patricia

No point in getting mired in political correctness, since fraud is fraud. Of course it's not isolated to any one country, but this was a problem which originated in Argentina, so, if the same person or a group of people there is involved in dishonesty, then it's good to know the details and take note. But the old precautionary "caveat emptor" always applies in any transaction, on E-Bay or anywhere else.

Laughing like a crazy person. Brilliant!!!!! I don't keep my CD's on a shelf. They are stored [but played often] in four carved Chinese trunks, which have glass inserts on top and double as coffee-tables. There are four rows of CD's, on their ends, in each of four trunks now They are alphabetical, which used to be a problem, before I zeroed in on the type of music I wanted to collect. Now, the non-jazz is a small number and in with the jazz. I keep them in their original jewel-cases, or boxes, alphabetically, left-to-right in the trunks. So, although the order is not obvious to anyone but me, given the separate containers, it works. The only exceptions are the 12" square Bear Sets, which are stored, on end, on the bookshelf, because they take up too much room where the other CD's are. All the CD's then have their liner-notes with them and I do read them, at least once, when I buy the CD, and occasionally afterward. The problem, for me, with music-storage was how to store my vinyl. My books are stacked all over my apartment because their shelves now have records [alphabetically] on them. Aside from moving to a bigger apartment, the only solution is to either cull my books, cull my records or build more shelves. It's a quandry.

Now that the polishing of the liner notes has been done and with them, the newest "Bloviation" offering is about to be released, I'm proud to introduce the next nicknamed musician, Glen "Spike" Gray. Gray is probably better known as the saxophonist who masterminded the Casa Loma Orchestra. This group, put together in the late-twenties/early thirties, laid the groundwork for later successful swing kings such as Benny Goodman. The Casa Loma orchestra was named for a hotel, which never, ever opened. The genesis of the band was the Orange Blossoms, which was an orchestra contracted to Jean Goldkette. The newly formed Casa Lomans were booked into New York's Roseland Ballroom by the Tommy Rockwell-Cork O'Keefe office in 1929. While the band was playing at the Roseland, they were heard by Bob Stevens, who was an OKeh talent scout and he offered the band a recording contract. The band built their sound up over the next few years [with a book written by guitarist, Gene Gifford]. The lineup included calrinettist, Clarence Hutchenrider, trombonist/singer, Pee Wee Hunt, a spectacular high-note trumpeter Sonny Dunham and also another singer, Kenny Sargent. The best years for the Casa Lomans were between 1931 and 1935. This was the period during which they produced strings of records for three different labels, Victor, Brunswick and Decca. The band was broadcast on the Camel Cigarette programme as well as playing summers at the Glen Island Casino. At the Casino, the band played music which combined sentimental favourites and swing specialties, such as "White Jazz", which was later covered by Lew Stone. The Casa Loman's music became the anthem of a generation, surviving even the tremendous popularity of Benny Goodman's band. By 1935, the Casa Loma Orchestra was resident at the Rainbow Room on top of New York City's Radio City Music Hall. Soon after, Gray took over fronting the band from violinist, Mel Jensson. "Sun Valley Serenade" was a hit for the Casa Lomans, two months ahead of Glenn Miller's version, in 1939. When the war came, in the forties, key line man, Dunham left to go out on his own and the draft took more. But, Gray replaced them with fine, young talent, like pianist, Lou Carter, guitarist, Herb Ellis and a singer, Eugenie Baird. This was in addition to tried-and-trusted players, such as cornettist, Red Nichols and Bobby Hackett. Glen Gray retired from touring in 1950, but continued to record regularly with his orchestra until he died in 1963. The band, however, carried on, bringing in Jonah Jones, Conrad Gozzo, Si Zentner, Nick Fatool and the list goes on. I have a couple of their LP's and my favourite is one called "Sounds of the Great Big Bands" This is a collection of what amount to tributes to the Big Bands. I usually peer, gimlet-eyed at tribute albums, but this one is an exception. My favourite track is the Casa Loman's version of Erskine Hawkins' "After Hours", with Ray Sherman doing the original pianist, Avery Parrish, proud. Fabulous!!! Among the personel on this album are Pete Candoli on trumpet, Ray Sherman, playing a terrific piano and one of the best drummers I've heard for a while, Nick Fatool, who does great work on Gene Krupa's "Symphony in Riffs". Next............

No need to apologize. Thank you. I did mark the passing of another year with music, wine and optimism.

Pardon me DEEP, but I've got to direct something towards myself: DUH!! I guess I thought you had written it. Anyway, no matter. Conn, An easy mistake to have made. As you say, no matter, but facinating, none the less. They are two peas in a pod, liquistically. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall, listening to a conversation between them? I kept thinking, as I read, how language has always facinated me. Browsing through a dictionary is as delicious as being turned loose in a chocolate factory. So, I loved the notes.

I think that I made reference to that in my last post, or the one before. I think that Conn knows that too, but the styles are quite similar. All I can think is that your speech patterns are almost identical, but that is probably just a regional thing. The piece is certainly conversational. That's what makes it interesting. It's a valentine, of sorts, written by Steve, about his longtime friend, you.

That's what I thought too. Looks good. Go with it.

