HutchFan

George Mraz Trio - Plucking and Bowing (Progressive)

More Phil Woods: Phil Woods - Musique du bois (Muse, rec. 1974) with Jaki Byard, Richard Davis and Alan Dawson

Speaking of Phil Woods . . . The Phil Woods Quartet - Birds of Feather (Antilles, rec. 1981)

Prompted by a lovely outpouring of Bill Barron love on another thread: Bill Barron - Jazz Caper (Muse) Yeah.

I really dig all that stuff, Larry. You'll get no argument from me that Woods' early music is wonderful. I just like his later music too. I understand that it sounds self-conscious and forced to you. But it doesn't sound that way to me. NP: Jack Walrath - Hi Jinx (Stash) I've been on a Jack Walrath kick lately. It's been fun working my way through his discography.

I dunno, gents. I'm with you in one respect: I enjoy Woods' playing. Almost all of it. And I think his work in the 70s and 80s was -- at times -- particularly inspired. On most days, I'd probably prefer his playing during those years to his work in the 50's! But, on the other hand, I would hate to have a forum where people can't honestly express their opinions, right? Because, after all, that's what ALL of our musical judgments are. Larry and Jim don't like Woods' later work. Peter and Morganized (and I) do. As long as we keep things honest and respectful, there's "no harm, no foul," right?

Great song. Great clip. Lots of country music royalty on that stage. Thanks for sharing, soulstation. R.I.P.

I've probably listened to the 1960 Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers set more than any other. It was the first Mosaic set I ever bought, and I listened to it constantly back in the day. Others that get relatively frequent play: Ellington Small Group, Oliver Nelson, Gerald Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie. The 30s Ellington Big Band set was my most recent Mosaic purchase -- only after their "impending doom" message. In time, I expect this set will be tops on my "most frequently played" list.

Early Ellington: The Complete Brunswick And Vocalion Recordings Of Duke Ellington, 1926-1931 (GRP) Couldn't agree more with this assessment, Larry. I find the same is true of Gerald Wilson's Mosaic set. The good stuff is just SO STRONG that it's "essential" -- even though some of the music in the latter part of the set is less-than-stellar.

Genesis - Seconds Out (Atlantic)

Sir Roland Hanna - Solo Piano: Free Spirit (Storyville) Disc 1

Martial Solal Trio with Peter Erskine & Marc Johnson - Triangle (JMS) I wish that CD was still available. It's now fetching absurdly high prices from resellers.

Lovely.

Spinning this again: Andrew Hill Trio & Quartet - Shades (Soul Note)

Mal Waldron - Black Glory: Recorded Live at the Domicile (Enja) with Jimmy Woode & Pierre Favre The first Enja.

Two Jack Walrath CDs: Jack Walrath & the Masters of Suspense - Out of the Tradition (Muse) The Jack Walrath Group - Hi Jinx (Stash) Collects 2 Stash LPs from the early 80's -- A Plea for Sanity and Revenge of the Fat People -- on one CD.

More Fatha Hines: One for My Baby (Black Lion) More irrepressible vitality.

This was the first Hutcherson-as-a-leader recording I ever heard. I was prompted to find it after seeing the "crown" rating it was given in the Penguin Guide. Bobby quickly became -- and still is -- one of my very favorite artists. (I guess that's sorta obvious, given my avatar name. ) But what an INCREDIBLE debut. Talk about a strong start! Andrew Hill composed most of the tunes, so I think it's a little bit less representative than the music that would follow. (If I'd written the Penguin Guide, I'd give the crown to Happenings, which -- to my ears -- is more thoroughly Bobby's record.) OTOH, any way you slice it, Dialogue is a stunner, an amazing record. I'm still sad that he's gone. But I'm grateful for the music. What a gift.

Four Jazz Giants: Earl Hines Plays Tributes to W.C. Handy, Hoagy Carmichael, Louis Armstrong (Solo Art)

Chuck - I know practically nothing about Desmar, other than the fact that they made a few recordings with Stokowski. Did they record classical music exclusively?

Earl 'Fatha' Hines - The Father of Modern Jazz Piano (M.F. Productions) LP 5: Cavernism -- with Budd Johnson (ts), Bill Pemberton (b), and Oliver Jackson (d) Hines & Budd Johnson always sound great together.

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3 / Stokowski, National PO (EMI; originally issued on Desmar)

NP: Dick Wellstood - Live at Hanratty's (Chaz Jazz, 2 LPs) Superb.