Late

Of the fifteen sessions, I've heard/have: • Archie Shepp/Bill Dixon • Paul Bley • Bill Barron • Contemporary Five/7-tette • Valdo Williams • Robert Pozar • Paul Jeffrey • Charles Moffett .. and would like to hear: • Jack Brokensha • Joseph Scianni • Vincent Hill • Marc Levin • Ed Curran • Marzette Watts • Doug Carn Some mini-reviews of those I've heard: 1. Shepp-Dixon — A board member here generously hooked me up with this one some time ago. (I promised a review, but never got around to it ... until now?) A very nice record, with Shepp really challenging himself melodically (something I don't think he always did later), and Dixon sounding a lot like Don Cherry. Highly recommended. 2. Paul Bley — One of my favorite Bley records. I think the Penguin Guide nails it when they say that, while Bill Evans was receiving all/most of the recognition during this period (circa 1962), Bley was actually recording much more interesting/challenging music. 3. Bill Barron — My least favorite Barron on Savoy. It's good for what it is, which is essentially a blowing date, but to my ears the rhythms often get bogged down with repetitiveness. Barron's earlier two Savoy sessions — which focus on his compositions, often in suite-like progression — are far superior. Others will of course disagree. 4. Contemporary Five / 7-tette Great record. If it's still available, and I think it is, grab it. Both sessions are winners, with highlights being the playing of Ken McIntyre and Howard Johnson on the Dixon side. 5. Valdo Williams — Couldn't get with this one. Williams is a good pianist, and it sounds like he'd come under the spell of Cecil Taylor to some extent on this recording, but he likes some of his licks way too much. As a result, they get repeated ... and repeated. Not a "bad" session, it just doesn't hold my interest. 6. Robert Pozar — Lots of interest on this one. Mike Zwerin on trombone and bass trumpet — yeah. As far as I know, Zwerin's coming from a bebop/cool vein (he played in Miles Davis's nonet), but he's thrown into an altogether different context here, and he prevails. Kathy Morris and Jimmy Garrison, on cello and bass, are strongly featured, sometimes in duet, as well. Pozar is content to stay in the background, while still adding some unexpected bombs. This recording could be one of the Atlantic sessions lost in the fire. 7. Paul Jeffrey — I like this one a lot, too. I wouldn't call it greasy, but rather modal with some pre-fusion touches. Electric instruments are used on this set — namely the Varitone — but it doesn't distract from the proceedings. Jimmy Owens is in great form. 8. Charles Moffett — Discussed in an AOTW. Not a "great" session, per se, but one I'm very fond of. It's more than worth owning; it's worth getting out and spinning with frequency. Even Moffett's singing, on one track, is charming

The recordings made for Savoy take an interesting turn right after the 1962 Bill Dixon-Archie Shepp session. Take a look at the below sessions. Which have you heard? Which sessions did Dixon produce? MG 12178 Archie Shepp-Bill Dixon Quartet Bill Dixon (tp) Archie Shepp (ts) Don Moore (b -1,2,4) Reggie Workman (b -3) Paul Cohen (d -1,2,4) Howard McRae (d -3) NYC, October, 1962 1. 63-114 Trio 2. 63-115 Quartet 3. 63-116 Peace 4. 63-117 Somewhere MG 12180 Jack Brokensha - And Then I Said Jack Brokensha (vib) Howard Lucas (p) Don Jordan (b) Art Mardigan (d) March 17, 1963 SJB63-093 March of the Siamese Children SJB63-094 Little Niles SJB63-096 And Then I Said SJB63-097 Johnny Guitar SJB63-099 When the Sun Comes Out SJB63-103 Engulfed Cathedral MG 12182 Paul Bley - Footloose! Paul Bley (p) Steve Swallow (b) Pete LaRoca (d) NYC, August 17, 1962 SPB6464 Floater SPB6465 When Will the Blues Leave SPB6467 Around Again same personnel September 12, 1963 SPB63-259 Syndrome SPB63-261 King Korn SPB63-264 Cousins SPB63-265 Vashkar SPB63-266 Turns MG 12183 Bill Barron - The Hot Line Bill Barron, Booker Ervin (ts) Kenny Barron (p) Larry Ridley (b) Andrew Cyrille (d) NYC, March 31, 1962 SBB6335 Bill's Boogie SBB6336 Groovin' SBB6337 Now's the Time SBB6338 A Cool One SBB6339 Jelly Roll SBB6340 Playhouse March SBB6342 Work Song MG 12184 Archie Shepp and the New York Contemporary Five/Bill Dixon 7-Tette Bill Dixon (tp) Ken McIntyre (as, ob) George Barrow (ts) Howard Johnson (bars, tuba) Hal Dodson, Dave Izenzon (b) Howard McRae (d) NYC, February 4, 1964 64-059 Winter Song 1964 64-060 The 12th December Ted Curson (tp -1,2) Don Cherry (tp -3) John Tchicai (as) Archie Shepp (ts) Ronnie Boykins (b) Sunny Murray (d) NYC, February 5, 1964 1. 64-061 Where Poppies Bloom 2. 64-062 Like a Blessed Baby Lamb 3. 64-063 Consequences MG 12185 Joseph Scianni - New Concepts Joseph Scianni (p) David Izenzon (b) March 18, 1965 Daniel's Den Junk Age A Monday Idea Little Pink Missile Man Running Soul Talk Memphis Ramble See Saw MG 12187 Vinson Hill Trio Vinson Hill (p) Ronnie Markowitz (b) John Lee (d) April 11, 1966 Night and Day Pokes Theme Indian Spiritual Bess Lavender's Theme Young and Foolish After Rubato Jazz MG 12188 Valdo Williams - New Advanced Jazz Valdo Williams (p) Reggie Johnson (b) Stu Martin (d) December 20, 1966 Desert Fox Bad Manners Move Faster The Conqueror MG 12189 Robert F. Pozar - Good Golly, Miss Nancy Mike Zwerin (tb, btp) Kathy Morris (cello) Jimmy Garrison (b) Robert Pozar (d) 1966 The Mechanical Answering Service of Chris and Martha White Robin Hood Renfield Keying in Your Bank Maia Good Golly, Miss Nancy MG 12190 Marc Levin - The Dragon Suite Jonas Gwanga (tb) Marc Levin (fl, brass) Calo Scott (cello) Cecil McBee (b) Frank Clayton (d) NYC, 1967 Morning Colors The Dragon and the Rainbow Form with the Modern Men The Rainbow Twilight Dance Meditation The Sea, The Fire, The Earth MG 12191 Ed Curran - Elysa Marc Levin (cor, flh, mel) Ed Curran (cl, as) Kiyoshi Tokunaga (b) Robert Pozar (d) NYC, 1967 Cire Why Mid Tempo Looking Back Duos Lady A Nicole Drac MG 12192 Paul Jeffrey's Electrifying Sounds Jimmy Owens (tp) Paul Jeffrey (el-sax) George Cables (p) Larry Ridley (b) Billy Hart (d) NYC, August 8, 1968 Made Minor Blue I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry The Dreamer Ecclesiology Green Ivan A.V.G MG 12193 The Marzette Watts Ensemble George Turner (cor) Marty Cook (tb) Marzette Watts (ts) Frank Kipers (vln) Bobby Few (p) Joony Booth, Cevera Jeffers, Steve Tintweiss (b) Tom Berge, J.C. Moses (d) Amy Schaefer, Patty Waters (vo) NYC, 1968 October Song F.L.O.A.R.S.S. Medley Lonely Woman Joudpoo Marzette Watts (ts) Bill Dixon (p) unknown (b) unknown (d) same location, date Play It Straight MG 12194 Charles Moffett - The Gift Charles Moffett (tp, vib, d) Paul Jeffrey (ts, acl) Wilbur Ware (b) Codaryl Moffett, Dennis O'Tootle (d) NYC, 1969 Avant Garde Got Soul Too Adverb The Gift Blues Strikes Again Yelricks MG 12195 The Doug Carn Trio Doug Carn (org) Gary Starling (b) Albert Nicholson (d) NYC, 1969? Walk Right In Butter from the Duck My One and Only Love Motherless Child Free Blues Yna Yna Delight

For further comparison and contrast in regard to Jenkins' playing, try listening to Hank (the sextet session with Donald Byrd), where Jenkins responds fairly differently to the setting (with a tenor saxophonist and trumpet player in the front line). He plays well there, but Jackie seems to have inspired him more. Larry -- I hear what you mean about Jackie listening to Jenkins and thinking, "Oh yeah, let me try that!" Jackie is surely the more polished player, but I think Jenkins is thinking more on that date. I really like sessions where an "instinctual" (to use your term, which I agree with) player is forced — in a positive way — into really "thinking" through his improvisations. The results often push that player into new territories (for him/for her), which inevitably make for interesting solos. I can't get with Clarence Sharpe as much as I can get with Shafi Hadi.

