Brad

I'll be in the minority here and say that I like the first session better than the second. However, the second tries to be a little less conventional than the first and more challenging so who knows for sure. Agree that Mira is the highlight here. I'm a sucker for these kinds of latin rhythms, much more than I used to be. I find that one of the pluses and minuses on the first session is Freddie Waits. I find his drumming very, very good. However, at the same time it's too obtrusive and seems too get in the way of the whole session. That could be the fault of how it was recording and not his playing but I was reminded of Lou Donaldson saying that he prefers a rhythm section that doesn't get in the way and I think Freddie Waits gets in the way. On the other hand, maybe he has to pick up the pace because of Ron Carter. Jimmy Ponder was a definite plus and since I'd just listened to Phillip Catherine off the Dexter Gordon Something Different Session in the Steeplechase box, I found myself making comparisons here. Overall, I hadn't listened to this album in a few years and having listened to it again, I found it much better the second time around. A great idea to suggest this for album of the week.

It's hard to pick up a favorite here although I don't think Matador belongs on the list. Not one of my favorites. Ultimately, I picked Feeling the Spirit. It just has such emotion in it. Those spirituals are played so movingly (I'm not a religious person but this record almost makes you one).

Bruce, Not really. Just got dragged around by my parents when I was a kid B)

I did an internet search and apparently it means Jungle Soul. Don't ask me what language it's from, however. I'm fluent in Spanish, knowledgeable in French and can read a little bit of Portuguese (having lived in Brasil) and that translation doesn't equate in any of those languages.

I'd vote for the Jazz Lab with Gigi (especially Xtasy) and Off to the Races. I'd recommend the Half Note material and the Jazz in Paris material also. Any of his material with Pepper Adams is great stuff (including where Pepper is the leader, such as 10 to 4 at the Five Spot. Mustang is also not bad but the late 60s stuff leaves me cold. I don't think that's what they should remember him for. People should think of the late 50s work all the way up to around '66. After that, it tails off for me.

RT, Here's a photo of the album.

I voted for Pee Wee. I don't have any of these but I can pick up Pee Wee the easiest and now it gives me an excuse to do so!

I have to agree with Mike on these but from a different perspective. I listened to a few clips fromsome of these new releases (other than the Patton which I have as a TOCJ) and they're not my cup of tea. They're not anything I'd want to buy. However, I'm not going to say they're bad or whatever. They obviously appeal to others. And that's finem, and diversity is what it's all about.

Here's another vote for Tell It the Way It Is. There's also another album that's not uniquely is but that he has a major part in and that's the album Diminuendo, Crescendo and Blues from the C-Jam Allstars. It's a pretty fantastic album.

I have only one of his albums, With These Hands, which I liked very much, so I'll be looking forward to this set. I have most but not all of the Bennie Greene (I'm missing the Ike Quebec and Walking and Talking) so I'll probably spring for this also and offload my TOCJs.

I've read the first couple of chapters on Bird and Dizzy and while they're good summaries of their careers up till the concert, I've read a bit about Bird (I'm not professing to have anything close to semi-expertise) and there's nothing in there that I haven't gleaned from anywhere else. In fact, a lot of the stories and interesting anecdotes I've seen elsewhere. So, I think if you know a lot about these musicians already, there's nothing startling in there. I'm anticipating that the chapter on the concert will be very good though. Now, I don't know a lot about the other musicians so I found the chapter on Dizzy very good and the one on Bud good so far.

Any views on the Getz box?

Having read Kevin's post, it just sort of makes you shake your head in wonder. It's sort of tragic in a way.

The Propers always seem to be on ebay at reasonable prices. Regarding internet sellers, cd universe seem to have good prices. The new Johnny Hodges is listed as $16.79. Would be hard to beat that.

I don't think there ever could be a connection between the closing of that board and buying tendencies. If you're suggesting that people would boycott Blue Note and Mosaic because of the way the closing was handled, I don't think that would happen. I wasn't happy with what they did but that wouldn't stop me from buying BN releases. The closing of the board won't even rate a blip on the radars of history.

