John Tapscott

Lots has been written about these two and both will certainly be considered classics by generations to come: Andrew Hill - Passing Ships (Blue Note) Maria Schnieder Orchestra - Concert in the Garden (ArtistShare) I discovered this guy this year and really dig his playing. In fact, it's how I would like to play piano if I had the gift: Tardo Hammer - Tardo's Tempo (Sharp Nine) I also got into Eric Alexander in a big way this year and have started not only to appreciate his playing but to really enjoy it. Hence - Eric Alexander - Nightlife in Tokyo (Milestone) One for All - Blueslike (Criss Cross)

I agree with Soulstream. Hardbop's postings on AAJ about the NYC scene are usually pretty interesting. He obviously spends a lot of time at clubs and concerts and a lot of $$$ on recordings. Indeed, I enjoy a lot of the same kind of music he enjoys. But the other posters are right, too. He spoils a lot of his posts with the attitude of "The jazz I like is obviously the best jazz, and if I don't like something, then it must be no good." Back in my younger days when I was a bit of a jazz snob, I had a similar attitude. But I've grown out of it. I hope Hardbop does, too. I've learned you can be enthusiastic about the music you enjoy without always taking a shot at something or someone else.

I really like the Harry Allen "Night at Birdland" CD's (2 Volumes) with the "Blue Note" covers. Though they were made in '93, early on in Harry's career, I've never heard him play better.

Ordered Anthony Wonsey "Blues for Hiroshi" (Sharp Nine) - really looking forward to this one.

Brad: You should be excited. I wish I could join you. Many Board members would differ with me on this, but IMHO, Eric is a great tenor player, one of the best out there today. I just got "Nightlife in Tokyo" with Mabern. This is an exceptionally good CD.

Other. Paris 1960 (Pablo)

Pryan: I know it's hard to be patient when you're waiting for something, especially from Mosaic, but my experience is that everything coming from the US to Canada is WAY slower than usual these days. I think it's getting hung up in Canadian customs. I believe Customs officers are on some kind of work-to-rule or slowdown over $$$$$ (what else?) Of course, it could also be a bit of Canadian retaliation over mad cow and softwood and who knows what else. Some people are kind of hoping Dubya gets slowed up or even turned back at the border when he comes to visit at the end of the month! The good news is that while things have been greatly slowed up they DO arrive eventually. I think you'll be able to celebrate Christmas with the Mobley set. Happy listening.

I immediately thought of the Complete Roulette Recordings set on Mosaic...But I see you're talking about another kind of Tea!

Happy Birthday Conn. Have a great day!

I voted for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; Maria, Mingus and Metropole all tied for second. But the west coast bands of Bob Florence and Bill Holman are easily the equal of these.

What is it about Eric Alexander's playing that so divides us into two camps? There are people on this Board who love his playing, and others who can't stand him. I personally am an Eric fan, but there have been threads where this guy has been trashed. I guess each to his or her own, but I know of few recent players where people's opinions vary so widely.

Well, she's selling 10,000 maximum, so simple math indicates that she needs to sell 5,000 at $16.95 each to cover her costs. I surely hope she sells all 10,000 and makes a nice profit, but is there really that kind of market for such progressive big band music? (hard really to label it big band jazz in the traditional sense). BTW, it's an excellent CD, though if I could only take one Maria Cd to the desert island, I would grab Allegresse.

John Hicks/Cecil McBee/Elvin Jones - Power Trio (Novus)

Jessica Williams - Encounters (Jazz Focus). The label is defunct, but the Cd's can still be found on various web stores.

From close to your preferred time frame - McCoy Tyner - Trident (Milestone) Supertrios (Milestone) A couple of later Cd's, both on Blue Note (may be out of print) Geri Allen - Twenty-One Joey Calderozzo - The Traveler

Lennie had a hard time understanding that people in his "school" had to make a living.

I can't believe I didn't vote the first time around. ROLL CALL got my vote. It is perhaps my favorite Blue Note recording and defintely on my top ten list of recordings overall. SOUL STATION and NO ROOM tied for second.

Gee, what with all the football (north and south of the border) plus the baseball playoffs, I'm not missing it a bit. And I probably won't until at least January. Seriously, the NHL and the players are going to do long-term damage to the sport with this nonsense. Middling seats in the Air Canada Centre, where the Toronto Maple Leafs play, cost nearly $100 each. Experts are talking about the game getting back on ice around Jan '06! Maybe the game ought to die.

As someone who got "bit" over 30 years ago, and whose music of listening and buying choice has been 98% jazz since then, the answer is "no", not if it was a real bite by the real bug. In fact, the disease only worsens.

I don't know how advanced Max's condition is (and who on the board really does?) Though I wasn't there, the several reviews of the 50th anniversary Massey Hall concert in 2003 all said in one way or another that Max really shouldn't have been there on stage. But having read through all these posts, and having had some experience dealing with family members and clients with Alzheimer's, I think what Quincy says makes the most sense. And Dan is right, too. Let's not get carried away without knowing all the facts, especially the stage of Max's condition. No one lacks compassion for Max. I think everyone of us would like to see him have the most appropriate care under the circumstances.

Agreed that Ms. Brackeen is a very powerful musician, overlooked in a way (at least by me), though I enjoy the 4 or 5 recordings of hers I own. Who rounds out the trio on this CD? Is the program all originals or a mix of standards and originals. Often I find the latter works best for my listening.

Thanks Free for All and everyone else for your birthday greetings. I'm sure not going to forget trombone players, you or anyone else. Don't know about you, but I've been diggin' some Andy Martin CD's lately. Another good Ros' and Fontana man! I have that Benny Golson Lp and it's a good one. Good things happened on Oct 14, at least in the 1950's. Somewhat ironically one of my birthday gifts was Benny's new CD on Concord, Terminal One.

Now Jim, let's be fair here. I sometimes have problems with Canada Post. But I don't think we know on which side of the border the package got hung up. I cannot help but remember the time the US P.O. sent my Mosaic order to England instead of Canada.

Happy Birthday, Pryan, from one Canadian to another. Have a great day, eh! Hey, you got winter out there in Winnipeg yet?

Avoid the Maynard Ferguson stuff like the plague. It's from his mid 70's/early 80's commercial/disco/pop phase on Columbia (post Live at Jimmy's). Bad.