Late

My first three CDs, purchased in August 1988, were Giant Steps, Outward Bound, and Go!. I hadn't actually heard the latter two albums before. I'd only started buying records three years earlier when I was 15. At the time, my LP collection consisted of only five artists: Coltrane, Rollins, Dolphy, Coleman, and Bird. (I had one Coleman Hawkins record, but I didn't get it yet.) Twenty-two years later, I'm still a CD junkie. I'm afraid to count, but I think the collection is somewhere around 5,000 discs. The LPs are at a miniscule 14. I had to sell most of what I had way back then in order to fund the purchase of my first CD player. I also had to sell my turntable, amp, and speakers. For a number of years, my only setup was a Sony Discman and headphones. When all those Blue Notes came out on disc in 1988/89, I was in heaven. Nearly every single one of them was new to me. I particularly remember being riveted by In 'N Out and Dialogue. I hadn't even heard Miles' Second Quintet yet. I wish I'd collected classical CDs in the late 80's and early 90's. Now that I listen to classical music these days more than jazz, I'm finding that there are so many out-of-print discs I'd like to hear.

One of the classiest acts in the biz.

Just check out his solos on that early Tadd Dameron date (from the Blue Note Lost Sessions). Very "in the bag." I hope this set is a Mosaic big box, but I'll be happy if it's a Mosaic Select — as long as it actually comes out! Here's the purchase I'm imagining for myself later this year (or some time next year): • Lucky Thompson Mosaic Select • John Carter/Bobby Bradford Mosaic Select • Sam Rivers Trio Mosaic I'll probably add the Akiyoshi/Tabackin set as well. Whew. Time to raise some dough. Feel free to buy my discs in the Offering forum!

Didn't know she'd played with Braxton, but that makes sense. Kind of a Taylor Ho Bynum vibe. How long has the flugabone been around? I've never heard of one until today. Maybe the bop parallel would be when J.J. played the trombonium.

An Israeli trombonist and "flugabone" player, Ms. Regev is putting something out there that's fresh (if not wholly "new"). One track ("Hula Hula") from her 2009 album is currently available at Amazon as a free download. Right here. Check it out (it's free!), and see what you think.

Up for air after six years. Listening to this right now (TOCJ 6115), and I have to say that it might just be the best-recorded album on Pacific Jazz. Staggeringly present soundstage. Really, really beautiful. The kind of CD that stereo shops should use (yeah, right) to show off their high end gear. The breath coming from the sides of Bill Perkins' mouth is almost a separate instrument — like brushes on the most delicate snare head. But never mind that — the music is sublime. The low flames are sometimes the most concentrated. On the surface this album would seem sleepy, but everyone seems actually quite alert, placing notes here and there with deliberate care. If something can be paradoxically low-key and intense at the same time, this album would be a model example.

Happy 101 Ben!

A heads-up for Ben fans — the complete No Fool, No Fun sessions are available for download at Amazon for $7.99. Here. These are the rehearsal tapes (with master takes included) which I normally wouldn't be too excited about, but — in this particular case — the music and studio chatter is actually pretty engaging. Ben is in good form (both musically and comedically), the music swings, and listening to what actually went down in the studio gives a fair amount of perspective. Ben cracks the band up a number of times. Check it out! Original cover.

Now I have Ansermet's Brahms symphony cycle on order. Australian Decca.

track: "Strange Things Happening Every Day"

Well, if you contact Hirochi, you may very well end up with this: But if you contact Hiroshi, you'll certainly end up with this:

And Harden evidently played a rotary valve trumpet, at least for some of these Savoy sessions.

I wish I would have bought this when I had the chance.

The box set is a good way to go. If you don't mind paying import prices, I also strongly recommend the WPCR series (mini-LPs) of Coltrane's Atlantic output. These CDs have most of (if not all) the bonus tracks. Nice packaging, great sound, 24-bit blah blah. Keepers for sure.

That is the original Ensayo track order - 4 tunes per side of the lp. When I issued Did You Call? I reversed the sides (on purpose) and opened with Sweet Georgia Brown. I thought that worked better. Cool. Now I can re-program and hear the "Nessa order." Excellent live recording. A .

Listening to Did You Call? right now — not the original Nessa LP, but the Ensayo CD (the only version I could find). Is this the original track order? (I'm guessing the CD adds tracks?) 1. Ben's Blues 2. The Man I Love 3. My Nephew Bent 4. How Long Has This Been Going On? 5. Sweet Georgia Brown 6. Don't Blame Me 7. Did You Call? 8. Barcelona Shot Ben's 101st birthday is coming up soon! Have there been any new Ben reissues lately? I finally found the issue on Cat (Live at the Haarlemse Club)! Spun the attached earlier tonight. Beautiful.

