HutchFan

Billy Harper - Somalia (Evidence, 1995) Powerful.

Ray Barretto - Time Was - Time Is (0+ Music, 2005)

Richie Beirach, Gregor Huebner, George Mraz - Round About Bartok (ACT, 2000)

and

Pat Metheny & Brad Mehldau - Metheny / Mehldau (Nonesuch, 2006)

I've been listening to a couple CDs by Terence Blanchard:

Wadada Leo Smith's Golden Quartet - The Year of the Elephant (Pi, 2002) with Anthony Davis, Malachi Favors Maghostut, and Jack DeJohnette A "Golden Quartet" indeed!

Now: Phineas Newborn, Jr. - Solo Piano (32 Jazz; originally Atlantic) Earlier today: Jack Walrath & the Masters of Suspense - Serious Hang (Muse)

Oh yeah!

Jack Wilkins - Trioart (Arabesque, 1998)

Over the last year or so, I've been digging into Jack Walrath's discography, tracking down more and more of his music. Phew! So much good stuff out there! I suppose most folks associate him with Mingus, still. But Walrath is a POTENT musician in any context. Jack Walrath & Masters of Suspense - Gut Feelings (Muse, 1991) This is jazz that artfully integrates a small string ensemble (4 vn, 2 va, 2 vc). So many "jazz with strings" records just don't take flight. This one does.

Dave Burrell - The Jelly Roll Joys (Gazell)

Brad, thanks for sharing this. Very interesting! An aside: I wouldn't consider this article a review; I'd be more inclined to call it "scholarly writing about jazz." Lewis Porter knows his stuff!

Nice single-disc compilation of "sideman" recordings that Pepper made for the Japanese Atlas label near the end of his life.

and

Humair, Ducret, Chevillon + Eskelin - Liberté Surveillée (Sketch) Disc 1 and Mark Helias' Open Loose - Atomic Clock (Radio Legs)

First spin of a new-to-me CD: Bobby Previte - Weather Clear, Track Fast (Enja, 1991) with Bobby Previte (d, comp, arr), Graham Haynes (cor), Don Byron (cl, bs), Marty Ehrlich (cl, b cl, as, fl), Robin Eubanks (tb), Anthony Davis (p), and Anthony Cox (b) One helluva band.

The Jack Walrath Group - Hi Jinx (Stash CD) Compiles music originally released on 2 Stash LPs: - Revenge of the Fat People (1982), quintet with Ricky Ford, Michael Cochrane, Cameron Brown & Mike Clark - A Plea for Sanity (1983), trio with Michael Cochrane & Anthony Cox

CT & Brookmeyer always sound great together. NP:

I dunno, Jim. I just know that people -- including me -- like having stuff around them that reflects their sense of who they are. That's why car-makers don't sell cars based on the car's features or restaurants sell their food based on taste. They're selling lifestyle accessories, identity badges, tribal markers. ... And if that wasn't such a powerful thing -- if it didn't work -- no one would do it. And everyone is doing it.

Sounds like a great evening. Thanks! NP: Earlier today: