Brad

Assuming that Ty is really doing a war beanie babie, from my point of view, it's quite offensive. I always thought Beanies were supposed to represent some neutral animal type or something like that was generally inoffensive. This, to me, is offensive. I think it was Stephen Decatur who said something like "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." That's what that represents to me. I'm sure others in this country where criticism or dissent doesn't seem to be encouraged anymore might disagree.

These are some weird stories, especially Dan's. I had an experience with a horse or a pony but it was all my fault. When we lived in Uruguay when I was around 7, there was an empty lot next store, where the father of the 3 girls I used to play with kept a pony. Well, one day, bored, with nothing to do, I wandered over and decided to pet the pony's behind. What do you think it did? It did whatever animal bothered would do. It kicked me from behind right in the solar plexus. The funny thing was that I didn't feel a thing, just sort of surprised. Needless to say, I found something else to do.

I know DJ Lounge is one that Jim loves. It was discussed pretty extensively at the old you know where. Not sure if it fits into the second category because that date really swings. I thought he was on that night. Even if he's coasting some, his coasting is a let better than most people's on. He had a lot of talent but I think the big disappointment is that he probably could have been better. There's something to say about what he did he did very well. And for that I love his stuff. But you just wonder what he would have been like had he embraced the times. Look at Dexter. He tried to incorporate what Sonny Rollins and Coltrane were doing to a certain extent but Sonny S never wanted to seem to go there. That's probably part of the reason why Alfred had the conniption at the Dexter "session." But you can still love Sonny for what he does (and I do), there's just that nagging thought in the back of your mind.

Does that mean vote early and often?

I've used it for a long time and never had a problem. Changing emails is pretty easy. I sell although not that much and frankly it's easier to take it. Don't have to worry about checks or worrying if I'll get payment. I don't like paying for the fees but hey, nothing is for free. And I'm quite happy that Hiroshi takes it. It's a hassle to go the post office and have to get one of those m.o.s. I remember Tod (Out to Lunch) telling me a few years ago that he had to troop to a few offices before he could find one of those money orders. It's a great system. Wish I'd bought some of their stock when it first came out.

I thought it was supposed to be better than the first, which I caught on HBO last year some time.

My wife really got into those and we've got tons. We put them away. I took that room over as a music room. While they're sort of cute, it was a big waste of money. Anybody want to buy some?

To further elaborate, not all of the Verves have been released here or in Japan, to my knowledge. Notable examples are Sonny Stitt Plays Jimmy Giuffre Arrangements (1959), Previously Unreleased Recordings (1960; one song is on that Verve Jazz Masters), an unissued 1961 date (according to Lord). Others are not that easy to find: The Sensual Sound of Sonny Stitt (1961; the Ralph Burns Orchestra date), two untitled sessions but released in Japan as Saxophone Supremacy and Sonny Stitt Swings the Most, and the Hard Swing. Yes, a Mosaic would be welcome but since they just did one and it's still in print, I'm not holding my breath.

Voted for Montana but as a Jets and AFL fan, no Namath?

I wasn't much of a Sonny Stitt fan (just hadn't heard that much, no other reason) until I picked up the Mosaic. After that I became a total nut and picked up everything in sight. The Mosaic was a real revelation for me as to how good he was, especially the Quincy Jones material. He obviously doesn't get the credit because of the Bird comparison and because he never had a set band most of the time but his tone is just so beautiful, especially on alto. Even when bored, he probably sounded better that 90% of other people. Another great discovery from that session was Jimmy Jones, someone I had never heard of until then. What would be great is if Verve would come out with a box of his 50s materia. It'd be a great companion to the Roost material. Besides this session, there's the well known Only the Blues and Sonny Side Up, the Oscar Peterson record (fantastic as well), For Musicians Only (with Diz and Getz). Also on Roost but not on the Mosaic cause it's live is At the High Hat dates. Fantastic. Sonny even plays bari. Can't recommend the Mosaic enough, as you can tell. If you're on the fence, go for it.

Scott, When it's my birthday, do you think your wife would give me a gift certificate? It'd be really appreciated.

For those of you who are on the fence about this cd, jump off that fence right now and run (don't walk!) to your nearest store and grab it. It's very good. I think the organ work here is great. Everybody is top rate on this but Dave Burns on trumpet deserves some praise here. Bobby Hutcherson and Mitchell work very well together.

Berigan, do you actually mean the cd broke in two pieces? I'm planning to start listening to that disc tonight. Thanks for the warning.

You're probably right about this but I think your earlier post said it best. This was the music of the times and it being the depression, one probably couldn't be too choosy so you took what you could and tried to leave a mark that way, while waiting for better times and opportunities. I think if you listen to them in that context, you can get by some of these songs.

What does it mean if they have a Hodges set at $80? Does it mean that Mosaic has sold it to them for a cheap price. I can't see that but anything is possible or does it mean that they've gotten outside of the normal channels of trade? If so, is there a question of it's legality?

Paul, it's Buddy Clark, according to AMG.

Clem, How is Dexter's quote banal? I know I may be prejudiced here but it's a nice line: the Hankenstein. It's just a musician talking that's all. Now, if you want to talk about him laying down too many quotes in some of his songs, one could argue that.

Jim, thanks. Had forgotten. Memory (plus a lot of other things) are fading. Wasn't lucky enough to get the Mosaic so I'll probably spring for this. Perhaps BN will get around to reissuing all of the material from the Roulette studio sessions.

How about LD's version on Sunny Side Up. Sonny is hard to beat, though. Shrdlu good to see you. Wondered how you were.

I've listened to the first couple of discs (following the discography order) and as Richard Sudhalter says there's a lot of chaff that needs to be separated from that wheat. Some of the vocals are generally harmless, the lyrics forgettable and this is probably their 15 minutes of fame, for singers like Dick Robertson. The Boswell Sisters are another matter however and I liked this material. In fact I found myself humming some of the tunes, such as You'll Never Get to Heaven That Way. Oh, his description of saxophonist Bennie Krueger is priceless, LOL funny. On some of these less than memorable tunes, Berigan and Jimmy Dorsey on clarinet stand out, in my opinion.

Jim, You lost me on that one

There's some definitely interesting ones. The Baker looks to have a lot of Dameron on it, the Basie and the Rushings look like ones I want to get. The Mulligan-Hodges combination also sounds like something too good to pass up. The James Moody Story I couldn't find too much about on AMG, except as a Trip LP. If it's one and the same, it's supposed to be very bop-infused. Tomorrow could be another of those bad ($$) days.

Courtesy of Alan Lankin, there are some interesting reissues coming out tomorrow: Chet Baker - The Most Important Jazz Album of 1964/1965 (Colpix) Count Basie - Chairman of the Board (Roulette) Billy Eckstine - Once More With Feeling (Roulette) Jimmy Rushing - Five Feet of Soul (Colpix) Dinah Washington '62 (Roulette) Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges (Verve LPR) The Jimmy Giuffre 3 - The Easy Way (Verve LPR) The James Moody Story (Verve LPR) Stan Getz - Reflections (Verve LPR) Phil Woods and the European Rhythm Machine - Live at the Montreux Festival (Verve LPR)

This was discussed a while ago at Blue Note Book. I happened to see it this past weekend and my initial reaction after browsing through it is that it seemed a little superficial for hard core junkies. Probably good for a general reader though.

I'm trying to finish Geoffrey Haydon's book about the Massey Hall Concert and I'm sort of perusing part of Allyns Shipton's A New History of Jazz. I'm also re-reading All Quiet on the Western Front (haven't looked at it since high school; my son just read it). Also, my son and I are reading together the newest Harry Potter book.