sal

Without any disrespect to Kenny Drew, I've always found him to be pretty much standard fare. He's really good at the bop/mainstream type thing, but then again, so were so many other players of that same time. He is a really good player, but I never really found much in him that really makes him stand out from the rest. Now George Cables, he sounds like no one else, and his individualism really shines on these sides. If you don't like his style, that's cool.....its all a matter of taste. But you can't deny that he is absolutely an individual stylist. Also, both pianists meshed well with Dexter, but it seems like Cables really inspired him to reach heights that I never heard Dexter reach on his recordings with Kenny Drew. Just my .02

Maybe alot of people had this material already, since there's a ton of Dexter fans on this board and the material has been availiable. In any event, I didn't have the material and I think the set is incredible. I don't know who impressed me more, Dexter or George Cables.

Agreed. This is some excellent music made even better by the nice new sound.

Is it ballads?

Great purchase!! I have and greatly enjoy all three.

Thanks for your insight, Michael. Just out of curiousity, how did Hank sound in 1985? Would he have been able to hang with those guys up on the stage? I've heard that he was not in the best of shape during his last days.

I like the album more than other Byrd albums from the period. Alot of his stuff gets repetitive to me, but I thought Free Form was refreshingly different. The RVG sounds nice.

Thanks for posting, Lazaro. The Velvet Lounge is a very special place, and I plan on attending one of these functions to help support Fred and everyone else who frequents it.

Anyone seen any shows this year? I tried to get some tix for the 3 night run at the Chicago theater, but they all sold out really quick.

Glad to see that people are digging this release. It really deserves to be heard.

I really like "Corridors & Parallels". I like Ware's music quite a bit and feel like it reaches me, yet at the same time I've found that several of his albums sound similar. But Corridors & Parallels is much different from his other albums. I recommend this one. I bought Live in the World and really enjoy it. Only listened to it once.....I can't listen to Ware alot because of the intensity level, but when I do its always a good experience. I'd recommend Live in the World as well. It has a live version of Freedom Suite, so you may want to hold off on the studio album and see if you like the live one first.

I'm surprised that people don't mention "Standard of Language" more. I think that his level of playing on that one is much higher than on earlier albums. In fact, its the closest of his studio albums to capture his live shows IMO. It has only one "smooth" tune.....the rest is intense post bop with a GREAT band (Vernell Brown, Charnet Moffet and Chris Dave) just really throwing it down. It might be my favorite album of his. E$specially after his previous two albums, it was nice to see him return to his element.

One of my favorite modern saxophonists. I really like Triology, Persuance, Songbook, and Standard of Language. As good as these albums are, they don't compare to his live shows, which I've always found to be very intense and moving....even religious at certain moments. Check his appearence on Jeff "Tain" Watts' new one "Detained at the Blue Note".

I finally got this one sent to me from CD Universe after being backordered for several weeks. I've listened to it twice so far. This is a very fine release. For those who are familiar with Binney's material, it may seem strange that he's recording on label known for its mainstream "straight ahead" type sound. But what we have here is a recording that successfully pulls off that "inside/outside" feeling that has been discussed recently in other threads, but does so in a completely distinct way. The first thing that caught my ear right from the start is the rhythm section. I had never heard of Jacob Sacks, Thomas Morgan or Dan Weiss before this date. They are incredible! They swing like mad, but they can also manipulate the feel of the rhythm in a way that makes you feel like you are being pulled backward and shoved forwards at times, coming close to uneasiness. They shape shift in a way that sounds like they are about to mess up the time, but yet it still moves forward with powerful swing. Its hard to describe. The feeling I got listening to their rhythms reminded me a bit of when I saw Ornette Coleman last year with his son on drums and the two bassists. The sound is not completely "free", but not completely "inside" either. Its very weird.....and I love it. I will be watching for these guys in the future.....they are destined to become much more well known. The front line of David Binney and Chris Potter is obviously loving all of this, and they play with alot of fire spirit. To my ears Chris Potter just keeps getting better and better, and being on the front line with a player like Binney really pushes him hard. Their interaction on this album gives the feeling of an old school blowing session, but on the fringes of the avant garde. Both of them play some of the best solos I've ever heard them play, and the pieces when they play in unison never sound cluttered, but always precise and clean. I found the majority Binney's compositions to be really interesting with a nice modern sound. Overall, I'd say that this is the finest release from Criss Cross in quite a while and will likely be one of my favorites of 2005.

I was thinking about ordering it. The band sounds great on paper, but I wanted to hear more opinions first. Thanks for your post, reyles.

Are you talking about "NY1"? If so, I completely agree with you.

Che, I recommend that you watch it with them. You might enjoy it even more than they will!

Good post, randissimo.

Anyone get the new DVD of "The Incredibles"? Great movie that I enjoyed even more the second time around on DVD, and Disney is very generous with the bonus material. The cream of the crop is a new short film that shows what was happening back at home with the baby sitter and the baby!

I think "Battlefield Earth" is the worst movie ever made.

I'm going to try to make that one. I'll PM you when the date gets closer to let you know for sure.

Hello all: I have to sell my two tickets for the upcoming Sonny Rollins show at the Symphony Center in Chicago. I am going to be out of town that week, and didn't realize it when I bought the tickets. I paid over $50 per ticket, but will sell them to the first interested person who gets back to me for $25 a ticket. Seats are in the first balcony (acousticly the best spot in Orchestra Hall) on the right side. PM me if interested. Thanks!

X-Bishop, Don't be turned off by any potential replies you might get to your post....its just such a vast question to try and answer in a post. I'll give you an extremely short version. My favorite jazz artists are Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill and Fred Anderson. I could rattle off 80 more quite easily.

Oh man....

Soul Stream...you are within walking distance from several hotels, and a short cab ride from many more. Its just north of the loop, so its still has those nice downtown Chicago surroundings. Very safe neighborhood.