Late

I think you're right. Here's some information on the title.

Found some sound samples for these here. Click on the links for volumes 2 & 3. The Watkins/Richardson front line is tasty!

This is the one I wish Evidence would reissue on disc, but I may have to pick up the vinyl reissue anyway ...

This one is actually out on cd now. I've never heard it. Dusty Groove is currently carrying it.

What do you all think of the sentiment expressed in the last paragraph? I'd have to go along with it, though it seems a bold statement. But ... maybe it's not really so bold? I think time (the passing of it) will only heighten whatever legacy, and I think it's a substantial one, Lacy left for us.

or Same thing. (Haven't heard the Japanese edition, though.) What a great album. Recorded in 1969 in Paris, with Joachim Kühn, Neils-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Philly Joe Jones. Ever wonder what it would be like to have a trombonist dropped down into the middle of Coltrane's group, minus Coltrane, playing "Impressions"? This session comes somewhat close to that, at least in feel. The opener, "Emergency Blues," is a minor-mode burner, and Hampton lays into the proceedings with everything he's got. It's also great to hear Jones at this time: he hasn't missed step — perhaps has absorbed a fair amount of Elvin, but is still Philly Joe. Kühn, to my ears, is coming out of a deep Bley/Friedman bag (though "singing" like Jarrett all the while), and adds some in-your-face tension to the setting, while Pedersen walks an aggressive line throughout. Here are some sound samples. Any other fans of this one?

The title that comes to mind first is Passing Ships. I know Addey also did the transfers for the original cd editions of Elvin Jones' Live at the Lighthouse and Cecil Taylor's Jazz Advance (originally on Transition). Some of Addey's most amazing remaster work, in my opinion, is on the Randy Weston Mosaic Select (especially the unreleased quartet session with Cecil Payne), and the Gerry Mulligan Mosaic. I'm sure others here can chime in with even more titles.

Strange that you should mention this one — it was the first disc I reached for this morning. I've always enjoyed this session, and remember being puzzled when lukewarm responses were first posted about it. You have to dig McLean's first solo on "Now"... right at :46—:49.

Do you mean The Infinite? If you didn't like that record, you probably won't like Strange Liberation, which, actually, I don't think holds up as well as The Infinite. In general, the first respective album put out by one of Douglas's "bands" seems, at least for me, to often be the best by that band. Charms of the Night Sky, The Tiny Bell Trio, The Quartet, etc. All of their "first" albums are my favorites in the bunch.

You could very well be right on that. I guess I just hear a certain "trebliness" with McMaster remasters that I don't hear with, say, Addey's work. Man, I do wish Addey had his own "line" in the Blue Note run. Say, a limited edition "Afficionado" series! Imagination the possibilities!

Just spent the last two hours closely A/B-ing the Mosaic with the Connoisseur of this session. To my ears, and on my system, the Connoisseur does sound better, but not by a whole lot, whereas the reissue of Fuchsia Swing Song does seem to mark a more significant sonic improvement in its Connoisseur format. Here are a few things I noticed: • Carter's bass is recessed a lot of the time, but I'm guessing this is part of the original recording. The Mosaic might just have slightly more present bass. • McMaster's signature brightness is still there, but some of the terrible brassiness that came through on certain notes of Hubbard's on the Mosaic — where it sounds like he was perhaps too close to the mike — are now rounded off some. (About this "brassiness": I'm speaking of the same "error" that could be found on the original cd version of The Soothsayer, and can still be found on the cd version of Clubhouse.) • The warble in Hancock's intro to "Euterpe" is still there. Might be tape-stretch? • The music is so damn good that it probably doesn't matter if the Connoisseur sounds slightly better than the Mosaic version ... though, to be honest, I do wish there was a TOCJ version of this album, my favorite Rivers on Blue Note.

Did anyone pick up this vinyl reissue? I'm wondering if it has the same version of "Disco 3000" that can be found on Evidence's The Singles. Also wonder about the to-be-reissued Media Dream and Sleeping Beauty. Anyone heard them?

