HutchFan

I think this is Miller's only studio outing as a leader: Harry Miller's Isipingo - Family Affair OTOH, it seems like Miller worked with (nearly) everyone on the UK jazz scene. So, fortunately, his recordings as a sideman are plentiful.

Excellent!

Fania All Stars - Historia de la Salsa I think of salsa/Latin music & jazz as a Venn diagram with varying degrees of overlap. The two genres are not the same thing, but there's often (maybe even usually) loads in common. That said, I think there's enough jazz feeling in this compilation album for me to post it here. Just in case anyone was wondering ...

I'm fully open to the idea that my problems with the Gillespie/Fischer album are MY problems. But that's not case with the Monk/Nelson album. That's interesting. Oliver Nelson arrangements are still thrilling to me*. * with one exception.

This thread has quickly devolved into nothing more than a Rorschach test for demonstrating each poster's racial politics. Maybe, given the current political climate in the U.S., that's inevitable. But this sort of discourse is not enlightening. It's disheartening. People are talking to themselves (and their own preconceived notions), not one another. That's my 2 cents.

I've never quite connected with that album -- despite loving Clare Fischer's arranging in all sorts of other contexts. It's likely my own inability to get beyond my ingrained notions of what Ellington's music is "supposed" to sound like. Then again, it might also be a case of two artist that I love who don't necessarily sound great together. (See also: Thelonious' album Monk's Blues, arranged by Oliver Nelson.)

NP: Duke Ellington - Hot Summer Dance (Red Baron) A concert recording of an ordinary night on the road that captures the nonchalant, extraordinary brilliance of EKE & his orchestra.

I agree with you, Mike. Mastery is precisely the right word. From my point of view -- along with "Mellow Tone" -- the album's other high point is Webster's ballad feature, "Time After Time." The way he caresses each note! That couldn't be anyone but Ben.

That's sad news. Another legendary figure gone. R.I.P.

1986 reissue and Another little gem from Black & Blue / Classic Jazz.

Great story, TTK. ... It's funny how the passage of time can turn around our impressions! 🙂

Hawk & Sonny. "Father & Son." 😉

Lots of top-shelf "Shorty" Baker on that set -- along with the always-sublime Hodges.

I dig it -- but, naturally, YMMV.

Yes, I would definitely recommend Oahspe. It doesn't at all sound like first record. Terrific playing and interesting compositions, most of which are by Helias. The other album from BassDrumBone that I listen to most often is Right Down Your Alley. It was actually released under Ray Anderson's leadership (on Soul Note in '84) -- but it's the same trio. IMO, Mark Helias is the "glue" in that band, and he's one of those musicians who seems to always be making interesting music. He's made a bunch of outstanding records too with his band Open Loose -- with Tom Rainey and Tony Malaby (and sometimes Ellery Eskelin). Have you heard Atomic Clock or Verbs of Will? More outstanding music in the same neighborhood as BassDrumBone.

First listen to Unity's Blow Thru Your Mind -- via YT: The presence of vocalist Jay Clayton prompted me to give this a listen.

Ray Anderson, Mark Helias, Gerry Hemingway – Oahspe (Auricle Records, 1979) The first BassDrumBone album -- although they hadn't come up with that name for the trio yet.

Earlier:

Yes !!! Clark Terry's Big-B-A-D-Band Live at the Wichita Jazz Festival is excellent too -- but I prefer At Buddy's Place by a whisker.

That is ridiculous. Now switching gears a bit: Preservation Hall Jazz Band - New Orleans, Vol. 1 (Columbia)

Yes! More Monnette Sudler -- and Byard Lancaster, Khan Jamal & others -- with Sounds of Liberation: Some potent music here. It packs a wallop.

Two by Monnette Sudler: and