montg

Ruby Braff--maybe some sort of Epic, RCA,UA combo Al Grey--Argo recordings McCoy Tyner's BN output

Picked this one up used from Euclid Records yesterday in St. Louis. I didn't know what to expect since Lockjaw Davis, Sweets, and Al Grey were all in their 60s when this was recorded.. but man, this swings. All three sound inspired--no coasting and some wonderful blues.

The 'major' labels like Columbia, Bluebird, Verve etc. aren't exactly cranking things out these days and this is where all the BMG action ususally comes from (at least for jazz). It'd be great if BMG began distributing stuff from some of the larger independent labels (e.g., Palmetto).

I bought the Yanow 'Swing' book a few years ago. I rarely consult it and wouldn't recommend it if you already have the Penguin guide. Coincidentally I was looking at the Gelly book at a library recently. It's oversized, nice pictures, and relatively short essays mostly by British critics who mostly well-known and respected (e.g., Richard Cook, Brian Priestly). It's an overview, rather than in depth discussion, of the great sax players. Of the two, I'd recommend the Gelly.

Here's a thread about Maurice Brown: maurice brown

Right, but the Colorado River runs through it, so, um.. I know that's a stretch, but I'm trying to save face. When I was in Sedona, I knew it was in AZ. But that was 15 years ago. Sedona is Coloradoesque. Ben Allison is cool.

Whoops I was too busy listening to BC instead of watching the signs. We were headed to the Grand Canyon which is sort of in Colorado isn't it?

I would say that Buzz is tamer than the Nuclear Tiger. If anyone is new to Allison, I'd say Nuclear Tiger is the place to start. One cut from 'Buzz' that I recall, 'Green Al, has a pretty good groove, but a lot of the CD (which is relatively short at about 44 minutes) is kind of moody--somber in spots, even, but certainly not in an overwhelming way. Of course, this is just my opinion and it'll be helpful to hear other reactions. I like this a lot too. A number of years ago my wife and I listened to a cassette of this over and over as we drove through Sedona in Colorado and it evokes those memories when I hear it.

Dgstrane, Yes--since 'Humans'. There's been a lot since then but I think it's still my favorite Cockburn album. 'How I spent my Fall vacation', 'Rose above the sky'...great stuff. I imagine the Bush administration is driving BC nuts--maybe it'll compel another album from him sooner rather than later. If you've liked the other Allison albums, I'm sure you'll like this one.. a similar approach and a lot of the same players from the Jazz Composers Collective that have previously appeared.

I picked up the new Ben Allison, "Buzz" over the weekend. His compositions are pretty distinctive--if you've heard him before, you could probably identify this new album in a blindfold test after about one measure. A lot of the songs on this seem to be more about soundscapes and tone poems than anything else. Which is fine with me.. I like it a lot. Not sure yet how I feel about the Beatles' cover 'Across the Universe'. The kind of song that sticks in your head whether you want it there or not. On the other hand, a great version of an Andrew Hill composition, 'Erato'. Has anyone else picked this up yet?

Mingus: Tonight at Noon Mingus: Hatian Fight Song Tyner: Passion Dance Max Roach, 'Garvey's Ghost', if you really want to get the neighbors' attention

Gave it a spin tonight and you're right Catesta--straight out of the top drawer. Interesting to hear Charlie Rouse in the setting. Hawk seems like the catalyst for this session..makes my ears perk up everytime he comes in.

His father was Tiny Bradshaw's guitarist in the 30s (John Mclean). The band was an African American band and, of course, the bands were not integrated in the 30s (BG something of an exception). Race is a dubious social construct that matters less today in the U.S. than it did yesterday and hopefully, by the time my kids grow up, race (and color) won't matter at all.