Picked up the Los Jardineros comp on Yazoo yesterday. Wow — much better than I expected! Los Jardineros were a Puerto Rican "string ensemble" (often with clarinet), and these recordings come from 1929-1932. If you're thinking mariachi or some such, you're in for a surprise. Surprising, in fact, might be the best word for this set. Great sound, too, for such old music — which is practically the norm with Yazoo.

I'm listening to this right now (track: "Easy Listening"). One thing that strikes me right now is these two guys' take on intonation. Jackie of course has his own sweet & sour approach to playing "in tune," but Jenkins does too, which is something I don't think I've noticed before. Usually, Jenkins always sounds a little sharp to my ears, but here, more often than not, he's in tune — except when, in the middle of trading fours, he decides to get somewhat humorous and does some shrinky-dink messing (and I don't even know what I mean by that, exactly) with his embouchre. Cool stuff. (Larry -- did you see the National Book Awards finalists in poetry this year? Unusual, and refreshing, picks.)

WPCR 25153 - Tony Fruscella This one is finally being reissued in Japan again — 2310¥, 24-bit mini-LP, and in January (2007). Put it on your list! Great album.

I've always liked this session. One the surface, it seems like just "another" blowing session, but it's better crafted than that. Recommended for those who haven't yet heard it. Larry, you might want to pick up VICJ-41276 (Alto Madness) if you buy Japanese reissues on compact disc. Not only does this disc have the complete recording session (with "Bird Feathers"), but it's fairly cheap (1500¥), and, best of all, is in original MONO! A great-sounding reissue. I got my copy from Hiroshi.

I agree, too. The sound on this set is exceptional — very natural without having that beefed up compression feel to it. Ron, how did you end up talking to Tarantino? You didn't happen to ask him about any other (future) box sets did you?

There are only two RCA's: Strictly Powell and Swingin' with Bud. They were both reissued domestically in the late 90's, but now are sadly out-of-print. They were also reissued in Japan (around 2003, I think) in a BVCJ series (mini-LPs) — these versions sound amazing! (Hiroshi might still be able to get them. They were around 1700¥.)

Thanks for clearing that up, T.D.

Oh yes — thanks to the board member here who turned me on to Tchicai's Timo's Message on Black Saint. Tchicai's on tenor throughout, and it's another splendid recording.

Any other admirers of the RCAs or Verves from '57-'58?

Say it ain't so! Where'd you hear this? Cadence has always been the most reliable source for hats for a long time ...

Fans of Tchicai need to check this one out: This is a very good disc. At first, I was a little wary of buying it because it's actually a Tchicai-with-sampled-music project, but Jon Coxon and Ashley Wales are providing the samples (called "strings" in the title of the disc), and they do a very tasteful job. Tchicai solos over the soundscapes that Coxon and Wales programmed (some of it in real-time, evidently), and the results are unusually moving. Only the last track (where Tchicai recites a poem) is somewhat off-putting. The rest of the tracks have that remarkable plaintive quality that Tchicai is so well-known for. Highly recommended. Again, if you're a Tchicai fan, you need to hear this one!

Someday ... these will be reissued on compact disc? Through the kindness of a board member here, I have two of the Sun Ra's. Excellent music. Whoever owns the rights to the Horo label really would do well to start a CD reissue program. I think, run in limited editions, they would more than break even. Use hathut as a model, and you're off to a good start!

