mikelz777

John McLaughlin / Remember Shakti (2-CD)

How are the discs in this set housed? I think his set, East of the Sun: West Coast Sessions was one of the worst designed packages ever made and I hate how the discs are stored. It's a major effort just to get a disc out let alone trying to do it without damaging it.

I guess I'm the turd in the punch bowl, I hated the movie "Bird". I didn't see it with any preconceived notions about how it should be approached or factors X, Y, or Z needing to be in a "proper" representation of Parker's life. I was ready to take it for whatever it was. It's obvious Whitaker never saw (or wasn't directed or chose to follow) video footage of Parker's playing. He was squirming and jerking around as if every note or phrase required some kind of body movement. The footage I've seen of Parker always impressed me because there was a lot going on musically but he stood or sat stone still, the fleet and economical movement of his fingers on the keys communicating his message, not the movement of his body. A pet peeve of mine is non-musicians unconvincingly trying to play musicians in movies and I recall seeing a lot of unconvincing acting in that regard. If music is an important part of the story, find musicians that can act and leave the poseurs to act in movies where the musicians are in the background. I thought the transitions with the flying cymbal were awkward and clunky. I recall some street scenes with musicians or club patrons where the acting was very hammy, forced and transparent. I was quite bored with it and gave up on it around the 2-hour mark. I appreciate Eastwood's desire to do something more than just put out a straight, run-of-the-mill, chronological story but his efforts seemed to be an attempt at being artsy for the sake of being artsy rather than as an effective vehicle for telling the story. Others may feel differently, but I thought the effort fell short. It leaves me wondering if this movie would be seen in such positive light if it were about some journeyman player rather than an iconic jazz giant.

True. Just out of curiosity, though, have you ever had a serious ear infection in your adult life? I don't think I've had one as an adult but do recall having them as a child and teen, none of which stemmed from travel in an airplane. I do remember them being extremely painful. As I've grown older, I wonder if I've become more sensitive to allergens or other things in the air. A lot of times I don't really have the symptoms of a cold or allergy like sneezing/ runny nose, etc. but I will experience the same type of sensation you get when you travel on a plane and your ears don't pop; congestion and pressure in the ears sometimes leading to a headache and/or slight temporary lightheadedness sometimes accompanied by sinus pain/pressure.

A decongestant may work for some and not for others. It's worked for me in the past. I'd recommend giving it a go before going to see a doctor.

I'd try a decongestant.

For me: Jim Hall - Concierto De Aranjuez Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane - They Say It's Wonderful Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage

Check this link, I don't think the poster is referring to the clarinet collection. Lester Young Cabu Collection

They never resolved that one did they? We never found out what happened with that Russian guy.

Interesting comments. I was never much of a Billy Joel fan pretty much preferring his pre-stardom stuff and outright hating much of his hit stuff. He still plucks a nostalgic string as he reminds me of my freshman year in college and a friend who liked listening to his earlier stuff. I really like Elton John up to the mid 70's though I don't really listen to him anymore unless I'm on another nostalgia bender. Springsteen lost me at "The River" but I like everything that preceded it. John Cougar never did much for me though I can't say I dislike him. I never really forgave him for the Jack And Diane lyric, "Suckin' on a chili-dog outside the Tastee Freeze." Who sucks on a chili-dog?

The Sopranos - Season 1

The Disney school of acting skit was funny because it was so spot-on. The Sound Of Music skit was kinda funny. Seth Meyers' news is always a highlight. The rest was pretty much yech, blah or meh. Miley C's voice is very grating and irritating. Of course, it's only my opinion.

"New York-born Tony Bennett is one of the most respected vocalists in the world today. With a 56 year musical career that includes performing with the Count Basie Orchestra in the 50s, classic recordings with Bill Evans in the ‘60s and an incredible solo performing and recording career spanning five decades, Bennett has always been accompanied by an impeccable collection of jazz musicians. His passion for music is equaled only by his love of art. As a painter, he continues to study and show his work at galleries throughout the U.S. Bennett was open and giving during this interview." 1993 interview.

Really? Then that's not saying much for the last several months worth of shows.

"For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business, the best exponent of a song. He excites me when I watch him - he moves me. He's the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more. There's a feeling in back of it." -Frank Sinatra Is Tony Bennett a jazz artist? I suppose he's very much like Frank Sinatra in that respect, the answer being yes and no. The past several days I've been enjoying "Fifty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett" which has allowed me a much deeper look at Bennett than a single greatest hits disc would provide. I've come to appreciate him much more as a singer as a result. It's also interesting to see the many recognizable names that play among the 5 discs such as Art Blakey, Count Basie/Basie Orchestra, Zoot Sims, Eddie Costa, Jo Jones, Bobby Hackett (on ukelele as well as cornet!), Al Cohn, Jimmy Rowles, Tommy Flanagan, Bill Evans, and of course, Ralph Sharon and his trio among others. He's also worked with a lot of great composers, conductors and arrangers. When you read the booklet from an artist's box set, you're most likely going to get a one-sided view of the artist and a rosey one at that. Even so, it's very hard to discount the truth of what's being said about Bennett when there are so many huge names saying such nice things about him. There's a veritable "who's who" of the entertainment industry included here. Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Buddy Rich, Barbara Streisand, Mitch Miller, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Hackett, Nat Hentoff, Gil Evans, Harold Arlen, and Bill Evans all had very positive things to say about him. It all seems to support what I've read of him elsewhere. Has anyone here ever worked with him or had the opportunity to be around him enough to know a little about the man? He always gave me the impression of being a genuine class act and very well respected in the business. What are your thoughts on Tony Bennett?

