kh1958

Probably your car player is doing the damage.

Lucky Peterson--Kessler Theater. Horrendous and overloud opening act drove me to wait in the lobby; but the payoff was big, as Lucky was in outrageous form on guitar last night.

Shirley Scott--Scottie (Prestige, yellow and black NJ) The Happy Horns of Clark Terry (Impulse, red and black)

I find her voice and vocal style pleasing. The dubious source known as Wikipedia says: "During the frenetic post-April 25, 1974 period she was falsely accused of being a covert agent of the PIDE, causing some trauma to her public life and career. In fact, during the Salazar years, Rodrigues had been an occasional financial supporter of some communists in need. "

The ten inch LP I found recently has a photo of her on the back (looking beautiful) and the photo is credited to William Savory.

I'm enjoying her late '60s era recording with Don Byas. The Byas tenor weaves seamlessly with the vocalist and multiple guitarists and a bassist. I'm enjoying this one. I also have an anthology, The Art of Amalia Rodrigues, that is worthwhile, and an old 10 inch LP that is fine as well.

New Randy Weston out next week: http://www.amazon.com/Storyteller-Randy-Weston/dp/B0043URV8W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1288789016&sr=1-1

Freddie Hubbard's Keep Your Soul Together, with Junior Cook, is a solid date. Also, so is Milt Jackson's Olinga, with Jimmy Heath. Beyond the Blue Horizon is perhaps the best George Benson LP.

The Exciting New Organ of Don Patterson with Booker Ervin (Prestige, blue label) Mel Brown--The Wizard (Impulse, red and black)

I ordered the most recent one this week.

Oliver Nelson--More Blues and the Abstract Truth (Impulse, red and black)

Sonny Criss--The Beat Goes On (Prestige, blue label)

Roy Haynes--Out of the Afternoon (Impulse, red and black) Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse, red and black) Jimmy Smith, Groovin' at Smalls Paradise, volume 2 (Blue Note, W. 63rd)

I visited Smalls twice last week, and both visits were very enjoyable. The sound there is very good; I like the feeling of the club too; its only $20 to get in, and you can stay all night if you like. In addition, to Jimmy Greene's fine group, I was very impressed with the performance by Jack Walrath's Masters of Suspense (consisting of members of the Mingus Big Band), and a group led by a young woman named (something like) Shoshan Shimrit, featuring the intriguing alto player Logan Richardson.

Quintetfecta.

Happy Birthday!

An official release of his Newport appearances would be nice as well. And some live concerts from the Changes band. Plus the Ronnie Scotts recordings by Columbia that were never released at all.

Based on hearing Jimmy Greene at Smalls last Saturday night (with the rhythm section from Tom Harrell's group), I am eagerly awaiting his impending Smalls Live release.

That looks alot more interesting than I was expecting. Another box set to buy.

I have a 3 CD bootleg CD Rom of this material that I found used a few years ago. I would suspect this is a copy of that "release." The sound was okay for the most part but sounds like it might be a few generations of copies down the line from the original.

I saw most of a set by this fellow last night at the 55 Bar--a trio with flute and drums (Ari Hoenig)--I thought it was fantastic. An outrageous jazz adaptation of Columbian harp. He tuned the instrument after every song. I see a couple CDs listed on amazon--has anyone heard them?

Last night, Ben Allison trio at Kush. With Steve Cardenas on guitar and Jason Lindner on keyboards. Very nice. Talk about a meager audience--just me until four or five other people came. Then, at the 55 Bar, most of the second set by Edmar Castaneda. Columbia harp, plus flute plus Ari Hoenig on drums. Another good one. Unfortunately, the party is over and I have to go back to Dallas.

Yesterday: The New York Jazz Composers Orchestra at the University of the Streets. Compositions and arrangements by Wayne Horvitz (the majorty), Robin Holcolm, and Marty Ehrlich. In addition to those three, the band included Bobby Previte on drums. The Horvitz pieces were dynamic. Good band and a good sounding venue. Next, to Smalls: The Jimmy Greene Quartet--tenor and soprano saxophonist Greene, backed by Tom Harrell's rhythm section (Danny Grisset on piano, Ugonna Uweggo on bass, and Johnathon Blake on drums). Both sets were tremendous. Adding a new favorite young saxophonist. It was late, but the next group had Logan Richardson in it, so I stayed. Led by a young woman named Shimrit Shoshan on piano, this was a pleasant surprise. Another good group and Richardson proved to very interesting in person as on his fine recording Ethos.

Tonight, two sets of the Alvin Queen Sextet at the Jazz Standard. With Leon Spencer (sounding great), Melvin Sparks (ditto), Javon Jackson, Joe Magnarelli, and Neil Clarke. That was pretty awesome. Lou Donaldson in attendance in the audience.

Happy Moods is a wonderful LP, but I find most of the Mosaic set to be remarkably consistent. The sound on the first LP is compromised, and I don't care for the strings session, but the rest is indeed a happy mood.