Late

The Andrew Hill titles (solo, trio, and quartet) are not to be missed. They haven't been reissued for some time now. The solo and trio outings are especially fine.

I found this interesting not so much for the "debate" aspect, but for Mtume's informed and useful descriptions of art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OLqid9RABs

(Not to derail the thread, but ... ) Man, I hope the Davis Bootleg Series eventually gets up to 1973. With Cedric Lawson and Badal Roy in the band (and just one guitar) ... a different sound! Below are two quotes pertinent to the YouTube clip that LP posted above. From Pete Losin's site: Davis broke both legs in an automobile accident on October 19, 1972 (NYT report). This kept him off the road until these Village Gate appearances in mid-January, but there were several studio sessions in November-December. This concert excerpt was issued in Teppei Inokuchi's film, Prince of Darkness (1974). Despite Davis's immobility, the group continued its live bookings: Village East, New York (January 12-13); Toronto (January 24); Michigan State University Auditorium, East Lansing (January 26); and Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis (January 28). There were also apparently a number of Columbia studio sessions during February, but none of the music from these sessions has surfaced. Davis was arrested on February 23 on weapons charges. And from Dave Liebman's site: So on Friday night, Jan 12, 1973 I got on the bandstand with Miles Davis at the Fillmore East, all plugged in (my horns — tenor, soprano and flute were all drilled to accommodate microphone pickups that day for amplification), not knowing anyone in the band except tablaist Badal Roy who was with me was on the “My Goals Beyond” recording with John McLaughlin in 1972 and drummer Al Foster from jam sessions in my loft. That I had no idea what I played or what was happening on the bandstand that night would be an understatement. The energy, volume and sheer textural density was overwhelming. After the gig I returned to the Vanguard in time for the remainder of [Elvin Jones'] first set. It felt like I had gone from the future back in time; from the 21st to the 20th century on the most significant night of my professional life. I was to become part of history playing in the same position as Coltrane, Bird, Wayne Shorter and others alongside the most important musician of the past decades whose sidemen by and large became significant forces on their own. That was the “baggage” which was undeniably part and parcel of being in the saxophone chair with Miles Davis.

December 1962. I wonder if Tristano and Coltrane would have crossed paths again ... at The Half Note? I'm guessing Tristano would have heard Giant Steps by this point. I wonder what he thought of that record. For that matter, I wonder what Coltrane thought of Warne Marsh's playing.

The only show I've enjoyed as much as The Wire — I can't believe I watched it seven years ago! — is House of Cards. OK, and Breaking Bad. Boardwalk Empire, while not a bad show, pales in comparison.

Somebody just finished watching Girls, Season 3 on Netflix ...

Bumping up The Real Wives of Organissimo thread once again to note that the "reduced price" non-SHM editions of both the Blue Note and Prestige SHM-CD series appear to be limited to the most popular titles. Clicking around on HMV and CD Japan, it would appear that only a handful of the original series are seeing reissue as non-SHM discs. Might not be that big a deal (as almost everything gets reissued at some point), but it's food for thought. Might be a while before titles like A New Conception see reissue again. Also, it turns out the hubbub over SHM may have been misguided. According to Google Translate, the acronym SHM ("super-high material") was concocted as an allusion to a Don Redman song.

ether — Are you enjoying this disc? One of my favorite Dameron discs. (Perhaps my all-time favorite.) I wish this series had a new batch of reissues.

But that's what this thread is about — the opportunity for reissue nerds to nerd out! I try to approach both old and new music with enthusiasm. I love the sound of these new SHM-CDs on my system; I'm hearing "old" music anew. As far as "new" music, just today I used a new (old?) medium (YouTube) to watch a full Steve Coleman performance from 2010 and Hiromi performance from 2012. I thought to myself: if I have the opportunity to attend a concert by either artist, I probably will. Both shows were thoroughly enjoyable.

Clicking through some of the CD Japan links, I noticed that titles from the first wave of Blue Note SHM-CDs are now out of print. That didn't take long. But it appears that they're being replaced by "reduced price" non-SHM versions that likely have the same remastering.

HDTracks has it: http://www.hdtracks.com/a-new-perspective I like TOCJ 4124.

You can hear the album on YouTube ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTcFE-W13yU&list=PL43B850950ECC5CC9

Andrew!!! made it into this last batch. UCCQ 5115. I'd also welcome the Taylor titles. I'd really like to see Wayne Shorter's Schizophrenia make it into this series at some point. Ron Carter's bass on the JRVG booms.

It's also the title of the fifth track from this album:

230 titles to date. Master list attached for those that like hardcopies. masterlist.bluenote-shmcd.doc

Wish granted (if you're still reading this forum)!

Ah — Morgan's solo entrance on "Caribbean Fire Dance"? But not across the whole album (I think). Guess I better re-listen.

Yes, it was done in the 24 bit series that many here don't seem to like. . . I have them both, they both sound pretty good to me. Aha. I do remember that now. Anyone going to pick up Blue Mitchell's Step Lightly?

The fade on "De Pois do Amor O Vazio" from Odyssey of Iska is one that's always been interesting to me. The percussion starts to swell in particular, bass would seem to drop out, and somebody actually yells. Always struck me in a weird way. The fade on "JuJu" is also one I've listened to many times with interest. I've frequently wondered — what actually happened in the studio? The music itself of course wasn't fading. Did the leader on the date just say, "OK guys, um, we can stop now." Did anyone ever break into a Sousa march to stop the proceedings? We'll never know.