Fifty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett (5CD) Got a brand new copy on Ebay for $8.79.

I must have missed a memo. I thought all of the knee-jerk, blind hatred/criticisms were reserved for Wynton.

So which do you prefer, the All Music Guide To Jazz or the Penguin Guide To Jazz? I've compared both and I'd have to say that I prefer the All Music Guide. While there are reviews in both that I would disagree with, (which is going to be pretty much a given with this type of thing) I found that I disagreed more frequently and, in general, to a greater degree with the Penguin Guide. I really like the essays and music maps featured in the AMG. The AMG also seems to have a more comprehensive coverage of more artists releases. I've read positive and negative opinions about both here so I'm curious to see if there is any kind of general consensus on which is preferred.

I didn't mean to imply that the quote you cited was fabricated. I do, however, disagree with your conclusion that Cook and Morton dismiss all of post-war Prez as "a pale shadow" of his former brilliance. They certainly have some critical things to say about the particular album you mentioned, The President Plays, and yet it still receives a healthy 3 1/2-star rating. That's only one recording, however, and I think they do an admirable job of describing several of the records he made at that time and in the years to come. You're certainly entitled to your own opinion, but I can't help but think that your over-generalization about Cook and Morton is tantamount to what you're accusing them of doing to Prez. I didn't conclude anything regarding Cook and Morton. I merely reported what they said; that in their bio of Young, they said that his late recordings had their admirers but that they were a pale shadow of the pre-war Young. It's not my opinion and I'm not generalizing, it's what they said. If anyone is guilty of generalizing, it would be them. Perhaps they should better reconcile what they say with what they rate the recordings.

Melissa Leo's win reaction didn't ring true for me. I found her acceptance speech (or lack thereof) to be tedious and her whole time on stage came off as rather unlikable. Her seeming need to use profanity seemed calculated as to try and make a "memorable" moment. It makes me wish that much more that Hailee Steinfeld won. You may feel differently about the whole thing but I have much higher hopes for the remaining major winners.

The views I presented from the Penguin Guide were not exaggerations. They were directly quoted from the 7th edition. It's interesting to contrast the Penguin vs. All Music Guide reviews for the same album: (The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio) Penguin - "Flawlessly lyrical piano-playing, but nothing much from Pres but the shards and fragments of a musical mind that had very little left to say. Some of the tunes are stunning. 'Tea For Two' is a revelation and 'On The Sunny Side Of The Street' is as fresh and uncomplicated as a spring morning. Much of the rest, though, is as empty as after-dinner conversation between generations who aren't at odds but who don't quite understand each other." AMG - "Defying what has become conventional wisdom, tenor saxophonist Lester Young (when he was reasonably healthy) actually cut some of his greatest recordings in the 1950s. On this wonderful effort with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer J.C. Heard, Prez performs definitive versions of "Just You, Just Me" and "Tea for Two," and plays a string of concise but memorable ballad renditions: "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Almost Like Being in Love," "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," "There Will Never Be Another You," and "I'm Confessin'." The 1997 CD reissue augments the original dozen songs with a version of the good-humored "It Takes Two to Tango" (which features Young's only recorded vocals) and has a rather unnecessary false start ("I Can't Get Started"), along with some studio chatter. Essential music."

OR

I was reading through the Penguin Guide To Jazz when I came to their review of "The President Plays With The Oscar Peterson Trio". Their review is as follows: "Flawlessly lyrical piano-playing, but nothing much from Pres but the shards and fragments of a musical mind that had very little left to say. Some of the tunes are stunning. 'Tea For Two' is a revelation and 'On The Sunny Side Of The Street' is as fresh and uncomplicated as a spring morning. Much of the rest, though, is as empty as after-dinner conversation between generations who aren't at odds but who don't quite understand each other." In their bio of Young, they say that his late recordings have their admirers but that they are a pale shadow of the pre-war Young. I can't say that I agree with their withering point of view on Prez's post-war playing. I've heard this debate before but I can't say that I understand it. Are they just comparing Prez to himself or are they also comparing him to other players in the diverging sounds of jazz of those times? I'm not knowledgeable enough to critique or break down the technical aspects of a musician but I know what I enjoy listening to and I very much enjoy Prez's playing both pre- and post-war. I might have better understood the review above had it been applied to his release, "Laughin' To Keep From Cryin'". (6 years later) Some of the playing on there was pretty rough. What are your thoughts?

What I want to know is how can an artist who first released an album in 2006 and who released their 3rd album 4 years later can win best NEW artist? Wow! My world is now totally changed. It will never be the same. They uttered the name of a record label on TV. Now life is worth living.

Elmo Hope Trio - Complete Studio Recordings (4-CD) Currently less than $14.00 at the link above.