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I saw that group at the Blue Note last fall and had a very positive reaction as well.

Lila Downs is performing a concert here in Dallas in November (at the new Opera House), along with fantastic Spanish vocalist Buika. I'm looking forward to it.

And in addition, there is jazz in Mexico. (I bought this one at a Tower Records in Mexico City, it is excellent.) Iraida Noreiga and Magos Herrera, Soliluna. http://www.amazon.com/SOLILUNA-MAGOS-E-IRAIDA/dp/B000WDVIHO/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1278940231&sr=1-2-fkmr0

Roswell Ruud -- Everywhere (Impulse, orange and black) Shirley Scott-- Roll 'Em (Impulse, orange and black)

This is a good one on Smithsonian Folkways (another domestic source for regional Mexican music)--Los Camperos de Vales, El Ave de Mi Sonar: http://www.amazon.com/El-Ave-Mi-Sonar-Huastecos/dp/B0007LPMDM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278939089&sr=1-4

I can make a few suggestions. Amalia Mendoza--Great singer I recently discovered in the form of a couple of vintage RCA Mexico LPs. Here is one of those LPs, available cheap on CD. http://www.amazon.com/Tariacuri-Amalia-Mendoza/dp/B0000AKY43/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278909689&sr=8-1 (some selections with Mariachi Vargas...). Chavela Vargas--the queen of ranchera music. This would be a good one to get (though it seems to be currently unavailable), as she is paired with Antonio Bribiesca (the master of the weeping guitar). http://www.amazon.com/Grandes-Exitos-Chavela-Antonio-Bribiesca/dp/B0000630YV/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278910224&sr=1-36 Mariachi Vargas is the most famous mariachi band in Mexico. This is a pretty good example (Sones de Jalisco): http://www.amazon.com/Sones-Jalisco-Mariachi-Vargas-Tecalitlan/dp/B0000C0F9G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278910788&sr=1-1 I really like the two double CD anthologies called The Great Guitarists of Mexico (a truthful title, the guitarists are Antonio Bribiesca, Claudio Estrada, Gilberto Puente and Ramon Dona Do)--Here is one of them. http://www.amazon.com/Grandes-Guitarristas-Mexico-Coleccion-Rca/dp/B00008RUZR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278911033&sr=1-1-spell For newer material: Lila Downs is quite good, as was her last CD, Shake Away. http://www.amazon.com/Grandes-Guitarristas-Mexico-Coleccion-Rca/dp/B00008RUZR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278911033&sr=1-1-spell Another outstanding recent CD by one of the current premiere singers in Mexico, Eugenia Leon, is called Cine, an anthology of songs from the history of Mexican and Latin American cinema: http://www.amazon.com/Cine-Eugenia-Leon/dp/B002YRH31Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1278911263&sr=1-1

Count Basie--Kansas City Seven (Impulse red and black) King Curtis--Soul Meeting (Prestige, purple)

From DustyGroove: Lo Borges--Lo Borges Sun Ra--Into the Purple Star Zone/Oblique Parallax

Rex Stewart/Illinois Jacquet (Grand Award)--A really nice sounding record, with two separate groups. The original artwork cover is said to be suitable for framing, after peeling it off somehow. Buddy Rich--the Bull (Chiaroscuro)--A small group live recording, with Sonny Fortune, Sal Nistico and Kenny Barron. Milt Jackson--That's the Way It Is (Impulse, red and black)

Paul's post-Beatle music sounds like he has been...

It's true that the Red Norvo trio appeared on a TV show without Mingus. The Priestley Mingus book quotes from downbeat (Oct. 19, 1951): "Because bassist Charlie Mingus is not a member of Local 802, he was nixed out of the show at the last minute and Red used Clyde Lombardi instead." Perhaps not the whole story, though.

First Omar Simeon LP: Sidney Bechet/Omar Simeon--Jazz a la Creole (Jazztone): Two separate sessions on one LP-- Omer Simeon with Sammy Price and Zutty Singleton. Sidney Bechet is with Lil Armstrong.

Jay McShann--McShann's Piano (Capitol)

It was great fun to hear them play Hotter Than Hell or Big John's Special live, but of course the originals were better. Actually, it sounded like Ra had kept the original arrangements at the bottom of his suitcase since he played with Fletcher Henderson, and the dusty arrangements had been pulled out for the Arkestra, which didn't quite have the classic big band discipline to make them sound smooth as opposed to a bit ragged.

Joe Newman/Zoot Sims--Lockin' Horns (Roulette Birdland series) Count Basie--Kansas City Suite (Roulette Birdland Series)

Art Farmer and Donald Byrd--Trumpets All Out (Prestige, blue label)

Shirley Scott--Sweet Soul (Prestige, blue label) Oscar Brown, Jr.--Sin and Soul (Columbia, two eyes)

Santo Pecora Collates (Clef 10 inch) Pharoah Sanders--Jewels of Thought (Impulse, red and black) Bill Jennings--Glide On (Prestige, purple label)

Gene Ammons--Not Really the Blues (Prestige, blue label) Don Ellis --New Ideas (Prestige, blue label)

Elvin Jones Jazz Machine (1991 View DVD)--Doll of the Bride, with Sonny Fortune, Willie Pickens, Chip Jackson and Ravi Coltrane.

Oscar Peterson Plays Gershwin (Clef)

Basie (Clef trumpet)

Horace Silver --Finger Poppin' (Blue Note, mono NY USA) Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker (Pacific Jazz black label)

I've never found a better-sounding version of this album than the original turquoise. The CD sounds like it was mastered from a cassette. Yes, I was happy to find an unblemished copy of this one recently (along with Contemporary Concepts).

First John Lewis purchase: Modern Jazz Quartet, Blues on Bach--with Milt Jackson, Percy Heath and Connie Kay.