Today Billy Eckstine 1944-1945 Classics Stan Levey's Stanley the Steamer

I'd like to pick up that one too. Just haven't done it yet. My previous post wasn't aimed at any one in particular but it's just a shame that he doesn't get any attention. Obviously, that has a lot to do with that he didn't make a lot of recordings after his few BN albums because of his economic situation. The guy has a beautiful tone and has made some nice really nice records.

It's too bad this is the only kind of attention Louis Smith is getting in these parts. He's made some excellent cds from Steeplechase. Among others, he's made a trumpet-piano duet cd called The Very Thought of You with Jodie Christian that is really excellent and Soon, with Andy LaVerne, Jimmy Greene (great unrecognized sax player) and Ray Drummond.

2 of Dexter's Black Lions have been reissued by 1201: Take the A Train (excellent sound) and Body and Soul. I've seen them quite a bit on ebay for cheap prices. There's also an excellent 2 Cd set Black Lion put out called "Sunset Swing". If you see this grab it; it's worth the money. I got this from Ebay, from a seller I think called cello700 or cello7000 and he may have a couple extra lying around. Here's an amg review: This CD contains 22 generally exciting performances from jazz's transitional years. While the music technically falls into the swing idiom, one can often hear the influence of bop (and even early rhythm & blues) creeping in. Nine different groups are heard from. Trumpeter Howard McGhee and tenor-saxophonist Charlie Ventura head a sextet, the 16-year old pianist Andre Previn makes his recording debut on a trio version of "California Clipper" and joins trumpeter Buddy Childers, altoist Willie Smith and the tenor of Vido Musso in a sextet, McGhee, Willie Smith and tenor great Lucky Thompson join forces on another date, guitarist Les Paul is heard in a sextet with trumpeter Harry Edison, pianist Arnold Ross duets with bassist Red Callender, trumpeter Emmett Berry, trombonist Vic Dickenson and altoist Lem Davis swing in a sextet and drummer Ray Bauduc leads an unidentified group. Recommended. — Scott Yanow

Sure they are, you just have to be creative. I'm open to suggestions. Any ideas?

He ain't part of the gang in my view. Unless it's the chain gang!

I don't know how you can criticize PS2. I just saw a demo for the Getaway (I won't let my son have the game) and the graphics are quite impressive. Same thing with splinter cell. Anyway, getting back, it depends what the person you're buying this for plays. I'd check out a local retailer and see what more they stock of in your son's friend interest and then buy. I don't think a dvd is that big a deal unless you don't have one. I like PS2 because I'm a soccer fan and like to play the FIFA games, although I'd love to play the European PS2 soccer games but they're not compatible with the US unfortunately.

Love both the Blakey set and the Lee 50s set, especially some of his work with Benny Golson. Reggie from Chester is a classic for me. The book from the 50s set is also phenomenal. In talking about these sets, it's like saying one is best and one is bestest.

They've put out some very good sets, especially Bebop Spoken Here and Coleman Hawkins, not to mention the Dexter Gordon set. I think the books are well written. They're a bit more than starter sets, as somebody has said. The Bebop set has some things that others more knowledgeable than I said they hadn't seen anywhere on disc. This set served as an introduction to me to Sonny Berman, a great trumpeter from the mid 40s. The Hawkins set has a lot of Keynote material, which is very hard to find on disc. You should know that these are master takes and there are no alternates and I don't believe these are remastered but they bring together some hard to find material. I'm especially interested in their recently issued or soon to be issued Johnny Hodges set. Really recommend these. There has been some concern about ripping off Mosaic but I haven't really examined that issue too closely yet.

A while ago, somebody (maybe Ed) posted something about emailing Michael about this coming out as a Select. Couldn't find the post about the reply (if there was one). Did he ever reply and is this on their radar screen?