montg

I've been trying to investigate some of the current artists on the scene. It's hit and miss, I suppose...Irvin Mayfield and Nick Payton were misses for me. Others like Jeremy Pelt and Michael Blake were hits. Labels like Fresh Sounds New Talent, Criss Cross, and Palmetto have a lot to offer and it's been fun taking chances on folks I've heard relatively little about.

Ditto for me This whole question of lineage and development in jazz is a fascinating one to me. Today's players are both blessed and burdened by the weight of history--it's a tough nut to crack but, it seems to me, the future of the music turns to some degree on this problem. Can't wait to see the book.

A lot of times I get the sense that some of the newer folks are overly mechanical...it's as though they're burdened by a conscious deliberate effort to PLAY JAZZ. Playing jazz is an end in itself for these folks rather than the means by which a personal statment is attained.

With someone named Sonship playing the orchestra bells, this does sound very 70s. There's an interesting thread on Mccoy Tyner, and others, in the 70s here: jazz in the 70s

This is an interesting thought. Does this quality of "B-teamness" apply more broadly today than it did in , say, the 50s or 60s?

I agree, "B team" carries connotations that may be unintended..I was thinking more in terms of underrated rather than second tier when I mentioned Curtis Fuller. When people talk about the great Messenger lineup, Wayne Shorter and Freddie Hubbard seem to get more headlines but CF is obviously integral. BTW, I love the trombone! In fact, coincidentally, I'm listening to the Bennie Green Mosaic right now.

Curtis Fuller. I love the tenor, trumpet, bone frontline combination. The trombone's the least glamorous of those three but without Curtis Fuller a lot of color and texture is missing from some great records.

I don't know how to rule whether someone is or isn't great, but I'm surprised Warren Vache isn't signed to a label. He had a well-received CD with Bill Charlap on Nagel Heyer a couple of years ago, and nothing since.

The BBC has some very good specials: bbc jazz

There's a really pretty version of "In a Sentimental Mood" on this session, I believe. I'm especially partial to Ray Nance on this album..making the violin swing can't be easy, but he manages to do it superbly, imo.

I have the exact same problem. I only use CD-rs in the car. In addition to getting scratched from being thrown around by wife and kids (sometimes chewed on by the one-year-old) I have a contagion isue. I mean, clean CDs for the nice system in the house... CDrs for the car or computer.

Based purely on amount of playing time, I'd say probably the Turrentine. I don't really hear the problems with the sound that others have mentioned... every disc is filled with great music. Can't get enought of Mr T. Honerable mention to the Condons.

The Hodges set is terrific. With 'sidemen' like Ben Webster , Roy Eldridge, Vic Dickenson etc. it's hard to miss. I find myself returning a lot to the last sessions, the ones that were previously unreleased.

BMG's treatment of the Victor/Bluebird couldn't really be much worse, so perhaps this merger offers a little hope. Mosaic and Sony seem to have a decent relationship, so maybe it will carry over to the BMG vaults. I remember reading that EMI (who owns BN) was considering buying the Warner vaults. This merger may prod them.

as already noted elsewhere, the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors is having its convention in St. Louis in June. Dealers and collectors from all over the world selling, trading lps, CDs etc. synergy

I picked up Wycliffe Gordon's new one recently...Dig This. The trombone, tenor, organ combo is kind of unusual, but it works really well. Nice work by Sam Yaehl in particular. Never expected to hear Limehouse Blues with a trombone-organ combo played at be bop speed, but it comes off really interesting.

This is a good point. Some of the very best remasterings I've heard have come from the UK (JRT Davies, Ted Kendall, and Dave Bennett). I only wish these guys would be allowed into the US vaults to apply their wizardry to the 78 masters contained therein. That being said, their work, and source material, is typically identified on reissues for compaines like Frog, Avid, Hep etc. A lot of times this info is missing on some of the other proper-type labels. I e-mailed John Steadman before with the same question and never received a response. Good luck.

Interesting observation. This quality is immediately evident in his playing--i never saw him live but I certainly get the impression he never left anything in reserve. When he walked off the stage, he'd given it all.

Welcome Emilio. Ernie Caceres is one of my favorite bari saxophonists of all time! His beautiful tone lifts just about any date he's on. I was in a jazz record store in Cleveland about a year ago and the owner was spinning some Bobby Hackett. Ernie C entered with a solo and I still remember the owner closing his eye, blissful smile, and saying underneath his breath "Ernie Caceres".

6 part special on norman granz hosted by nat hentoff. begins Dec. 12th. bbc 2

From Alan's site: Duke Ellington - Ellington Uptown (Columbia/Legacy) Feb 17 — from 1953; plus "The Liberian Suite" from 1947 Duke Ellington - Masterpieces By Ellington (Columbia/Legacy) Feb 17 — includes three bonus tracks; from 1950 Duke Ellington - Festival Session (Columbia/Legacy) Feb 17 — includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks; from 1959

I'm adopting this strategy too, which means Blue Mitchell and Hank Mobley are on the Christmas list. I asked my wife to pick one between them, so there'll be at least a little bit of a surprise element.

looks like there might be a couple left at half.com reprise ellington

Fred Hersch has HIV. Needless to say, nothing funny about making fun of someone with a terminal illness. These personal insults have nothing to do with music and I hope B3er takes control of the board soon. He becomes complicit the longer this garbage goes on.

I picked up Quinichette's Vice-Pres a few weeks ago for 9.99 used from either half.com or amazon. Some nice music..Freddie Green keeps thinks swinging. Some good Ernie Wilkins arrangements and interesting organ on some tracks. The organ playing from Marlowe Morris and Basie is pre-Jimmy Smith, for sure...it kind of bubbles and swirls around the horns, kind of reminds a little of Al Kooper on Dylan's Rolling Stone with that kind of carnival, funky vibe (if that makes sense). Quinichette is an enigma to me. If he's TRYING to be like Pres, then he leaves me cold. If Quinichette is just being himself, and it comes out Pres-like, then I really like him. Anyway, I like the CD. Thanks for the rec...almost let it get away.