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Scrolling down, Monk is on the Tonight Show Friday night. An unnamed top jazz organist has trouble with the IRS for not paying over the withholding tax on his singer's pay. Pianist Singer Alice Darr fills out a bikini. Plus dancers with excellent legs.

A long time ago, I guess, but Hugh Masekela played in Fort Worth back in 1989, at the Caravan of Dreams. I remember it as one of the most exciting bands I ever heard there. It was so good I drove to Fort Worth two nights in a row--I don't know the names of any of the bandmembers--all were African, except for one of the two keyboardists was from Philadelphia. His records from around that period of time were a pale shadow compared to the band at the Caravan.

Art Blakey--A Jazz Message (Impulse, red and black) Wardell Gray Memorial Album (Prestige blue label two-fer)

Shelly Manne at the Blackhawk Vol. 1 (Contemporary stereo) Curtis Fuller--Soul Trombone (Impulse red and black)

A couple of new ones heard this week that I like: Carlo de Rosa's Cross Fade/Brain Dance. I especially like Mark Shim's tenor on this one, as well as Vijay Iyer on piano. http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Dance-Carlo-Rosas-Cross-Fade/dp/B004DK49WS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1295620408&sr=1-1 And trombonist Steve Davis' Live at Smalls, with Larry Willis, Mike Dirubbo, Gerald Cannon, and Willie Jones III, is a pretty nice live recording. Larry Willis is of course wonderful, but I quite like Dirubbo on alto, who I hadn't heard before. http://www.amazon.com/Live-Smalls-Steve-Davis-Quintet/dp/B003NKU9LY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295620318&sr=1-1

I am envious.

Plastic Dreams is after 1964, I think.

good to hear that mark shim is still at it. amazing player w/ a terrific sound. i thought i remember hearing that he was having a hard time a while back getting work. again, very nice to hear that he's at it! I thought Mark Shim sounded really good at this concert. This is also true of the excellent recording of this Carlo de Rosa led group on Cunieform. I had seen Mark Shim as a sideman a couple of other times over the last few years, with Onaje Allan Gumbs and Mike Clark, and was impressed both times.

I was in New York again last week and was able to visit Smalls two nights again. It was once again a very nice experience. Excellent music, fine sound, and a friendly atmosphere. I was able to hear Carlo de Rosa's group, with Vijay Iyer and Mark Shim; the next night first Woody Witt/Eric Wollman Project, then the Jean Michel Pilc Trio (Boris Koslov/Billy Hart). And I left with a couple more Smalls Live CDs (Ian Hendrickson Smith and Steve Davis).

Friday night, another trip to Smalls: First, the Woody Witt/Eric Wallman Project. Both new to me, but pretty good. Followed by the Jean Michel Pilc Trio (Boris Koslov on bass and Billy Hart on drums), which was pretty fantastic. Saturday night, a trip to the 92Y Tribeca, where Jason Moran Presents 713 to 212, featuring lots of jazz musicians from Houston transplanted to New York. This was a four and a half hour concert (ending at 1:30), with four different segments. The first featured an older generation of Houston jazz musicians, and a stellar cast it was--with Billy Harper, Melvin Sparks, Michael Carvin, Tex Allen, David Lee Jones, and Frank Lacy. Jason Moran and Helen Sung alternated on piano. This was a very enjoyable and happily performed set, the highlight being the octet's thrilling performance of Priestess. Melvin Sparks was featured on a rollicking blues piece. The second segment of the concert featured a group led by drummer Rodney Kendrick, with Robert Glasper on piano (plus guitar and bass)--Jason Moran was added on electric piano on some pieces. This was another fine set, the highlight being a performance of Herbie Hancock's composition, I Have a Dream. The next group led by drummer Jamire Williams, was also worthwhile (Jason Moran guesting on electric piano on some pieces). The final segment featured dual pianos--Robert Glasper and Jason Moran (one acoustic, one electric), plus two drummers (Eric Harland was one), plus acoustic or electric bass. All in all it was a fine evening of music--Moran and Glasper sounded terrific throughout--it was great to see the likes of Billy Harper and Melvin Sparks, and very interesting to hear the Rodney Kendrick and Jamire Williams groups of younger musicians. Houston seems to be producing some pretty fantastic drummers, judging from what I heard this evening.