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly. I'm crying. Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come. Corporation t-shirt, stupid Bloody Tuesday, man, you've been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus. Mr. City Policeman sitting, pretty little policemen in a row. See how they fly like Lucy in the sky, see how they run. I'm crying. Yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog's eye. Crab-a-locker fishwife, pornographic priestess, boy, you've been a naughty girl, you let your knickers down. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus. Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun. If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus. Expert, texpert, choking smokers — don't you think the joker laughs at you? See how they smile like pigs in a sty, see how they’re snide. I'm crying. Semolina pilchard climbing up the Eiffel Tower. Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna, man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe. ============ I felt like putting up these lyrics for fun. They're only my approximation. The Wikipedia link is actually pretty interesting regarding this song. I didn't know that "texpert" is a word that can be found in "urban" dictionaries, but I don't think it's current definition was what Lennon had in mind — but maybe so? I'm guessing that it was simply meant to be a nonce word.

I forgot to add that the only good thing about Orrin Keepnews' butcher job on "Modern Windows Suite" (the U.S. CD reissue) is that it contains a bonus track ("Desolation") from Tenor Stylings that the Japanese mini-LP edition left off. It's not an afterthought, but a very worthwhile ballad, with some Don Cherry-esque scraggly trumpet from Ted Curson.

I didn't see the three new Albert Ayler reissues on any of Hiroshi's recent lists, but they're now out as HQCDs on the Japanese Muzak reissue label. (My Name Is, Ghosts, and Spirits.) The Bards have them for $29.99 each, but Hiroshi's price is slightly less. All excellent albums, especially Ghosts. Cover.

I've wondered that same thing. The Japanese reissue retains the original photo — yay!

One of my favorite "obscure" piano trio albums is by Connie Crothers — Perception. One of the most interesting Tristanoites in my opinion. Her "Lennie's Scene" is how I'd play piano if I could. Luckily, this album is available on disc and is also available through iTunes. Check it out!

I think Motivation is Barron's best Savoy side. And it's ludicrous that there's only half of Modern Windows on the U.S. release. It's a flippin' suite for Pete's sake! Bill Barron is a vastly undervalued tenor player in my opinion. The Muse stuff, what I've heard of it at least, is uniformly excellent. Great original cover on Modern Windows, though I hate when a photo's negative is reversed for the print.

I couldn't agree more with this sentiment. It seems like the audiophile labels (and I'm glad they're around) really only cater to fans of hardbop. There's nothing wrong with that, but just imagine if the next 25 XRCDs had Art Hodes, John Hardee, Benny Morton, James P. Johnson, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Andrew Hill, Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman in the queue. I'd buy all of them without a blink. As it is, I haven't yet been able to muster one purchase from this series. I'm sure they're great, but the enthusiasm (for me) just isn't there. I might be the only one too who just isn't into the whole "hardbound book" presentation.

