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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.

Late to the party, but glad I arrived.

Bunky Green plays great on this new recording (from 2004)--like a man who hasn't recorded in many years and is going to make up for all the lost opportunities. The trio that backs him is tremendous as well (Jason Moran, Lonnie Plaxico, Nashied Waits). It's on Label Bleu, and a little hard to find. Jazzloft.com is where I bought mine.

Is Bobby Hutcherson on this one, like the last one?

There's a nice Percy Mayfield collection on the Classics Blues and Rhythm series, 1947-51.

Junior Mance Trio (with Ron Carter and Mickey Roker)--Happy Time (Jazzland)--Terrific performance and fine engineering, coupled with a beautiful sounding pressing. (Yesterday's happy find.)

I also recommend Kardouba, which has the Max Roach Quartet (Clifford Jordan) with Abbey Lincoln on tour in Europe, in a rather inspired concert performance.

Henderson Homecoming--Rex Stewart Leads the Fletcher Henderson Alumni (United Artists)--Recorded live at the Great South Bay Jazz Festival in 1958-features Rex Stewart (the second side is Georgia Sketches, a Rex Stewart and Dick Cary composiition), Garvin Bushell, Dickie Wells, Buddy Tate, Hilton Jefferson, Joe Thomas, etc.

This site has label pictures. Unfortunately, it is in Japanese. http://www.absolutemusik.com/info/jazz_imp..._labels_tc.html I assume that the original label is the red and black label in the first line.