makpjazz57

I forgot three: - Multiple times, Maynard Ferguson's big band in the 70's and 80's. - Maria Schneider's Orchestra at Visiones in NYC - Mel Lewis Orchestra more times than I can count (at the Vanguard). Marla

Great question! Here's my "I saw/heard" list: - Basie band many times, with and without Basie. - Duke's band only once at Symphony Hall Newark - children's program - got to meet Duke and Johnny Hodges - still have Duke's autograph! - Buddy Rich big band - literally hundreds of times between 1970 and last time December 1986. Mostly heard Buddy and his band at a place in Philadelphia called Brandi's Wharf - Woody's band many, many times, also with and without Woody. Most recent was in 2002 - a concert, believe it or not, at Hollywood Forever Cemetary. This was commemorating the moving of Woody and his wife's remains to a nicer place within the cemetary. Great evening of music, poorly attended due to the cold weather - of course, Frank Tiberi and Woody's band, Joe Lovano, Joe LaBarbera, John LaPorta, Phil Wilson, Andy McGhee, my mom Rebecca Parris, Jake Hanna. I know I"m missing some very important folks. In attendance but not playing - Horace Silver and Buddy Colette. I was sitting next to Horace (a night I'll never forget) and he was so thrilled to hear the band play "Opus de Funk." - Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin - as recent as about 1 1/2 years ago - Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass - McConnell is one of my all time favorite arrangers (and an excellent composer, too). - Stan Kenton - back in the 70's Yup, I've been pretty darn fortunate! Marla

Thanks for the link! Was able to identify most tunes via the sound bytes: All Of Me Bye Bye Blackbird Cherokee Doxy Misty Stolen Moments Sunset and the Mockingbird Sweet and Lovely Willow Weep for Me Even though most are standards I've heard hundreds of times, still look forward to anything new by Kenny Barron! Marla

Thanks so much for the quick reply? Do you have this CD and a listing of tunes? I tried finding a way to purchase directly through Venus Records, but was unsuccessful. Thanks again, Marla

Help! Can't find the new Kenny Barron/Venus CD at Cadence. Did find the Harold Mabern there and wiould love to order both. Thanks, Marla

Telecommuincatations Engineer for American Express Marla

A big vote for John Jenkins. One of my very favorite recordings is the John Jenkins/Jackie McLean "Alto Madness," with Doug Watkins, Arthur Taylor and Wade Legge. Jenkins also did a recording with Kenny Burrell on Blue Note back in 1957. Marla

One of the true tests (my opinion) of the musical maturity of a musician is his/her ability to play a ballad and move a person to tears, as well as putting his/her own "stamp" on any tune for that matter. Listening to Barry, especially playing ballads still moves me to tears. Marla

John Hicks - Woody Herman Barry Kiener (R.I.P.) - Buddy Rich Joe LaBarbera - Woody Herman Richie Cole - Buddy Rich

Thanks, Allen. Frustrated because some has asked me to audio tape the Shirley Horn segment and the signal from our NPR jazz radio station isn't very strong where I live. Marla

There's a video out there featuring Randy Weston inside Minton's - by the time the video was made, the inside of Minton's was just a shell - other than the original mural behind the bandstand, which was restored after a fire in Minton's (around 1975, I think). For me, Minton's is a jazz shrine - so much history in and around those walls! Marla

Hi All, What kind of connector do I need to get if I want to hook up my DAT machine to my PC to record from a radio station on line to my DAT? Thanks, Marla

Here's a link to the actual page from Down Beat regarding my previous posting: http://memory.loc.gov/music/gottlieb/wgpubs/1151r.jpg Marla