Here's the release schedule from the vervemusicgroup web site. It claims to have been updated recently (5/17) and the Krupa and Roach are both still listed for 6/8. The Verve Music Group Release Schedule Updated 5/17/2004 4/27/04 Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room - New Release - Verve Records Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room (hybrid SACD) - New Release - Verve Records Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends Vol. 1: Action (SACD) - Reissue - Verve Int'l Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends Vol. 2: Girl Talk (SACD) - Reissue - Verve Int'l Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends Vol. 3: The Way I Really Play (SACD) - Reissue - Verve Int'l Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends Vol. 4: My Favorite Instrument (SACD) - Reissue - Verve Int'l Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends Vol. 5: Mellow Mood (SACD) - Reissue - Verve Int'l Oscar Peterson - Exclusively For My Friends Vol. 6: Travelin' On (SACD) - Reissue - Verve Int'l Various Artists - The Wedding Jazz Album: First Dances - Reissue - Verve Records Various Artists - WBGO 25th Anniversary Compilation - New Release - Verve Records 5/11/04 Hugh Masekela - Still Grazing - Reissue - Blue Thumb Keiko Matsui - The Very Best of Keiko Matsui - Reissue - GRP Records Arturo Sandoval - The Very Best of Arturo Sandoval - Reissue - GRP Records Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething - New Release - Verve Records John Scofield - EnRoute - New Release - Verve Records 6/8/04 Gerald Albright - Kickin' It Up - New Release - GRP Records George Benson - Irreplaceable - New Release - GRP Records Art Blakey - 'S Make It - Reissue - Verve Records Candido Camero - Candido Featuring Al Cohn - Reissue - GRP Records Laura Fygi - Live At North Sea (DVD) - Gene Krupa - Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements - Reissue - Verve Records Machito - Vacation At The Concord - Reissue - GRP Records Max Roach - Jazz In 3/4 Time - Reissue - Verve Records Patato & Totico - Patato & Totico (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Dave Pike - Manhattan Latin (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Joao Gilberto - In Tokyo - New Release - Verve Int'l Records 6/15/04 Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething (hybrid SACD) - New Release - Verve Int'l Records 6/22/04 Johnny Griffin - JG (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Illinois Jacquet - Desert Winds (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Roland Kirk - Live In Copenhagen (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Masters At Work - Present Latin Verve Sounds - New Release - Verve Records Masters At Work - Present Latin Verve Sounds (Vinyl) - New Release - Verve Records James Moody - James Moody (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Sonny Stitt - Personal Appearance (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Various Artists - Jazz For Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle, and Shake - Reissue - Verve Records Bernie Williams - The Journey Within (DVD) - New Release - GRP Records 7/6/04 Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto #2 (VME) - Reissue - Verve Records 7/13/04 Jesse Harris - While The Music Lasts - New Release - Blue Thumb Records Joshua Payne - Your Love, My Home - New Release - Blue Thumb Records James Brown - Soul On Top - Reissue - Verve Records Dave Grusin - NOW PLAYING: Movies Themes - Solo Piano - New Release - GRP Records Diana Krall - Love Scenes (hybrid SACD) - New Release - Verve Records Oscar Peterson - A Night In Vienna (DVD U.S. Only) - New Release - Verve Int'l Records 7/20/04 Charles Mingus - The Great Concert Of Charles Mingus - Reissue - Verve Int'l Records Claus Ogerman - A Man And His Music - Reissue - Verve Records 7/27/04 Various Artists (A Tribute to Luther Vandross) - Forever, For Always, For Luther - New Release - GRP Records James Brown - Soul On Top (Vinyl) - Reissue - Verve Records 8/3/04 Al Jarreau - Accentuate the Positive - New Release - Verve Records 8/10/04 Larry Carlton - The Very Best of Larry Carlton - Reissue - GRP Records George Howard - The Very Best of George Howard - Reissue - GRP Records Joe Sample - Soul Shadows - New Release - PRA Records 8/17/04 Tal Farlow - The Complete Verve Recordings (Mosaic Int'l Box Set Only) - Box Set - Verve Records 8/24/04 Dinah Washington - Queen: The Music Of Dinah Washington - Reissue - Verve Records Bill Evans - Bill Evans for Lovers - Reissue - Verve Records Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson For Lovers - Reissue - Verve Records 9/7/04 Bill Evans - California, Here I Come (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Ahmad Jamal - Chamber Music of the New Jazz (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Ramsey Lewis - Another Voyage (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Oscar Peterson - A Jazz Portrait Of Frank Sinatra (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Jimmy Smith - The Boss (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records 9/14/04 Alice Coltrane - Title To Be Determined - New Release - Impulse! Records Mindi Abair - Come As You Are - New Release - GRP Records Charlie Haden - The Land Of The Sun - New Release - Verve Int'l Records 9/21/04 Alexandria Lorez - Alexandria the Great (LPR) - Reissue - Impulse! Records Freddy Cole - Waiter, Ask the Man to Play the Blues - Reissue - GRP Records Blossom Dearie - Sings Broadway Hit Songs (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Ella Fitzgerald - Hello Love (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Ella Fitzgerald - Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles Vol. 1 - Reissue - Verve Records Sergio Mendes - The Fool On The Hill (LPR) - Reissue - A&M Jazz Chiara Civello - Last Quarter Moon - New Release - Verve Records 10/5/04 Norman Granz - The Complete Jam Sessions Box Set - Box Set - Verve Records Peggy Lee - Black Coffee (VME) - Reissue - Verve Records Anita O'Day - Swings Cole Porter (VME) - Reissue - Verve Records 10/19/04 Ahmad Jamal - Sound of Christmas (LPR) - Reissue - GRP Records Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin' (LPR) - Reissue - Verve Records Linda Ronstadt - Hummin' To Myself - New Release - Verve Records

