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May 21 release date for Mingus at Cornell University: Disc One ATFW You (4:42) Sophisticated Lady (4:23) (Ellington) Fables of Faubus (29:42) Orange Was the Colour of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk (15:05) Take the "A" Train (17:28) (Strayhorn) Disc Two Meditations (31:36) So Long Eric (15:18) When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (6:07) Jitterbug Waltz (9:59) (Waller) All compositions by Charles Mingus except where noted Personnel Johnny Coles - trumpet Eric Dolphy - alto sax, bass clarinet, flute Clifford Jordan - tenor sax Jaki Byard - piano Charles Mingus - bass Dannie Richmond - drums Information Date and location March 18, 1964, Cornell University Original issue previously unissued

Saturday March 31: Kenny Barron Trio at North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison.

Milano Strut (versions on Shakill's Warrior) and the Black Saint record (a duet with Don Moye).

John Meheagan wrote a series of jazz piano instruction books, "Contemporary Styles for the Jazz Pianist" which were considered pretty good at one time, mostly for the left-hand chord voicings. A lot of this stuff is old-hat by now, but at the time this may have been the only place to read about this kind of thing. I've never heard his recordings. How would you describe his style? He's "Progressive," allegedlly taking the best elements of bop but restoring the left hands of Jelly Roll Morton and Art Tatum. To me, he sounds stiff and very much like a Classical pianist trying to play jazz. The record is part-solo piano, and part piano-drums (Kenny Clarke). The liner notes are a lecture by "Uncus" about the influence of Classical music on jazz: e.g., "West Coast Progessive (1948-): basic Neo Classic influence, Bach, Handel. Modern Classicism--Hindemith." I have another pretty rare ten inch John Mehegan, From Barrellhouse to Bop, with Charles Mingus on bass. Despite the presence of Mingus, I don't like this one either. I just happened to finally come across some John Mehegan tracks that I do like--it's on the Savoy CD (sorry wrong forum) I Just Love Jazz Piano--in addition to three tracks by Hampton Hawes, Herbie Nichols, and Paul Smith, there are three fine Mehegan tracks with Mingus and Kenny Clarke--Mingus is in an agressive mood this time and virtually takes over the proceedings. I just wish I had the original LP.

I think this has been discussed before but, there are: The two David Murrays--Shakill's Warrior and Shakill II, on DIW. There's a single (great) track of organ on Pullen's Milano Strut (Black Saint). Jack Walrath's Serious Hang. Two LPs on Mainstream by Charles Williams (I haven't seen these have on CD).

None of the Mingus Big Band records is as good as a real Mingus record, but on the other hand, all of their recordings are good. If you are in New York on a Tuesday night, they are a must-see in my opinion (though it appears from the meager attendance the last several times I was there, not many locals share that opinion). The group was more exciting in the Fez at the Time Cafe, which was a low-ceilinged basement--the sound was pretty overwhelming, and the band could really catch fire and play extended sets. The crowds were larger, and younger at the Fez, which had a more affordable cover charge. At their current venue, the Iridium, things are a bit more restrained, with much of the crowd being tourists going to a jazz club without knowing who Mingus is, and with set lengths seeming to be controlled by the club. It's still good there, though. Having seen the group a time or two or three every year since they opened at the Fez (I think it was in 1992), count me in as a big fan.

Box sets: The Complete Miles Davis with John Coltrane 1960 European Tour the Complete Charles Mingus Sextet/Quintet 1964 European Tour. A series of releases documenting the many gaps in Ornette Coleman's discography.

The latest email update from Reeling in the Years Productions says that 6 more Jazz Icons DVDs will be released in September of this year. They haven't announced the artists yet, as the contracts with the estates of the artists haven't been finalized.

John Meheagan wrote a series of jazz piano instruction books, "Contemporary Styles for the Jazz Pianist" which were considered pretty good at one time, mostly for the left-hand chord voicings. A lot of this stuff is old-hat by now, but at the time this may have been the only place to read about this kind of thing. I've never heard his recordings. How would you describe his style? He's "Progressive," allegedlly taking the best elements of bop but restoring the left hands of Jelly Roll Morton and Art Tatum. To me, he sounds stiff and very much like a Classical pianist trying to play jazz. The record is part-solo piano, and part piano-drums (Kenny Clarke). The liner notes are a lecture by "Uncus" about the influence of Classical music on jazz: e.g., "West Coast Progessive (1948-): basic Neo Classic influence, Bach, Handel. Modern Classicism--Hindemith." I have another pretty rare ten inch John Mehegan, From Barrellhouse to Bop, with Charles Mingus on bass. Despite the presence of Mingus, I don't like this one either.

That new Stefan Harris is a good record. I heard him once at the Iridium and was pleasantly surprised at how good he was.

New Blues box sets: Buddy Guy, Can't Quit the Blues The Complete Blind Willie Johnson

Buddy Guy--May 24, House of Blues, Dallas (the only blues concert in their opening line-up of concerts).

John Mehegan--Reflections (Savoy)--This seems to be the only "original" Savoy in my LP collection. Unfortunately, I don't like it that much.

To my tastes, the strongest tracks on the record are Come Sunday and Naima. Both are masterful.

Don Patterson (with Sonny Stitt and Billy James)--the Boss Men (Prestige)

If you have his leader dates, I recommend searching out his sideman appearances. For example, the Ned Rothenberg Double Band is very good--Overlays and Real and Imagined Time are outstanding. The two dates with Misako Kano--Breakthru and Watch Out, are quite good, as are the Michael Musillami dates. There are also some excellent Chapin appearances on the Peggy Stern, John McCracken, and Robert Musso dates listed in the discography.

Thanks. The list of festival appearances includes the 1993 festival in Vancouver, where I saw Mr. Chapin for the first time. That was one of the great concerts I've seen in my life.

I found a used copy of Pete Johnson, Pete's Blues (House Rent Party) this week. A very good one! Two octet sessions from 1946, both with Hot Lips Page, one with Ben Webster and the other with Budd Johnson. Very nice.

Matt Wilson is not Matt Wilson, Jazz has no jazz. Can I also assume that "Guitar Shorty" at the Saxon Pub is not the Guitar Shorty?

Austin club listings: http://www.austinchronicle.com/gbase/Calen...Time=2007-03-09 Matt Wilson, Thursday to Saturday at a club called Jazz.

This is one of the most beautiful piano solo recordings I have ever heard! IMO, Weston's best solo disc, and beautifully captured with minimalistic technical means - a true audiophile recording! The recording reminded me of my one live experience with Randy Weston--I saw him in Vancouver at a solo concert, in a small venue, a year or two after this recording was made--the only opportunity I've ever had to see him perform.

I like the record, along with Martino's other recent recordings for Blue Note.

Last weekend, I just picked up the very nice solo recording, Marrakech in the Cool of the Evening.

"Audiophiles" think mono LPs sound better.