Joe

Brad -- I hope you mean the Criss and Coles, not the Criss and the Venom. Though, I have to say, for what that band was, Venom is pretty darn intriguing... My thanks to ShawnD from the old BN BBS for opening my ears to them...

This fine late 80's Kuhn / Miroslav Vitous / Aldo Romano trio date, orignally recorded for the Owl label, is about the be re-issued here in the States on Sunnyside: OCEANS IN THE SKY I'm still most fond of his playing on the aforementioned BASRA and SING ME SOFTLY OF THE BLUES, the Stan Getz / Bob Brookmeyer FALL 1961, and Kenny Dorham's JAZZ CONTEMPORARY. What's really interesting is why almost none -- absolutely none -- of his 70's sessions for the ECM label have made it to CD, including the quite highly-thought-of collaborations with Shelia Jordan (PLAYGROUND, LAST YEAR'S WALTZ). What's the story there?

Al -- it was a toss-up between the Coles and:

First, thanks to Late for the nomination. Now, as to what I'm going to inflict on you all... Let's see... an album "deserving of wider recognition", IMHO... Johnny Coles - NEW MORNING (click here to buy) Not as "conservative" a choice as it appears. Trust me. Ciao, Joe

OH HELL YEAH!!!

Who knows? He may not have another VEEDON FLEECE in him, but that doesn;t mean he may not surprise us. I suspect BN will adopt much more of a Cassandra Wilson than a Norah Jones strategy as far as Van's promotion goes...

I've always really loved this album... http://www.cybermusicsurplus.com/online_ca..._tag=BSN3120083

FLYING OUT, McBee's 1982 INdia Navigation date with Olu Dara, Billy Hart and the "mini-string section" of John Blake (violin) and David Eyges (cello) is also definitely worth hearing. Not you average blowing date by any means. Also, dig what he does with The Leaders Trio (with Kirk Lightsey and Don Moye):

I said Henderson because I think a lot of tenor players nowadays, in looking for a model that is not the predominant one -- i.e., is NOT Coltrane -- have turned to Henderson. Javon Jackson, Mark Shim, Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, even a relatively elder statesmen like Joe Lovano all bear a marked Henderson influence (IMHO). There are others, of course. I think Wayne Shorter has also been more influential than is normally acknowledged, but, becuase his music is still growing and evolving, and he is no longer known primarily as a tenor saxophonist -- though that COULD change again -- he presents more challenges to the young musician who might fall under his spell. But, to take an extreme example, Ravi Coltrane to me sounds much more like Wayne than he does his father...

Love LEBOWSKI. Especially because I see it as being a big middle finger in the face of Quentin Tarrantino.

Not a cover per se, but... And apologies for the size, but...

Didn't Distel also (co-)compose the standard "The Good Life", the song made famous by Mr. Tony Bennett? If so, what's the story there?

With the current Cedar Walton trio (Peter Washington, Joe Farnsworth). An excellent "straight-ahead" date which finds Davis -- who has played with Steve Lacy, Kenny Dorham, Clifford Jordan's Big Band, Ray Charles, and countless others -- playing both tenor and baritone sax (). There's some sax playing of uncommon depth here; check it out!

Picked this up this weekend: Totally idiosyncratic and unbelievably happ'nin' shizz-nit!

"Orange Was The Color of Her Dress, Then Silk Blue" on CHANGES TWO. Damn!!!!!

Jim -- I gave a passing thought to Dixon, but it seems to me he doesn't collaborate like he used to. I do think there are some aesthetic compatibilities between he and Hill, though. Smoker has played Hill's music before, in the company of Anthony Braxton. SO I think its about damn time he plays with Hill himself! Agree about Phil -- though I might like to hear him match wits with Moran first, as both men share an ability to take current pop tunes and transform them into sturdy, very maneuverable vehicles for improvisation. What we REALLY need is Hill / Von Freeman or Hill / Johnny Griffin record.

I would love to hear Leo Smith, Baikida Carroll, Hannibal Peterson, or Paul Smoker tackle Hill's music. FWIW.

| Kyuss, {WELCOME TO} SKY VALLEY | Terry Reid, RIVER | John Bickerton Trio, SHADOW BOXES | Tim Berne, EMPIRE BOX [first four LPs] | Blue Mitchell, BLUE'S MOODS | Gary Thomas, PARIAH'S PARIAH | Bobby Hutcherson, OBLIQUE | Arthur Blythe, EXHALE | Donald Byrd, KOFI | Ry Cooder, INTO THE PURPLE VALLEY | My heart [bonus tracks ONLY]

One of my favorites. You can't go wrong with any of these recommendations. You might also check out two Black Saint sessions, though: THE FIFTH POWER, a recording of a live gig with Lester Bowie, Arthur Blythe, Malachi Favors, and Philip Wilson; and THE CIRCLE OF TIME, a trio date with Don Pate and Thurman Barker, which has one of my favorite Amina performances on it, "Plowed Fields". John Litweiler has given high praise to her solo piano album of Marion Brown pieces -- POEMS FOR PIANO -- but I've never seen a copy, much less heard the session. Any further comments? Rumor is gigs from her European tour with Von Freeman from 2001 / 2002 were recorded. I hope those see the light of day!

Three albums featuring one of the finest tenor saxophonists you've *never* heard, Ernie Krivda Cadence All-Stars, LEE'S KEYS PLEASE

More profound expressions of musical genius disguised as enigmatic "novelties"...

Very simply, one of the msot creative and sensual vocalists in this idiom I've ever had the pleasure to hear. THE NEWEST SOUND AROUND is a classic, desert-island, 5-star, necessary purchase, callitwhatchawanna disc, for sure, but you can't go wrong with any of shrugs' recommendations. Her duets with David Eyges (electric cello) -- HERE AND NOW -- are lesser-known, but also stunning. You can hear her in the company of Shelia Jordan, a rather intriguing experience, on this recording: Marcello Melis, FREE TO DANCE IMHO, I used to think Lee was never documented to an extent commensurate with either her talent -- not just as a singer, but as a composer and poet -- or her influence on a whole subsequent generation of creative music vocalists. But the following discography shows there's a lot of Jeanne Lee out there to hear: http://users.rcn.com/eye/jeannelee.html

A second plug for HUM, easily recommended: http://www.sketch-studio.com/sketch-jazz/01hum.html

The Gil Melle stuff; I think that material definitely qualifies. Also, Moondog. Finally, out of a wholly different bag -- my hero, Earl Bostic!!!

The Richie Kamuca Concord sides. Marion Brown, JUBA-LEE The Martial Solal / Sidney Bechet sessions Mingus' self-produced records (MY FAVORITE QUINTET, MONTEREY 1965) Julius Hemphill, DOGON A.D. Many others...