medjuck

I just watched The Small Back Room by Powell and Pressberger on The Criterion Channel. The film is set in 1943 and at one point they go to a club and hear The Ted Heath band. The music sounded to me as if the band was starting to be a bit bop influenced. Then I remembered that the film was made in 1948 so the music might be a bit anachronistic. Anyone else ever see this film and am I just underestimating the complexity of '40s swing bands?

Did it ever exist as an Lp or cd?

From Wikipedia: Davis proved, perhaps, to be the most pivotal instrumentalist during these sessions. "If you listen to the album, every tune is led by Richard and everybody followed Richard and Van's voice", says Merenstein. "I knew if I brought Richard in, he would put the bottom on to support what Van wanted to do vocally, or acoustically. Then you get Jay playing those beautiful counter-lines to Van."[22] Davis was not impressed by Morrison, not out of disdain or any preconceived notions, but rather because Morrison's professional comportment generally did not meet Davis's expectations. "No prep, no meeting", recalls Davis. "He was remote from us, 'cause he came in and went into a booth ... And that's where he stayed, isolated in a booth. I don't think he ever introduced himself to us, nor we to him ... And he seemed very shy".[18]

Wow! What's the Gil Evans "Sketches of Spain" 2? And as a big Weil fan I'm very interested in the "Lady in the Dark". thanks so much for posting.

Nice piece here by Richard Williams about the video and Lifetime: https://thebluemoment.com/

What's the source of that? Looks like the Hollywood Bowl.

When I started reading Downbeat in the early '60s Kenton was usually derided. (IIRC His record with Tex Ritter was especially the object of scorn.) As a result I'm not very familiar with his work. But he had his fans many of whom weren't interested in any other jazz. And I've never read anything by anyone who was in his band that was anything less than complimentary. Art Pepper especially makes him sound like a saint. (Of course I haven't read interviews with that many people from the band so there may be dissenters. )

I remember seeing him play at a deli (honest) on Sherbourne St. in Montreal 60 or so years ago. (But I can't remember the name of the deli.)

If you haven't already sent my last order I'd like the Westbrook.

I'd like the Benny Carter and the Maria Schneider. I'll pm.

What was the video on the Hawkins?

Are there any other Ellington recordings from metal masters on-line?

Where are these recordings from metal masters to be found? Do many exist? I know about metal masters but I never heard of recordings directly from them till today and now there's 2 examples of them on this site.

Funny I just finished an obscure Highsmith called "Found on the Street" and recently read a short story by Flynn that reminded me of her (Highsmith). I've never seen a quote from Flynn about her before but I've joked that I wouldn't want to live next door to either of them.

I saw Lalo (and James Moody) with Dizzy's quintet. Yes I am that old.

I'd love to see a streaming service for jazz similar to the Criterion Channel-- i.e. featuring rarer things not available on Spotify et al and giving the equivalent of liner notes. I'd be willing to pay way more for that especially if I thought the artists were getting a fairer share.

It's not a complete score but "Stella by Starlight" is certainly better known than "The Uninvited" the film where it's a theme in the score. And "Unchained Melody" is way better known than the film "Unchained". (OTOH The film "Laura" is almost as famous as the song of the same title derived from its score. There's an oft told story that's so good I doubt its veracity: Otto Preminger had wanted to use Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" because David Raksin couldn't come up with a theme. Then one night Raksin came home to find his wife had left him. He sat at the piano and wrote "Laura". ")

I have met him. I taught at the same university but met him at a Duke Ellington conference. He's aware that there are some errors in his Miles biography but the publishers of the 2nd (1 volume) edition wouldn't allow him to make changes in the body of the book. However they did allow a new preface in which he points out how much Miles lifted from it for his "autobiography". He also makes the claim (which I don't think I agree with) that in his last years Miles put more artistic effort into his paintings than his music.

I was just going to comment on that track which I also heard in that episode about an hour ago. I admit I wouldn't have known it was KD if they hadn't said so in the dialogue.

Thanks.

When was Sonny's Crib released? (I keep complaining that discographies should try to give release dates.). I have a discography of Trane done for Coda shortly after his death and it's not listed.

Reading the Oppenheimer too. Fascinating and makes me even more impressed with the film.

Yes and heavily discounted. Some are from 35mm prints! (They were shot in 35 but distributed in 16mm, so most surviving copies are in that format. BTW though I think the visuals are in the public domain I don't know about the publishing rights of the music. )

I think we have now recommended all of the Serge Chaloff cds ever issued except one so I'll recommend it: "Serge Chaloff Memorial: We the People Bop". It even has a couple of sessions not on the Mosaic "Complete Serge Chaloff Sessions" because they're ones on which he wasn't leader.

Did the same group also do a music minus one Lp or is this what I'm remembering?