Free For All

Thanks guys! I just got home from hearing Ben Allison, Ron Horton, Steve Cardenas and Michael Sarin. It was really, really good music! Rooster and Spontooneous were there too. I also heard a rumor that Hot Ptah was there, but I didn't meet him. It's funny, a year ago on this date I had no idea what direction my life was about to take. Now a year has passed and things are starting to move in a positive direction. The year that passed in between these two birthdays has not been easy, and the sadness of my divorce will be with me for a long time, but I'm so grateful to have found an opportunity to continue doing what I most love to do- play, write and teach jazz. I was skeptical about those who said things would get better- it didn't seem that there was any hope of that at the time. I'm relieved that you were right and I was wrong. Thanks to all my friends here who have been so supportive. I continue to learn much from you people, about music and even life sometimes. Cheers everyone! I wish the best for all of you!

Shepp happens.

Hans, I also assumed Bruce was referring to the box as opposed to the single since he called it a "set". Bruce, whichever one you're talking about, they're both great (if you like that big band crap ) . Highly recommended. (BTW if you are talking about the new single "Woody's Winners" I had it up as an AOTW not too long ago) Woody's Winners AOTW

Cool, Tom! Frank Tiberi with 70s hair! I'm guessing they're playing Gary Anderson's arrangement of "Pavane". IIRC, the only other one that Frank played "the farting bedpost" on regularly was "Come Saturday Morning", and I don't believe that he and Woody played at the same time on the latter. This "guess what chart they're playing based on the photo" game is one that John Fedchock and I used to play a lot. You'd be surprised how many clues there are in most photos (especially when you know the charts! ).

I'm just guessing based on who was playing w/Clark in the mid-70s. Could it be Victor Sproles?

Live chat joke moved to prime time! And I'm even sober.

Larry Gales?

I really ripped one the other day, and it burned a little.

I've long admired Russell's composition "All About Rosie" (included on the Mulligan CJB Mosaic). A great bit of large ensemble writing IMHO. And another "welcome back" to our friend Shrdlu.

And I'll never forget "Kam Fong as Chin Ho".

I believe Clem was re-interpreting your thread title as a reference to pianist George Cables and some of his best playing which occurs on this set of recordings w/Art Pepper (and elsewhere): An excellent investment, BTW. I was also thinking along similar lines when I first saw the thread title. We now return you to your original program. edit: also what BB said....

Happy Birthday Johnny!

Happy Birthday Garth!

Happy Birthday Al!!

Not even at gunpoint.

It was just a matter of time until someone made this comment. And thanks again, everyone.

I just checked it out. It's hilarious! I love what he does to the Monk tunes! Very "Spinal Tap"-like. The guy even looks a bit like Christopher Guest. Thanks, Phil. Sorry I missed this before.

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Believe me, I appreciate the support. I sure am, Guy! Preparing all the materials for presentations to the various search committees has been a major task. Some of the interviews were for arranging/composition gigs, so I had to present scores, analyses etc. Glad to be done with all that. And all the flying has been a major pain- I swear, nearly every flight I was on was delayed in some way; either weather or mechanical problems. Flying has become very unpleasant. But it was all worth it!

Another vote for Mr. Kelly's..... I also enjoy "Sassy Swings Again" (with some nice charts by Thad and JJ) and the side she did w/Basie. ....edited for spelling clams....

As many of you know, I originally moved to KC in support of my wife's job and have been freelancing and teaching part-time at the university. When the marriage suddenly came to an end, I found myself stranded in a place where I can't find enough work to make a living (and pay for the health insurance that I had through her benefits). So I've been working very hard in the last few months applying for jobs. I applied for eight jazz studies positions and have had some interviews. Long story short, I was offered and accepted a job at Florida State. It's a full-time/tenure-track/full-benefits job teaching JAZZ TROMBONE! I never thought I'd see a job like that in my lifetime.....it's very rare. FSU has a great music school and a great jazz studies program already in place. I got a very positive vibe from the faculty and administration there and I feel good about my decision. It's a brand new position so I have a lot of autonomy in creating my own scene- the fact that they were willing to create this position in the first place indicates their support for the jazz program. I am SO relieved to have something in place for next fall. This really has helped me to feel like I'm moving on with my life. It's funny how the timing of this worked out- you NEVER see full-time jazz trombone gigs. I'm glad it came about at a time when I was able to go after it. This is MY job, I will never again allow myself to be dependent on someone else. I never thought I'd be moving to Tallahassee, Florida! I'd be happy to hear from anyone with experience there about where to live, etc. I'm looking forward to the big geographical change- it will be part of the whole "starting over" phase I'm going through. It's party time! I'm back, baby! Paul

Solo version of "Tea For Two". Really great stuff.

H a P p Y B I r T h D a Y n O j ! ! ! You know I love ya, bro!

To my ears it was a canned drum beat accompanied by a live keyboard player who followed Marvin's phrasing.

It should be mentioned that Frankie Laine was the lyricist (Carl Fischer wrote the music) for the great jazz standard "We'll Be Together Again".

John Clayton did the arrangement. I'll bet he made a nice taste for that one. Some very cool reharmonizations in it IMHO.