robviti

i just learned about a guy named gordon polatnick from a discussion on another thread (thanks dmitry). he conducts jazz tours in nyc and also runs bigapplejazz.com, which now has a brick-and-mortar operation in Harlem at 2236 7th ave (131st/132nd streets). it's called big apple jazz center and ez's woodshed. in addition to selling "cd's, dvd's, t-shirts, hats, books, gifts, concert posters and fine art all celebrating New York jazz past and present," the small store also features "live jazz daily from 12:30pm - 4:30pm." does anyone know anything about this guy or the place? here's the link: bigapplejazz

btw, gordon polatnick runs bigapplejazz.com, which now has a brick-and-mortar operation in Harlem at 2236 7th ave (131st/132nd streets). anyone know anything about this guy or the place? here's the link: bigapplejazz

thanks for jogging my memory, dmitry. it must have been around ten years ago on one of my early jazz trips to the city. it was during the winter and the snow was coming down pretty hard. i was walking in the village and i came across this little jazz shop. i don't recall if i bought anything, but i remember looking through a lot of old vinyl and feeling rather nostalgic. i never could remember the name of that place, until now. i guess i was quite lucky to have found it open. here's an excerpt i found from a short article called Bebopping the Night Away in New York City by Gordon Polatnick, a nyc tour guide specializing in jazz tours: Right across 7th Ave. from Smalls at 163 W10th is the jazz shop that would be king. With no set hours of operation, the tiny Village Jazz Shop [now closed] is the place where musicians and patrons mingle among stacks of cds, vintage lps, books, T-shirts, and a collection of appropriate art. Owner and jazz raconteur Russ Musto has a special room dedicated to his heroic rare lp collection which is opened by appointment only -- made in person. He runs the store as an indulgence, stating that he'd be embarrassed to live in a city that didn't have a store like his. It's a one of kind place which graces you with the intangible benefits of mom and pop authenticity.

I know there are quite a few members that are big Moncur fans. I thought you might like to know he's scheduled to perform at the Iridium in NYC on April 8 & 9 with a great band. Here's the lineup: GRACHAN MONCUR BAND Grachan Moncur III (trombone) Billy Harper (tenor sax) Michael Blake (alto sax) John Hicks (piano) Calvin Hill (bass) Richard Pearson (drums)

agreed. so why the hell is this thread in the artists forum? oh, i get it. he's a bullshit artist!

The Boston Creative Music Alliance is bringing Ernest Dawkins and the New Horizons Ensemble to the Institute of Contemporary Art on Friday, April 28. I'm really looking forward to this show. I think it could be the first time the Ensemble has played in this city, as they are touting it as their "Boston premiere." While we're on the subject, the BCMA is also featuring the Makanda Ken McIntyre Project with Oliver Lake at the same venue on Saturday, March 4. From the ICA's website: Saxophonist McIntyre left behind an enormous legacy of compositions, most of them never recorded, when he died in 2001. Boston-area pianist John Kordelewski and an all-star nine piece ensemble with special guest Oliver Lake honor the man and composer in this unique program of McIntyre's music. Another show I don't plan to miss!

again, many thanks.

Hey folks, I'm looking for some information about the box set The Complete Norman Granz Jam Sessions. Specifically, can anyone tell me the order of the solos on discs 4 & 5? Here are personnel listings and the tracks in question. Thanks in advance. DISC FOUR Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie (tp) Johnny Hodges (as) Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Ben Webster (ts) Lionel Hampton (vib) Oscar Peterson (p) Ray Brown (b) Buddy Rich (d) NYC, September 2, 1953 1) Blue Lou 2) Just You, Just Me 3) Jam Blues 4) Ballad Medley: Tenderly / I've Got The World On A String / What's New? / I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) / Don't Blame Me / Imagination / Someone To Watch Over Me / Body And Soul / She's Funny That Way DISC FIVE Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie (tp) Bill Harris (tb) Buddy DeFranco (cl) Flip Phillips (ts) Oscar Peterson (p) Herb Ellis (g) Ray Brown (b) Louis Bellson (d) NYC, October 30, 1954 1) Funky Blues 2) Lullaby In Rhythm

an admission: i'm a clinical psychologist, not a psychiatrist. any advice i might offer on prescriptions therefore would be based on my vast personal experience with pharmaceuticals.

