Late

Just put "Hawk's Variations (Part One)" on the answering machine ...

Agreed. The music is great though. The Anderza is a fantastic disc. To my ears, Anderza is one of the few altoists who used a Dolphy influence to good effect: he keeps his own "voice," but also exploits those wild interval leaps and altissimo range that Dolphy is most noted for. One to have in the collection for sure. (But be forewarned: Jack Wilson plays a fair amount of harpsichord ... )

The title that was the biggest surprise for me was: Bernard Peiffer-Bernard Zacharias: Modern Jazz At Saint Germain Des Pres. Very light-hearted, humorous playing, though not at all slapstick or roll-your-eyes over-the-top. The only title I've been disappointed with (mind you I only have 14 titles from this series) and sold back was the Michel Legrand ... too sacharine for me. The Blue Stars titles will definitely not be to everyone's taste, but I like them when in the mood for that sort of thing.

... and then the trio was transformed to Giuffre, Richard Davis, and Joe Chambers. Curious, and interesting, connection. Really? I never knew that. Wonder what they sounded like: Giuffre and Joe Chambers... the mind fairly boggles (in a good way). From what I've read (an Art Lange article, I believe, as well as a blurb by Manfred Eicher somewhere), that was Giuffre's last trio configuration before his semi-"retirement" into teaching. The trio (Giuffre, Davis, and Chambers) performed around 1965, I think — and, Giuffre returned to the tenor as his "main" horn, while the trio itself explored more conventional blues. I've also heard/read that there was some compositional cross-pollination of sorts between Giuffre and Chambers at this time. Too bad, at least to my knowledge, that no recordings exist.

I'm guessing that the price reduction is due to ... these discs being on their way out? At any rate, of the many discs in this series, my favorites are the Don Byas discs (romantic; beautiful), and the Lucky Thompson discs. The Andre Hodeir discs are interesting, but probably not to everyone's tastes. Check out sound samples at amazon.fr — just plug in "collection jazz in paris," and you should get them all ... Also, check out the "Jazz et Cinema" discs, particularly the one with Kenny Dorham ...

92 titles, for either $4.99 or $5.99, from our favorite bards. Here.

Oops. Didn't realize that little guy above ... exploded. (I'm still happy for you, Ubu. Me? I'm = .)

Freck. Oh, OK. I'm happy ... for you!

... want ... now ...

And they have such great lattés ... (He says as he prints it out anyway.)

Oh ... I see. My mistake. Well then, here is a meager attempt at translation through the picto-morphogram collage method:

Thanks, Mike. For starters, here's a list of Fantasy's SACD Hybrids. And here's Analogue Production's list of hybrid SACDs. Darn, I thought Everybody Digs Bill Evans had made it to hybrid SACD. Has it? If not, I'll keep waiting ...

... and then the trio was transformed to Giuffre, Richard Davis, and Joe Chambers. Curious, and interesting, connection.

... that would be H or B. Herman Poole "Sonny" Blount, with his last name pronounced "blunt." Most members of the Arkestra called him Sonny, didn't they?

With Shakespeare (and you probably already know this), I strongly recommend bringing in a disc (an audio disc) of a performance by professional actors. I find this much better (i.e. more successful, more meaningful) than watching a video. It has students focus on the use of language, and you can pause any time you want without too much disruption, and discuss certain passages that deserve closer attention. Nothing is worse, in my opinion, than having students slog through reading it aloud in class. The Langston Hughes poem that Jim's referring to was actually incorporated into the opening of the play by Lorraine Hansberry (which of course you know). It is a good lens by which to view shifts of action in the play, almost as if "A Dream Deferred" is a microcosm at times for the larger concerns of the drama itself. For this one, I think it does help to bring in the movie with Sidney Poitier (though it edits out some scenes). But ... I'm sure you have your own ideas, which is great (and important). Bringing to class the other activities you seem to have in mind (film, music, art) I think is a good idea, especially for high school students who attend the same class five days a week. It can hold their attention (not easy), but the challenge is making the connection useful between the primary work you're studying and the cross-referencing work you're introducing. You'll have a great time — even if it gets frustrating, because it will still be educational (at least for you). High school students like to talk ... or drift off into space. For some, you'll be able to switch on the lightbulb above their heads, and for others you won't even be permitted the chance. Teaching requires — beyond a solid knowledge of the subject at hand — endurance and performance. That is, psychological endurance to creatively surmount your doubts, and performance, just like an actor, in front of an audience every day. When you connect with some students, and you will, there is nothing more rewarding. You have the opportunity to become a (relatively) permanent part of their memory. But ... maybe I haven't really addressed your question(s). I guess I mean these words simply as encouragement.

I only have one, the SACD hybrid of Gil Evans & Ten. Sounds fantastic — and I've only heard the CD layer (and will probably never get to hear the SACD layer). If you have an ear for Evans' work, I'd recommend this one, as the SACD hybrid version presents the only edition of this recording in true stereo — as the original master tapes, presumed lost, were discovered prior to this new remastering (by Joe Tarantino). Paul Chambers bass never quite sounded like this ... I purchased my copy here for $14.97 (shipping included). Seems a pretty fair price. Can anyone point out a link or list of jazz SACD hybrids? I probably won't buy to upgrade, but if there are any titles I don't have ...

Isn't it? That one moves me, for some reason, so much more than The Hawk Relaxes. Now ... how about we talk about Arnett Cobb? Party Time is very nice, but I don't know the rest ...

Happy Birthday, mang.

Right. Forgot.

Here's another session with Burrell (that will especially appeal to Hal McKusick fans): Earthy: The Prestige All-Stars Check out the track "What's Not" ...

Another round of applause for this disc. It slowly grows on you ... in the best of ways. Order it with "Air Time," and you have a lot of good listening in store.

The Bards are currently offering up a vinyl copy of Manhattan Fever.

I didn't, but agree that the Hope Blue Note's would make a fine re(re)issue. (Well, I say "fine," but I've never heard a note!) I asked Michael Cuscuna about these sessions a year or so ago, and he said it was a possibility, but that he didn't know when. So, there's some hope ...

Still can't get the sound samples to work ...

And here's an interesting article/essay on Hope.