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I picked up Wycliffe Gordon's "Dig It" and Ralph Petersen's "Tests of Time". The Wycliffe album is quite good. He's one of the most exciting tromboists out there IMO and this album is no exception. However, his last one was "United Soul Experience", and that's a tough one to follow. While not as good, "Dig It" is still quite a solid effort. "Tests of Time" didn't quite make a great initial impression, but after a few listens, I have come to the conclusion that its Ralph's best album on Criss Cross. It stays in the spirit of "Art of War" and "Subliminal Seduction", but this one feels more mature, like the band is finally finding the sound that they've been heading towards. Ralph's quintet is one of the most exciting in jazz right now. I haven't gotten Adam Roger's "Allegory", but I heard it being played at a record store near my house, and I think that one might be the best of the bunch. I can't wait to get it.

Its a real nice disc! Ron is in typical excellent form, and Joey DeFrancesco TEARS it up. The guitar playing by David Gilmore was a nice treat, as I had never heard him play before, and he plays quite well on this album. There is a trumpeter whose name escapes me who I had also never heard before, and he does really well on the few songs he appears on. My only complaint is that Christian McBride and Greg Hutchinson, two of my favorite rhythm players, are confined to a supportive role for the most part, and aren't really given much space to show off their superior skills on their respective instruments. Oh well....I guess they don't have anything to prove anyways. The material is by Stanley & Tommy Turrentine, Charles Earland and Grover Washington Jr. I think Ron does a great job with the material, both in selection and arrangement. It gives him a wide palette to show off his incredible improvising abilities and monster chops. I recommend this album pretty much everyone.

I saw the Greg Osby Four here in Chicago a couple months ago. The only thing is that...one of the Four didn't show due to the blackout! So a local drummer sat in. It was a nice show, but as you know if you listen to alot of Greg Osby, his compositions/arrangements can be complex and sometimes tricky. The drummer was having a bit of a hard time. Granted what a daunting task it must be to sit in with Greg Osby having never played with him before, I really admired that guy on drums, and he did quite decent considering. But you could tell the band was holding back due to their regular drummer's absence. So in all, look forward to a great show given all four of them show up! Maybe Osby will sit in with JaMo the night before. That would be sweet to see.

He's one of the best up and coming drummers out there.

Sorry...I didn't see the other post on this topic. Maybe this thread can focus just on the surround mix.

Has anyone gotten this DVD yet? I watched it last night, and it seems that they got the video transfers and extras right, but I just don't hear the 5.1 surround mix. I have a decent home theater system, so I know its not my stereo. I read a review on amazon and some guy was saying the same thing...most of the gunfights and explosions come from the center channel. You almost can't hear any evidence of the 5.1 mix. Anyone run across a similar problem? Post your opinions here.

Ralph Petersen - Tests of Time Dave Holland Quintet - Extended Play: Live at Birdland Ornette Coleman - The Shape of Jazz to Come Blue Mitchell Mosaic John Coltrane & Don Cherry - The Avant Garde Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - Little Worlds

Wow...after reading people's thoughts in this thread, I feel ingorant for only having "Meets the Rhythm Section" in my collection. Can anyone give me some more essential Pepper recs? Any other good box sets aside from the ones already listed?

Thanks for that recommendation Joe G. Here's another one I like as well: Making Music Don't listen to what AMG says...they know not of what they speak. Yeah, they are playing at the Chicago Theater again, site of the amazing show two years ago! Shakti doesn't promote its tours very well....I guess I've just been lucky to find out about them when they do take place. Tickets should still be availiable if you want to go.

He plays avant-garde style jazz, but he's the best at it IMO. I would recommend his album "Dao" to start. Fantastic, emotional playing by him and his incredible quartet.

Joe G - my sentiments exactly on "The Wish". One of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. If I ever get married, that one will be in the wedding! I'm seeing Remember Shakti next Wednesday here in Chicago. The lineup from the album "The Believer" will be in the house. I saw them a couple years ago and it was a mesmerizing show. Anyways, back to the topic, I'm greatly looking forward to "Universal Syncopations". Should be a great one.

Listen to some David S Ware. It doesn't get much more emotional than that.

Every single Wayne Shorter Blue Note title from the sixties is absolutely essential in my opinion.

It was Frank Zappa. The actual quote is "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

Thanks for the review Jad. I'm looking forward to seeing him next month here in Chicago.

Alegria is very nice, you should get it Sundog. It was a bit of an awkward listen at first, but it revealed itself to me gradualy and now I really enjoy it quite a bit.

Also, don't forget Oliver Nelson's classic "The Blues and the Abstract Truth", which contains some of Dolphy's best playing on record.

Thanks alot for your helpful info, B3-er!!

I'm with you too, Wesbed. Fantastic organ player. "Grantstand" has been getting alot of play time in my CD deck. Does anyone who has the new RVG of "Grantstand" notice some distortion in the organ lines on the first track? I don't know if this is supposed to sound like that, but the organ seems to distort at times.

Get it while you can.

Pangaea is a great one, lots of space with great playing by Miles and the guitarists

Yeah, the Five Spot recordings are tha SHIT! I also recently heard "Last Date" for the first time. Incredible session! God, I wish Dolphy was still alive.....

Ralphie Boy, Some may disagree with me, but to my ears some of the stuff he did for RCA/Victor after "The Bridge" sounds a bit like EBR, especially the stuff with Don Cherry and Billy Higgins.

Great album!!! I must respectfully disagree with you, Tom. I think the Parker/Drake rhythm section is the top drums/bass team around today. And right now, it may be difficult to see thier contribution to jazz simply because they continue to quietly contribute such a large output of work together. But there is not a doubt in my mind that future generations will look back years from now and marvel at their accomplishments in the same vein as many of the masters. Just as a sample, take two of the albums from this year that they have appeared on together: William Parker's "Scrapbook" and Peter Brotzman's "Never Too Late But Always Too Early". Completely different types of music....both masterpieces that should be on anyone's top 10 of the year lists. These guys energize everybody that they play with...they coax incredible performances out of everyone they back up. Not to mention they sound incredible as a duo. When it comes to creativity, energy, innovation, and pure sonic mastery, its hard to find a drum/bass team in jazz today who can touch these guys. To compare them with Miles and Trane? That might be going a bit too far today. But once their legacy is complete and time has judged who will be remembered, don't be surprised if the names of these two pop up in the same vein as any pair of greats in this music.

If you look at the Mosaic Records catalogue, and go to the page that has the Elvin Jones set, there is a picture of Elvin playing, eyes closed, cigarette hanging out of his mouth. That's the one!