relyles

I think I actually liked the first one the best - followed by Vol. 2. I do enjoy the third one as well. I actually miss the more poetic offerings of the first one. I still highly recommend hearing her live if you ever have a chance. Fantastic performer.

I received my cancellation notice this morning.

So overall was the event well attended? I was very interested in trying to get down, but finances and family obligations made it impossible. In any event, since I have had the opportunity to do some writing for the publication I was hoping the event would be successful.

I am about seventy pages in myself and really feeling the urge to pull out the Mosaic box set. Very good read!

That is a nice recording. Steve Nelson also sounds good on that one.

Jim - all of your points are compelling and I do not dispute anything you stated. My only distinction is that from the perspective of the potential consumer of the final tangible product, the intrinsic value to me of a CDR is less than a regular CD. That does not mean I would not purchase a CDR if that was the medium the music was available. I have in the past and IIRC I have purchased one or more directly from artists for more than a small amount. Although unintelligibly presented, my point is that I simply want to know what I am purchasing before hand. In the case of the example I gave originally, a CD purchased in a store that was put out by Candid Records, and not directly from the artist - I think it is a more egregious situation.

Well, you can press 1000 discs nowaways for what, $1100? So that's $1.10 per disc. If you do larger runs you can get them even cheaper per disc. Should they then be sold for $15 a pop by labels, independent musicians, etc? In other words, is the value of the product directly related to the medium it's on or is it related to the music that's on the medium? Ultimately, the value to the listener of the musical experience is probably incapable of valueing. However, I think the point (as someone else suggests) is that the retail value necessarily has to include the medium as well as the value of the packaging and anything else that is included in the physical object that is purchased. If the cost to produce the object is reduced, is it unfair for the consumer to expect some or all of that cost reduction to be passed on?

I have no problem with the selling of a CDR with full disclosure to the purchaser. I am aware that many musicians do just that when using the do it yourself model. It obviously saves costs. In fact, I have purchased from CDRs from musicians in the past. The real concern is when you purchase a CDR that is purportedly manufactured by a record company and there is no advance warning. I am going to check my Byard disc again just to make sure I did not miss some indication that it is a promo or something similar.

What's odd about it? "Estimated arrival date: 05/11/07 - 07/11/07" The first time I read it I misread this, and assumed it was referring to dates that had already passed. My ignorance.

I just received the same odd email.

Bert Wilson

I purchased the recently reissued Jaki Byard recording, Blues For Smoke on Candid from my local independent retailer. When I got it home and opened it I discovered that the disc I purchased was indeed a CDR with a label applied to it. Concerned that I may have accidentally purchased a promo copy (although there was nothing on the label to indicate such) I sent a polite email (at least I thought it was) simply inquiring whether the reissue had been pressed on CDR so that I could know whether I should go back to the store. I never got a response. I still have not learned the answer to this question, but if anyone else knows please let me know. I of course would prefer the factory manufactured CD to a CDR, if that was how it was pressed.

I remember this question was raised on another forum a couple of years ago and if I remember correctly someone found some information that Hollyday was teaching some place.

Not to me. I enjoyed it.

I picked up the book at Borders over the weekend. Just started reading it. Looking forward to finding quiet time to spend with the book.

Yep. While listening to it that disc immediately came to mind, but I could not remember the name of the artist. It has been a couple of years since I first heard it. Decided to give the whole thing a listen again. Very nice album. Did you review it recently?

And for the remainder of my reactions ... 9. The only track on the disc with a larger ensemble. I enjoyed the arrangement. It is somewhat whimsical. I like the way the horns are used to signal slight shifts in the music. Although I know it is not, it reminded me of some early Sun Ra that I have heard. The trombonist is very good. The tenor saxophonist has a familiar sound – like one of the new guys on the scene such as Tony Malaby. Interesting track. I could listen to more from this group. 10. This off meter rhythmic feel reminds me somewhat of Vijay Iyer, but the pianist did not entirely have the percussive approach I hear in Iyer sometimes. I usually enjoy this kind of stuff. The saxophonist made me think of Steve Lehman at times, or someone similar. The tune has a dramatic feel that is enhanced later in the track by the pianist’s playing during the saxophonist’s solo. Not entirely sure how I feel about this one, but there is enough there to keep me interested and possibly investigate further. 11.Brief track featuring violin, piano and trombone. Pleasant conclusion to the disc, but probably because of its brevity it did not make a significant impression on me.

Just a follow up to my initial post: Every time I listened to track 7 it sounded familiar. By coincidence a little while ago I was just going through one of the boxes of CDs in my basement and found the CD that I was thinking of. Track 7 is the fifth track on this CD Track 7.

