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It's sort of like the Big Ears Festival came to you.

Yes, me too. Rolled over my tickets (already rolled over from the cancelled 2020 festival) to next April-May and booked a cancellable hotel reservation--Hope springs eternal.

Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band. Hank Jones or Tommy Flanagan?

Lee Morgan, The Complete Live at the Lighthouse (disc 1) (Blue Note)

This fine record can also be heard on bandcamp (prohibitive shipping cost from Europe for the LP however). https://piranha-records.bandcamp.com/album/addis-1988-feat-mulatu-astatke

Ray Nance. Earl Hines or Mary Lou Williams?

Don Byas. Tina Brooks or Hank Mobley?

HOUSTON SUMMERJAZZ IS HERE! Live concerts * Livestreams * Free Events LIVE CONCERTS AT WORTHAM CENTER ALSO AVAILABLE AS LIVESTREAMS 5-time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves | Friday 8PM Grammy Award-winning Latin Jazz Dafnis Prieto Big Band | Saturday 8PM Trumpeter Marquis Hill with all-star quintet | Sunday 3PM Tickets are available for all Houston SUMMERJAZZ performances in the spacious Brown Theater. The box office at Wortham Center opens 90 minutes before show time. Call the box office at 713-524-5050 or email boxoffice@dacamera.com. PURCHASE CONCERT TICKETS PURCHASE LIVESTREAMS

You missed the recent release of one of the best High Note/Savant releases I have heard--Harvey S, Going For It. A red hot live session from 1985, with Mike Stern and Alan Dawson. It's essentially like a visit to the 55 Bar to hear the Mike Stern Trio, except Alan Dawson is on drums tonight.

Sun Ra recited a poem about Mingus when I saw him at the Caravan of Dreams. Michael Ray was present and sounded great.

Poof is available for pre-order, in CD or vinyl formats. https://henrythreadgill.bandcamp.com/album/poof

I would add the base 1957 group to those two--with Jimmy Knepper, Shafi Hadi and Dannie Richmond, with various pianists and sometimes, Gene Shaw.

There are reasonably priced CDs of Mulatu Astatke's New York London Addis, The Story of Ethio Jazz on eBay. Getachaw Mercuria's Ethiopiques volume (14) îs availabe from amazon. https://smile.amazon.com/Ethiopiques-14-Getatchew-Mekurya/dp/B000093FHE/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ethiopiques&qid=1629463301&s=music&sr=1-4 For Hailu Mergia, the Awesome Tapes issues are in print. I like best, And His Classical Instrument, Tche Belew, and Were Harer Guzo. You can sample his music on bandcamp. https://hailumergia.bandcamp.com/album/tche-belew And in general, the volumes in the Ethiopiques series, even though most are not Ethio-Jazz, are almost all quite enjoyable.

Yes, that is Duke Ellington on the cover. I like him a lot, but think of him more like an Ethiopian Gil Evans--a composer/arranger who is more of a colorist than a virtuoso soloist on vibes (but still effective). The best collections I've heard are the one pictured from the Ethiopiques series and a collection called New York Addis London, Story of Ethic-Jazz. Recently, I've been listening to one called Addis 1988, the first side of which is fabulous, but LP only. Strut has also released some of his more recent music. I would also recommend checking out keyboardist Hailu Mergia, who has a number of releases and reissues on Awesome Tapes from Africa. The ones from the classic 70s era are the best, but he is still interesting (lives in Washington D.C. area and works as a taxi driver).

Bob Belden, Black Dahlia (Blue Note)

Only three degrees of separation from Governor Frostbite to the organissimo board. Though the photo of Vaughan with the governor was posted at 1:13 p.m., it's not clear when it was taken. Incubation periods for COVID-19 can range from two days to two weeks. Related:Jimmie Vaughan talks the joy of the blues The governor's Twitter post included two photos: One of Vaughan and Abbott, and another also including Vaughan's wife, Robin, and their two daughters. Abbott's post reads: "Honor to meet with @JimmieVaughan — brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan and a legendary Texas musician in his own right. Hope to catch your show in September at the @ErwinCenter." Vaughan is scheduled to open for Eric Clapton at the Erwin Center on Sept. 15. He also recently returned to his semi-regular weekend residency at South Congress club C-Boy's. Vaughan and keyboardist Mike Flanigin performed there on Aug. 6-7 and 13-14; their next booking at the club is Sept. 3-4.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR BIG EARS? In March 2019, as the triumphant sounds of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's riveting festival finale still echoed in our ears, it was unimaginable that three years would pass before Big Ears would return. We have tried to use the time wisely. Thanks to the generous support of many, we have used this time to strengthen our organization, explore new ideas, imagine the future, and create the most mind-blowing festival we could imagine for our return. We are ready. On Tuesday, September 14, we will unveil the program for Big Ears 2022. Spanning March 24 – 27, the breadth and depth of performances and the essential footprint of the festival will be familiar, even as it pushes in new directions: over 100 concerts in Knoxville’s historic theaters, churches, repurposed industrial spaces, clubs, museums, and galleries—featuring the most imaginative innovators and visionaries making music today. Festival passes will go on sale at 12 noon ET on Thursday, Sept. 16. There will, however, be two special pre-sales: Big Ears donors—whose support has sustained us through these challenging times—will have exclusive access to purchase passes in the 24 hours following the announcement. The following day, access to the pre-sale will be offered to previous pass holders at all levels from the 2019 and 2020 festivals. Shortly before the September 14 announcement, you will receive an email with details for participating in the pre-sale. We have surprises in store for 2022 as well—artist residencies and community collaborations, free pop-up concerts, films, talks, exhibitions, and exhilarating collaborations to mark the occasion. In this ever-changing health landscape, safety is our number one concern—for our patrons, for the artists and their teams, for ourselves and our staff, and for our community. While March is still seven months away, we are committed to implementing policies that meet or exceed CDC guidelines and other standards to ensure the safest festival environment possible. We’re looking forward to seeing you in March. It’s time! Ashley Capps, Executive and Artistic Director

Roni Ben-Hur, Stories (Dot Time)

Pre-COVID work from home, I had a large backlog of unlistened to jazz LPs; now I've listened to nearly all; this Kenton was one of the last. Kenton I like okay; June Christy, a bit; the Four Freshman, not my cup of tea. I know they have skills, just not directed at me.

Woody Herman, 1964 (Philips) Jimmy McPartland, Down the Middle (Concert Hall Jazz)

Stan Kenton, Road Show (Capitol)

Brandee Younger, Somewhere Different (Impulse)

New Orleans' French Quarter Festival, previously postponed to early October, has been cancelled once again.

Rabih Abou-Khalil, Blue Camel

Johnnie Bassett with the Bill Heid Trio, Bassett Hound (Fedora)b