gmonahan

His latest "Aint' Necessarily So" is a good place to start. Although actually recorded live in 1997, it's a great representation of his talents. "Shades of Bey" is solid, too. My favorite is "Ballads, Blues, and Bey" on Evidence. It really shows off Bey's very intimate vocal style. Greg Mo

I think it's one of the greatest Rollins albums from this early, classic period. "I'm An Old Cowhand" alone is worth the price of admission. It is (or was?) available as part of the very fine 5-cd box, "Sonny Rollins: The Freelance Years," which includes all of his Riverside and Contemporary material with alternates. Greg Mo

I guess I should count myself "lucky" that I only really discovered LJ a couple of years ago. I traveled to Amsterdam last summer and was combing through a record store in the center (can't remember the name--sorry! Pretty big one), and there was the Bear Family box for around 81 euros. Even with a poor exchange rate (this was last summer) I snapped it up. It is one gorgeous production, but it is expensive as hell right now to order, especially on this side of the pond. If you CAN find it for a good price, though, it's a treasure. Greg Mo

Aw Jazzbo--say it ain't so!! Swinging to the new Lester Young with Basie set, disc one. Greg Mo

... and I should add, it's every bit as good as a Mosaic, production-wise! That it is. All of the Bear Family boxes are great productions. Not as easy to get 'em in the U.S. now that CDWolf has quit carrying them, though. I agree with everybody else on this one--great box, great music. Love that Mercury cd too! Greg Mo

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

The Baileys are on the Mosaic Columbia Bailey set, but I had no idea THAT many other vocalists recorded with BG. I'd forgotten about the 34-35 Columbias too, but since the "modern" Columbia label that recorded Goodman was actually started later, does BMG own those masters? I wonder whether they might not go ahead and include the vocals by Goodman himself. Guess we'll have to wait and see! 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.

It will be a challenge for lunatic completists like me. Legacy has issued a fine Peggy Lee with Goodman set, and Collectables has a set for Helen Forrest and a Dick Haymes cd (who only recorded one session with Goodman before the recording ban). What (or who) else is likely to be missing? Greg Mo.

No, no relation to Keb! And I'm also excited about the BG release. Is it still the case that it will be an all-instrumental affair and big band only? Kinda wish they'd include the small groups, though I know Legacy did a fine job with the Charlie Christian stuff. I remember reading they weren't going to include any vocals. I also assume it's studio only? 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

Oh good Lord--had no idea that the original Mr. M had returned. I'm so glad I don't cruise the Politics forum anymore. Thanks, but just to be a *little* clearer, I'll add an "o"! I really like this group--my kind of lunatics! Greg Mo

I couldn't figure out what this meant (I am SO clueless), so I did some digging, and discovered that there was a "GregM" who was evidently banned from the board at some point. I'm not whoever that guy is/was. Had I known there was somebody using this signature who was banned, (or even who hadn't been banned!) I'd have chosen another one. I went to options to see how to change it, and, Luddite that I am, I can't figure out how to do it. If somebody wants to tell me, I'll find another signature, even if it means reverting to "newbie" status. My full name is Greg Monahan. I live in Eastern Oregon where I teach college history. I've been listening to and collecting jazz since the 1960s, and I've posted to this group now for quite a while. Greg M (the never banned one)

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