Late

To be honest, I haven't heard all that many Flanagan-led sessions. An excellent starting place (at least) I think would be Overseas, but I'm guessing you've already heard this one. I think I hear what you're saying about Flanagan The Sideman. He's a brilliant accompanist. Some of his work for Coleman Hawkins ... well, without Flanagan aboard, those albums wouldn't be half as beautiful. I think it's actually an equal note of merit to be recognized as an excellent accompanist as compared to an excellent leader.

Teddy Edwards with Les McCann Ltd. - It's About Time Teddy Edwards: tenor saxophone Les McCann: piano Leroy Vinnegar: bass Ron Jefferson: drums cover design: Hardy Henderson cover photos: Ivan Nagy Who here would like to see this Pacific Jazz session as a Connoisseur release?

It seems strange that this album has apparently never been reissued on compact disc ... I wonder what Cuscuna thinks of it?

That would be something. Hard to imagine the Japanese market wanting the type of titles you describe — though I'm all for them — at least judging from past reissue programs ... but one never knows, do one? I think it'd be great.

Sunset Eyes has been out on disc (though it's now out-of-print), but has this one ever seen compact disc reissue? In any country? I wonder if there's enough material for a Teddy Edwards Mosaic Select. What would/could be on it?

Without having checked any discographies, isn't France on a Blue Note album with Freddie Roach? I have to admit, I haven't heard France ... and should change that!

Mark — great site, and a professional layout. (Not to mention the photographs!) Nice links, too. They led me to explore resident Organissimo Jeff Blake's site and Matt Moor's site.

Listening to the OJC of The Cats right now, and started thinking about Flanagan. In some ways, he reminds me of Roy Haynes: impeccable taste, a refined touch, and not always a prominent profile when it comes to discussing improvised music. He is certainly a master, however. Sometimes I hear Flanagan's playing as a contemporaneous extension of Hank Jones's ideas. What do you think? Any special affection? Any particular albums that are favorites? (I imagine there could be a lot to list.) I'm also interested in reading what you all think about his contributions on Giant Steps.

Dyani's been discussed on this board at least once before here. I ended up with two Steeplechases, and have really enjoyed them. He also plays the shite out of the bass on Lacy's The Forest & The Zoo.

I think Pinsky still plays, no? Say, are you going to Irvine in March? The (creative writing) program is having a 40th anniversary celebration, and Pinksy is going to be one of the featured readers. The celebration is ostensibly to honor James McMichael's work — as he established the program (I think with Oakley Hall) in 1965. McMichael, along with Killarney Clary, is my favorite poet writing in English. His new book Capacity, not quite yet out in stores, is to me on a level of technical mastery and inventiveness that equals Joyce.

What do you guys think of the writing on the two Coral albums? I think it's pretty good. Nothing earth-shattering, but some interesting harmonic turns here and there. Zoot Sims' ballad feature on Volume 2 is especially attractive.

Aha ... that makes sense. I'd recommend this disc to nearly anyone. Deep Discount actually pulled through for me on this title (at $14, I think it was) — well worth it. Superb sound, and even better music ... especially if you're a Lacy fan.

Ditto that — Joe Christmas first hipped me to that date, and it's a fine one. I just can't get with McPhee's soprano playing, but his tenor playing ...

Well, I guess I'm in that minority too. Tenor gets a lot of airplay here, but I just don't reach for For Alto that often. Now, the Donaueschingen duos with George Lewis, that's another story ...

Gots it! (I just happened to have been listening to Vol. 2. Both are very nice.) In a way, Hal McKusick's Bethlehem record could be considered a Manny Albam album ...

I can help with a burn (but unfortunately don't have the liners). Sent a PM. The show must go on! (at WFIU).

Oops. OK. I was thinking of this one: Great disc!

Listening to this one right now and really enjoying it ~ Does Albam ever play on his records? (I'm guessing yes ... on some?) What Albam albums do you like / would you recommend?

The JRVG of Takin' Off is very nice. Dexter's sound comes through in all its rich loveliness. (Some — well, a lot of — JRVGs drive me batty, but others really hit the mark. The current JRVG I'm loving is Spring.)

I'm excited about the Bechet-Solal session, and the Williams session as well (— didn't even know about the existence of the latter). The others, strangely enough, I have through Vogue (BMG) Japan, except for the Bebop disc, which, if I'm not mistaken, I have at least in part (without the Royal session, that is) in the Jazz in Paris series. Love that disc. Just played it last night, in fact.

Ahh ... OK. Kerning it is — that's what I was thinking of. (Why did I spell it "querning"? Too much Scrabble, maybe.) Miles' kerning is usually tighter, and this seems (at least to me) a good path to follow to cop his lovely style. Not a diss on Roques, mind you. His stuff is very nice.

Or ... give Keane his own trumpet section! I've actually never heard any trumpet player perform this way, and would be interested in checking it out. Any good examples out there? (Sidewinder, don't change your current avatar — at least for a while! I'm liking it.) Sorry for derailing somewhat ...

Am I thinking leading or querning? (I guess I should just go and look it up.) Another Jackie cover I'd like to see a "new" version of, for purely selfish reasons, is Demon's Dance. There's nothing wrong with the cover, I guess I'd just like to see a "Reid Miles" version of it. Another observation: I think Reid was fond of pink! The shades of pink and purple he uses I've actually found very tasteful. If you look at Roques' covers to (using Jackie as an example) Vertigo and Jacknife, I don't think you would have seen Miles use those choices (red and yellow). Miles did use red a fair amount, but I think this was generally with a duotone. (Could be wrong about that.) Anyway, just some food for thought. Maybe I should be posting this in a Reid Miles thread. There probably is one!

A (typographical) comment in general ~ Have any of you ever noticed how Reid Miles almost consistently tended to make his leading (I think that's the right word) tight, whereas Patrick Roques' leading is looser? It seems a "give away" that it's a Roques' cover (which I still like) as a result.