Most of us here probably have the Blue Note sessions that Bud Powell recorded in 1958. But what about those recorded in 1957-58 on Verve and RCA? AMG generally dismisses these latter recordings, but there are some gems to discover. For instance, don't miss Strictly Powell on RCA. I think it's just as good, if not sometimes better, than the Blue Notes from this period. Bud's version of "Lush Life," as one example, is played with passion and commitment — very much worth hearing. Additionally, his original composition entitled "Coscrane" ranks right up there with, say, "Cleopatra's Dream." The RCA's aren't easy to find these days, but fans of Bud will do well to seek them out.

Those covers cry out to be collected into a box set. Thanks for the link, Guy, and thanks to Clifford for putting the page together. How should we start a campaign? Didn't even know about the Curson session. 1966? Sounds interesting. I've heard less than half of those recordings.

Dang, ain't that the truth! Anybody have recommendations for the best place to buy these online, in the US? Not much chance of finding these in any brick-n-mortars around here. Skid — as noted, jazzloft.com is a good place to purchase hats, as is squidco.com. BUT, cadencebuilding.com still has some of its regular priced hats ($20) on sale for $14 (!). The Marsh and the latest McPhee are both $14 there. Pretty good deals on those discs. I'd say that's the place to start. (They carry ALL in-print hatology discs, whereas other vendors carry only a selection.) Cadence usually only ships UPS, and their rates start at around $6 for shipping, but they still have the deepest catalog for these kind of labels. Cadence still has some original ESP reissues (the Byron Allen, for one) as well as some original Black Lion reissues. They also carry some of the old hatART titles for $11. Snoop around with the search engine, and you're liable to come away with a great (while perhaps expensive) haul.

I'd purchase the top four from your list. Haven't heard the D'Agaro. The Melford is good, but not great. I personally don't care for the Braxton. I'd get his other hats first, and make the Parker Project a low priority. If you're interested by Joe McPhee, I'd try some of his hats (Tenor). Also, I'd strongly recommend the newly reissued John Carter-Bobby Bradford disc on hatology. That is a superb outing. Free bop at its very best.

That would be a great reissue program! I don't even know all the Fontanas that came with Roling covers, but I'd buy a box set ( ) in less than a second. Those that I've heard (that happen to ahve Roling covers) have been great. I kind of doubt Universal (U.S.) will reissue these. Maybe Universal France, a la the Free America batch? Michael Cuscuna once told me (in passing, casual conversation via e-mail) that he'd like to do a Fontana Mosaic Select. I wouldn't necessarily get my hopes up, but that would great as well. Let's see, Marte Roling did covers for Marion Brown, John Tchicai, Paul Bley, Albert Ayler ... who else? (Don Cherry?)

Interesting (or at least curious) thread. When it comes to inflection and Shorter's use of it, try this: listen to when he plays a descending chromatic scale. Nothing special about it, really, it's just going down key-by-key on a piano. But when Wayne does it on a saxophone — it's somehow almost not a chromatic scale! (In fact, I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit, I've sometimes stopped while listening and thought: "Whoa! What scale is that? Is that one of Yusef Lateef's nifty scales?" Then I realize, um — hello, it's a chromatic scale.) Example: Shorter's solo on "Tom Thumb" There are other examples from Speak No Evil and the Plugged Nickel set, too.

Two rare Marion Brown records — In Sommerhausen and Gesprächsfetzen — are now available for download here. Carpe diem!

Dmitry — imagine outtakes from Rollins' And The Contemporary Leaders, and you've got your sound samples. Matsumoto has a little less fire than Sonny, which isn't surprising, but he can play. The sound on the disc is superb, too. There might be actual sound samples floating around somewhere, but I've never checked ...

I haven't run into a single clinker on Yazoo, and I would recommend nearly every title I have under the label. While some discs I like more than others (I'm not big on hokum, for example — Bo Carter, etc.), they all have some historical significance. Besides the most obvious candidates (Patton, Jefferson, Rainey, Blake), I'd give a to these artists' compilations on Yazoo: 1. Barbecue Bob (one of my favorites) 2. Blind Willie Johnson (haunting and beautiful) 3. Frank Stokes 3. Furry Lewis 4. Robert Wilkins 5. Blind Boy Fuller 6. Big Bill Broonzy The list goes on! Oh yeah — don't forget the Dave Tarras on Yazoo if you're a Klezmer fan. GREAT klez comp.

Heads-up! The Bards have the Matsumoto disc on sale for $11.99 right now. Great price for a good disc.