Teasing the Korean

I do not understand this. If Tony Bennett, or anyone else, is making choices on the fly that are surprising harmonically, melodically and/or rhythmically, how can I, Larry Kart, Burr, or anyone else say which of these choices would be a "musician's" choices or not? There are as many musician's choices in those situations as there are musicians.

I would tend to agree with you, but I think that Peggy eventually strayed farther from jazz territory than Tony did for several years. That doesn't mean she's less of a jazz singer than he is; I was referring more to the overall stylistic focus than the inherent musical ability.

I think that the great 20th Century song stylists can fall at various points on the spectrum between pop and jazz. Some are clearly one or the other; others are not so clearly categorized. Aside from some of his early schmaltzy singles and perhaps a few mid-life crisis missteps, I think that Tony Bennett maintained more a of a consistent jazz element throughout his career than many of what I would consider the "jazzy pop singers" - artists such as Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Julie London, and others. Whether that makes Tony a jazz singer, I don't know, but the distinction is worth noting.

Jazz Gunn and Daktari is a great twofer. Why would you want Gunn by itself?

Well that's good news. While you're waiting for the real deal, why not treat yourself to the CD of Brasil 66's "Fool on the Hill" album, readily available for short dough on Amazon, and also their second or third best album, next to either "Crystal Illusion" or "Look Around?"

Songs? Still? Really??

We've had a number of threads devoted to the album "The Unexpected." I wanted to start a thread where we could talk about the range of Raymond Scott compositions and recordings, from the Quintette era to the electronica era, also encompassing tribute projects by the likes of the Metropole Orchestra, Beau Hunks Sextette; and related things such as Carl Stalling's WB cartoon scores. I will start by saying that I find RS's electronic stuff on "Manhattan Research" and the three "Soothing Sounds for Baby" volumes endlessly fascinating. It is hard to believe that some of these recordings are from that era; they are so forward thinking. I also love the Quintette stuff, although I generally have to listen in fairly small servings to really appreciate it. Each of those compositions is so rich in compositional and arranging aspects that I feel like I need to hear it sandwiched between two unrelated pieces with lots of breathing room. I think that Raymond Scott is undoubtedly one of the oddball American music originals of the 20th Century, and I'm glad that he has gotten his due in recent decades.

Luiz Bonfa Plays and Sings Bossa Nova - Verve (mono) With The Great Lalo Schifrin.

The easy way to identify the counterfeit boxes is that they don't include the Brasil '66 Beatles tracks.

And the album that should be played in such spaces is Russ Garcia's Fantastica.

Zimbo Trio - RGE (mono)

Well, the answer is there is some stereo - they aren't using a fold-down or anything as on the LP -- but it's pretty narrow compared to the later recordings in the series. If you are looking for the later Munch recording there appears to be a Japanese CD of that, but I don't know anything more about that. The mono LP wasn't a fold down - it was a dedicated mono recording, and a very good one. The experimental stereo recording was done at the same session with a different microphone placments and engineers. It wasn't deemed a good enough stereo recording for release, which is why they re-recorded it a few years later. That is why it has always puzzled me that the earlier stereo recording came out on CD.

The '55 Daphnis is the experimental stereo recording of session that was released on the mono LP. I know only the mono LP version.

Has the correct version of the Munch/BSO "Daphnis et Chloe" made it to CD yet? The existing CDs have used the experimental stereo recording of the earlier mono album - the one with the Warhol-illustrated book - as opposed to the late 50s stereo recording that was issued on a Living Stereo LP.

This is always a staple of Teasing the Korean's DJ sets, from the great MPS label: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnIcYYW2A4w

I always liked the dots. The cartoons where he had little circles for eyes scared me when I was little.

In the 80s, a whole bunch of BN budget titles came out on cassette on some budget label (forget the name). My Dad had a bunch of them and used to listen in the car. I held on to them for sentimental value.

Well, with the reprieve, I'm hoping for a deus ex machina and that the store stays open. Like many of us, I peel the store sticker off of the album when I get home. However, there have been several records I've found recently from Jack's, including a Clifford Brown Mercury album, where I never peeled it. These Stereo Jack's stickers will remain on my LPs through this lifetime.

Absolutely, and all of you need to send me your MPS albums immediately upon moving onto the "good" stuff. Jazz schmazz.

Ahmad Jamal - Happy Moods - Argo (blue label, mono)

Hugh Masakela - Promise of Future - Uni (stereo) featuring the hit single "Grazing in the Grass."

Check out the aforementioned "Pink Balloon," which is a bonus track on the MPS CD "For Nightpeople Only." Alternately, check out the HJ tunes on the MPS "Snowflakes" compilation. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass did the definitive version of "Black Forest" on their "Going Places" album, one of their two best records (Whipped Cream being the other).

You guys should do "Pink Balloon," which was on the same album as "Dreamflight" (in the US, at least). You'll just need to find some hot, scantilly-clad Teutonic babes to do the backing vocals.

The other thing they have in common is that they are both obsessions of Your Beloved Teasing the Korean. I am looking forward to checking out the links!

"Skins" is mostly percussion, so depending on where you're coming from, that could be good or bad. The standout track is "Reverberasia," which sounds like Sun Ra - I kid you not. "Teen Drums" is worth getting - It is more like a beatnik bongo record, with Plas Johnson on tenor.