makpjazz57

Hi, GREAT photos! Did you happen to take any of drummer Harold Jones, who, I believe, was with the Basie Alumni band? Thanks, Marla

Anybody know if Eddie Bracket is still with us? I've been loading my CDs into my iPOD and just loaded one of my all time favorite male vocalist/big band CDs - Sammy Davis, Jr. & Buddy Rich and his big band - Sounds of '66 recorded live in Las Vegas. I did a google search and found out. for instance, that Brackett won a Grammy for his engineering on Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night" recording. Also did engineering for Armstrong, Streisand, others. I would give at least one paycheck to have been in the audience the night "Sounds of '66" was recorded. Another favorite is "Sinatra at the Sands" with the Basie band. The 60's sure were great years for vocalists and big bands. Marla

Rick James was at my friend's husband's jazz gig about a month ago and he was havin' a ball, eating up a storm of stuff that wasn't exactly healthy. My friend did say he was a lot of fun to hang with and I believe he even sat in awith the trio nd sang a Rick James version of "My Funny Valentine." Marla

Having met John Levy several times, I can highly recommend his book, which is told straight from the heart. All people I've spoken with regarding John (mostly musicians) hold him in the highest regard. He has been a Manager and generous advisor to many in the jazz community. It is truly amazing that a man in his early 90's has more energy and enthusiasm than many 20 year olds I know! Marla

I rec'd my iPOD earlier today and I'm pleased to report setting it up was a breeze and the menus are extremely easy to use. I had already burned my CD collection, A-H on to the itunes software. So, this morning, I plugged in the iPOD and 673 tunes took approximately 6 minutes to load to the iPOO. I'm very impressed. Sound quality, even with the suppiled earbuds, was very good. I used a rate of 160 AAC to record the tunes. My CD collection is about 99 per cent jazz and I'd say, so far, the sound quality has been superb, be it Basie, Billie Holiday or Mike LeDonne's new CD. With my collection of about 800-1,000 CDs, it is doubtful I'll need to use iTUNES music purchase service, but I may download a book or two! Again, thanks for everyone's help. Marla

Just a wee bit later than the 1970's (1981), "The Magnificent Tommy Flanagan" was released on Progressive Records and should still be available on CD. Tommy's stellar bandmates are the great George Mraz on bass and the equally magnificent Al Foster on drums. Tunes: 1. Speak Low 2. Good Morning Heartache 3. Old Devil Moon 4. Everything I Love 5. Change Partners 6. I Fall In Love Too Easily 7. Blueish Grey 8. Just In Time Alternate takes of Speak Low, Good Morning Heartache, Change Partners and Old Devil Moon also included. Hiiighly recommended! Marla

My iPOD arrives Wednsday. Does anyone have specific recommendations for good, yet not too expensive earphones/headphones that work well with the iPOD? Thanks, Marla

Only $750.00???? I'll take two!!! Thanks! Marla

I sure would be interested in purchasing a copy of "To Bird With Love." Does anyone have suggestions as to where I might start a search? Thanks, Marla

Oh yeah - and thanks to everyone on this forum for all this great information. It was fun checking out the different MP3 players, iPODhackers.com (I think that is the name of the site), great sites to get "designer" iPOD cases - I think I'll get black vinyl or leather - I don't like to stick out in a crowd. Marla

Wanted to thank Claude for taking the time to private message with me regarding the iRIVER HP 120. For now, I've decided to get the iPOD 20 GB that is officially released on July 26. Just ordered mine from amazon.com and it will arrive on Wednesday. I had the opportunity to "test drive" an older model of the iPOD (about 2 years old) this past week and found it very easy to use and sound quality quite good! I'm already pre-planning what CDs should go on my new toy. For now, the only Mosaic I'll be putting on my iPOD is the Paul Chambers/Wynton Kelly Veejay sessions. Though I think my Bill Evan Riversides will eventually get "iPODed." I don't see myself downloading the 99 cent iTUNES stuff very much. I have enough great CDs in my collection to last a looooong time. There's just something about having the entire CD - liner notes 'n all - that will probably keep me from downloading individual tunes. Marla

Slappin' Stanley would be more like it... Dale Peck may have been slapped, but Crouch threw punches at Howard Mandel and Harry Allen. Broke Harry Allen's jaw. Sucker punches, I might add -- out of the blue, in work settings, not presaged by mutually escalating physical intimidation. Stanley Crouch is real big, too. And a former boxer? "Punk" does seem more accurate than "thug" -- because he seems to go off only on LITTLE guys (and gals -- as a matter of fact, I was briefly a waitress at the Tin Palace in the era mentioned above, though not one of the slapped ones -- I kept my distance). I'm not saying that Howard Mandel can't be a jerk. Dale Peck either. Maybe Stanley felt ripped off, since the title of Peck's new collection of reviews --Hatchet Jobs -- vaguely echoes Crouch's own collected essays, Notes of a Hanging Judge. Guess they deserve each other, but IMO it doesn't mitigate the bully-ness of walking up to people in social/professional settings and punching them. I do remember the Mandel incident, but what prompted Crouch to break Harry Allen's jaw and are we speaking of saxophonist Harry Allen? Marla

Decision making has just become more difficult - a friend emailed me a page with the new Sony Hi-MD mini-disc players/recorders. So, I'm off to a Circuit City and perhaps a few more stores featuring audio equipment. Marla

