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I was just listening to Rickey Kelly's LP, My Kind of Music, recorded circa 1978 or 1979 this morning. It is a wonderful recording that I've had for many years, yet I've never heard of this artist otherwise or seen any other recording, much less a CD. He plays vibes and marimba, and the LP also features Billy Higgins on drums, Tony Dumas on bass, and Charles Owens on reeds. So I was wondering if there was any information on the internet and found that he had a currently unavailable CD on CDBaby, with the following biographical information. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rickey Notes from your friendly neighborhood jazz producer,Dennis Sullivan. Born in San Francisco,Rickey Kelly moved to Los Angeles in 1982. I first heard Rickey on the local Jazz station and began searching for his recording "MY Kind Of Music".(soon to become available on CDbaby).A tune entitled "Dream Dance"became the most played song on the local jazz station.Kjzz 88.1 FM. That haunting sound on vibes was just to much to resist. After months of looking through all of the record shops I gave up and called the radio station.I had to get a copy of that rcording. I found out from the local DJ that Rickey's recording was self produced and that I had to catch him on one of his gigs to get a copy of his Lp. I finally got a number on him and went to his house. I purchased his Lp and inquired as to why he wasn't working around town. He informed me that he was working at Hughes Aircraft and didn't have time for giging in the evening. He had to take care of his family which numbered about six children.I bagan booking his band soon after meeting him.An artist this blessed should not be working a day job I thought.Rickey soon quit his job at Hughes aircraft and began performing full time.Rickey stayed in his apartment for long periods of time just praticing.He often mentioned to me that he needed to stay in isolation in order to keep his music pure.The ever increasing madness of Los Angeles eventually drove Rickey into further isolation.He mooved North of Seattle in 1990."He lives out in the woods" is how a fellow muscian described Rickey's current living situation. During Rickey's stay in L.A. he had worked with all of the great jazz and R @ B bands.Muscians like altoist Bobby Watson,the legendary drummer Billy Higgins,The Jazz Crusaders,pianist Ahmad Jamal,and one of the most popular artists of his generation Marvin Gay,often called on Rickey to perform with their bands.As great as all of these artists were.The addition of Rickey Kelly on vibes seemed to make their music better. Because of his isolation Rickey's music has developed a uniqueness and purity of sound that trandsends styles.One reveiwer described it as a "childlike quality,a profound innocence".Relax and listen closely.This is music with a purpose."Here's To Good People" heals the spirit and calms the soul./Recomended For The Entire Family.## "A great Christmas Gift"

Kirk Lightsey-Freddie Hubbard-Tempation (timeless)

Thanks for the information. McCoy Tyner in Austin on a Saturday--I will try to attend.

McCoy Tyner is playing at the OneWorld Theater in Austin on Nov. 18? What kind of venue is that?

I listened to that station on a daylong car drive recently and found it to be a pretty decent station. It is far better than any station available in Dallas.

You are not taking into account the injunction issued in RIAA v. Chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez.

What is contained in these sets? Jazz? Blues? Early Country? Popular music of the 1920s? Dance band music? All of the above?

Charles Mingus--Town Hall Concert (OJC, recorded in 1964) I actually saw him live when the Mingus Dynasty played at the Caravan of Dreams in late 1983.

Roland Kirk with Jack McDuff-Kirk's Work, Prestige 7210 (yellow and black label)--According to the liner notes, Roland Kirk recently played a two night engagement with John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy which "must have been an awesome spectacle to see the three of them working together."

Ordering each volume of The Complete Commodore set (one at a time).

Very good, my apologies for my literal-minded mistake.

Egregious Muhammad? That's an egregious comment, if intended. The Caravan of Dreams used to have a semi-regular rhythm section who would back up star guest artists like Freddie Hubbard, David Newman or Frank Morgan, etc. It was Larry Willis, Walter Booker and Idris Muhammed--I saw them quite a few times and Idris Muhammad is one fine drummer.

I just saw him at the Iridium a couple of weeks ago, with Mark Turner. The two of them sound quite good together. It was quite a good concert.

If you have the two Blue Notes and this one, Ramblin' (Fresh Sound), with Roy Ayers, is also good.

My favorite CD/Vinyl store in New York is the Jazz Record Center. It's on 26th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues (It's on the eighth floor and not obvious from outside, so it is a little hard to find the first time). http://www.jazzrecordcenter.com/

Roethlsberger's injuries included a broken jaw, nine-inch laceration on the back of his head, broken teeth and knee damage, ESPN reported, quoting an unnamed police source.

The Poll Winners, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown and Shelly Manne, Exploring the Scene (Contemporary)--This sure is a great sounding recording, beautifully capturing the trio.

Hey, c'mon...he was elderly by then and probably ill as well. When I saw him in Cambridge, MA in the 1980's he was fantastic. And in his prime he was even better. Same experience here--a fantastic quartet with Odean Pope, Cecil Bridgewater and Tyrone Brown--an hour long version of Scott Free was devastating.

I saw her last Thursday night at Sweet Rhythm in a quartet with Mark Helias on bass, Matt Wilson on drums, and Dawn Clement on keyboards. I enjoyed the concert very much, including her use of electronics. I do rather like Matt Wilson as well. However, attendance was very poor.

I would compromise and put West Coast jazz recordings made in New York in your Argo/Delmark pile.

For those who live in Dallas, the Virgin Megastore at Mockingbird Station is closing, and they've reduced everything in the store by 50%. Still a pretty good jazz selection (lots of Blue Notes, for example).

The first two CDs I bought (in 1984) were: Max Roach Quartet--In the Light (Soul Note); Art Blakey--A Night In Tunisia (Bobby Watson edition of Jazz Messengers)--Philips. They both still play fine.

I remember one night Albert King was at the club (on Guadalupe), in late 1982 or early 1983. The second set, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie took over on drums and bass, Stevie Ray Vaughn moved in on guitar--that was a pretty intense set as I recall. Then in May of 1983, just before I was moving back to Dallas, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells came in for two consecutive weekends, with an appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festval in between--I was there every night for sure, to hear that great three guitar band. I hadn't been back in quite a few years, and never went after the club left Guadalupe Street.

That's too bad. I saw Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Albert King, Paul Butterfield, Mel Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughn and others at his club.

Alright, as long as we're on that subject, something I've always wondered: is this Benny Green who wrote those liners the same Benny Green the piano player who put out an album called "These Are Soulful Days?" Or are there three different Benny Greens: one the trombone player, one the liner note writer, and one the piano player? These are three different Benny Greens.