HutchFan

NP: Andrew Cyrille & Maono - Metamusicians' Stomp (Black Saint) Yeah!

Yep. RC can sound stiff. Sometimes that's exactly what the music needs. Other times, not so much. For me, Buster is at the other end of this particular spectrum. Buster is NEVER stiff. He's always limber. And I don't mean rubber-bandy limber. I'm talking flexible like a dancer's body. I think that's why he's such a bad-ass with those Mwandishi ostinatos.

People are still writing books about Beethoven, and he's been dead a lot longer than Max! And Beethoven was every bit as complicated as Roach. Lots to love and admire in both men ... and lots not so much. Max's story deserves to be told! Yes ! And plenty more besides !

Different depths and colors is O.K. by me. Fred Hopkins. Yes. Sam Jones. Yes. George Mraz. Yes. Cecil McBee. Yes. Buster Williams. Yes. Red Mitchell. Yes. ... thinking about a bassist whose 70s sound really doesn't appeal to me that much... Ron Carter? (... Is that heresy? )

Ah, I gotcha. That makes sense. I'm just grateful that this forum exists. Building the blog is gratifying. But knowing that we can kick around ideas each week -- the talk that happens -- is what has kept me going.

Hmm... Not sure what that would tell us -- except for the degree to which other folks' preferences happen to overlap with mine. At the end of the year, I'm looking forward to having some discussion about what I should've included -- from other forum members' point of view. I've got those numbers in a spreadsheet, along with all albums, leaders, sidemen, recording dates, etc. Will be happy to share the file with everyone come January 1, 2021.

Oh man. What a bummer. I always go to The Strand when I'm visiting NYC. Such a great bookstore. Hopefully, they'll find a way to hang on until we turn the corner with this pandemic.

Funny. Earlier tonight I was thinking the same thing, wondering: "Why hasn't someone written a biography of Max Roach?!?" So I search the site, read this thread, come to the end, and find Gheorghe's comment. Because it seems like Roach would be an ideal subject for a biographer. He's one of the most important drummers in jazz history AND his life was interesting for all sorts of extra-musical reasons as well. Why hasn't an author taken on this project? Dumb luck? Other reasons? Thoughts?

Bennie Wallace - Live at the Public Theater (Enja, 1978) with Eddie Gomez and Dannie Richmond There's a swing-era fwap! in Wallace's sound that I really dig. But his playing is thoroughly modern -- if not free-ish (at least on this disc).

Yikes. I had no idea. I guess the daughter is carrying on a family tradition, eh? (And not a bad one. Just a bad one.)

Agree 100%. ... Jimmy Rowles called Mraz "Bounce" because he's a Bad Czech. It's a superb record.

Yes! ... Also, the first Joanne Brackeen recording I ever heard.

NP: Bob Brookmeyer - Back Again (Sonet, 1979) with Thad Jones, Jimmy Rowles, George Mraz, and Mel Lewis One of the albums that I added to my 70s jazz survey this week.

R.I.P. Thank you for the music, Jerry Jeff.

Weekly Recap - PLAYING FAVORITES: Reflections on Jazz in the 1970s Mickey Tucker – Mister Mysterious (Muse, 1979) Jay McShann – Kansas City Hustle (Sackville, 1978) Pepper Adams – Reflectory (Muse, 1978) Archie Shepp & Dollar Brand [Abdullah Ibrahim] – Duet (Denon, 1978) Bennie Wallace – Live at the Public Theater (Enja/Inner City, 1978) Bob Brookmeyer – Back Again (Sonet/Gazell, 1979) New York Jazz Quartet – Blues for Sarka (Enja/Inner City, 1978) I love this week's selections. Every one of them. George Mraz is a hero this week, as he appears on no less than three of these albums. I've said it before: No one makes a more lovely sound on the bass than George Mraz. His bass sings! To anyone reading this post who's never heard Mickey Tucker's Mister Mysterious: Go to my blog pronto! I've embedded a YT link, so you can hear the entire LP. Frank Foster! Pepper Adams! Cecil McBee! Eddie Gladden! And Mickey Tucker's superb compositions. ... You can thank me later.

Yeah, I agree that Trying To Make Heaven My Home is the stronger record. ... But I still like The Awakening. It's like an "alternate takes" record, familiar pieces performed with a less intense vibe.

Not exactly your typical Sunday afternoon record. But such a powerful statement -- on all sorts of levels. and

More Billy Harper: and

Ran Blake - Rapport (Novus) More excellent Ricky Ford sideman work on this LP. and Milcho Leviev - Plays the Music of Irving Berlin (Discovery) First spin of an LP that I plucked from a local shop's dollar bin a few months back. Really digging it so far.

Illinois Jacquet - The Message with Kenny Burrell (Argo/Chess) Jazz Stop series reissue and Art Pepper Quartet - The Maiden Voyage Sessions, Vol. 3 (Galaxy) Laurie Pepper: "These 3 nights at the Maiden Voyage in L.A. with George Cables, David Williams, and Carl Burnett were some of the most memorable nights of my life. This was Art's road band at the end of his life. They'd been touring nonstop for about a year, and they were tight."

Thanks! 👍

Yep.

NP: Woody Herman - The Best of the Decca Years (MCA) That looks interesting, kh. What do you think of it?

I agree. They're solid if not spectacular.

More Ricky Ford. This time in a sideman role on Mal Waldron's Crowd Scene. Fantastic. Five big, intense stars.