Joe

Picked this up a few weeks ago, and only now have had a chance to spin it. Anyone else? Nothing really ground-breaking here, but PISCES isn't exactly conventional either. For one thing, Parlan is on celeste for the Davis tunes. Not only does this lend those performances weird, twinkly, raindrops-on-the-windowpane, early early morning ambiance, it allows for rather large open spaces in the music, spaces which Jaws fills more than capably with that sound of his. Some arrangements, such as "Yesterdays", are almost like tenor-bass duets in this respect. The best pieces are the really slow ones, such as a majestically brooding reading of "Midnight Sun". Anyway, the tune seems made for Jaws' phrasing: right on top of the beat, the sudden eruptions of wide vibrato, his love of snapping notes off. Griffin is Griffin, of course, mixing equal parts tenderness and outré propositions in his solos. Listen to how he handles the theme to "Willow Weep For Me" here: halting here, a tongued flurry there... these are subtle liberties, but liberties all the way. I also like the way they use Parlan's pseudo-modal intro as a tag or further bridge out of the bridge and into the last A section here. Performances average about 4 minutes in length, but the band makes the most of the time allotted. Ballad-fu. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy-fu. Contractual obligation (maybe)-fu. Joe Bob says check it out.

"Jazz": James P. Johnson and two "solo reeds" discs I'm reviewing: Sonny Simmons' JEWELS (Boxholder) Makanda Ken McIntyre's IN THE WIND (Passin' Thru) Other: the Galaxie 500 catalog (even going so far as to throw in the Plexifilm DVD devoted to the band)

http://www.justin-time.com/works/just2062/ Still processing this one, but I thought it was worth mentioning. And I feel pretty confident that there will be some strong opinions on this one. Yes, another Monk recital, but with a difference. Stetch radically re-arranges -- "Green Chimneys" is taken very briskly, a re-harmonized "Little Rootie Tootie", a version of "Ask Me Now" that also interpolates material that would not be out of place in a Bach partitia, a bustling and de-tuned "Evidence" -- or uses prepared instrument techniques ala Cage ("Well You Needn't") to "revive" these pieces. A few of the more memorable ballad melodies are played straight, and the pianist has the good sense to keep the perfomances very compact: the longest tune is "Criss Cross", at 7 + minutes. I was really afraid when I first picked this up that it would be gimmicky or po-faced in the extreme, but I find the results rather pleasing. Yet I don't really feel the results are all that Monkian in spirit. Why I don't find that problematic is one of the things I'm still puzzling through. Check it out.

For me, the pick of Dixon's Soul Notes is still NOVEMBER 1981. With Alan Silva, Mario Pavone on basses and Laurence Cook on drums. Tony Oxley's THE ENCHANTED MESSENGER (1994), with large experimental group featuring Dixon, is also very much worth hearing, IMO. Oddly, no AMG review of this disc.

Thanks Larry. Odd.

Does Giulietta Masina count? If so, I nominate her for work in the title role of Fellini's NIGHTS OF CABIRIA.

Yes, the guitarist most renowned for his contributions to the music of the recently deceased Gil Melle. Apparently there is a recent interview with Mr. Cinderella available online somewhere, but I have been completely unable to locate it using the standard methods (Google etc.). Any help would be most appreciated.

Some "jazz" content here... http://www.bagatellen.com

From the Fantasy website...

Bill O'Reilly a boor? Color me surprised...

Sandy Koufax, Magic Johnson, or Jim Brown. Your pick.

Makaya Ntshoko = superb drummer, originally from South Africa. Best known for his association with Dollar Brand / Abdullah Ibrahim.

That is, when they are not powered by mothers. So, when is BN going to get around to reissuing CONTRASTS?

Actually was lucky enough to see the Takács Quartet essay number 4 in performance earlier this year. Pretty astounding, but I though they did an even better job with Beethoven's 15th String Quartet (In A Minor, Opus 132).

The Burton - Michael Marcus date may be more up your alley... http://www.justin-time.com/works/JUST1562/

AFAIK, THE COOL WORLD soundtrack is still available on CD. Worth picking up. Three OJCs that I think fit the mode of the original request... Gil Melle, GIL'S GUESTS (which include Art Farmer, Kenny Dorham, Julius Watkins, and Hal McKusick) Duane Tatro, JAZZ FOR MODERNS (includes the original "version" of "Maybe Next Year", one of the stand-out tracks from Art Pepper's SMACK-UP LP) Oliver Nelson, NOCTURNE

Check the date again on this one. That must be Brookmeyer's Bicentennial shirt.

"Made from REAL paint thinner!"

Re: Zeppo... In GROUCHO, HARPO, CHICO, AND SOMETIMES ZEPPO : A HISTORY OF THE MARX BROTHERS AND A SATIRE ON THE REST OF THE WORLD -- still for my $$ the best book on Minnie's boys -- author Joe Adamson recounts that Zeppo could be relied upon to sub for Groucho on occasion during the looooong stage run of THE COCONUTS (I believe) and that audiences would be none the wiser.

I see they are selling a DVD of SWEET LOVE BITTER. Been waiting to see that film for a looooooooooooong time...

I voted for Walt. In my estimation, his music from the 60's captures the zeitgeist of that decade better than any of the other vibists' in this poll. In this respect, I consider Dickerson to be the "Trane of the vibes". If that does not sound too ridiculous.

Oh yeah... splurge on some Roger Miller while you're at it...

This is not pre-1960 (1962 to be exact), but it is a masterpiece of it's kind...

Not to justify FF's actions, but I think we have to relaize that serious cultural differences may be a factor in this sorry episode. Great pic of slugger Jeff Burroughs up above, BTW.