I listened to this compilation several times while driving over the past couple of weeks and today I finally squeezed in some time to sit at the computer and listen to the disc a little more attentively so that I can compose some comments. I am certain that I have not heard any of these specific tracks before, but several of the individual musicians sounded familiar. Most of the music on the disc is outside the so called straight-ahead or mainstream and often requires repeated attentive listening before a true appreciation can form. Here is my reaction to the first eight tracks. I am going to have to find some time as soon as practical to finish off the remainder of the disc. 1. I enjoyed the bass playing and overall groove on this track, but the somewhat hokey lyrics, and recitation did not do much for me. 2. Another nice bass vamp to start before drums and guitar enter. The guitarist does not necessarily play in the Wes Montgomery-Grant Green approach to jazz guitar, but I can appreciate this restrained approach and sound that reminds me of Bern Nix more than I can the more overtly rock/distortion influenced guitar sounds. Another solid bassist. Interesting track. 3. The first three tracks share a slightly similar reliance on bass line grooves. Here is a somewhat funky arrangement of a familiar tune. The bassist here gets a chance to solo and he/she held my interest. The alto saxophonist sounds familiar, but not enough for me to confidently attempt and identification. I liked the arrangement of the tune. It kind of stuck in my head and I found myself singing it around the house to my infant son. 4. Sounds like a bass-guitar duet? It could actually be a guitar solo. As there is no obvious “tune” it requires close listening to really appreciate. This is a track that even after several listens I never really connected with. 5. I don’t know if it is intentional or I am noticing something that does not exist, but this is another track that relies on the bass line or at least because it is a somewhat off meter rhythm, it stands out to me. In any event, this is a piano-less quartet featuring trumpet-sax-bass-drums. The trumpeter is interesting. Has a familiar sound that I attribute to players like Dave Douglas or Russ Johnson and seems to be less overtly derivative of the bop/hard bop mainstays like Morgan and Hubbard that seem to be ubiquitous in the sounds of many trumpeters. The bass-drums combination is very good. Solid track. 6. Long track the highlight of which is the tenor saxophonist’s playing in the beginning. I like the sound he/she gets and the nuance in his/her playing. There is also something familiar about the sound, but again not enough to make an identification. About six and a half minutes in we actually get to the tune, which sounds like something I have heard before. The trombone seems to be a little low in the mix compared to the trumpeter and saxophonist. The arrangement of the horns is interesting – the sax and trumpet improvise simultaneously while the trombonist plays lines underneath. As it continues the trombonist shifts to the foreground and plays a decent solo. The track is long, but for the most part it was able to sustain my attention. 7. This may be my favorite track on the disc. It has a Tristano like flow in the rhythmic pulse and I really enjoyed the pianist’s quirky playing with references to Monk without being imitative. The beginning of the trumpter’s solo sounded a little like he was referencing one of the Coltrane tunes from Blue Train. The trumpeter is solid, but it is the pianist that is the star for me. This is something that I would probably purchase for my own collection. 8. Solo violin performance. Like a couple other tracks, even after listening to it several times nothing really moved me about this performance although I can recognize the musicianship and imagination of the violinist.

Has anyone that ordered this before the availability status was changed actually received it yet and can confirm that it is real? Just curious. I placed an order a couple of days ago and the status has since been not yet dispatched.

Considering the length of time of his career, Von Freeman does not have that many recordings as a leader. His recent recordings for Premonition seem to be the most activity he has had from a recording perspective in his career. I enjoy all the recent Premonition discs, but my personal introduction was the two Nessa releases, Serenade & Blues and Have No Fear, both of which are easily recommended. I also like his debut recording as a leader, Doin' It Right Now and the SteepleChase quartet recordings that I believe were all recorded at the same sessions. Thanks Relyles. Are the Nessa's available? I've got "Doin' it right now" - played it this morning Did Rahsaan produce the Steeplechase albums, too? MG I see now my sentence structure may have created a little confusion. The SteepleChase quartet recordings (recorded in 1992) were not produced by Rahsaan.

Considering the length of time of his career, Von Freeman does not have that many recordings as a leader. His recent recordings for Premonition seem to be the most activity he has had from a recording perspective in his career. I enjoy all the recent Premonition discs, but my personal introduction was the two Nessa releases, Serenade & Blues and Have No Fear, both of which are easily recommended. I also like his debut recording as a leader, Doin' It Right Now and the SteepleChase quartet recordings that I believe were all recorded at the same sessions.

There is a radio broadcast of a live performance by this group that I think was seeded on dimeadozen a while back. The basic info is as follows: Freeman, Von 03/13/02 Concerto Jazz Rete Due, Studio 2, RSI, Lugano, Switzerland Von Freeman (ts), Amina Claudine Myers (p), Hein van den Geyn (b), Han Bennink (d).

Jim - thanks for pulling our coat. I am so far out of the loop that I did not even realize Ms. Scott had a new recording out. And if I remember correctly I am the person that first turned you on to Beautifully Human. I am going to have to pick up the new one soon. I probably told you this before, but if you ever have the opportunity to hear her live, do not miss it. In an era where most pop stars can barely sing, she puts on a wonderful show. Interestingly, I was just reading an article the other day about a movie currently in production in Africa where she is playing the lead role. I also think she has a role in an upcoming movile with Queen Latifah. Very talented woman!

He is not someone whose recordings I go out of my way to purchase, but in his chosen genre I do think he is a respectable talent.