Up?

Giuffre will probably always be my favorite on clarinet. To my ears, very few so far have gotten more emotion out of the instrument. Sclavis seems to have a good balance of "technique" and "soul" -- from those actively recording today. Chris Speed and Rüdiger Carl also come to mind. I wish Denon/Savoy would have used the original cover for this reissue, always a favorite:

Strange that this one: hasn't received any remarks here. Check out the sound samples.

Another nod for Greg Tardy. Also, Lars Moller, though I'm thinking he's somewhat older. Don't forget Roman Schwaller from the VAO either, though he too might not make the listed age bracket. Also used to like Sam Newsome when he was with Terence Blanchard. My favorite Wynton Marsalis album is Blanchard's Simply Stated.

Rob Brown and Ori Kaplan

It's been four years since Evidence put out any Saturn (or related) reissues. I e-mailed Evidence some weeks ago about this, and their response (which I actually didn't expect to receive) was that no new Ra reissues were planned or upcoming. Damn! I wonder if it's money that's holding these things up. Though I'm not sure exactly how many, I think there are still a fairly large number of Saturns to see the light of day on disc. I know the two albums on the Saturn subsidiary Thoth — The Night of the Purple Moon and Strange Strings — made it onto vinyl reissue, but why not disc? I'd also like to see this one out: Here's an alphabetical listing of Ra albums that I've found handy. Would be nice to see some of those last Saturns from the late 70's early 80's see reissue as well!

Been listening to a lot of Ra lately. Three incredible Gilmore solos that are worth playing back to back for comparison are on: • "Cosmic Chaos" (Heliocentric Worlds, Vol. 2) • "Sketch" (Other Planes of There) • "Thoughts Under a Dark Blue Light" (Cymbals) ... on the latter, you can actually hear what "speaking in tongues" is all about. One of the great Gilmore solos for all time.

For the Japanese versions (being reissued on December 22, 2004) with original cover art and in mini-LP facsimile: www.earlyrecords.com For the "Spanish" versions put out by Fresh Sounds, which don't have original cover art, and come in jewel cases: www.freshsoundrecords.com

Whoa, didn't even have to wait that long! Some good reading in this thread, thanks to Garth and Guy.

Cross-Section Saxes is being reissued (in Japan)!

... just realized/discovered that Fresh Sounds has already reissued the first four Jazz Studio albums on two discs. Anyone have these? The Jazz Lab series has also apparently been reissued by Fresh Sounds.

Is anyone else excited about Universal Japan's December reissue of the entire Decca Jazz Studio series? I've heard only bits and pieces from different sessions, but know I'll likely be picking up all six of the "Jazz Studio" sessions. Can anyone point out a discographical listing for this series? I did a number of Google searches, but only came up with a session or two. Here's Jazz Studio 3 (which features Gerry Mulligan): ... with a few sound samples.

Yes. All the Connoisseurs, with the exception of the Rivers, were in the Borders over here. They weren't shelved ... but an employee let me go through the "to shelve" cart, and I shelved them myself! Except for the Hill ... that one came home with me. I wouldn't otherwise pay that crazy Borders price, but I still had a birthday gift card with a balance on it, so what the heck. Now ... the music! The Hill is one fine session, with Higgins an especially interesting choice of drummers. He seems to give more of a groove, though not in a "Grass Roots" way, to Hill's brooding compositions. At first I wanted to hear someone like Joe Chambers, but after a second go-around, I like Higgins a lot — just wasn't initially prepared for that pairing. Both Farrell and Tolliver get in some eloquent solos as well. And, I must say, this remastering job must count as one of McMaster's best. Probably still too bright for my tastes, but considering McMaster's "signature," it does have relatively nice presence, the horns notably warmer than usual. Only the bass seems at times too recessed in the mix. But thank God it doesn't have that horrible rap-thud-bass that Rudy rudely ruined the new remaster of Blue Spirits with. That disc (with the opening track now remastered for automobile stereo systems that promote deafness in young persons) is ... just not right.