gmonahan

Yeah, I have some holes in the early stuff too, but not because I necessarily had them somewhere else. I was just poorer then than I am now! I don't have 103, 107, 115, 121, 124, 126, 127, or 130. I also don't have the Don Cherry, Grant Green, or Art Hodes sets--wish I did! I think I have all the others. I have a lot of 'em! And odd as it may seem, I think I like that little Woody Herman Philips Select the best of all. It's the one that most often gets me out of my chair and dancing like a lunatic around the room! Greg Mo

Yeah, me too. I went ahead and ordered the new Basie/Young set as well as a couple of selects (Johnny Mercer and Boogie Woogie) and a couple of singles. I'm now up to date and out of cash, but what else is new?!

Woody Herman Select, disc 2. "Caldonia." The room is shaking. The house is bouncing. God, but I do love this set!!!! Greg Mo

Me too. I wonder what happened. Me three. My guess is, if they're still selling it, someone messed up with the pricing and claiming it's out of stock, never to return and creating a new entry in their system for it is easier than selling however many at a loss. Oh well, just wait six months and it'll probably start showing up at Half Price Books for $20. Me four. I tried on CD Universe, but they show it on back order since March. I've tried ordering it from Circuit City, of all places. No telling whether I'll get hold of one! Greg Mo

We've ragged about this one before here. There was some thought it was going to be reissued, but then it fizzled. It's weird when this happens--everything gets put out but ONE album! Oh well.... Greg Mo

One thing about all these 70s horn bands- they provided a lot of music for the basketball/marching/pep bands. Hearing these groups was what first got me interested in music. I remember playing in a high school group where we transcribed and performed a bunch of Chicago, BS&T etc. Big fun. The algebra teacher played bass, so we called the group "Aftermath". I grok that. We played "Spinnin' Wheel" in my high school stage band. I think that was in the late Jurassic period. I ordered this set, if only to chill out to the days of my callow long-haired youth (and enjoy Bill Chase--a good trumpeter)! I still don't know who that grey-haired guy is in the mirror each morning! Greg Mo

John - this one is great. I think you will like it ! Hmmmm.....I don't find the sound clips too compelling, are they representative ? Listen to samples of the entire set on the link below. Jazz Crusaders Mosaic I really dug this set, and I wasn't into the Crusaders at all before I bought it. Several posters recommended it, so I took the chance. Glad I did. In fact, I proceeded to get all the live albums (except the '69 album, which still hasn't been reissued, to my knowledge) and like those too, though the earlier ones more than the latter. Greg Mo

*Nothing* is THAT complicated!! But I join in the general relief that the Deccas weren't lost. My heart skipped about five beats. Greg Mo

I'd go with Basie, Dizzy, and Chu in that order. All good boxes, but I love the Basie New Testament band. That said, there's some fine Dizzy in that box, especially the Verve stuff. Greg Mo

Didn't Mezz greet *everyone* with gifts of MaryJane?! Greg Mo

Melissa Torme? (Bad Greggy! Bad! I've GOT to quit dissing Melly!) Greg Mo

That's pretty funny. I was thinking that the first two tunes are the only ones I like!! Different strokes.... It is certainly Basie's wildest album, and the most "un-Basie-like"! Nothing at all like "Basie Meets Bond." Greg Mo.

Good news indeed! Let's hope the progress continues. MG Agreed! Hope things continue to go well for him. The happiest trumpeter in the business. I don't think I've ever heard a single solo by him that didn't make me smile. Hang in there, CT! Greg Mo

Complete Kid Ory on Verve, disc 2. I've been on something of a "trad" kick lately. Greg M.

The Complete Louis Armstrong and the Dukes of Dixieland on EJC, disc one (of three). I just got it, and it's something of a revelation--great stereo sound, and Satch is in fabulous form! Greg M.

Excellent arranger, composer, band leader, and a fine pianist too. He used to check in at rec.music.bluenote now and then when I frequented that ng. He may check this one too. I like "With All the Bells and Whistles," "Earth," and "Funupsmanship," all on MAMA. Greg M.

Wow... That should set the cause of getting past White Guilt back several millennia. Or more. Just as I always envisioned it -- a narcissistic/masochistic heterosexual singing to a lesbian. You mean EVERYBODY doesn't envision it that way?! Damn! There's another of my illusions shot to hell! Though, come to think of it, it may be a *little* unfair to refer to Mel as a lesbian. Greg M. Torme suits the role of Porgy in at least one way: he's lame. Is it my imagination, or was there just a touch of sarcasm in the way Steve Allen said "But you've never heard it sung this way" ? That's possible. Allen was very bright and a fine jazz connoisseur, but it's also possible he was just trying to be complimentary. Despite my wise-ass remark (I couldn't resist!), I've always liked Mel's singing. I just think he was *really* "miscast" as Porgy!! As for Frances Faye. Whoa. Twilight Zone time! Greg M.

For an antidote, try this.

Wow... That should set the cause of getting past White Guilt back several millennia. Or more. Just as I always envisioned it -- a narcissistic/masochistic heterosexual singing to a lesbian. You mean EVERYBODY doesn't envision it that way?! Damn! There's another of my illusions shot to hell! Though, come to think of it, it may be a *little* unfair to refer to Mel as a lesbian. Greg M.

Really?! They always sounded pretty good to these old ears, but then it occurs to me I've never heard any other version, so I'll take your word for it. I'm sure not going to diss Mosaic! Part of my reason for not getting the Mosaics was just economic. I'd bought a bunch of the Blue Moons and didn't want to duplicate. Maybe I should have! Greg M.

Chris, Your generous suggestion far surpassed the meager skills of this particular Luddite, so I just deleted mine. Yours is much prettier--FAR more readable! I'd be interested in responses to JSngry's query. Seems kind of harsh that one failed record project would have put a label out of business, but I guess Bethlehem was never exactly a big-time operation! Greg M.

I'd go with Lee Morgan's "Expoobident." It's one of my favorite Vee-Jays. I already had the excellent Blue Moon Vee-Jays when the Mosaics came out, so (rarely for me) didn't go with the Mosaics. I think the sound on the Blue Moons is excellent, and there are lots of alternate takes, plus, as others have mentioned, some of the cool original album covers. Greg M.

Thanks for the responses! I still wish I could find a personnel though--it's the goofball collector in me. I'd seen the Amazon listing, but somehow missed seeing Fagerquist listed. Makes sense that the trumpet would be his. I always liked his work. I may decide to get the full 2-cd set, but doesn't that have a narration by Al "Jazzbo" Collins?! I'm not sure I'm up for that!! Greg M.

I recently got hold of a used copy of the single cd (as opposed to the double) "A jazz version of highlights from the opera Porgy and Bess" on Bethlehem. It's a wacky record, and from what little I can find out, some (much?) of it was compiled from other Bethlehem cds. Does anybody have a partial or complete personnel with recording dates for this record? There's some bright trumpet solo work that *sounds* to me a bit like Conte Candoli, but I'm not sure, and there are at least two different trombonists, one of whom is obviously Rosolino. Any help appreciated! Greg M.