Late

Almost two years have passed — time for another stab at this idea. How do you all feel about the "strain" (mentioned above) in Cherry's playing? Sometimes (for me), it's just the ticket, and at other times it sounds like Don's chops are just falling apart. Another question — do you hear trumpet players such as Bill Dixon and Alan Shorter in league with Cherry? Technically, or just conceptually? Or neither?

Just a heads-up — Tower online currently is stocking a new copy of Worshippers Come Nigh (for $14.99). They're listing it as "Out of Print." The other two Silkhearts aren't listed at all. I don't think Brackeen's Silkheart recordings are out-of-print, but after a quick internet search, they're not all that easy to come by (— Amazon has a few listings), at least in the States. I also discovered that Silkheart is now distributed by Ayler Records out of Sweden. Purchased directly, discs are $20 + shipping to the U.S. Was Paul Motian's ECM recording with Brackeen on it ever available on compact disc? I can only find the track "Dance" from Motian's Rarum compilation.

I've slept far too long on Russell's music. Everything I've heard, so far, I like ... but I don't actually own any Russell in my collection. Yet. How would you prioritize a Hal Russell purchase spree? Any titles to especially look out for?

Thanks for the note on Addey's role, Kevin. I'm assuming this was also the case (mixing mult-track) for the Randy Weston Mosaic Select?

Judging by the content smile, I'd guess it's actually:

Is this the quintet album you guys are talking about? If so, just from sound samples alone, it sounds good. It definitely goes down on "the list."

Yep, those new Candids don't sound as good (to me) as the original cd issues — especially some of the Cecil Taylors. I'd still buy copies of the Richard Williams and Don Ellis Candids though ... can't find those! Anyone else like the Dollar Brand Black Lions? The Penguin Guide is generally unenthusiastic about them. I think they're pretty fine. Love Reflections.

If Mosaic can lease RCA material for Mosaic Singles, I don't see why the Levitt material couldn't actually be a legitimate enterprise. Time to fill out the "Product Suggestions" box over at mosaicrecords.com again ...

I think Worshippers Come Nigh might be my favorite of the Silkhearts. Check out the line-up: Charles Brackeen: tenor saxophone Olu Dara: trumpet Fred Hopkins: bass Andrew Cyrille: drums Looks great on paper ... and fulfills the promise out of the speakers. Anyone interested would do well to pick up a copy. Maybe the purchase would help Dennis Gonzalez be able to help Charles Brackeen. Before it gets too late, I hope Charles can record again. I'd love to hear him with Henry Grimes!

From Bud Powell to Frank Lowe, Rashied Ali has played with many greats in many contexts. Outside of his work with Coltrane, what do you recommend? What are your favorites — as leader or sideman?

I've been reinvestigating this reissue label a lot recently. Some discs sound great, some don't, lots are remastered from vinyl. Still, the quality of music overall is quite high. I agree with Hans — I prefer the original cd issues over the newer 24-bit reissues. The latter often sound overly scrubbed to me. I'm still trying to find Mal Waldron's Blues for Lady Day. Any leads? Oh yeah — Randy Weston's Berkshire Blues is wonderful ...

Up for reading again, and to give another for Brackeen's Silkhearts. I think that Rhythm X did make it onto cd, though briefly, on the German Bellaphon label. If anyone out there has a copy, please contact me! * I'd love to just hear it ... * latoncarter@hotmail.com I hope Brackeen's at least getting by in L.A.? Anyone heard any new news?

A heads-up for those interested: Brilliant Circles is available (though in limited quantities) from www.selections.com. The disc is OOP, but apparently this place still has some copies.

Nope. Only one track — "Brother B" — has made it to compact disc. It's a damn, damn fine track. It's available on this box set, which is well worth picking up: It's also the only way you can get Kenneth Terroade on cd.

