Scott Dolan

I'm definitely more interested in the contemporary stuff, but please feel free to add some historic albums as well.

The AMG review makes it sound like it's right up my alley, actually pointing out how it was different than the higher energy 60's Free Jazz. It's not on iTunes, but I'll check for it on Spotify.

Am I missing something? What's wrong with Oscar Peterson?

Excellent! This should keep me tied up for awhile as I tend to thoroughly absorb every album before moving on to the next.

SME?

Thanks, gents! I still haven't heard Nipples, but that is one hell of a line up. The only Brotzmann I have is the trio date with Parker and Drake, Never Too Late, But Always Too Early. While I enjoy it, it's more closely linked to 60's Free Jazz than the more European-style of improv (IMO) that I'm looking for now. I'm definitely getting tuned into folks like Evan Parker, Lytton, Crispell, Schlippenbach, Tony Oxley Nate Wooley, cats along those lines. I will definitely check out all the titles you guys have recommended. Thanks! BTW, I had already heard some samples from Topography Of The Lungs, which I liked quite a bit.

And you just summed up why I tend to leave entire genres of music behind for extended periods of time (usually several years). Then once I feel the palate has been cleansed I will usually revisit it and dig a little deeper into what came about later. My current budding love of Free Improv is a decent example. I burned myself out on my intense daily 60's Free Jazz listening several years ago, and by the time I had reached the line of demarcation between that and Free/Euro Improv I had simply had my fill and had to move on. Now many years later I have returned to the dark side. And I'm loving it just as much now as I did back then. I think the same discipline can be applied to Spotify. But I can say that because I consume music in a different way than most here (from what I can surmise). I tend to listen to an album over and over and over, until I've truly "gotten" every note, pieced together every story, experienced every emotion, noted every last little interplay, etc... And I'll do that with each and every album before moving on to the next. It's obssessive, but it keeps my exposure/saturation level moderate. I've never been a buy ten albums at a time and listen to them all in one or two sittings kind of guy.

I'm not sure how many Free Improv fans there are here, but having recently gotten deeply into The Nows from Paul Lytton I'm ready to dive deeper into the genre. So, I have that, Parker's 50th Birthday, and have been listening to a lot of Tony Oxley and Evan Parker recordings recently (np: Natives and Aliens). Already have some albums in my queue for after Christmas from Parker, Wooley, and Mary Halvorson. Any other "must have" recs? Are there any Kind Of Blue/Giant Steps/Blanton-Webster Band/Hot Fives & Sevens of this genre that should be in every collection?

Yeah, I knew where you were coming from. I was just shocked by how "not Jazz" it really is. Spyro Gyra is closer to being considered Jazz than what I heard on Blackstar. It does sound like it will be a great album, but Jazz it ain't.

The one thing I will say about Wooley is that he loves to showcase his circular breathing. And he showcases it well.

You read right. I've been saying for the past year Gordon wouldn't be back. Unless David Glass wants to significantly increase the payroll, we simply cannot afford to tie up $20mil in one player. Some delusional fans think he'll take far less to stay because he's a local guy who grew up a Royals fan, which is simply absurd. With all of that said, the longer he lingers on the market, the closer his price (and length of contract) may get back into a reasonable range for us to sign him. His groin injury last season might be playing a bigger role in his value than initially expected.

Just had to note that this actually made me laugh out loud.

I've previewed Blackstar as well. There is definitely no Jazz revival on the horizon. But I did find it a really intriguing listen.

Yeah, I don't get David's comment either. What does "easily available" have to do with it?

My fingernails aren't sharp either. They're just regular ol' fingernails.

Yeah, see? Same concept as my fingernail trick!

Thanks, Tom! I will definitely check it out. Will dig into another album or two tonight while I'm doing some housework. Always nice to be able to cross another artist I've always meant to check out as a leader off the bucket list.

Wasn't he still 18 on that date?

Yeah, as much as I really don't care for it, I think Spotify is going to get a monster work out from me. Too close to Christmas for for Mrs. Claus to approve any new music purchases. That said, Spotify has a ton of McLean titles.

Brother, I know. Hey, we all have artists would never got to. He's one of mine (as a leader, that is). I did thoroughly enjoy One Step Beyond.

I don't know whether there's been a thread or not, but a few years ago someone here turned me on to Blue Hour with Stanley Turrentine & The Three Sounds. Fantastic fucking album.

Aw hell, I can HEAR my ear hair growing! But having it burnt off doesn't sound very pleasant...

Man, Blue Rondo is a motherfucker! That tune alone made this album worth checking out. Thanks, Guy.

My son gets his hair cut at one of the top end joints in town where my wife has her hair done, and his costs $25.

Have it playing on Spotify as I type this, Guy! That's a real who's who lineup! Thanks for the heads up.