JSngry

Does the B.A.G. scene count? And there IS the "St. Louis school" of trumpet players. I've got a good friend who's close to a lifelong St. Louisian, and he claims that the city hit its peak when they hosted the World's Fair back in whenever it was, and that the city began a slow but certain decline shortly thereafter that has left its mark on all aspects of the city. That's just his opinion, though, and he still enjoys living there. Might it be safe to say that with Chicago so nearby, relatively speaking, that it might have been both easier and more alluring to head there and sim big rather than stay home and play small? Just a theory. Oh yeah, Grant Green.

Again, heavy rotation on KNTU (aw hell, if anybody's interested, they do streaming audio http://www.kntu.fm ) has caused a new release to get my attention above the usual drone of clone jazz and jazz golden oldies-but-goodies. This time it's a release by longtime Billy Harper pianist Francesca Tanksley, joined by Harper bandmates Clarence Seay & Newman Taylor Baker. I've always dug Tanksley'swork w/Harper. She's not a startingly "original stylist" (her work w/Harper is steeped in Tyner, but as an influence, not as a source to plunder and plagerize), but I think she has nevertheless asserted a strong personality within a preexisting style. Besides, this album shows her range and depth - there are pieces, STRONG pieces, that are not at all Tyneresque. Her playing has a certain "serenity" for me that provides a dimension that many other players lack. Serenity, but not blandness or "easy" content. As well, I very much like the way that she's always been able to flow naturally within Billy's forms - not as easy a task as you might think. Some of the pieces here have those long and winding forms, but, again, they do not sound imitative. In terms of finding distinctly original substance within existing parameters, a comparison to Bertha Hope may not be totally off base, but that's just my impression. The 2 or 3 cuts I've heard off this new disc all have that same quality of originality within a traditional "style". Tanksley is a musician/composer well past the "look at me!" stage and has been for quite some time (if indeed she was ever there at all). I hear a definite, distinct voice in both the playing and the composing, and that's the first thing I look for in a new release (and often the last thing I find...). I think she's only selling this disc through her website: http://www.dreamcallerproductions.com/dream/music.html Just wondering if anybody was familiar w/the entire album. This might appeal to many on the board here, I think. There's RealPlayer samples on the site, and I'm very much liking what I'm hearing.

Got anything else coming out soon, Phil? (Don't you just love THAT question? :D ) Seriously, I ask because... That Johnson/Nichols date's been getting pretty heavy airplay on KNTU down here, and I enjoy it every time out, your unique contributions in particular, so I'm wondering if you've done any more sideman dates recently that we can look forward to? You got a good thing goin', man!

What a glorious kaleidoscope of a record this is!

Holy shazz-ittski! A cuppla decades late, I finally pick up on Joe's BARCELONA (Enja) Great, GREAT side, although those of you who prefer your Joe on the decidedly "in" side might want to tread lightly. This date shows, to me anyway, why Joe is (I refuse to say "was") beloved by tenor players everywhere - his tone here is just incredibly rich and full, and his command of the horn's "traditional" and "extended" techniques are total and (seemingly ) effortless. If you play the tenor and love the tenor, you just GOT to love Joe Henderson, and this is one of his most "tenor-centric" recordings. Loosely structured (when it's structured at all), the natural interplay between the trio of Joe and the relatively "unknowns" Wayne Darling and Ed Soph is a gas to hear. Soph, btw, is currently on faculty here at UNT and is playing really, REALLY well these days. Attention should be paid... BARCELONA is a side I kinda passed on and over back in the day. I already had lots of Joe, and the choice of rhythm section kinda made me shrug and move on. My bad on all counts, but I will say that one of the joys of leaving things behind for another day is that when that day finally comes, often enough the rewards are SCH-WEEEEEEET, and BARCELONA is sweet indeed.

Phil's on a roll - besides this HIGHLY recommended new release of his (love the title, btw, as it sums up the music in several different ways), his appearances on Eric T. Johnson's new Summit release HERBIE NICHOLS, VOLUME 1 is nothing short of outstanding. The (trumpet) guy's got PERSONALITY in his playing, beaucoups personality, in fact, and there just ain't that much of that around these days. PLAYFUL INTENTIONS is a seriously happy/happily serious work from a musician from whom we'll hopefully be hearing lots more. Check it out!

39 Steps is a sentimental favorite, being the first "earlier" Hitchcock film I ever saw. The scream/train whistle cut still grabs me.

See ya' when you get back, ok? Best wishes!

Oh yeah... Marvin has a special place in my heart, mind and soul. A rather serious place in fact. But to think of him as a "soul singer" is to me somewhat the equivalent of thinking of Ellington as a "jazz piano player". It's a TRUE description, just not neccessarily a COMPLETE one.

"Favorite Soul Singer"? Might as well ask me to pick my favorite finger, or my favorite ventricle, or my favorite eye... Ann Peebles, anybody? Ted Taylor? Johnnie Taylor? Joe Tex? Irma Thomas? Rufus Thomas? Carla Thomas? Tina Turner (those not old enough to remember best go check out those earlier Ike & Tina sides, the ones you had to listen to "certain stations" to hear)? Did somebody say Laura Lee? Betty Wright? Joe Simon? ClarenceCarter? Tyrone Davis? (if you like the beggin'...) The list(s) go(es) on - this is an incredible deep well.

B) B) B) B) B) B) B) B)

B) B) B) B) B) B) B) B)

B) B) B) B) B) B) B) B)

Honors go to Dan Gould, who has a MOST interesting proposition for us all. Stay tuned...

I'm a music geek, so I went with the one that has an overture...

Dare to break the rules, Ed. DARE TO!!!

Your participation, or lack thereof, is entirely a matter of personal choice. Attempts to prove otherwise WILL prove futile. However, in the spirit of Botherhood , I offer you the option of setting up your own poll in this forum, parameters exactly as YOU deisre, and all expenses paid by me. It's a good offer - use it or lose it! :D

So you want to have your pi and eat it too, eh?

The more we learn, the less we know...

Getting quantum, eh? The evolution of human knowledge on display, folks!

Kudos to Bev Stapleton, the Neil Armstrong, the Craig Breedlove, the Roger Bannister, the Chuck Yeager of Organissimo Numerical Pickage Pollage. Dare To Dream, Peoples, Dare To Dream!

I sense barriers being broken!!! :D

This is a laissez-faire poll. The choices offered are under no obligation to fall strictly within the parameters of the question, nor does one have an obligation to be limited by the boundaries of the question if one feels a compeeling pull to venture outside said boundaries AND is willing to accept responsibilities for any resultant results. Life is tricky like that, doncha' know.

No obligation whatsoever!

There are no "wrong" answers, so feel free!!!