American Masters put out a 6-DVD box set titled "The Artists: Portraits of Creativity" — a (somewhat arbitrary) selection of artists of the 20th century. The artists are: 1. Richard Avedon 2. Alexander Calder 3. Robert Rauschenberg 4. Man Ray 5. Norman Rockwell 6. Alfred Stieglitz So far, I've only seen the first two. The Avedon was well-made, but I guess I'm just not the biggest fan of Avedon. The Calder, however, was excellent. I really liked it — but, again, that's probably because I like Calder. This set is worth checking out. I'm guessing most libraries would have it.

1. Vienna 2. Doug's Prelude 3. Ouagoudougou 4. 872 Clifford Jordan: tenor saxophone Julian Priester: trombone Don Cherry or Kenny Dorham: trumpet Wynton Kelly: piano Wilbur Ware or Richard Davis: bass Al Heath or Roy Haynes or Ed Blackwell: drums Recorded Spring 1969 Headman — I actually haven't heard this session, but have always wanted to. If it's anything like Jordan's other Strata East sessions, we're in for a treat.

Nearly impossible to list the "best," but I'll have some fun and list my favorites (two each) from each decade: 1940's • Bud Powell and His Jazz Modernists (Blue Note) • Babs Gonzales and His Orchestra (Capitol) 1950's • Way Out West • Tenor Madness 1960's • Sonny Meets Hawk • Now's the Time 1970's • In Japan • The Cutting Edge 1980's • G-Man • Falling in Love with Jazz 1990's • Old Flames • This Is What I Do 2000's Too early to tell!

PCD 23842 Jordan,Clifford/In The World 2415 Woo-hoo! The wait is over. Now if only Charles Brackeen's Rhythm X had been in that batch.

At the risk of opening up a new can of worms, could Malcolm Addey remaster Andrew Hill's Change? His work on Passing Ships and the Mosaic Select was excellent. Lonehill hasn't done the Gil Fullers yet ... Blue Note could still beat them to it!

Hmmm ... it would be great if Mosaic could get their hands on that stuff. Mosaic Select anyone?

I've only seen it once, but that's a good one Quincy — thank goodness for Flicks! The last documentary I rented from them was (ahem) The Girl Next Door — about porn star Stacy Valentine. I didn't really know what to expect, but it's actually not a bad documentary. Sure, there's plenty of nudity, but its true focus seems to be the deterioration of trust as it's magnified under the lens of the adult entertainment industry — which should actually read: adult alienation industry. The documentary's not meant to be erotic in the least, and ends up revealing a fair amount of tragedy. Certainly not a "great" documentary, but engaging all the same, if only for its curious subject matter.

I finally landed a copy of High Won-High Two! Man, it was worth the wait. A fine, fine record. Norris Jones is all over the bass on this one. For those looking for a copy, I found one (new) at www.selections.com — an outfit from England that was very speedy! Their website still says they have it in-stock ... as well as Stanley Cowell's Brilliant Circles. Also, for more Burrell, I saw a used copy (cd) of Windward Passages at the San Francisco Amoeba a few weeks back. Might still be there? This guy's turning into one of my favorite pianists.

Oh yeah, wanted to add another of my favorites: Richter: An Enigma. Tells the tale, with much archival footage, of Sviatislav Richter. Strongly recommended for classical piano enthusiasts. I need to see it again as a matter of fact.

What did you guys think of Mayor of The Sunset Strip? I actually ended up liking it quite a bit. My wife's from L.A., and was a teen during the 80's, and she kept saying "Oh yeah, I remember that!" Koyanisqaatsi and Powaqaatsi — Maybe I need to see them again, but I just felt wholly unmoved when I first saw them. I dunno, maybe it was Phillip Glass. Adam, I think I've seen all your documentaries! Nicely done. We're fans of the History Channel here.

Levitt's part of the trombone section in the Gil Evans' group assembled for that 1958 CBS show featuring Miles Davis. I agree: the OJC's a winner. I like the RCA Arrangers disc even better, though. Shame that the thing's so hard to come by. (I only have a CD-R.) That one, for musical and historical reasons, needs to stay in print.