Some other good 'uns I've picked up over the last few months: Coleman Hawkins-- Hollywood Stampede Coleman Hawkins All Stars (with Joe Thomas and Vic Dickenson) Vic Dickenson -- Mainstream Earl Hines -- Once Upon a Time Sir Charles Thompson-- For The Ears Benny Carter -- Further Definitions (just got this & haven't opened it yet, but I'm sure it'll be great) Paul Quinnechette--The Vice Pres Mel Powell--It's been so long

Almost all of the Vanguard sessions are spectacular. Good places to start, are Vic Dickenson (Nice Work) and Buck Clayton (The Essential Buck Clayton). Here's a thread with some more recommendations: swing stars

I picked up the Earl Hines session, Once Upon A Time. I didn't realize that Pee Wee Russell and Elvin Jones were on this--I thought it was Ellington's group-so that was a pleasant surprise. Elvin manages to sound like Elvin even in this straight ahead format and he really drives the band. Pee Wee is Pee Wee. Altogether, there's a lot more variety to this than I anticipated and I really like it. How can you go wrong with Earl HInes, Pee Wee Russell and Elvin Jones? Three of the most distinctive voices in jazz.

I think this point has a lot of merit...the enthusiasm these guys have is palpable, very evident in their playing. Guys are always going to reflect their influences. Go back and look at the Blue Note liners, you'll see statements like "Curtis Fuller is starting to emerge from JJ's shadow" or "Jackie is moving beyond Bird and finding his own voice" etc. It's no surprise that EA would reflect the influence of George Coleman. The question is has he found something unique and personal to say within that language?

Elvin was a peace-maker, something the world seems to need now more than ever. The WKCR tribute is about to resume (at 1:00)--it's supposed to last until thursday night, I beleive.

I have three Alexander CDs that represent three different settings. I like them all very much--I find his playing to be really interesting... power and swing. Like Kevin, these are highly played in my collection too...anyway, I'd recommend any of the following, depending on which setting appeals most: The Second Milestone (Milestone) (a quartet w/ Mabern. Jim Rotondi's on a few cuts). One For All (Criss Cross)--"Wide Horizons"...A sextet in the Messengers vein ALexander the Great (HIgh Note)--with Charles Earland (along with Peter Bernstein, Rotondi, and Joe Farnsworth).

Happy Birthday--and thanks for opening my ears to some music I might have otherwise missed. Looking forward to the book!

I find it astonishing that no label is actively and regularly recording him. If I owned a label the first thing I'd do is sign Andrew Hill, surround him with some good young players, and set the tape rolling like Norman Granz did with Art Tatum.

Aggie, I was just going off of info from his publicist's cite (the link is in the original message). It states, in part, : " his first live album in six years with Public, recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard in January 2004."

This has been on my radar since last month, but hadn't heard much about it--you convinced me Joe to pick it up. I'll probably grab it at the end of the month. I agree with the assessment that J Pelt would be attracting 'major label' attention in a different climate. But, as far as artist development goes, this extra waiting may be a blessing in disguise since the added pressures and commercial considerations that probably acompany a major label signing aren't in play yet for him.

Hope you like this one, Sal. One of my favorites releases from the past few years. I really like Michael Blake on this. Still waiting for a recent purchase to arrive in the mail: Cannonball & Milt Jackson --'Things are getting better' (20 bit) and the Earl Hines Verve LPR 'Once Upon a Time'.