gmonahan

Well, based on the Kaplan bio, I sure wouldn't put it past him, Larry. If you could say one thing about his personality, it's that he could really hold a grudge. And that was definitely a very critical review! Kaplan mostly agrees with you, though, in that very short last chapter. I think I read somewhere that Kaplan didn't have nearly as much access to Tina and Nancy, Jr. for that final period (Barbara Marx Sinatra, the "last" wife, comes off very badly in the book), so maybe that explains some of it, but I think ghost's argument that he had a deadline makes good sense. Too bad too, because Sinatra did some interesting film work in the last period, and *some* of his concerts, if not that one in Chicago, were pretty good. gregmo

I've seen a mention or two of this monster (nearly 2,000 pages in two volumes) in one or two threads, but no thread devoted to it. I just finished reading through the whole thing, and I'm curious if I'm the only one to make that marathon. It has a breezy "show-biz" style that sometimes put me off, but I do believe that if Sinatra broke wind, Kaplan wrote a paragraph about it. I liked parts (Johnny Mandel's account of Sinatra in the studio), but I thought Kaplan let Sinatra off the hook a bit too much about his cozying up to the mob. That said, Sinatra's warts-and-all personality is completely on display. Oddly, I thought the last chapter seemed rushed and superficial, given the detail in the rest of the book. What did others think?

Finally saw the film last night, and like many here I was surprised that I liked much of it. The whole stolen tape/car chase stuff was nonsense (though I adore Michael Stuhlbarg, who played Junior's scuzzy agent), but I thought Cheadle did a pretty good job (he looks like Miles), and I liked the musical things, especially the scene with Gil Evans. That scene makes a nice contrast to "Born to be Blue" in the sense that it demonstrates why Miles would indeed have contempt for Chet Baker, who couldn't read a note of music. Of course, again like many here, I came to the movie with pretty low expectations, but it is nice when a movie turns out to be better than one thought it would be! gregmo

Together with the Roulette Studio set, this is one of the gems of my collection. Of course, I tend to say that about a lot of my Basie stuff......... gregmo

It's on my copy, though I had to listen hard to catch it! Sounds like a tiny skip. Thanks for asking, though. Gives me a chance to listen to that disc! gregmo

That's certainly possible, since I'm pretty sure "Essential Jazz Classics" is one of the Andorran labels, isn't it? But, until something better comes along.... gregmo

Yep, that's the one I ordered! gregmo

It has the original liner notes to the six albums contained in the set (all but one by John William Hardy) plus a one-page "post-script" from Cuscuna, three color repros of some of the original albums, and some black and white photos of Amy and other musicians who took part in the sessions. Fairly typical Select booklet. I'd want it, but I'm a hopeless completist. gregmo

This reminds me of older discussions in other threads about "The Okeh Ellington," and our shared desire to see that particular catalog remastered in *much* better sound. gregmo

Cool! Thanks for posting this, if for no other reason to alert me to the "Plays King Oliver" album, which I had somehow missed. That's embarrassing for someone who has been listening to Satch as long as I have--but also wonderful. I'll have a new (to me) album to listen to soon! gregmo

Storyville appears to have put out several of these things, with Basie cuts sprinkled through a number of them. It would be nice if they were all located in ONE place! gregmo

Sigh. Proof--as if proof were needed--that my mind is going. *I* asked about the Jubilee sessions earlier in this thread! gregmo

Thanks for the response! gregmo

I saw the movie. The music was fine, and Hawke's singing was a lot like Chet's. The love interest was made up, but it seemed to me they were fairly accurate about the way Chet used women. Liked the ending. On the whole, better than I feared it would be. gregmo

I mentioned the Savoy material, so if I have that set, the Verves, the Mosaics and the Lady Day set, I guess that would be it for studio material? i have the CP records stuff, but that's all live, I think. gregmo

Just curious since I don't have them, but did the Fremeaux sets include Satch's tracks recorded for the movie, "New Orleans"? gregmo

Definitely preordered this one, though this will be at least the third time for me for the Basie Deccas on cd. I think this is the first time Mosaic has managed to combine Universal-owned and Sony-owned recordings in one set, isn't it? So, if I have the other Mosaic set, the Complete Savoy set and the Complete Verve set, will this pretty well complete Prez's studio recordings? I'm not counting the live things. gregmo

Lovely! Great to hear fairly early Pops with such nice sound! gregmo

With Lon on this one. Listening to disc 3. Great sound, wonderful performances by one of my favorite bands. gregmo

"Count Basie and his Atomic Band Complete Live at the Crescendo 1958, disc 3. Great sound, wonderful performances by the New Testament band. gregmo

"I'm still alive because I'm still learning." Definitely words to "live" by! gregmo

Yeah, I liked Procope's clarinet playing a lot better, but Jimmy tended to get all the spots. gregmo

I have the Prestige two-fer, and it's ok, but for some reason, I've just never been able to become a fan of his clarinet playing (as Duke certainly was!). I know this is going to sound silly to some--and boy is it just *my* opinion--but I just never thought he could swing. gregmo

Oh, I love that album! One of my favorites! gregmo

I also enjoyed it and also appreciate the post! gregmo