JSngry

"Perfect wife" my ass! A perfect wife would have changed the subject as soon as the police started asking questions and within 10 minutes have them convinced that it was all their fault anyway.

Three Finger Brown Jim Abbott Pete Gray

So, Larry, what about "Waltz For Debby"?

R.L. Griffin Vernon Garrett Charlie Roberson

It would be easy, perhaps, to overlook this one. Don't.

Rudy Martinez The Mysterians ?

Nothing easy, unfortunately. I don't want to take away any income from Alan's site, that's for sure. Keep doing what you're doing, is what I'd say. For those who haven't done click-through's on Alan's site, consider doing them here. That seems to be fair. Tell you what - I'll continue to do pre-orders from Jazzmatazz, and do "catalog" orders from here. Not perfect, but, it seems like the best compromise under the circumstances, with no loyalties being severed either way. I'm kinda old-school about stuff like that. Hope you understand. But there should be business enough for both. Now, if you wanted to make some real money from me, you'd get a deal like this with Dusty Groove (the BASTARDS!).

If the Zawinul bio is to be believed, the backing, the serious backing, for the band began to really fall into place after they had reached their creative apex. So from a business standpoint, it made sense to keep going as long as possible. Wayne needed the money for his family, and Joe was really into building a business. Reality, that's what I think it could be called. Those post-Jaco albums aren't at all bad (aside from This Is This, which is every bit the hastily-assembled "contractual obligation" album that it sounds like), and like I said earlier, Domino Theory is one that is too easily overlooked/dismissed. You can even make a killer single album of the best material from those albums. But as far as the real discoveries and adventures, that had already happened. Men with less to lose than Joe & Wayne would probably have packed up & moved on long before they did. But, really, who can blame two middle-aged jazz musicians for wanting to have something resembling a real piece of the pie to show for all their work? I can't.

Historically, I've ordered from CDU through Jazzmatazz. I'd now like to support both sites through my click-throughs. Is there a way to kill both birds with one stone?

No, there is not to be no more. At least as far as I can't not tell.

The Chords The Charms The Clovers

Looks more like the beginning of a dramatic final 8 on "I Cover The Waterfront".

I don't know the whole story. He had some injuries last year, one to his neck I believe. I think that actually scared him enough that he decided to retire. That's what I've heard anyway. I heard he was "ok" enough to play last year after the injury, but decided he didn't want to, and wanted to walk away from the game healthy. The Cowboys (either Parcells or Jones) decided to not make a big deal out of it, and let him make his own decisions. I think he's got a young kid (or two now) and wanted to devote his time to his family, too. I think he was a great player! I watched him play for four years as an Aggie, and then in the NFL. He's the leading tackler in Aggie history (and until recently we actually had good defenses). He was a true overachiever, and I think a great role model. He's also from down here in south Texas (Rockport - little fishing community on the coast, where you can buy shrimp off the boats), and is beloved in the area. Agreed on all counts. The local buzz is that the injuries, while in no way "career ending", were a tad more serious than originally thought. Dat decided to get out while he was still relatively healthy. More power to him, and he will be missed.

Alvin Simon Theodore

Both are indeed fine, but I found, somewhat to my surprise, that the date w/Heath was my favorite of the two.

I did.

You gotta love a cat who relentlessly pursues being friend and foe with equal vigor. That's vision!

Mrs. Butterworth Aunt Jemima Martha White

Carl Warwick Bear Bryant John Madden

Earl-Jean McCrea Dorothy Jones Margaret Ross

Billy Byers Trader Vic Kim Deal

John, I won't question the specifics of what you say, just the conclusion you draw from them. I mean, yeah, even though the band live was a gas up until the very end, they probably did stay around too long, and yeah, the last few albums were a "mixed bag" (although I still think that Domino Theory is a damn good record), and yeah, Wayne's playing on those sides is "disengaged" more often than not (but there are exceptions, and live was another story altogether). So if that means that they "ultimately failed", so be it. I just find it hard to look at a band that made so many meaningful innovations and created so much great music as having "ultimately failed". Woodrow Wilson? Yeah. Weather Report, nah. I can't look at it like that. Too much of a lasting and meaningful (and still relevant, especially now that The Big Chill is finally starting to thaw and cats are getting over their fear of electronics and non-bebop derived rhythms) legacy to render that as the "final verdict", I think.

Ruby Dee Sheila E Rachel Z

There's a very favorable review in the most recent Jazz Times.

But that's the whole problem with going back and listening to WR, they ultimately failed. I went to ton of live shows ... the ones at the Greek Theatre were especially good (I remember Santana sitting in). WR was my 2nd favorite fusion band after BB. I think they stayed together way too long, and sailed the ship on and on until eventually they were floating around in isolated murky waters with no winds from anywhere ... for reasons I don't understand at all. I mean, in the final years of WR you have one of the three greatest living saxophonists (if you think Joe Wayne Sonny like I do) sounding like he got thoroughly bored with it a long time ago. It's like Wayne was playing at 50% or something. That would be one way to look at it...