Two additional tunes (not alternates) — "Eboo" and "Just A Penny." Good tracks. I do wish, for selfish reasons, they'd chosen Star Bright instead. Natural Essence was reissued twice? Didn't know that. I have the Blue Note Works TOCJ. I didn't know there was an edition in addition to that one.

In addition to Contours, I'm especially excited about the Hill and Cherry titles; I never cared too much for the Connoisseur editions. The Tony Williams title is one of the best-recorded Blue Note sessions, in my opinion. It will be interesting to hear how the SHM-CD sounds in comparison to the Blue Note Works TOCJ. The drum solo on that record is impeccably recorded. I haven't heard "Jasper" from Dialogue in a long time. I like the TOCJ, however, and may have to pass on that one. I'd bet the new SHM-CD sounds more open. No love for Tyrone. (Maybe in the next 50?) No love for Cecil either. One title that cries out for sonic updating is Bobby Hutcherson's Components. The Larry Walsh remaster sounds dreadful to me. It's never been out on compact disc in Japan, to my knowledge, and the U.S. edition (as one of the first Connoisseur titles) is very much showing its age. The music itself of course is wonderful. Great compositions paired with the front line of Hubbard and Spalding. I'm also very interested to hear what the SHM-CD edition will do with Joe Henderson's Inner Urge. That's always been a problematic title (sonically) to my ears. Again, the music is phenomenal. I agree with Mr. Ayers — if only these were around when I was growing up!

March 25, 2015 UCCQ 5081 Dizzy Reece: Blues In Trinity +2 UCCQ 5082 Freddie Redd: Music From The Connection UCCQ 5083 Freddie Hubbard: Open Sesame +2 UCCQ 5084 Tina Brooks: True Blue +2 UCCQ 5085 Freddie Redd: Shades of Redd +2 UCCQ 5086 Duke Jordan: Flight To Jordan +2 UCCQ 5087 Kenny Dorham: Whistle Stop UCCQ 5088 Lou Donaldson: Here ‘Tis +1 UCCQ 5089 Donald Byrd: The Cat Walk UCCQ 5090 Stanley Turrentine: Dearly Beloved UCCQ 5091 The Three Sounds: Here We Come +2 UCCQ 5092 Jackie McLean: A Fickle Sonance UCCQ 5093 Sonny Clark: Leapin’ & Lopin’ +2 UCCQ 5094 Ike Quebec: Heavy Soul +1 UCCQ 5095 Donald Byrd: Royal Flush UCCQ 5096 The Three Sounds: Hey There +10 UCCQ 5097 Don Wilkerson: Preach Brother! UCCQ 5098 Donald Byrd: A New Perspective UCCQ 5099 John Patton: Along Came John UCCQ 5100 Blue Mitchell: Step Lightly UCCQ 5101 Johnny Coles: Little Johnny C UCCQ 5102 Herbie Hancock: Inventions & Dimensions +2 UCCQ 5103 Joe Henderson: Our Thing +1 UCCQ 5104 The Three Sounds: Black Orchid +6 UCCQ 5105 Art Blakey: The Freedom Rider +3 UCCQ 5106 Lee Morgan: Search For The New Land UCCQ 5107 Freddie Hubbard: Breaking Point +2 UCCQ 5108 Wayne Shorter: Night Dreamer +1 UCCQ 5109 Grachan Moncur III: Some Other Stuff UCCQ 5110 Kenny Dorham: Trompeta Toccata UCCQ 5111 Donald Byrd: I’m Tryin’ To Get Home UCCQ 5112 Joe Henderson: Inner Urge UCCQ 5113 John Patton: Oh Baby! UCCQ 5114 Bobby Hutcherson: Dialogue +1 UCCQ 5115 Andrew Hill: Andrew! +2 UCCQ 5116 Sam Rivers: Contours +1 UCCQ 5117 Tony Williams: Spring UCCQ 5118 Andrew Hill: Compulsion UCCQ 5119 Don Cherry: Complete Communion UCCQ 5120 Joe Henderson: Mode For Joe +1 UCCQ 5121 Ornette Coleman: The Empty Foxhole UCCQ 5122 Jack Wilson: Something Personal +1 UCCQ 5123 Booker Ervin: The In Between UCCQ 5124 Lonnie Smith: Think! UCCQ 5125 Donald Byrd: Slow Drag UCCQ 5126 Grant Green: Goin’ West UCCQ 5127 Lonnie Smith: Turning Point UCCQ 5128 Lonnie Smith: Move Your Hand +1 UCCQ 5129 Donald Byrd: Electric Byrd UCCQ 5130 Marlena Shaw: Marlena

The March 2015 schedule is OUT! Check HMV. Sam Rivers ... Contours ... at last!

Weird, didn't know that. Well, now I am in violation of the law. And the law is the law, so — off to The Pointless Forest.

Along parallel lines, Ayler's complete "First Recordings" sessions (originally titled "Something New!") — that is, all eight tracks — can be purchased as a download from Amoeba Records. (They do sell downloads!) For U.S. buyers, this is the only place, to my knowledge, where a legal download can be purchased. Canadian and European buyers appear to have quite a few more options. The Japanese DIW compact disc sells for medium-high (?) prices when available on eBay. Tracks from "First Recordings" play a prominent role in the "soundtrack" to the Kasper Collin documentary. I used to have a lower opinion of these recordings until recently. While the supporting ensembles (well, just drums and the whistler in some instances) aren't Gary Peacock and Sunny Murray, Ayler's playing is so committed that I finally woke up and realized how raw and passion-filled these early recordings are.