HutchFan

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:

For me, the main reasons to buy vinyl: 1.) It costs less than buying the CD equivalent. 2.) The CD equivalent doesn't exist; it's never been issued in digital format. For me, the main reason to buy CDs: 1.) It costs less than the LP equivalent. 2.) The LP equivalent doesn't exist; the music was made after LPs were no longer being produced. So I guess you could say that I want the MUSIC. Format is secondary. If I can get two records in one format and one record in another, I want the format that gets me TWO. . . . All that said, vinyl is more fun. Yeah, CDs are more practical. But vinyl is somehow more . . . desirable. Actually, I think it has something to do with the fact that LPs degrade over time. Ironically, their temporary-ness somehow makes them seem MORE valuable. Of course, the same could be said of LP album covers too; cardboard is so much more fragile than plastic CD cases. All of that is part of what makes finding an old LP in excellent condition such a thrill. . . . All of this is irrational, I know. But I guess it's no different than feeling like CDs & LPs are more "real" than MP3s (and I do). And it's like feeling that streaming isn't "legit" at all for someone who really loves music (and I do). With streaming, there's no "thingy-ness" at all, nothing tangible whatsoever. Isn't that what young people are reacting to?

I really like this one.

More Pepper Adams: Don Friedman - Hot Knepper and Pepper (Progressive, 1980)