Here's one interview wtih William Gottlieb about the day he took those famous photos of Monk at Minton's: Thelonious Monk -- Genius Of Bop By Bill Gottlieb from Down Beat (September 24, 1947) Elusive Pianist Finally Caught in an Interview New York -- I have interviewed Thelonious Sphere Monk. It's not like having seen Pinetop spit blood or delivering the message to Garcia. But, on the other hand, it's at least equal to a scoop on the true identity of Benny Benzedrine or on who killed Cock Robin. Thelonious, the George Washington of be-bop, is one elusive gent. There's been much talk about him -- about his pioneering role at Minton's, where Bebop began; about his fantastic musical imagination; about his fine piano playing. But few have ever seen him; except for people like Diz and Mary Lou, I didn't know anyone else who had seen very much of him, either. Come to think of it, I had seen him once, at the club where Dizzy's band was working some time ago. Even without his music, which was wonderful, you could recognize his cult from his be-bop uniform: goatee, beret and heavy shell glasses, only his were done half in gold. I listened in fascination until he got up from the keyboard. "And who," I finally inquired, "was that bundle of bop?" "Why, Thelonious Monk." But by that time the quarry had disappeared. Meeting Is Arranged Finally, through the good offices of Mary Lou Williams, I was arranged with Thelonious. In order to take some pictures in the right setting, we went up to Minton's Playhouse at 208 W. 118th St. In the taxi, on the way up, Thelonious spoke with singular modesty. He wouldn't go on record as insisting HE started be-bop; but, as the story books have long since related, he admitted he was at least one of the originators. Yes, he continued, verifying the oft told tale, it all began up at Minton's in early 1941. Orchestra leader Teddy Hill had broken up his great orchestra because of problems brought on by the draft, poor transportation facilities and the like. He had bought into the tavern owned by Morris Milton (who had been the first colored delegate to the New York local of the musicians' union). Teddy eventually took over active management and instituted a policy of good music. Guys in Band As a starter, Teddy called together some of the boys who had played in his last band, including John Birks Gillespie (by then with Calloway), and Joe Guy, trumpets, and Kenny Clarke, drums. There was also Nick Fenton on bass. Monday night was the big night at Minton's. Bandleaders like Goodman, Dorsey and Johnny Long would come in to visit. And practically every jazz man of merit in town sat in at one time or other. Charlie Parker, who had come to New York with the Jay McShann ork, appeared often and became a regular at Minton's. "Be-bop wasn't developed in any deliberate way," continued Thelonious. "For my part, I'll say it was just the style of music I happened to play. We all contributed ideas, the men you know plus a fellow called Vic Couslen, who had been with Parker and Al Hibbler in the McShann band. Vic had a lot to do with our way of phrasing. Piano Focal Point “If my own work had more importance than any others, it's because the piano is the key instrument in music. I think all styles are built around piano developments. The piano lays the chord foundation and the rhythm foundation, too. Along with bass and piano, I was always at the spot, and could keep working on the music. The rest, like Diz and Charlie, came in only from time to time, at first.” By the time we'd gotten that far, we had arrived at Minton's where Thelonious headed right for the piano. Roy Eldridge, Teddy Hill and Howard McGhee dropped around. McGhee, fascinated, got Thelonious to dream up some trumpet passages and then conned Thelonious into writing them down on some score sheets that happened to be in the club. Hill Gives Credit Teddy Hill began to talk. Looking at Thelonious Monk, he said: "There, my good man, is the guy who deserves the most credit for starting be-bop. Though he won't admit it, I think he feels he got a bum break in not getting some of the glory that went to others. Rather than go out now and have people think he's just an imitator, Thelonious is thinking up new things. I believe he hopes one day to come out with something as far ahead of bop as bop is ahead of the music that went before it.” "He's so absorbed in his task he's become almost mysterious. Maybe he's on the way to meet you. An idea comes to him. He begins to work on it. Mop! Two days go by and he's still at it. He's forgotten all about you and everything else but that idea." ©1947 - Bill Gottlieb & Down Beat magazine.

Born on Christmas day, 1927....happy birthday, Ernie! Marla

The PJJ/Dameronia LPs will be reissued as CDs? That will make my day and year and here's hoping this happens soon!! I can't listen to these enough. A very kind and generous jazzwestcoast newsgroup poster copied his LPs to CD-R for me. My original albums are badly scratched, just like my LP copy of "Baritone Madness." I started seriously listening to jazz in my late teens, but didn't begin to seriously take care of my collection 'til it was too late! Thought I do have some Blue Note LPs in pristene condition, as I purchased them at an older and wiser age! I'm grateful to have heard PJJ/Dameronia twice - once at a Tadd Dameron Tribute at Alice Tully Hall in 1988 and once at the now-defunct club in Greenwich Village, Lush Life. Marla

Thank you, Mike! Sorry for the assumption. Would Henry Boozier's recording be out of print? Marla

Hi, A friend is asking me to identify the trumpet player on Milt Jackson's LP, Opus De Funk, Prestige '54, with Jimmy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Horace Silver and Henry Boozier on trumpet (is this Miles Davis)? Ashamed to say I do not have this recording. Obviously "Henry Boozier" is a pseudonym for someone who was, perhaps, under contract to another record label? Thanks! Marla

Nothing this week, but last week, I was on The Jazz Cruise and oh my GOODNESS!!!! Lewis Nash Quartet with Renee Rosnes, Peter Washington and Steve Wilson; Bill Mays w/Joe LaBarbera, Marvin Stamm, Martin Wind; Monty Alexander Trio, Rebecca Parris, Kristin Korb, Virginia Mayhew, Kevin Mahogany, Houston Person, Ingrid Jensen, Don Sickler, Eric Schneider, Eddie Higgins, Patti Wicks, Red Holloway, Freddy Cole, others. Quite the week! Each peformer had 2 sets per night, 4 out of 7 nights, so it was easy to catch everyone at least twice and catch your favorites more times, even though many sets overlapped. Many of the musicians were taking advantage of the ship's offerings and were quite friendly/accessible, though I'm not one to approach folks. Marla

Newly relocated experienced jazz vocalist, now residing in the Boston area, seeking a jazz pianist or guitarist accompanist interested in collaborating and obtaining steady gigs. Please reply directly, via email, to: carolyntidwell1@msn.com

Sure is, Mark! Still manages to keep a local big band together where he lives in Marin County, CA and he played with Basie's band from Christmas of 1967 until 1972. Harold was also Sarah Vaughan's last drummer and went with Natalie Cole for a number of years after Sarah's passing. He's also worked with Eddie Harris, Benny Carter, Walter Norris, Jimmy Smith, Johnny Griffin, and so many others. There are some great clips of Harold playing which can be heard/seen at his website: http://www.haroldjonesbigband.com Regards, Marla

Thanks, and my apologies - I meant to ask if there is a minimum charge at the tables. I know there was not one previous to the Blue Note booking folks taking over. Marla

Hi, Still haven't found the time to get over to the Regattabar, now being booked by the Blue Note people Anybody out there get a chance to attend a show and if so, which one(s)? Is there now a cover charge? Regards, Marla

Thanks, Mark. FYI - perhaphs you know this already, but Harold was born/raised in Richmond, Indiana, along with his dear friend, bassist Andy Simpkins, who passed away in June of 1999. Regards, Marla

I believe Donaldson/Smith will be at the East Coast Jazz Festival in Rockville, MD - Presidents' Day Weekend, 2005. Marla