connoisseur series500

Sounds like a good name for a law firm. Specialty: accidents and liability suits!

Pete, Blue John is certainly better than that Donaldson, "Lush Life" i'm sending to you. I'm just hoping you've got different tastes and will really appreciate it.

Here are my thoughts on the Patton discography: 1963 Along Came John (4 stars) 1963 Blue John (4.5 stars) I'd rate it at 3.5 1964 The Way I feel (3 stars) I'd give it 4 1965 Oh Baby! (4 stars) 1965 Let em Roll! (5 stars) I'd give it 4 1966 Got a Good think Goin (4.5 stars) 5 all the way baby!! 1968 That Certain Feeling (3 stars) another 5!! 1968 Boogaloo (2.5 stars) 4 stars 1968 Understanding (2 stars) 3 stars 1969 Accent on the Blues (3 stars) I'd give it 4 1969 Memphis to New York Spirit (3 stars) 4.5 stars. Great session. AMG is screwed up when it comes to Big John.

"Blue John" is definitely one of the weaker Big John sessions, in my opinion. I would probably rate it 3.5 stars. J. Larsen and I agree there. Rooster's 3 stars is a tad light, I think, but I'm being PRECISE!! Thanks for the contribution Tjazz even if this might not be your favorite type of topic. BTW, I often pick on AMG as far as their rating system is concerned, but they are still an invaluable and favorite reference source for me. No one is perfect.

Thanks Swede for the pic. Not the most flattering picture of Aruna but I appreciate the effort. Take it from me guys, this woman is beautiful. I've seen her in other pics. BTW, Sophia, Peter Leko's wife is the daughter of a grandmaster as well. Wonder if she's the brain behind Peter's fondness for pink suits?

yak! yak! yak! yak! Cmon jim, I'll move for you: 1...Nf6 (pretty much the most common reply). Now someone else make some moves and I'll join in again later.

After checking online, it looks like the Hicks and Fambrough sessions have been lowered to 4.5 stars as well. Still overrated by a bunch. Maybe 4.5 stars is AMG's version of 5 stars now.

Here are another couple of examples of cds rated 5 stars which don't deserve it in my opinion: John Hicks, "Single Petal of a Rose" (yechhhh!) Charles Fambrough, "Blues at Bradleys" I love Charles Fambrough but "Blues" is not a 5 star cd and nowhere near the quality of "Proper Angle" or "The Charmer." Maybe AMG has since revised these opinions. I am going by AMG guide 3rd edition.

No problem, Jim, and it's a good idea on your part. BTW, you would be surprised how many insecure idiots there are out there who play on those online sites like ICC or KC before it went bankrupt. Met some great friends there, but there were a lot of insecure people as well who use powerful computers. Hey, Kitten has made a move; why not reply, Jim?

I did not like "Good Move" and sold the cd somewhere. There was one track on it I liked: think it was the third or fourth one; can't remember anymore. Haven't dared to try another cd by him since. Obviously, I missed something, especially with that ringing endorsement by Big John.

Wow, who says grandmasters can't get women? Of course, a boxer shows up and they're all over him!! Vishy Anand's wife is real cute too. I can't post pictures but perhaps someone can come up with one. On the other hand, Jan Timman married his wife for reasons other than looks evidently, but his daughter is real cute, if my memory is correct. Bobby Fischer has a Filipino girlfriend, but no one knows what she looks like. Basically he is married to himself! Bologan has been making waves even before the tournament in Dortmund. He won the Aeroflot Open which was no easy task. He is obviously on the way up. I was following the Dortmund games live over the past few weeks. He came up with a lot of opening novelties and had some good fortune to beat Peter Lecko who was in a better position. Vishy beat Bologan in a beautiful game. Nice rook sac.

I'm listening to "Lush Life" again as I write and I cannot revise my initial estimate. It's a 3-star in my book and no more. It is well recorded and has its moments but it's a big yawner. Mccoy Tyner tries to add a bit of punch to "It might as Well Be Spring," but basically everybody plays like they're asleep. Great linup and no one seems to be clicking. Lou's alto sounds treacly sweet. My impression is that some of these songs would have been great as add ons to other cds but to record and play them all on one cd is positively diabetic!! My blood sugar level has risen too high! I must point out that I've never been thrilled with altos playing ballads after Charlie Parker with Strings. Everything else is a big letdown after that. I can't take Frank Morgan's sickly sweet tones on ballads either. Jackie Mac can do it because he's got that tone with an edge. Sonny Stitt can do it as well cause he's aggressive even on ballads. Again, if mixed with uptempo stuff, many of these ballads would be fine, but to make a cd with the same tone song after song...too much sugar! Everyone on this cd plays solos like they're walking on eggshells. Such great musicians too! I guess it's just taste.

It just didn't "speak" to me, PJ, but maybe I got to give it another spin after reading Dan's post. Will be back later on that....

Let's hear your thoughts about which sessions are overrated by AMG. We often beef about ones which get little respect. Aren't they some which get greater respect than they should? Here's one to start: Lou Donaldson, "Lush Life." AMG gives it 5 stars. No way, Jose!!! It's a 3-star at best, in my opinion. I know there are others, but that's the one that springs to mind right now. What do you guys think?

Same here. Happy b-day Lon! Let's hope you've got another 50 or 60 ahead of you!

I didn't want to respond as I didn't think it right to "kick out" the Karim thread from the main board visibility. Now that JK has already done it then I can respond! I don't play online chess anymore. I used to and it badly damaged my game. Problem is that I became adept at quick moves and lost my ability to think deeply. I quit online chess and my results improved tremendously. There are other issues as well: people use computers and so on without revealing it. I'm sure JK is on the level. I will gladly watch the game but won't play. Sorry all but I save my playing for tournaments and my butt is always on the line. My games are published on websites for all to see, so I'm not hiding from anyone. I risk my rating whenever I play in tournaments and put my heart and soul into those games. Between tournaments I do not play chess but try to study and work on chess calculations. Online chess is detrimental to that.

Sadly this is so often the case with many jazz musicians. I would agree with you on this. I still like "Moodswing" because of Mehldau. (While Mehldau's stuff as a leader leaves me cold.)

There are so many sessions he was involved with as sideman. Perhaps choose something he did with Wayne Shorter. Those two worked so well together. I think the previously mentioned "Adam's Apple" cd has many great cuts.

Great post, Marcus! Viva a Bossa Nova!

Thanks Joe, I sincerely appreciate your support. Old fellahs like me need all the help we can get!

Forgot to mention: I have won my last four tournaments and am undefeated in my last 15 rated games. How long will this last? I'm living a dream... Even if I'm suffering from a king-sized headache right now. Sure wish that other aspects of my life were going as good...

Played in a tournament yesterday and tied for first. It was arranged in quad fashion which means that there were four all-play-all player sections. I was paired in the top section and won 1 game and drew 2 for a total of 2 points. The fellow I beat won his last two games to tie me with 2 points for first. I am pleased because I played against the best guys in the city. I am now the best and pretty much proved it once again. Don't know how much longer that will last, but I'm pretty happry right now. Wasn't sure how well I would be playing as I didn't get much studying done over the last month or so and I didn't get that much sleep the night before. My play was pretty good though. I think I'm still getting better. Imagine that...an old fart like me! To all the middleaged people out there: we're not dead yet!! (I feel like George Foreman)

"Moodswing" is my favorite. Good work by Brad Meldau on piano. Some nice compositions.

Just found another. AMG gives Jimmy Smith, "Root Down: Live" only 2 stars, probably because it is electrified, but it's worth at least 3 stars.