Late

Good questions. Records had to have been relatively cheap to "produce" at that time, and then priced very modestly. Just an assumption, of course, as I wasn't around in the 50's. And that doesn't answer any of your questions! Have any of you noticed recently that if Lonehill etc. dried up and failed to exist ... that would essentially cut in half Dusty Groove's jazz offerings? It seems that DG's making a killing on these "borrowed" CDs. They must, otherwise they wouldn't keep restocking them. Another question: are packaging and liner notes important to all here when they buy a Lonehill "reissue"? If Lonehill can burn a disc from Mosaic etc. and sell it for profit, why don't CD-R trading circles exist that prey off Lonehill stuff, especially those CDs that come from harder-to-find vinyl sources? Well, they probably do exist ... I have/had one Lonehill disc — the Steve Lacy Whitey Mitchell sessions. I burned it and sold it, and didn't feel bad about that afterward. It's one I'd recommend, and there's one used copy out there somewhere! Oh -- got an e-mail from Cuscuna a while back, and he said that Dave Bailey's Epic sessions were "on the list" for the Mosaic Select treatment. I imagine it'll happen eventually.

That was my impression too. I didn't notice the significance of Bateman's change in attire, but my wife caught it — especially when Garner says "your shirt's stupid."

Actually a typo for Steepin' ... Little known fact: Grant Green is short for Grant Greentea. ( )

That's a pretty strong reaction! Garner's character didn't seem creepy to me at all, but perhaps that's because my current circle of friends are mostly women in their mid-30's, some pregnant, and some desperately trying to get pregnant. Garner's desire for a child seemed one of the most authentic aspects of the film to me. Everyone will naturally have their own take, but I didn't find anything truly offensive about the film. It'll be interesting to see if Diablo Cody writes for the screen again. With an Oscar now on her résumé, she'll at least have easier access to financial backing. Also be interesting to see if John Malkovich chooses to (co)produce again.

Indeed. 1998 was a great year for reissues. Many great OJC single and comp. reissues were also released that year, and Mosaic put out their usual gems (the Bud Shank among them). Even Columbia/Legacy's reissue program was going strong. Glad that Cuscuna got as many titles out there when he did.

I'm with ya there. For some reason, that type of music ... seems very self-conscious to me. I liked the father's character and Jennifer Garner's character most. I couldn't quite get with the writing for Juno's character. Seemed a little forced to me — like a 39 year-old inhabiting what they'd think a teenager's voice/mannerisms would be? Maybe that's a little too hard, but I was left with that impression. Still liked the film. The opening credits reminded me of "Napoleon Dynamite," which I think I liked even better.

They're already spinning Prodigal Son in Greenland.

At least purchase Vol. 8 — you can live with that one for a long time and still find new things to explore.

I wish the Cecil Taylor was in that list. That's the Mosaic I'm still looking for ...

Never heard that one before. It's added to the list. (Collectors like to get giddy about a record before they've heard it. S'part of the fun.) [Edited for typo.]

I'm also excited about Beyond The Purple Star Zone. I've decided to pass on the Transparency releases (though I'm sure there's some good music there), but generally anything that was originally a Saturn release is worth adding to the collection. That's the way a lot of (most?) jazz fan(atic)s are — they're collectors. Gets in the blood, and then it's a hard habit to break. That's why Dusty Groove has The Complete 1965 John Coltrane Fingernail Clippings box set in their upcoming reissues list. Oh, and that three disc Willie Nelson Complete Ghost box, besides the wonky sound, is pretty good. Willie sans beard: recordings worth paying attention to.

Now there's a Ra album that's worth reissuing. Omniverse Saturn 91379 Side A: The Place of Five Points West End Side of Magic City Dark Lights in a White Forest Side B: Omniverse Visitant of the Ninth Ultimate Ra-p; Michael Ray-tp; Marshall Allen-as; John Gilmore-ts; Danny Ray Thompson-bs; Richard Williams-b; Luqman Ali-d. West End Cafe, New York - September 13th, 1979

Wilton Crawley: 1927-1930 If you've ever wondered how descriptions such as "laughing clarinet" or "stovepipe clarinet" actually translate into sound, this disc is an excellent example. There's also a track on this disc — "Crawley Clarinet Moan" — where I can finally understand why so many reviewers like to relate Albert Ayler's playing to the "roots" of jazz. I don't know if Ayler ever heard Crawley, but I think he (Ayler) would have appreciated/like this song. Enthusiastically recommended, especially to converts of this era.

I've been listening to some sound samples by the Casa Loma Orchestra, and will probably pick up a disc of theirs. Right now I'm leaning toward Boneyard Shuffle, but was wondering if any Hep fans here had other faves. Also — has anyone here heard The New Friends of Rhythm? The (one) review on Amazon has piqued my interest.

Somebody get this one: Al Cohn and Zoot Sims - "Body and Soul" ... so that I won't have to break my self-imposed buying ban! p.s. The music's good too.

Me too — and I think it was actually called North Texas State Teacher's College when Giuffre was there. My first year there (I was only there two years) was the year it became the "University of North Texas." Before that it was more famously North Texas State University. Julius Hemphill went to North Texas, and Rudresh Mahanthappa spent two years there (we were in the same dorm) before transferring to Berklee. EKE BBB — that CD with Barre Phillips and Don Friedman is nice. Guy (brownie) gifted me that disc! Giuffre's spirit will live on through his music without question. I like that he was probably the only saxophonist to use a clarinetist's embouchre when playing the tenor and baritone — hence his somewhat unusual handle on those horns. A true original.

Yep. If couw were around, I bet he'd have put up a fixed version (if possible). He was/is generous that way.

Thanks for posting that article EKE BBB. Every fan of this music has an album that "changed their life." For me, one of those life-changing albums was Giuffre's Fusion (reissued as 1961 on ECM). When I first heard "Jesus Maria," I thought to myself: This is what I've been waiting to hear. It seems like I held my breath throughout the entire track. I read somewhere (and can't remember where, for the life of me) that Giuffre was a friend/acquaintance of Joe Chambers, and that, in fact, he had gigged with Chambers and Richard Davis circa 1965. Has anyone here ever read/heard that? It'd be something if a private recording of that trio surfaced (that is, if I'm not hallucinating).

Yes — John Corbett writes in the liners that "over the course of time the Unheard Music Series intends to make the most arresting and significant of these [pre-NRG private recordings] available to the public." This is the only one so far, at least that I know of. The group at this time was not yet the NRG Ensemble, but rather "Hal Russell's Chemical Feast." The frontline on Elixir comprises Mars Wiliams and Spider Middleman on saxophones (with Russell occasionally making it three saxophones) — before Chuck Burdelik (a personal fave here) rejoined the group for the NRG Ensemble on Nessa. The latter, in my opinion, is even better than Elixir. Anyone who professes an affection for "free" or "avant-garde" music should have the Nessa CD in their collection — no excuses. (And that's free advertising for you Chuck!) Does anyone know the story behind the name "Spider Middleman"? He apparently died in 2000 in Los Angeles.

Russell's Elixir is worth owning too.

Anyone come across any of these recordings?

Up to note that Lazaro's link above still works — thought new members might be interested in this interesting record. Listening to the album right now.

Fermented llama "oysters" ...

And that side dish ... ain't potatoes.

Spontooneous is actually responsible for my first exposure to Dallapiccola. Still getting my ears around the vocal works, which is a good thing!