Brad

Yes, I agree with you, too. For example, I will NOT purchase a Conn. release at Border's unless I can get some sort of discount. I mean, $18 for a Conn. title at Border's or $13 via the internet? If I purchase an entire group-release of Conn. titles, say, 4 disks multiplied by $5 difference-per-disk and I'm talking about getting an additional disk, for free, if purchased from the online store versus the retail store. RVGs are more reasonably priced and I tend to purchase them at Border's (unless the RVG is a double). I'm always surprised when a single RVG is priced at $11.99 but a double is priced at $26.99. Like, uhhh... did I miss something? I usually buy the RVGs at the local Borders here in Jersey and they're pretty reasonably priced around $11.99. The Conns, yes those are expensive, but the RVGs aren't badly priced. I also found that if you don't reserve them through their online ordering system (since they only get one copy, 2 at the max), you won't get them. BTW, Blue Spirits is sensational. My first time hearing it.

The Jimmy Smith would be interesting if I probably didn't have everything already. If it's good as the Grant Green box, it can't miss.

Jim sums it up for me. Downbeat is even less interesting.

Don't forget East Broadway Rundown, one of my favorites. I'd also stick in a vote for Worksong, a very fine cd. I don't really want to wade into this controversy but I saw Sonny awhile back at New Jersey Performing Arts Center and all the criticism I read here I don't feel is justified and even more so when he's 73 or 74. I hope I'm functioning at half that level when I'm 74. Didn't Monk record and play many of the same compositions over and over? I don't see anybody criticizing him for that.

Mike, keep the groove goin and hope you come back. Happy birthday.

I'm like David. I have only a couple of his Prestige albums although I may have some of the material with Wardell. So this is a must buy for me.

PMs sent back and Hans is right about it being LP and small group sessions. Bol, if you need more information, please let me know.

I am looking to sell this set and I'm only selling it because there's a lot of great Mosaic and other sets (Dexter) coming out in the fall so something's gotta give. Everything is mint and I kid you not. The box is in fantastic condition and the book is likewise in fantastic conditon (looks brand new; I'm fanatical about those things). I paid a pretty penny for this so if you're interested please send me a PM. I will ship by UPS because I think they're safer and for this you want safe. Thanks.

If you want to talk killer stuff, check out the upcoming Dexter Prestige Box.

$140 is a lot but 11 cds for that price? It's hard to knock that price.

Three of the new RVGs: In N'Out, Blue Spirits and Tender Moments.

As a leader, no. At least according to the Chronological Classics which is said to contains all his dates as a leader. In the liner notes of Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry: Tenor Giants, a Commodore reissue, Francis Davis refers to Billie Holiday's book in which she recounts Chu Berry battling Lester. Perhaps this is what Mike is referring to. According to the notes, most musicians felt that Chu bested Lester that evening.

Dave James and Stefan are the champs so far.

BTW, Benny's Terminal 1 is very, very good, especially his renditions of Killer Joe and Blues March. His playing is at top peak. Plus with Mike Ledonne on piano, how can you go wrong?

If you throw in Selects I'm approaching 50 plus. I wonder if the gurus at Mosaic are reading this.

Never knew that. I wonder why. Must be the tension on the arm.

Yup, got it on Monday. It's great so far and great sound. I even like the singing.

I have a lot, more than 40, that's all I'll say.

Well, good to hear he's ok. We all probably need a sabbatical every now and then.

If it's only one, it's Bird but Monk is a close second. No one sounds or sounded like him.

Like Larry, I've been listening to disc one. I've never listened to this music before but the sound is very good. You can't really believe it was recorded in 1945. I'm also getting to like Woody's vocals, believe it or not. Besides loving Bill Harris and Flip, I'm really enjoying Marjorie Hyams on vibes (who have I to confess I never heard of before). She's underrated (obviously) in my view.

To me, there's only one and that's Bird. His tone is like no other. I don't think it's that hard to distinguish Sonny from Bird, there's just a little bit of a different sound. I don't think Miles is necessarily that identifiable because his tone changed after he hurt his throat and even if you don't agree with that, his tone from the mid 40s is quite distinct from later periods. Other candidates: Dizzy, Milt Jackson and Coltrane.

That's very exciting, for me. Slowly but surely, a lot of the Roulette sessions seem to be coming out so I'll be getting these (I don't have the studio box).

You're assuming that the label recovers its investment. What if it doesn't? Even if it does, I believe (I'm not in the business), isn't that part of the bargain they drive. There's obviously unequal bargaining power so if you want to get in the stores, you need to basically do what they want. I would think that if you become a star, you have more leverage.

Well, I can confess that I did not do so hot on this. Back to the books.