HutchFan

Outstanding Basie!

Ellington at Newport '56 is an excellent book. IIRC, there's a wonderful photo in it of EKE and Gonsalves dancing together. They're offstage somewhere and goofing around just like kids. I really dig the photo because it's not staged; it's just a moment captured. The book does a terrific job of showing the very real brotherly affection that the two men had for one another -- even though Gonsalves could be a royal PITA for Ellington sometimes (because of PG's addiction).

First spin: ETC [Steve LaSpina, Fred Hersch, Jeff Hirshfield] & Jerry Bergonzi - ETC Plus One (Red, 1993) Yep. It's a doozy.

Gorgeous.

Some recent Big T talk elsewhere on the forum prompted me to pull this set from the shelf: Disc 1

NP: Rodney Whitaker - Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill (Origin, 2022)

A bunch of my CDs were sealed too. They often don't even bother mentioning it. And, like @Ken Dryden said above, their grading is very trustworthy. What they call VG+ typically looks like NM to me. And this true of both their CDs and LPs. Because their grading is so "conservative," I often buy VG graded LPs from them. (With other online retailers, I typically won't go below VG+.) After a couple spins on the vacuum machine, their VG-graded LPs typically play very, very well. Maybe not PERFECTLY. But much better than what you usually get with a VG-rated platter.

SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto / Oistrakh, Ormandy, Philadelphia O (Sony) Magnificent.

Thank you for sharing that story, Gheorghe. Sounds like a terrific time!

I think Evans' music is consistently interesting. I'm a fan. Flip the Script is my favorite of his albums, but I've enjoyed all that I've heard.

Al Grey-Jimmy Forrest Quintet – Night Train - Revisited (Storyville, rec. 1978) Trombone - Al Grey Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Forrest Piano – Shirley Scott Bass – John Duke Drums – Bobby Durham Music originally released on the Aviva label in 1979 as Live at Rick's.

I'll check it out. Thanks. That Earl Hines / Budd Johnson record is sooooo good. . . and that Brotherhood of Breath LP is too.

Both TERRIFIC. I love hearing Muhal with the AEC on Fanfare.

NP:

I have (and kept) all of the LPs -- except for Inner Glow. (Never got that one. Too pricey.) For some things, it's nice to have a back-ups.

The Braves kept rolling today, beating the Cubs 8-0. Best part about it: pitcher Max Fried -- runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award last season -- returned from the injured list, pitched six innings, and give up just three hits (all singles). VERY good news.

rec. 1962

Sure thing. Happy to spread the good deals 'round. And no you can't unsee it!

Yes. That place can be dangerous -- from both a time and money point of view.

Nice! I almost grabbed that Helen Merrill set. Already regret that I didn't.