Conn ( A Linguist), I belive you misunderstood this sentence. The reference is to a "still" as in a distillery. We've changed it to "distillery" even though the meaning is different. A "still" is illegal as opposed to a distillery. If you missed it then the average reader will miss it so "distillery" it is. Thanks. DEEP My bad, DEEP. So sorry. My head is still in football right now. Cancel my suggestion. Patty: How about taking point next time??? You football fanatics!! A formidable task, given the unique expressions and colourful discriptive phrases of the author. I will if I'm given permission to do so by our thread-originator. The missive is written in an interesting, conversational tone and style, so it is a challenge, to say the least, to proof, without destroying the piece' originality. I'm tempted to rip out entire passages, but that's only because the thoughts are being expressed differently than I would express them. But, that's it's charm, if that's the word. The corrections you've made, along with pointing out of flat-out wrong usage of particular words are realtively easy. The problem becomes how to do more, without turning the piece into your or mine, rather than Steve's thoughts. Something to ponder.....

You're welcome.

There is no such word as "weaselike". Use "weasel-like" if you want to use that simile. Or replace it with "weasely", or "weaselish". Yes, regarding replacing "impel" with "compel". We are "compelled" to act a certain way by rules. For example, a Stop sign compels us to stop even if there are no cars coming. It's the rule, in a musical context to follow direction of the leader. A toy boat crosses the pond because it is "impelled" by your pushing it. So, unless orders to move, or play a note a certain way for example, are achieved by an actual physical push, or swat at the back of one's head, the moving, or the note is achieved by enforcement of a rule, or direction, compelling one to obey and thus move or play the note.

Thank you Double M. There's still time to "interface". I'm a year older, not dead. brownie, Yes, Pee Wee Russell. I first heard him on an old JazzTone record and have loved him [as well as Miff Mole and Max Kaminsky] ever since. Dave F, And thank you. Don't worry about being a day late. Berigan, Thank you so much. BTW, you're scary on the political threads. AND JSangry, Thank you. I blush.

Thank you, AfricaBrass. Yes, Pee Wee is as uplifting as any Maidenform bra and he plays great Dixieland too.

Thank you Chris. I'm fuzzy with good wine and full of cake. Thank goodness I have my friends here. I am half-way through my new records. Pee Wee Russell is seranading me now and for those of you who listen to Dixieland, you understand the joy I feel today. YOU ARE ALL RUBIES BEYOND PRICE!!!!

TO ALL OF THOSE UN-BIRTHDAY FOLKS: A VERY MERRY UN-BIRTHDAY TO YOU, TO YOU [that's all I remember, but, you get the idea.]

Thank you Jazz. My favourite birthday card: Front of the card says: To my favourite lady I would like to say something that is seldom said on the occasion of a loved one's birthday Open it up and it says: BE MY VALENTINE!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TJOBBE!!! If you're laughing, no matter what you're SUPPOSED to be doing, you're not wasting your time. May your life be filled with hours of wasted time.

Thanks! Hmm...haven't tried that one yet. Then.... Curiously refreshing, don't you think?????

John was 64 years old. There is now a new website, www.johnguerin.com which has a lot of interesting biographical information on this fine drummer. Sixty-four may not seem young to someone who is thirty, but it is.

Thanks Maren. When I wear purple, I am indinguishable from Prince. Hey Sheldonn!! Sing it out!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 7/4!!! To quote a line that I love, from the old Mary Tyler Moore Show, Chuckles the Clown, specifically, "A little song A little dance A little seltzer Down your pants." May you have as much seltzer down your pants as you can stand.

Thank you so much, Free For All. You're in fine voice. I see that you have been, from time to time, perusing my small contribution to the "Renegade" thread. It keeps me on my toes and has been a terrific tool for me to do interesting research. Glad somebody reads and enjoys it.

Well David, I got these: The Panassie Sessions, with Sidney Bechet, Pete Brown, Al Casey, Cozy Cole, Sidney De Paris, James P. Johnson, John Kirby, Tommy Lardner, Mezz Mezzrow and Frankie Newton. 1938 and 1939. MINT FACTORY-SEALED 2 record set, 40th Anniversary Woody Herman at Carnegie Hall. Atlantic Jazz Be Bop 1986 New Orleans' Go Go with Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Louis Prima Pee Wee Russell 2 record set, with his Dixieland All-Stars After Hours - Prestige Classic Jam Sessions Vol 1, 1957, with Burrell, Elvin and Thad Jones, Art Taylor, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, Frank Wess, Paul Chambers and: then I ran out of disposable folding currency...........

Thank you Phillip. I was pleased this morning to see my reflection in the mirror, peering, blearly-eyed, back at me.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EKE BBB [no pictures??], Evan, Thank you for your good wishes. Ghost [politics? what politics? ], SGud, you sweet man! , 7/4, thank you and, BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY back at ya!! The best is yet to come. Joe, [i'll try. God willin' an' the creek don't rise, as "they" say.] , Noj, you're lovely, thank you. And dear Harold, [still following "The Sopranos?] thank you. Oh, and Connosseur series 500, thank you so much. David, I didn't ignore the other very gracious birthday wish. I was down in the scary part of town [the area with the pawn and tattoo shops with bars on the windows] at the vintage vinyl emporium, copping some decent discs. I will eat cake and drink wine until I am loop-legged...............and then POST!!! Again, thank you all!!!!