Thanks. I'm no leaning towards the iPOD mini and just deal wtih not having FM radio/recording capability. The other iPOD downside so far - cannot be hooked up to more than 1 computer, correct? I have Windows XP, not a MAC. The iRIVER 795T looks perfect for me, but 512 MB, according to the specs, only allows for approx 17 hours of music. So, looks like I might have to sacrifice bells and whistles for more storage. Thannks for your comments/help! Marla

I have birthday money in my hands and I've spent hours...many hours looking at all MP3 player options. Since I want to be able to use my MP3 player at the gym, as well as while traveling, relaxing, etc., I do not think I have a choice - my understanding is that all MP3 players with hard drives cannot be used while exercising (anybody know if this is true). Therefore, at the moment, I've leaning towards the iRiver iFP 795T (only 512 MB of storage, which I believe is about 17 hours' music). I like the fact that the iRiver uses a single AAA battery and has the FM tuner with recording capability. Marla

I just purchased the Miles/Blackhawk recordings and while I enjoy Hank's playing on this, I, thnk his soloing is more inspired on the Blue Note recordings such as "Roll Call," and two of my favorites - "Workout" and "Another Workout." Ashley Kahn's book on the Kind of Blue recording session talks briefly about Sonny Stitt's stint in the band and Miles' feelings - I got the impression that Miles wanted someone who would "push the envelope" and Sonny would do his great, straight-ahead burning and it wasn't what Miles wanted. Marla

I attended some the Sunday afternoon concerts of this festival and while there were some great performances, including Joe Lovano/Hank Jones/George Mraz/Dennis Mackrel, the sound was pretty awful I didn't realize I should have stood out on the lawn (was in the amphitheatre) to at least hear the music minus the alternating echo/muffled sounds I was hearing. Despite this, the music from Lovano and friends was "in the pocket" and inspired. I did get smart and moved out to the lawn area for a couple of tunes. Of course, cuts from Lovano's newest release were featured. Jeremy Pelt and his rhythm section sounded great as far as what they were playing, but again, sound was of the same quality that Lovano and company had later in the day. These festivals seem to be more for those who love to hear a little jazz with their picnic lunches, martinis and wine. 'Tis a true party atmosphere. Yes, there were some serious jazz fans there - you could tell by their "very" hip t-shirts and intent listening. Sad to say I missed Branford Marsalis' set, though. Marla

Interesting - Boston Globe Jazz Fest is slated to happen in 2005? I was shocked to find out it was cancelled this year. Marla

Assuming Blue Note can get the "big names/jazz legends" at a price that will not raise the cover and minimum too much. I just don't think the Boston area jazz fans can and will deal with a significant ticket price hike. Having lived in the NY metro area previous to moving near Boston, I was used to paying the high prices to hear my jazz heroes. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that in the two major jazz clubs, Sculler's and the R-bar, I could hear many of the same jazzers I heard in NYC, but pay sometimes 1/2 the cover charge. Would I pay a $25 or more cover charge to hear Horace Silver in Boston...you bet I would! I just wouldn't be able to afford to go back a second and third time, much like I've been able to in the past. Marla

Yes, it is more than pretty cool! I've listened to this disc multiple times. The trio is killin' and Irene swings on the uptempo cuts and can bring you to tears on the ballad cuts. This is one of those recordings where you can feel the vocalist smiling as she sings - meaning Kral seems to be having a ball! I've had occasion to exchange emails with the person behind JazzedMedia (CDs by Kral, Phil Woods/Carl Saunders & Carl Saunders/Phil Urso) and he is a genuinely passisionate jazz fan and is carefully picking/choosing what to put out on his label. I love supporting the smaller jazz labels putting out the highest quality of jazz releases. Marla

I think one negative change will be a hike in admission prices. Marla

I will probably be in attendance at the Freihofer/Saratoga Jazz Festival, end of JUne. Would love to attend the 50th Anniversary Newport Jazz Festival weekend, but I don't do outdoors very well in the summer. Marla

I've purchased hard-to-find, out of print LPs, as well as import CDs and have had no problem to date. Marla

Thanks, Dan. It was. I think the most touching parts of the evening were those where both fans and Wig's peers were gathered 'round him to pay tribute, say hello, etc. In fact, when Wig pulled up in front of the Bakery, there was already a small crowd of fans and musicians and it took him a good 1/2 hour to get inside the Bakery. Makes for a special time when we can honor those musicians who are still very much here with us! Marla

Hi All, Just returned from L.A. and Gerry Wiggins' brithday celebration/CD release party at the Jazz Bakery. Quite a lineup with a few surprises: Eric Reed (Wig has known Eric since his high school days in L.A. and Eric attended and played as the surprise guest), John Campbell, John Hammond, Art Hillery, Ernie Andrews, Rebecca Parris, Bob Maize, Bill Cunliffe, Jim Hughart, Wig's son, Hassan Shakur (J.J. Wiggins), John Clayton, Steve Huffstetter, Cyrus Chestnut, Ralph Penland, Paul Humphrey. In attendance, but not performing were Buddy Collette, Horace Silver, Bill Henderson. Also, actor Brock Peters. While there were many outstanding musical moments, perhaps one of the most beautiful for me was Bill Cunliffe's tribute to Wig - he played Wig's composition, "Sonor." Also, the segment with Cyrus, Wig's son and Ralph Penland, was very exciting - they sounded like they had been swinging together for years! Marla