HutchFan

Thanks!

No sweat. I'll always associate Milland with "Dial 'M' for Murder." My wife loves Hitchcock, and "Dial 'M'" is one of those films that you can watch over and over (and over!) again. ...And we have! Milland may not have considered it his best, but for me it's his signature performance.

Really?!?!

Re: Donaldson's 80s output... My curiosity was piqued by MG's recommendations, so I just ordered "Sweet Poppa Lou." That rhythm section looks rock-solid. ... Couldn't find any tracks online. Looking forward to hearing this.

Giving this recently acquired LP another spin: Marvelous.

Next up: The title tells the truth.

Next up:

Yeah!!! My favorite Porter productions in the 80s (and 90s): The Hank Crawford/Jimmy McGriff duo records on Milestone. Excellent! ... And don't forget the two Charles Earland albums that Porter produced for Milestone. More good stuff. (I was listening to Front Burner yesterday. )

MG, Just to clarify: Are these the four Donaldson albums with Herman Foster that you're referring to? - Sweet Poppa Lou (Muse) - Back Street (Muse) - Forgotten Man (Timeless) - Live in Bologna, Vol. 1 (Timeless) If so, which one do you like best? The two Muses look more appealing -- but that doesn't mean they are. Interesting. I don't think of Houston Person's productions as quite on the same high level as Bob Porter's in terms of consistency and quality. To my ears, Person's productions are hit-and-miss (some terrific, some not so much), whereas Porter's are almost always on the right-on-the-mark. Just my preference, I guess.

Yep.

Listened to this last night: Richard Beirach - Breathing of Statues (CMP, 1983) Solo piano. If you haven't heard this, imagine a marriage of jazz -- spontaneity and freedom -- combined with, say, late Beethoven, Scriabin, and Prokofiev. It's strange, unsettling, and stinkin' brilliant music. Uncategorizable. I've never heard anything else quite like it. One of my desert-island discs, for sure.

I didn't know that. Good reason for me to get the vinyl too.

More from Charles Earland: This kicks ass from beginning to end.

Charles Earland - Front Burner (Milestone, 1988)

Gheorghe (and others), I've often heard about and read about Woody Shaw's decline, but it's always been spoken of vaguely. What was the cause? Was it drug use? Or mental health issues? Or mental health issues aggravated by drug use? ... Also, people sometimes describe Woody as a "difficult" person -- even before his decline. Again, was that a drug-fueled thing? Or was it just his temperament? I don't want to know this information to criticize Shaw or tarnish his reputation in any way. I love Woody's music, and I have complete respect for it. I just would like to know.

Listened to this last night. The opening cut, "Boat Song," made my hair stand on end. John Abercrombie Quartet - M (ECM, 1981) with Richie Beirach, George Mraz, and Peter Donald Now: Jimmy Smith with Stanley Turrentine - Prayer Meetin' (Blue Note, 1964) with Quentin Warren & Donald Bailey

Earlier today: Originally releaesed as two Columbia LPs: Believe It (1975) and Million Dollar Legs (1976); with Allan Holdsworth

Next up: Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Giraldilla (Messidor, 1990)

More Basie, this time with The Divine One:

Excellent review. Thanks for sharing, CJ. I'm adding Side Eye NYC to my list.

Prompted by TTK's Neal Hefti thread: