T.D.

Odd album, but I really enjoy it. Agreed on Ruiz. The opening Paul Robeson Othello clip is killer and has always hooked me.

Maybe not a true "box" (2 twofer CD jewel cases in slip case)

Just starting here, but wanted to check out #10 due to negative feedback. As someone who's listened to a lot of avant-garde classical, I think it's not bad. Doesn't ring any bells right away, but there are hints of a sense of humor, so thinking it might be a Dutch group, or at least a Dutch leader (pianist?). Need to ponder more.

:tup! Complete Bud Powell on Verve

I liked certain of his old hit singles and a couple of his '80s-early '90s recordings. But not long thereafer my preference changed dramatically and I developed a strong dislike for Van's music. I checked the Jimmy's website yesterday and prices have risen! Seats near stage offered over $6,000 and the cheapest in the house around $1,500. God bless America.

I enjoy the final one (Togashi and J J Spirits) a lot. It's an all-star lineup of J-jazz veterans playing mostly straight-ahead hard bop standards (and variants). Not innovative or ground-breaking, but high energy and fun. That band has at least one other release, but the one I posted is the only one I could find. Those Sadao/Charlie albums are really good.

Lou Donaldson e.g. Q&A - The Art Scene - Lou Donaldson - The Stanly News & Press | The Stanly News & Press (thesnaponline.com)

RRK, The black and crazy blues Blue Rol Blue Mitchell, Blue's blues

Mose Allison, Ella,

This thread could go on forever. Mingus alone has a boatload of titles. For instance,

That and Spiritual Nature both winners.

Kenny Barron outstanding here...[Venus reissue w 2 bonus tracks, no images on discogs]

Some KD (and KD-related) favorites:

This one is in relatively good taste...

Jarren Benton, The Mink Coat Killa

Thanks, I went and it was a fun show. Only downside was the sound system: amplified to ear-splitting volume in a relatively small venue but also murky, so it was difficult to make out details. Strange, because two guys were jointly working a massive console.

I can't believe I just did this.😬

American Express has always had the highest fees. For decades (as long as I recall), many merchants have refused to accept Amex because of their fees. I get the impression that's become less common in recent years, but am not sure because I never think about American Express (got an Amex card in the ancient 1980s but pitched it because they charged a high membership fee).

That 4% fee for credit card usage has become common at US (at least NY State) restaurants. The reasoning is that "they're passing on the bank interchange fee" that the credit card companies levy on them. Which is a post-COVID development. Until 2021 or so, merchants generally ate the interchange fees, but more or less subtly made it known that they'd prefer cash. One major exception being gasoline (petrol) stations, which have long offered a "discount" to those paying in cash. If Smoke's food is good, the menu items that I (vegetarian) would eat are fairly reasonably priced by Manhattan standards.

The mushroom ragout and Provencal ratatouille are labeled as "VG=vegetarian" and look vegetarian to me. Of course there are salads. [I'm vegetarian.] Plus some fish dishes. Vegans might have problems because the only 2 vegan options are appetisers: a salad and focaccia. Perhaps the kitchen could be requested to "hold the cheese" on some items. No bargains, and it depends on the portion size, but the rest of the menu doesn't look as absurd as the $32 burger. Perhaps that price is due to it using Wagyu beef? Also depends on the quality of the food. $30ish entrees are probably not unusual in decent Manhattan restaurants. The printed menu looks a little pretentious, so maybe Smoke tout their culinary prowess. Not that I'll be there anytime soon...

One of my favorite BS&SN boxes, especially the solo albums.

Incl. "the album with the streetwalker on the cover", far left above.

I prefer upping an existing thread to starting a new one. Why ignore available information? Of course, some of that could be insecurity / fear of starting a dud that gets 0 responses. 🤣

The band's website implies that he is. And the guy seated in Rod's video clip looks like him. (Thanks, Rod, looks like a pretty good show!) But I'm not certain.