in '79. He always wanted to be known as Stan Kenton's last lead trombonist and actually turned down two offers from Basie (I would have grabbed them!) He taught at some colleges and made a CD with a 5 trombone and rhythm group he formed in L.A. called "The Stan Kenton Spirits". He participated in Kenton tribute concerts and reunion bands and recordings. However, Dick's propensity for overeating and overdrinking finally got to him and apparently he ballooned to nearly 500 pounds and couldn't fly on airplanes anymore. At the time of his death in 1997, Shearer was teaching at Mt. Hood College in Gresham Oregon. Dick Shearer Sept 21, 1940- Sept 20, 1997.

The Buddy Rich is a really fine set. If you feel drawn to it, I'd grab it now before it goes. Also, I really like the Oliver Nelson set.(It's not piecemeal in my view, but consists, for the most part, of full albums).

My three favorite Getz recordings Voyage (Blackhawk) followed by and

Yes Don, you're right. Things are definitely taking longer to arrive now than just a few years ago (the problem is at the Post Office, on both sides of the border). I used to get orders from New York State and New Jersey to Ontario within a week. No longer. My latest Worlds order arrived in just under 2 weeks which I considered quite good. But when you've always got something coming in from somewhere, you don't seem to notice the delay as much! I should add that Worlds is very fair about shipping rates. They charge the actual cost, and one really can't complain about that.

I like Worlds Records and have ordered a number of CD's from them over the years. They have a great and tempting selection. I have a fairly significant wish-list built up there. Their shipping rates to Canada, at least, seem reasonable. But you do point to a problem with their website. You can never tell whether they have something in stock or not. They usually post CD's as soon as they receive notice of them, weeks or even months before the actual release date. So it looks like they have something in stock ahead of everyone else, but they really don't. And if you order 3 CD's with 2 in stock and 1 not in stock, your whole order can get delayed.

I believe it's the first one you listed. I recall that he made an album of Cole Porter tunes entitled something like "Hod and Cole." That kind of confirms it.

I should probably know -- but were Byard, Davis and Dawson (all three) on any other (non-Ervin) dates together? Phil Woods - Musique du Bois (Muse) - also a Don Schlitten production this is not the original cover (the original was better) A great recording IMO.

What's snow?

When I saw the thread title I immediately thought of this one: I know that's not what you had in mind, but it's still one of my favorites!

Jim: Re Rainy Day - I think so, though the tempo is slightly faster on this early version (not at all fast, mind you), but not quite as dead slow as the later recordings which which I think bring out the beauty of the writing a bit more. It really is Barton's masterpiece, if he has one. I think you would be surprised at the soloists Ray Reed on alto and Jay Daversa on trumpet on this CD. They're pretty darn good. There's also an obscure tenor player named Alan Rowe who's a good soloist, too. And the band is really together. Dee Barton is clumsy as he** on drums (not my description, someone else's), but in some strange way it all works. He really fired up that band. A really good 75 minutes of music.

If you like this music and this era of Kenton, check out this CD. It's an excellent representation of this band in very good live sound. http://www.tantaraproductions.com/roadband67.htm

I've seen it all (1 hr) , and it's pretty much all like this- summarizing the band's tour in early '68 and showing the various venues where they played. It's not so much a biography about Kenton (in fact, not at all really), but more about the band and the ends to which the whole organization goes to play it's music - in clubs, churches, prisons, anywhere really. One of the problems is that there are no full pieces, only segments. In that sense it is disappointing. The band ran the film at school clincs for a while, but it soon became outdated. I cannot watch it without being immediately transported back to 1968 and where I was and who I was at the time. It just evokes a whole era for me. Very much of its time.

Of your list, I only own the date at the Las Vegas Tropicana and it is truly excellent. When I was only 16 years old, I bought the LP and have always dug it primarily because the band really cooks on that date. There's none of the bombastic pretentiousness that mars so many of Kenton's recordings. Now, many years later, I picked up the CD because of the additional tracks added that the LP was unable to accommodate. Get this one for really terrific live Kenton. Yes, it's a very good recording and the additional tracks make it even better. Ironic that Kenton initially held up the release of this album because the band sounded too much like Herman (lots of Gene Roland charts). But there's some charts with the more traditional Kenton sound, too. Yes, a very good one, indeed.

I saw the band once when Kenton was out ill. The replacement then was Nat Pierce, of all people! Who was fired after about a month when word reached Kenton in his hospital bed that the band was swinging like the Herd! The pianist on these particular tracks is one Claude Sifferlen. I also saw the Kenton band once without Stan - forget who the pianist was, but they played more Bill Holman charts than usual that night, which was OK by me.

If you want to hear the 70's Kenton band at its best and swinging hard, try disc 1 of this recent set. (Some tracks have another pianist filling in for an ailing Kenton - the band sounded more like a Herman Herd when he was absent). Disc 2 is a very good college band playing unrecorded charts from the Kenton book. Volumes 1 & 2 are of similar high quality, but feature Kenton bands from the late 50's, and different college ensembles. All are worth checking out. http://www.tantaraproductions.com/

Bought a recent Phil Woods CDR from Amazon - Phil Woods and Strings - The Thrill is Gone. Looks like it was a Venus release, recorded just 2 or 3 years ago. Cover art and personnel only, no liner notes. Great CD, wherever it came from - Phil with a rhythm section and a small string section - highly recommended to Phil fans.

I found "Legacy" a disappointment compared to some of Gerald's earlier Mack Avenue CD's esp. "Detroit", "Monterey Moods" and "In My Time". Not quite as "meaty" or gripping, IMO. The recording quality is not what it could be, and the production is mediocre (no soloists listed- what's up with that?) Too bad it wasn't recorded on the west coast. The L.A. Wilson Band is better than the NY Wilson band.

Hank Mobley - Far Away Lands (Blue Note) Hardly ever mentioned, but this is a GREAT Mobley record IMO.

I figured that, but considering the weird things that were sold at one time and they way they were sold, you never know. Remember the cigarette ads that actually showed doctors smoking and claiming the health benfits of smoking - good for your throat, clears your airways, helps you to relax, and so on.

Dr Kwak!! I love it. How appropriate. Wonder if it had FDA approval!? At least it's good to know they were sanitized. Wonder if they were individually wrapped?? When I was a kid, loading up my plate with food, my mother would sometimes say "You must have a tape worm!"

Whoa!! x 3 Don't you think the tempo drags a little?? I've seen this before but it's always amazing - the bass playing especially.

I saw Sam and his trio for the first and only time in concert about 6 or 7 years ago. It was a very good concert. While Sam would not be among the musicians I listen to often, I very much enjoy the Mosaic set, which I heard again not long ago. I'll have to listen to Miles in Tokyo later on today. RIP Sam Rivers and thank you.

Some nice Carmen on this one, circa 2002. Never heard of drummer Donnie O'Brien before this, or since, for that matter, but this is a relaxed and tasteful date.