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Attending a seminar in New York gave me the opportunity to hear some live music, and this turned out to be a very good visit. Wednesday, October 10: To the 55 Bar to hear the Mike Stern Quartet, with Bob Franceschini on tenor sax. Both sets were terrific. Thursday, October 11: Thanks to an iPhone App which told me where to go, I was able to find via subway and walking a place called Terraza 7 in Queens, where I heard the fantastic Magos Herrera group, featuring Mike Moreno on guitar and Alex Kautz on drums. This is a small triangular shaped bar which has a second floor terrace where the band appears; Magos performed one set, singing a selection of songs from her last two CDs, Distancia and Azul. Friday, October 12: To the Jazz Standard to hear Edmar Castaneda for two sets. A group consisting of Columbian harp, flute and drums sounds like it would be kind of precious, but in fact the driving swing of this group was quite incredible. My second time to hear Edmar Castaneda live, who adopts the Columbian harp to jazz. He's an amazing musician. Saturday, October 13: To the Cornelia Street Cafe, to hear the Rez Abassi trio. I wasn't too familiar with this Pakistani jazz guitarist, but pretty quickly became a fan in the course of two sets. Sunday, October 14: To Drom, where I heard the Chico Hamilton group. I had previously heard Chico live about 15 years ago, and he was still in full command of his drums at that point. This was a little sad, because he is fairly feeble at this point (he's 91). Chico only played about the first 20 or 30 minutes of the concert before allowing his protege (Jeremy Carlstedt) to take over on drums. Nonetheless, it was a very enjoyable concert; Chico's group is very good, with an incredible bass player (Paul Ramsey), and featuring Evan Schwam on saxophones, plus flute (Mayu Saeki) and guitar (Nick Demopoulos).

Had the very real privilege of meeting Mr. Sipiagin last night and hearing him play a little bit (couldn't stay the night as family matters beckoned). I don't say this lightly or politely - the man has a sound, a pure, full, sustained energy sound - that his recordings come nowhere near close to capturing. Those of you who know me well enough will know that I'm all about having a sound first and foremost. If you play well but don't have a voice...Well, this guy definitely has one and again, the records don't come close to getting it all. Plus, he's dedicated to the whole post-Woody Shaw school of extended harmonies (which I know not everybody has an appreciation of/for, but still...), and that stuff is very taxing physically for a trumpeter. What I heard last night was pretty damn revelatory, not so much in terms of the vocabulary itself (although there was no cheapness there, none at all), but more in terms of the "voice". Strong, serious, sound. Marvelous, very very marvelous. If you ever get a chance to hear Alex Sipiagin in person, do so. What's on the records ain't half the deal. I wanted to come to this but became rather ill on Tuesday.

From All Music Guide. MG Lucky's a real nice guy in my experience and very talented. He's lived in Dallas for 20 or more years but is of course little heralded in his home town. Aside from his many blues recordings, for the soul jazz fan, I recommend three fairly recent CDs on French Emarcy, The Organ Soul Sessions. This is all Lucky on organ, playing mostly with jazz players and mostly jazz songs. http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B001LV5OIA/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A1X6FK5RDHNB96&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0EGCS4NC5THJKAX1SF4X&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=312233167&pf_rd_i=405320 For the gospel oriented jazz fan, you might also enjoy his duet recording with Mavis Staples. Lucky is mostly on organ on this one and its very tasty. http://www.amazon.com/Spirituals-Gospel-Dedicated-Mahalia-Jackson/dp/B000004767/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1349151496&sr=1-1&keywords=Lucky+Peterson+Mavis+Staples

As for recordings I might listen to again, none for Branford and one for Wynton (his Village Vanguard box set).

I just listened to the Roberto Gatto Quartet, from January 3, 2012, with Melissa Aldana on tenor, Nir Felder on guitar, and Joseph Lepore on bass. It was so good I listened all the way through, two sets. A recording in the next couple of days was mentioned; I sure hope so.

I'd go this way. Me too.

Dexter Gordon, Pulsation (Riverside/Fontana mono) (The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon)

The Freddie Roach Soul Book (Prestige, blue label mono) Wes Montgomery, So Much Guitar (Riverside, black label stereo)

I have joined and in a couple of weeks should be visiting Smalls in person again. Currently listening to Melissa Aldana, August 8, 2012.

Eric Dolphy, Here and There (Prestige mono, blue label) Donald Byrd, I'm Trying to Get Home (Blue Note stereo, NY USA)

I've seen him with Tom Harrell and with Jack Walrath. I like his playing also.

So this is not a needle drop type of reissue?

Benny Morton and Jimmy Hamilton Swingtets (Mosaic) Raymond Scott, One Night Stand 1940 (Joyce)

Last night, closing night at Tucker's Blues in Deep Ellum, featuring the Lucky Peterson trio and various vocalists, before a packed house. Too bad, a rare venue in Dallas which had good sound, wasn't overloud, and was all about music comes to an end.

Pete Johnson/Earl Hines/Teddi Bunn Blue Note Recordings (Mosaic)

I like his Live at Smalls CD, and I saw one of the sets broadcast on Tuesday.

The impending new Mosaic Mingus set is the most exciting for me. And the continuation of the Black Saint/Soul Note box set series is also of significant interest.

Yes. That's the Terrance Blanchard/musical director edition of the Messengers--two live albums. Representative of the only edition of the Messengers that I heard live.

It's a live trio recording, with Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar and Jamire Williams on drums. Three tracks from a 2011 concert in Hungary and three tracks recorded at Jazz Standard in January 2012. It is very good. It's been available on amazon.com since mid-August. The label is Lonnie Smith's own.

I heard Oregon a couple of times at the Caravan of Dreams in the last 1980s; they are an excellent group. Ralph Towner also played a solo concert at the Caravan. He was my favorite in that group, but Paul McCandless and Glenn Moore are pretty nice players as well.

Don Cherry, Complete Communion (Blue Note, New York USA)

The five you list are all great choices, but given your expressed personal tastes, I would recommend the Dizzy set.

Yes, an iPod and a car with a good stereo is rather fun.

Isn't that Mr. Monday Michiru on trumpet?

It seems simple to me; he stepped off the edge and fell down onto the tracks, and some people reached down helped him and dragged him off the tracks and back onto the platform, before the train got there. If the train got there first, there's no room (just look at the picture); he would be crushed.