please, everybody take a deep breath and relax. i talked with michael cuscuna when i was in new york two weeks ago. he told me that the idea for the single reissue series came out of a meeting he had some time ago with executives from some of the big labels. these suits were complaining about the poor sales of their jazz reissues, which could cast some doubt as to the future of some reissue campaigns. so, michael figured that as one door might be closing for the big guys, another door could be opening for mosaic. that's the extent of it as far as i was told.

i used to eat several double cheeseburgers a week. mickey d's was across the street from work and they were only 99 cents. in the past ten months, i've been there 2 or 3 times and ordered a mcchicken sandwich. i've lost nearly 40 pounds.

thanks for the heads up. too bad they weren't on sale when i schlepped down there two weeks ago.

i believe you're right. that's why tower had copies of eternal spirit in stock for so long. they owned bayside, the company that distributed the collector's choice series.

stores like tower records seemed to have had copies of eternal spirit available for quite some time after it went oop. i think but not farewell has been much more difficult to find, however.

i just got back home. whew, what a weekend! i saw both sets of the tolliver big band on thursday, and i concur wholeheartedly with catesta. i got a chance to talk with michael cuscuna and later, with david weiss. friday was devoted to three sets at dizzy's. the first two were performed by mulgrew miller, and it was a real treat to finally see wingspan. gorge colligan's after hours set was marred only by the crowd's obnoxious behavior, with several tables not just talking, but shouting to each other during the show. i must say, this club's sound and visual presentation are first rate. but it won't be one of my regular stops for jazz, because i go to see and hear the artists create important music. from what i could see, the trendy crowd that frequents dizzy's are mainly there to be seen. jazz comes a distant second, if at all. saturday provided a fitting crescendo to my weekend. the first set at the standard was excellent, and meeting joe chambers afterward was a bonus. then i heard two sets by joel forrester featuring clare daly at cleopatra's. their music has wit and humor, and daly's tone is incredibly full and rich. she and i talked for quite a while. i learned we were at berklee around the same time, and that she used to tend bar at michael's, a favorite jazz spot now long gone. finally, i caught bruce barth's last set at smoke. i really enjoy his playing, and someday i hope to see his sextet perform. man, i love this music. and yes, i love new york.

yes, i've managed to drop by a few times on my way to nyc. kevin b. and i even had the pleasure once of going to lunch with michael.

hey! naps are cool!

i'm really looking forward to my upcoming stay in nyc. as i mentioned, i'm extending my usual 2-day weekend by flying down thursday and coming back sunday ($105 round trip on jet blue!). here's my itinerary, in case anyone would like to join me at one of these shows: thursday: charles tolliver at birdland - 9pm set. dimitri kolesnik/andrei kondakov + 5 corners w/ eric alexander & jim rotondi at smoke - 11 & 12:30 sets friday: mulgrew miller and wingspan at dizzy's - 9:30 & 11:30 sets george colligan trio at dizzy's - 12:30 after hours set saturday: joe henderson tribute at the jazz standard (see above) - 7:30 set joel forrester featuring claire daly at cleopatra’s needle - music until midnight bruce barth trio at smoke - 12:30 set looks like i'll be sleeping a good part of each day!

there are only two people from whom i will borrow or to whom i will lend recordings: my brother tom who introduced me to jazz, and kevin bresnahan.

i'll probably hold off ordering any double jewel cases until i place my next order with american-digital. i'm a little worried though, they haven't stocked klone cdrs in jewel cases for some time now. if i order them on a spindle and have to order jewel cases for them separately, that increases the price of each unit.

yo' mama's a llama!

osama-yo' mama!