Late

The 1923-1931 Okeh Hot Dance Band Recordings disc appears to be a new reissue on Retrieval. Looks tasty.

Here are details on the NORK set.

I'll give it a spin tomorrow. As I recall (on the 1990 reissue), the distortion, or whatever it is, is only present two or three times on the disc. It sounds similar to the bell of a horn coming too close to the mike — a rattling, overblowing sound. I actually thought that this was the case, but when The Soothsayer, which had the same problem, was "fixed" back in 1998 (— the first reissue was 1990, I believe), it made me think that the same problem might be fixable on Clubhouse. The 1990 Clubhouse reissue also happens to be on the quiet/flat side (to my ears), so perhaps Rudy's amp-it-up treatment might actually be an improvement. I hope they keep the original Toshiba cover! (For some reason, I don't think Blue Note will. They didn't, at least, for Oblique.)

Retrieval also just re-reissued The Complete 1932 Rhythm Makers set. Argh — I want that one too! The only place on the internet I can find these new reissues, however, is Worlds Records. They're a fine e-tailer, but their prices aren't the best.

When I was 14, I loved The Police. I revisited my favorites about a year ago (their first two albums), and sadly just couldn't get with them. Strangely or not, the same wasn't true for another band I loved at that age: U2. Their first two albums still sound good to me. I actually like Branford Marsalis — — — when he makes fun of Sting. Though it's not The Police, I think one Sting tune that's absolutely aged the worst is: "Russians." Egad.

What set do you all recommend seeking out to optimally hear NORK? Now that it's back in-print, I had my eye on the Retrieval, but thought I would ask here first.

This may have been mentioned earlier (haven't read the whole thread), but Dex's duet (completely sans rhythm section) with Al Cohn entitled "On the Trail" on Silver Blue is excellent. It's really interesting to just hear two tenors going back and forth, one creating "rhythm" while the other solos.

... and Jimmy Rowles. If anyone would like to share some jpgs, that would be great!

In the spirit of sharing Xanadu cover art, I'll post a few (smallish) jpegs. They work well for anyone using iTunes. Here's Dolo Coker and Walter Bishop Jr. for starters:

Thanks TL! I was just looking for a simple jpeg, but this was very kind of you.

Chuck, you usually take it easy on me — so, no worries. I find Gettin' Around "pleasant," but I do quite like Clubhouse. The modal title track has a superior Dex solo, and the ballad "I'm a Fool to Want You," as Lon mentioned, is a heartbreaker. These are the best two tracks, in my opinion. Hubbard doesn't do much for me on this session, but that's allright. When you have a chance — and not that I really think I'll change your mind — give Dex's solo on "Clubhouse" another spin. There's some intensity there worth listening to.

I actually think that Clubhouse is one of Dex's best Blue Note efforts. I think it was recorded the same week as Gettin' Around, but it has a lot more fire IMO than the session with Hutcherson (which I also like). The original 80's CD version, with the cool (and original) Japanese cover, has some awful distortion on it — the very same problem the original version of The Soothsayer had. I hope, for this new remaster, that problem was addressed. (I've never heard the Dex box set.) I'm guessing the distortion wasn't in the original tapes, but of course I could be wrong. At any rate, I'm in for the Dex and Hill. Too bad CDU bumped their prices up.

Some day I want to fly to Paris and see your vinyl collection, Guy. (I promise to bring fig jam with me.)

Another thanks. Blue Boyé is one of my all-time favorites. For those who like that record, I'd encourage you to check out a CD entitled Statements by multi-instrumentalist Michael Cooke — on Cooke's label called Black Hat Records (out of the Bay Area). Hemphill's solo effort was the direct influence and inspiration for Cooke's record. It only sounds like Hemphill at times, however, and Cooke adds bassoon to the mix.

The guy from jazzmusicdepot.com who made at least four separate posts at various times in the Offering forum for Xanadu LPs still has a number for sale. I've never ordered from him, but I think a member above (in this thread) has.

I own that film. I remember when I first watched it — I actually turned it off right at the very scene you mention. Flea's patronizing remarks pissed me off that much (I was 21 at the time). He then asks Chet about Lee Morgan, and "did Lee Morgan really get shot by his girlfriend?" Chet responds quietly and nurses his drink. Flea breaks out into laughter. Flea also had a similar exchange with Charles Bukowski. Perhaps "Louse" would be more apt for his moniker. He's also responsible for some of the world's worst scat singing ever — at the very beginning of "Let's Get Lost." Oh, this is an Ornette thread ...

Chuck — interesting that you should mention the Fontana. I just received it in the mail this weekend. Have spun it once so far. A nice session indeed.

What albums should one turn to in order to hear Don Joseph?

I see that I started this thread back in 2004 with the dangerous proposition of wanting to hear this music ... on a recordable compact disc, that is. I have the Fresh Sound disc now — actually listening to it as I type — and the music is fine. I actually like both ABC albums quite a bit. I'd enthusiastically recommend the music here to anyone with an interest, say, in Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band.

The very first (compact disc) edition of the Coral album has the bonus track. The Keepnews edition then nixed it. I've never heard the first edition (c. late 80's), and am not even sure who reissued it. --------------------- On another note (back to Xanadu) ~ Cohn's recording of "America" is strangely, almost ironically (for these times), breathtaking. It's played as a sort of bossa, but Cohn handles the melody so respectfully and so straightly, you feel as though he really cares about, and subscribes to, the lyrics.

It really is an emotionally beautiful and technically beautiful solo. Some of the ghosted grace notes that he slips in there ... what a trumpet player. It's nice that the film quality is fine as well.

Oops. Totally slept on the fact that there was a box set. I have a friend that goes "clubbing," and she loves the Nina remixed set. She'd never even heard of Nina until that package was released.

They were recorded about 3 months apart. Did you get the version of the Coral Cohn/Sims with a bonus track? The track "Gone with the Wind"? I missed that edition.

Love the stories here. My earliest live jazz experience was in 1984 (Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers -- I was 14), so you can see I missed out on a lot. (I've only seen my idol Sonny Rollins once! 1991.) I wish I could have been there for that Romano set! Sounds amazing.

Was Motoring Along reissued on compact disc? (Anyone know where it might be purchased?) I know Body and Soul came out both domestically and in Japan on CD. That album has two beautiful ballads, the title track and "Emily." Both Cohn's and Sim's tones are unusually dark on these tracks. Absolutely gorgeous. Has anyone mentioned Al Cohn's effort with Spike Robinson? I'm about to pull the trigger on that one. I'm a little surprised it's still available on CD. I've listened to sound samples of Cohn's Overtones with his son on guitar, but didn't get too excited. The Cohn/Brookmeyer Coral date that Larry mentions was recorded within days of the Cohn/Sims Coral date I think — I'll have to check. I like the session with Brookmeyer, but love the session with Sims. The track "Two Funky People" knocks me out. Both Cohn and Sims are on clarinet on that one.