Late

Actually, I think I like Sonny Stitt better on baritone than I do on alto. (Blasphemy!)

St. Remy brandy. But only because I spent most of the day working in a quarry.

A belated addendum — maked sure to snatch up the Randy Weston OJCs. You won't be sorry! (Even if you have the Mosaic Select.)

"Pedro, just listen to your heart ... that's what I do." I am now the proud owner of the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack, talking doll, and (limited edition!) coaster set. SWEET! (I know, I'm a dork.)

Two more "obscure" discs, both in-print, both by John Tchicai: The "strings" here are really John Coxon and Ashley Wales of Springheel Jack — creating soundscapes (both acoustic and sampled) that Tchicai improvises over (on alto and/or bass clarinet). Tchicai really pours his heart into the proceedings, unleashing some beautiful and fragile solos. Every track's a winner, except perhaps the last: Tchicai recites a poem a la Yusef Komunyakaa. It's alright, but I would have preferred an all-instrumental set. Still, it's the last track, and that's what the stop button is for (!) Then there's this title on Black Saint: Tchicai on tenor with two basses and drums. Freakin' great. If you think Tchicai fizzled out after the 60's, this is the disc to get to challenge that assumption. Tchicai's use of space and off-meter fragments to create a string of "melodies" is simply haunting.

Have you heard it, Mike? I've always wondered about that album. I bet it's good! (It's also available on compact disc as a Japanese mini-LP.)

The more I listen to Sam Rivers on soprano, the more I like it. Not just a "doubler" to my mind. His playing on soprano seems fairly distinctive from his playing on tenor. Now, the sopranino — there's a horn I could probably do without. Braxton, Ochs ... I just can't get into the toy horn. When Lacy played the sopranino, he just made it sound (to my ears) like his soprano.

Finally landed a copy of this one — very nice record! The comparison to Out to Lunch is apt. Anyone interested in that recording would do well to seek out this one.

This session is very much worth owning. Massey is no great technician on the trumpet, but his ideas are carefully executed — you can really hear him thinking. Hugh Brodie is also interesting on tenor. He plays under a strong Trane influence, but still somehow leaves you wanting to hear more. And Julius Watkins? Probably not one of his better sessions, but it was still an inspired choice to have him make the band a sextet. Patti Bown's playing a pretty badly out-of-tune piano, but, not unlike Monk, makes it sing anyway. I dig her minimalist approach on this record.

Damn, this album just kills me. Feels like a small masterpiece. The Penguin Guide (at least the edition I have) pans it — what? A fantastic sounding album. A musical gem.

One of Hubbard's best on Blue Note, I'd say. What takes this session up a step — in addition to the fine soloing which could be expected just by looking at the line-up — is the choice of compositions. Not one, but two, Cal Massey tunes here. Both Hubbard and Shorter really dig into the changes with interest. It's also a nice change of pace to have Philly Joe on this session, as opposed to, say, Elvin Jones or Tony Williams. Philly's in great form here, his playing as crisp as ever. The old McMaster edition doesn't sound terrible, but is fairly boxed in. I hope the new RVG doesn't get too compressed. Regardless, the music is fine.

I wish Yazoo had a Peg Leg Howell release. In the meantime, where's the best place to look for his collected recordings?

Oh yeah — anyone else picked this one up? Kind of wonky sound, but nice playing!

Another baritone saxophonist to add to the list — Steve Baczkowski. Largely a "free" player, I suppose, but with very musical (rather than screaming) tendencies. His work is pretty much only on smaller labels, but I'd recommend a duo date he did with tabla/percussion/drums player named Ravi Padmanhabha (I hope I spelled that right). It's called Tongue Rust & Lead Moth — on the Utech Records label. (squidco.com carries Utech.) Also have been revisting Cecil Payne's work lately — his work with Randy Weston (the original version of "Little Niles"), and his Strata East date. Love Cecil.

Never heard it, John — care to share details?

I actually just listened to that one yesterday — Hot Tamale Man! No one can laugh through a horn like Mr. Keppard.

For Frank Lowe enthusiasts, pick up a copy of pianist/composer Steve Cohn's The Beggar & The Robot in Diamonds. Lowe's only on half the session (and his contributions are strictly in a supporting role), but this is a great cd. Cohn is a recent discovery for me — very atmospheric music.

I actually had Wheat Chex this morning, so I guess I'm safe. I agree that remastering results (and of course personal impressions) are going to vary widely with this type of music, but three that I would recommend with little trepidation are: 1. Fred Elizalde & His Anglo-American Band (some spectacular Adrian Rollini on this). 2. Piron's New Orleans Orchestra 3. Spike Hughes & His Negro Orchestra (never mind Hughes, it's Benny Carter that's great on this one). I'm not bothered by the sound on the Jelly Roll set, but that's probably because I haven't heard many other editions. I actually haven't heard the King Oliver set on Retrieval, but want to. The Penguin Guide gives the NORK set their crown, but that's another one (in the Retrieval configuration) I haven't heard. The Ted Lewis and Jack Hylton sets, while perhaps muscially less engaging, are a lot of fun — they're music to put on when you want to smile.

Retrieval's recently been reissuing their catalog, and the above are just some of the gems re-seeing the light of day. Discs on Retrieval are relatively affordable, and I think their work (remastering, notes, packaging) rivals similar other labels such as Jazz Oracle, Hep, Frog, Timeless, etc. Other fans? Don't miss the Elizalde!

Oh f*ck. Didn't know this one had made it to cd. Ka-ching.

A must for any collection. Will spin tonight.

Good to hear. I hope it happens!

CIMP's sister label, CJR (Cadence Jazz Records), also has some fine music out on compact disc. Special mention must me made for Herb Robertson's Falling in Flat Space — a great trumpet, bass, drums outing. For those who think of "power trios" as only belonging to the domain of the saxophone, check this one out.

Dang! I hope you transferred a copy to CD for your personal collection.

Yep, Decision in Paradise is a good one. Exotic Heartbreak, Lowe's other Soul Note, is also good. So is his sole Black Saint, The Flam. If you can find Lowe's Fresh on Black Lion, snatch it up! Transferred from pretty hissy vinyl, but an engaging listen.