Wednesday night, Mike Stern Trio at the 55 Bar. Last night, Carlos de Rosa's Cross Fade, with Vijay Iyer and Mark Shim, at Smalls.

Lee Morgan--Cornbread (Blue Note mono, NY USA/Liberty cover) Johnny Richards--Experiments in Sound (Capitol) Monk Misterioso (Columbia, two eyes)

Legrand Jazz (Columbia six eyes)

Mulligan Meets Getz (Verve) The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (Columbia six eyes)

1984: Max Roach In the Light on Soul Note and an Art Blakey CD on Philips.

That one stood out to me also, though I've seen him as a sideman a few times (always a pleasure). I'm not clear whether these concerts feature these artists with a pickup group, or bands that they bring in.

Jazz series at McDavid Studio in Fort Worth: Marvin Stamm U.N.T. Jazz Artist Series Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Tuesday, 01/25/2011 8:00 PM Information: The 2011 University of North Texas Jazz Artist Series at McDavid Studio kicks off with acclaimed jazz trumpeter Marvin Stamm, who has worked with Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra and dozens of other artists. Steve Turre U.N.T. Jazz Artist Series Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Tuesday, 02/01/2011 8:00 PM Information: If you've ever watched Saturday Night Live, you're already familiar with Steve Turre: He's been the SNL band trombonist since 1984. He also plays another instrument: the seashell. Larry Goldings U.N.T. Jazz Artist Series Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Tuesday, 02/08/2011 8:00 PM Information: Seen a James Taylor show recently? If so, Larry Goldings was probably by his side, serving as Taylor's one-man backup band. Adam Nussbaum U.N.T. Jazz Artist Series Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Tuesday, 02/15/2011 8:00 PM Information: The All Music Guide called Adam Nussbaum, the next artist in the University of North Texas' ongoing jazz series, one of the finest drummers of the 1990s. Bill Moring U.N.T. Jazz Artist Series Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Tuesday, 03/08/2011 8:00 PM Information: A veteran of the New York City jazz scene for over 20 years, bassist Bill Moring has established a reputation as one of the city's most in demand players. The versatile musician has proven himself equally adept at anchoring the big bands of legends Count Basie and Woody Herman, jammin' jazz/funk and beyond with the Dave Stryker/Steve Slagle quartet or stretching harmonic and rhythmic boundaries with John Hart and Chris Potter. James Spaulding U.N.T. Jazz Artist Series Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Tuesday, 03/22/2011 8:00 PM Information: The 2011 University of North Texas Jazz Artist Series at McDavid Studio comes to a close with acclaimed jazz alto saxophonist, JAMES SPAULDING, who has worked with Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard and dozens of other top-tier jazz artists. U.N.T. One O'Clock Lab Band Presented by: Performing Arts Fort Worth Performance to be held in McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street Dates / Times: Friday, 05/13/2011 8:00 PM

Originally released on Theresa Records.

The acoustic tracks on this CD are good. Avery Sharpe and Louis Hayes were his working group at the time, and a fine group it was. At the time, McCoy was coming to town a couple of times a year--he'd play at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth and the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas--I really like this trio. He never played electric piano live when I saw him. Avery Sharpe did play both acoustic and electric bass. As I recall, McCoy had an album or two on Columbia in the 1980s that were somewhat commercial in intent; Doubletrios came out after he had been dropped by Columbia.

Freddie Hubbard--Polar AC (CTI)

Basie Jam (Pablo)

Have lp and cd. Never thought to compare. I have both as well. The LP sounds pretty darn good. J.A.T.P. in Toyko 1953 (Pablo Live)

Duke Ellington and Ray Brown--This One's For Blanton (Pablo)

Art Pepper--The Way It Was (Contemporary) Ray Charles and Milt Jackson--Soul Brothers (Atlantic mono)

The jazz concerts this year that I really enjoyed were: Marc Ribot (solo)--Kessler Theater, Dallas. Gary Burton Quartet--Blue Note Jack Walrath and the Masters of Suspense--Smalls Alvin Queen Sextet (with Leon Spencer and Melvin Sparks)--Jazz Standard Wayne Horvitz with the New York Jazz Composer's Orchestra (with Bobby Previte and Marty Ehrlich)--University of the Streets Jimmy Greene Quartet--Smalls Ben Allison Trio--Kush Edmar Castaneda--55 Bar Buika--Winspear Opera House, Dallas Ornette Coleman Quartet--Bass Hall, Austin.