Brad

I had a similar problem but in the heat. We were on vacation in Florida and I had my cd player with me. I took it from an air conditioned room onto the balcony into the heat and condensation must have formed because it skipped. Eventually the problem disappeared but it was little annoying to say the least.

I've put my order in for these new Bethlehem with Hiroshi and he didn't mention anything about delays. Of course, I've joined it with an order for the Argos that are not coming out until late January so I've won't be getting anything until then.

That's some crazy stuff but I'd be surprised if he didn't put them there himself. In those days, you could leave feedback for anybody. Then Ebay made all feedback transactional, which makes a lot more sense since you could have somebody say something negative about you.

Chris, where do you live and how cold does it get. I remember this issue came up a few years ago on the old BNBB about whether it was a good idea to leave cd in a car when it gets really cold. I remember the consensus from the experts was that it wasn't a problem. I even remember Aric chiming in about "funk in deep freeze."

Ghost, it's been reissued in part. Several of the songs were on the cd Sonny Stitt and Friends: How High the Moon, reissued by Verve a few years ago. That cd also included cuts from Inter-action and My Main Man.

Where? At the Newark Performing Arts Center or whatever they call it? I used to see Steve Nelson playing around New Brunswick in the late '70's to mid '80s. Starting at the New Brunswick Jazz Collective and then later with drummer Bill Elder. Next thing I knew he's playing Mingus (Epitath) at Lincoln Center. Yes, at NJPAC, in the big theater. They're going to have Roy Haynes group with Dave Holland doing a tribute to Bird in May or so and I'm looking forward to that.

Jazz Record Center is a must. Not only do they have great vinyl but they also usually have a good stock of Fresh Sound CDs and a decent stock of other cds. There are some things you may not be able to find elsewhere, plus the prices are good.

Yes this is true. When it comes to genuine musical&emotional (as opposed to quick money) effort that is. I find it hard to get into Britney but very much doubt I will ever find her work the most rewarding. Are you sure about that?

The Kenton Presents are on my Christmas list so I hope I get it. Isn't the Ellington Reprise OOP although you can get it over in the UK. I haven't heard the Gerald Wilson but I'd like to get it.

Today is Lawrence Lucie's birthday (96). He recently played at the dedication of Pops' house in Queens. Today would also be Fletcher Henderson's 106th birthday.

Chris, It depends on your interests but all Classics to me are great. They basically take an artist and start putting out his output. In the case of a big star like Hawk, they'll put it out year by year, everything he recorded in that particular year. Just masters, no alternates, and from all labels. For some of the older stuff, Classics is pretty indispensible since they're putting out stuff that may have been on 78s only or are unlikely to see the light of day from the major labels. Since they're based in France, they only have to deal with a 50 year statute of limitations so they're up to 1953. I ordered the Cozy Cole, an Art Tatum and a couple of Earl Hines'.

I remember seeing a post where he said he might be busy for awhile. Also what about Hans. I haven't seen him here either.

There looks to be some good bargains here.

Frankly, taking Marvin over Kurt Elling is not an appealing choice. I was more of a Four Tops man myself. It would be hard to argue that soul didn't influence what we call soul jazz. I don't think that's the question. If it were, maybe someone should insert european classical music into a blindfold test. Obviously that went into the gumbo of what became jazz. The question is does Marvin belong in a jazz blindfold test. I don't think it does. Obviously, there are no hard and fast rules of what belongs on a test so it was your right to choose these songs. And don't get me wrong I didn't hate them. But I think there ought to be consensus that it's jazz in the blindfold tests, whether its' Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Howard McGhee, Blue Mitchell, Jack McDuff, Brotzmann or jazz in all its variations, but jazz. Let the raking-me-over-the-coals now begin .

I'll have to disagree about the JB (if that's who it is) but even if it's considered "jazz" for the reasons Jim alludes to, the Marvin Gaye (if that's who that is) has no place in the Blindfold Tests. This is Organissimo, not Soul-issimo. I think something should be remotely jazz and in my view, the latter track doesn't qualify.

For those of you who may be so inclined, WKCR is running its annual Bach festival, starting this Thursday night at 12:00 am EST. I've listened to it a little bit in the past and recommend it, if that's your thing.

Dova, $76 is a lot but what the heck I've spent some big bucks before on a single cd. Hey, it's the holiday season, reward yourself

I saw DH recently here in NJ and loved Steve Nelson. Funny that you mention about Chris Potter being on sax because when I saw them, Antonio Hart was on sax. Maybe he was just temporary. Eubanks had incredible energy!

I assume you're not including airchecks in your definition? This may be a dumb question and I assume I probably ought to know better but why are they called transcriptions? Is it because they were "transcribed" or "transposed" from the radio station to record?

Sheldon's thought has occurred to me before (not often, however). What would I do with my collection or what should I do with my collection. It's probably worth a few dollars so I suppose I'd direct my wife to somewhere to sell them but on the other hand I'd probably like to leave some of them to some people here who I know would appreciate them.

Happy Birthday to THE MAN!

Dudes, you don't want to see my face

Stitt, Mobley and Blakey but I'd remiss if I didn't put in a vote for the HRS Sessions. That's a fantastic box. Not to be confused with favorite is the question of what's the best. I don't have the set but it would have to be the Commodore Sets.

I'm not that wild about the Woody Herman set, especially some of the later sessions, which I was actually listening to last night, principally Woody's singing. Also some of the arrangements are actually pretty boring. The best thing on these later sessions, btw, but you don't get enough of them are Richie Kamuca and Vince Guaraldi. I know this is heresy with many people but the Jimmy Giuffre set just doesn't it do it for me. In fact, I'm thinking about getting rid of it. Also, Illinois in small doses is definitely a better way to go. I knew a lot of people weren't wild about the Joe Pass but I kind of liked it.

In last Sunday NYT, there was a very nice review of a The Complete Lyrics of Frank Loesser, edited by Robert Kimball and Steve Nelson, from Alfred A. Knopf. According to the review, Mr. Kimball has assembled similar compilations of of Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin. Loesser, who was one of the great lyricists and songwriters, wrote one of the greatest musicals ever, Guys and Dolls. When I was a kid I must have worn the grooves out on that LP and still love that music. I was never a huge fan of his other hit How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, but Guys and Dolls is memorable. Frank Loesser in the 30s worked with Hoagy Carmichael, Jimmy McHugh and Jule Styne. Two of his better known songs, at least to jazz fans, are On a Slow Boat to China and Baby, It's Cold Outside. On a Slow Boat should be know, at least, to all Bird fans.