milestones20

Hey all, I'm actually a member of the band on the CD and have been with them since a couple months after the band's inception...thanks to those of you who have checked the record out and enjoyed it! Our next show is the first Tuesday in March, first set at 9:00 PM...we've added a few new charts since the record was made (including a nice rhythm changes chart by thedwork) and have been working them out in addition to the ones on the CD. Keith has done a really great job getting the cream of the Albany jazz crop (both players and writers) together to realize this project and develop it into something special.

Thanks to all for suggestions. I already had a lot of that stuff, but was able to get lucky and find a copy of Natural Essence...whoo boy, that was a good choice!

With Christmas comes the inevitable iTunes gift card...now I need help figuring out what to spend it on. I've been listening to a lot of late 1960s advanced hard-bop kind of stuff...Stanley Cowell's "Brilliant Circles," Bobby Hutcherson's "Total Eclipse," Charles Tolliver Music Inc. stuff...is there anything you guys would suggest that I may have overlooked?

Just got a copy of Something Personal...very beautiful stuff. RIP Jack.

I don't recall how long ago, but the American Plastics Council used a quick clip of "Hat and Beard" by Dolphy. Also, I've heard a number of jazz things being played at my local mall, among them "Congeniality" by Ornette, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" from Mingus Ah Um, and Wynton's version of "Autumn Leaves."

You're right, my mistake. I thought it was one of those early Conns without the typical transparent spine. As a matter of fact, my copy has the white spine typical of the first few Connoisseur issues. Go figure. Mine does, as well. Very nice record, sort of similar to "True Blue" in the sense that it's nothing revolutionary, just really well-played hard bop.

With Ill Wind, I've never been a fan of Lee's muted sound, so that always gets in the way of my enjoyment of that track. With the kind of music put out on a record like Cornbread, which to my ears is mostly just faceless hard bop heads, I think it's easy for anybody, even the greats, to lapse into routine. If it makes you feel better, I have similar problems with The Sidewinder for the same reason, although Hocus Pocus is one of my favorite Lee solos.

Sorry to be the voice of dissent here, but I've never understood the hubbub about Cornbread. Sure, Ceora is one of Lee's best tunes and best solos, but to these ears, that's the only track that has anything going for it. All the other tracks feel like the all-star lineup is simply going through the motions. As for The Rajah, from the stuff I've heard, it's in a similar league of quality as some of Lee's later BNs (Charisma, The Sixth Sense, etc...). Not particularly great, but worth a listen nonetheless.

My wishes for RVGs (or Conns, or whatever): New Faces, New Sounds - Wynton Kelly Julius Watkins Sextet Vol. 1 and 2 The Opener - Curtis Fuller Look Out - Stanley Turrentine Plays Fats Waller - Jimmy Smith Steppin' Out - Harold Vick Wahoo - Duke Pearson Bring It Home To Me - Blue Mitchell The Empty Foxhole - Ornette Coleman Contrasts - Larry Young Heads Up - Blue Mitchell Natural Essence - Tyrone Washington Introducing/Now Hear This - Duke Pearson's Big Band Grass Roots - Andrew Hill Extensions - McCoy Tyner Wayfaring Stranger - Jeremy Steig Odyssey of Iska - Wayne Shorter Chant - Donald Byrd A long list, for sure, but I'm just barely scratching the surface. Edit: I initially forgot to mention that I didn't include records I already had in other form, but deserve to be RVG'd nonetheless (Leapin' and Lopin', New York Is Now/Love Call, Total Eclipse, Dimensions and Extensions etc...)

Looking forward to the Chambers, the Davis, the Quebec, and the Morgans. Otherwise, already have most of these in another form.

In the (admitedly lackluster) NY capital region (Albany, Saratoga etc...) jazz scene, we've got 2 guys who can both play their asses off: Keith Pray and Brian Patneaude. Both are saxophonists, and if they really wanted to, I think they could probably fit their way into the NYC scene.

So...any word yet on these? The time should be drawing near...

I feel the exact opposite. Although I do like the record as a whole, I think Eddie Gale detracts from the experience a lot. Being a trumpet player, I don't appreciate him basically s***ing all over Seven Steps to Heaven...I mean, he can't even play the melody??? If only they had Freddie Hubbard, or Woody Shaw...

Do tell about the shops in Ann Arbor! I have relatives who live there and I'm going to visit them in a couple weeks...

Initially, I thought this batch was a bit disappointing, but after listening (I picked up all 5), I have to disagree. For me, the only one that leaves me a little cold is the first half of the Frank Foster. It's not bad, per se, but it's a little on the boring side (and I don't really dig the way Marvin Stamm plays). The second half (the unreleased stuff) is much more interesting.

I bought Am I Blue due to Joe Henderson semi-completism. I will probably repeat this mistake when I get Lee Morgan's Rumproller. Guy IMO, The Rumproller isn't as bad as everybody seems to think it is. It's a bit boring at times, but it also has some really nice moments on it, too (check Desert Moonlight and Edda).

I've always had "sore spots" for Am I Blue and Mobley's Reach Out. Both records are just really boring in my opinion, as is Larry Young's Into Somethin' (although not as bad as the other two...I've always just found this one a little disappointing).

Bobby Hutcherson - Ogleek Art Blakey - Bums Around The Corner Joe Henderson - Inner Splurge Jackie McLean - Not Now, Maybe Later Hank Mobley - The Reacharound

Will this be the major selling point? I haven't heard the greatest things about the original album...

In chronological order, the ones I've heard. 1) Tauhid - solid debut 2) Karma - the best of the bunch 3) Jewels of Thought - underrated 4) Summun Bukmun Umyun - very ethereal 5) Thembi - patched together 6) Elevation - not bad, not great All in all, Karma is my fav, followed by Jewels of Thought.

Not his album, but Freddie has some fine moments on a Milt Jackson's CTI album "Sunflower." Be forewarned: it has strings on some (but not all) of the tracks.

Any thoughts so far on this one?

I like this one, probably for the reason that some people don't like it. It's true that it doesn't share much in common with Keith's other stuff from this time period, but that's why it stands out to me. It's just easy-listening, good music with no thrills attached (for the most part).

PM sent about "Flight to Jordan."

I'll definitely go for the Hill and the Dexter, still not too sure about the Taylor (the clips on the allmusic guide didn't blow me away, but certainly weren't bad).