The following CDs are scheduled for release on April 21, 2010: TOCJ 8651 Blakey,Art(ds)/The Big Beat 1100 TOCJ 8652 Blakey,Art(ds)/Buhaina's Delight 1100 TOCJ 8653 Byrd,Donald(tp)/Off To The Races 1100 TOCJ 8654 Byrd,Donald(tp)/Byrd In Hand 1100 TOCJ 8655 Clark,Sonny(p)/Quintets 1100 TOCJ 8656 Clark,Sonny(p)/Leapin' And Lopin' 1100 TOCJ 8657 Coleman,Ornette(as)/At The Golden Circle Vol.2 1100 TOCJ 8658 Donaldson,Lou(as)/Lou Takes Off 1100 TOCJ 8659 Donaldson,Lou(as)/Hot Dog 1100 TOCJ 8660 Dorham,Kenny(tp)/Una Mas 1100 TOCJ 8661 Drew,Kenny(p)/Undercurrent 1100 TOCJ 8662 Gordon,Dexter(ts)/A Swingin' Affair 1100 TOCJ 8663 Gordon,Dexter(ts)/Our Man In Paris 1100 TOCJ 8664 Green,Grant(g)/Sunday Mornin' 1100 TOCJ 8665 Green,Grant(g)/Feelin' The Spirit 1100 TOCJ 8666 Green,Grant(g)/Idle Moments 1100 TOCJ 8667 Green,Grant(g)/Carryin' On 1100 TOCJ 8668 Green,Grant(g)/Green Is Beautiful 1100 TOCJ 8669 Greene,Dodo(vo)/My Hour Of Need 1100 TOCJ 8670 Griffin,Johnny(ts)/The Congregation 1100 TOCJ 8671 Hancock,Herbie(p)/My Point Of View 1100 TOCJ 8672 Hancock,Herbie(p)/Inventions And Dimensions 1100 TOCJ 8673 Hubbard,Freddie(tp)/Open Sesame 1100 TOCJ 8674 Hubbard,Freddie(tp)/Hub Cap 1100 TOCJ 8675 Hutcherson,Bobby(vib)/Stick Up 1100 TOCJ 8676 Hutcherson,Bobby(vib)/Total Eclipse 1100 TOCJ 8677 Jackson,Fred(ts)/Hootin' 'n Tootin' 1100 TOCJ 8678 Jones,Elvin(ds)/Merry Go Round 1100 TOCJ 8679 Jordan,Cliff(ts),John Gilmore(ts)/Blowing In From Chicago 1100 TOCJ 8680 Jordan,Sheila(vo)/Portrait Of Sheila 1100 TOCJ 8681 McLean,Jackie(as)/Capuchin Swing 1100 TOCJ 8682 McLean,Jackie(as)/Jackie's Bag 1100 TOCJ 8683 McLean,Jackie(as)/Bluesnik 1100 TOCJ 8684 Mobley,Hank(ts)/Hank Mobley 1100 TOCJ 8685 Mobley,Hank(ts)/No Room For Squares 1100 TOCJ 8686 Monterose,J.R.(ts)/J.R. Monterose 1100 TOCJ 8687 Morgan.Lee(tp)/The Cooker 1100 TOCJ 8688 Morgan.Lee(tp)/The Rumproller 1100 TOCJ 8689 Morgan.Lee(tp)/Caramba 1100 TOCJ 8690 Parlan,Horace(p)/Movin' & Groovin' 1100 TOCJ 8691 Patton,Big John(or)/Let 'em Roll 1100 TOCJ 8692 Pearson,Duke(p)/Profile 1100 TOCJ 8693 Pearson,Duke(p)/Tender Feelin's 1100 TOCJ 8694 Pearson,Duke(p)/Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band 1100 TOCJ 8695 Quebec,Ike(ts)/Blue & Sentimental 1100 TOCJ 8696 Quebec,Ike(ts)/It Might As Well Be Spring 1100 TOCJ 8697 Quebec,Ike(ts)/Bossa Nova Soul Samba 1100 TOCJ 8698 Reece,Dizzy(tp)/Star Bright 1100 TOCJ 8699 Rouse,Charlie(ts)/Bossa Nova Bacchanal 1100 TOCJ 8700 Shorter,Wayne(ts)/Night Dreamer 1100 TOCJ 8701 Shorter,Wayne(ts)/Juju 1100 TOCJ 8702 Shorter,Wayne(ts)/Adam's Apple 1100 TOCJ 8703 Silver,Horace(p)/The Stylings Of Silver 1100 TOCJ 8704 Silver,Horace(p)/Finger Poppin' 1100 TOCJ 8705 Silver,Horace(p)/Doin' The Thing 1100 TOCJ 8706 Silver,Horace(p)/The Tokyo Blues 1100 TOCJ 8707 Smith,Jimmy(or)/At Club Baby Grand Vol.1 1100 TOCJ 8708 Smith,Jimmy(or)/At Club Baby Grand Vol.2 1100 TOCJ 8709 Smith,Jimmy(or)/House Party 1100 TOCJ 8710 Smith,Jimmy(or)/Back At The Chicken Shack 1100 TOCJ 8711 Three Sounds,The/Introducing 1100 TOCJ 8712 Three Sounds,The/Good Deal 1100 TOCJ 8713 Three Sounds,The/Vibrations 1100 TOCJ 8714 Turrentine,Stanley(ts)/Rough 'n Tumble 1100 TOCJ 8715 Turrentine,Stanley(ts)/The Spoiler 1100 TOCJ 8716 Tyner,McCoy(p)/The Real McCoy 1100 TOCJ 8717 Washington,Tyrone(ts)/Natural Essence 1100 TOCJ 8718 Willette,Baby Face(or)/Face To Face 1100 TOCJ 8719 Wilson,Reuben(or)/Love Bag 1100 TOCJ 8720 Young,Larry(or)/ Heaven On Earth 1100 Is this the first CD issue, aside from the Mosaic, of "Heaven on Earth"? And, whaddayaknow, Tyrone re-emerges ...

Thanks, David. I'm familiar with Carter, Maderna, and Rihm (but really only their work for string quartet), a little Nielsen (the symphonies), and Ligeti (string quartet), but have only heard Carter's work for oboe (there's an excellent disc on ECM titled Lauds and Laments with Heinz Holliger on oboe). I'll look into the other composers' work for oboe. What labels? (Montaigne?) Any other recs out there?