Free For All

Rooster, we need to talk about your math skills.

Some more recent Brookmeyer recordings I enjoy: Bob Brookmeyer and Friends (Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Gary Burton, Elvin Jones)1964 The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet Oslo (Alan Broadbent, Eric Von Essen, Michael Stephens)1986 The Bob Brookmeyer New Quartet Paris Suite (Kris Goessens, Riccardo Del Fra, Dre Pallemaerts)1993 Bob Brookmeyer and Kenny Wheeler Island (Frank Carlberg, Jeremy Allen, John Hollenbeck) 2003 The Brookmeyer large ensemble recordings are a whole 'nother thread........ To answer Rooster's question- I don't think slide trombonists "look down" on the valve trombone. it's certainly not 'cheating" because valve trombone has its own set of challenges. It's a different instrument- to my ears, a much different timbre, more "tubby" like euphonium. It is more difficult to achieve a good blend in a big band section when there's a valve trombone present. The fact that there are only a handful of notables on the instrument is a testament to its popularity. It's hard to play well, not for the reasons that trombone is a difficult instrument, but because the physics of the valve trombone make it hard to get a strictly trombone-like sound. This is why I think of it as a different instrument- it needs to be played as much like a trumpet as it does a trombone. I love to listen to Brookmeyer play, not because he's playing valve trombone, but because he's a creative and thematic improvising musician. No, I don't own one, Rooster, but I have played several and it's just not for me. I find the challenges of the slide trombone more than fill my available practice time!

I enjoy the Clayton-Hamilton band a great deal. John Clayton's charts, while not breaking any new ground, nonetheless swing hard and sound great. You can't go wrong w/Hamilton playing drums, that's for sure. I got to sit next to Jeff when he played with Woody's band in the eighties(in the big band bone section I sat next to the drummer), and it was pure pleasure. One of my favorite big band drummers. The personnel is the cream of the LA crop. Good soloists, great recording quality. Did you know that John Clayton did the arrangement of the National Anthem that Whitney Houston sang at the Desert Storm-era Super Bowl? Cha-ching!

I enjoy this recording as well. John's charts tend to be in more of the traditional big band style of writing, which I find very enjoyable to come back to after a heavy dose of Maria or some of the other current writers. This is not a diss of the latter, it's just nice to hear some more traditional big band writing once in a while. He uses great players (many of whom also play w/Maria's band!) and his recordings are planned out well so that everyone gets a chance to blow. BTW, his chart on Caribbean Fire Dance (on his most recent recording No Nonsense) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category. One final note- "111-44" is an Oliver Nelson tune, not Thad Jones. Tony, a couple other contemorary big band recordings you might enjoy: Kenny Werner w/the Brussels Jazz Orchestra "Naked in the Cosmos" Renee Rosnes w/ the Danish Radio Big Band

H a P p Y b I r T h D a Y g H o S t O f M i L e S !

My pirate/porn name is Dirty Dick Hershey. arrr?

Hey look! Another stuffing step for the turducken! Turdpterodactylucken!

Can't forget the Rock-Em-Sock-Em Robots. And the games Operation and Mouse Trap.

Now why am I not at all surprised?

Wow, nice view you've got there, Chris. Thanks for the photo.

G.I. Joe- the full size ones, not the little wimpy ones. "Thingmaker"- you know, the little heat-mold that made cheap rubber toys. "Incredible Edibles"- they tasted like crap! I had a bunch of Hot Wheels stuff and gave it away. DOH! Remember the "Vroom" motor you'd put on your bike? The high-tech version of the playing card and clothes pin. My favorite toy was my Strombecker 1/32 slot car set. I loved to "modify" the cars and my local hobby shop had a GIANT layout upstairs where the hard-core cats would come to compete.

I just hate when that happens.

You said "pianist", right?

Wow, Rooster, for someone who said they were sleepy you really put in some typing there. EDIT: Think we've sufficiently hijacked this thread? Sorry everyone.

That stupid "Happy Jack" tune from the Hummer commercial got in my head recently and I thought I was going to go nuts!

I remember seeing Sinead on Saturday Night Live once singing in front of a big band, but not a standard. It was very hip, I must say. I picked up Bjork's Vespertine based upon a recommendation on the old BNBB, and it is one of most engaging things I've ever heard. Once again, not jazz, though.

I don't know of what his education consisted, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was just a voracious reader who learned on his own. He doesn't strike me as a "college" type, but I could be wrong. Or maybe he went to DeVry.

Thanks, BW. I was wondering if this was something to check out or if it was just an example of yet another pop star jumping on the standards bandwagon. I like Aaron Neville in the context of the Neville Bros.; it seems like he might make a passable jazz vocalist. OTOH, those Rod Stewart standards CDs just about make me want to yak. But so does everything else he does, so I'm not the most impartial judge. Let's see- Sting, Melissa Manchester, Toni Tenille, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Bette Midler, Diana Ross...................who else has ventured into the jazz realm?

For anyone who might be interested, there is a very interesting and articulate essay by Brad Mehldau in the Dec. JazzTimes. He talks about musical idealogy, the "apples and oranges" folly of comparing players to one another, many things similar to the debates that take place on this board. And it's a much easier read than some of his liner notes! Anyone check this out and have a comment? I think he's right on the money on several points.

Anyone heard the Aaron Neville? Is it any good? Big band/orchestral accompaniment? Good or cheesy arrangements? Inquiring minds want to know.

I don't know if this was discussed elsewhere, but did anyone notice that a new record was set this morning (Monday) with 63 online at 11:01 am?

Ah...........my favorite Wynton. One of my top 3 or 4 pianists of all time. I really like his leader dates like Someday My Prince Will Come, Kelly at Midnight, Piano Interpretations and Full View, but some of my favorite Wynton is his sideman appearances. Mobley's Roll Call, Miles' Someday My Prince Will Come(his intro on the title tune is one of my favorites moments in jazz) and Rollins' Newk's Time and Volume One, to name a few. He's soulful, he swings, and he comps beautifully behind soloists. I wish he could've stuck around a little longer. Happy Birthday Wynton Kelly, and thank you! Edit: I can't leave out the Blackhawk recordings! And Smokin' at the Half Note! It's all good........

I got to hang with Vonski multiple times while I lived in Chicago through most of the 90s- sometimes down south at the "Apartment" jams, where Von held court. Those sessions were often full of long winded half-hour F blues; Von would start things off with a few choice choruses and then give way to the long line of participants- some could play, some couldn't but did anyway. Von welcomed them all with a big smile. For me, the better Von hangs were the occasions when he would venture north to the Green Mill and play with the quintet I was working with. That gig was the greatest- every Wednesday for SEVEN YEARS! An opportunity to play way-too-long solos and explore some territory beyond the known envelope. I sure miss that gig- I doubt I'll ever get to do something that hip again. Those Steeplechase sides were recorded with a couple mikes and a digital recorder. Pretty informal jam-type format, usually head-and-solos. I truly felt like I was in the presence of greatness- when Von would get rolling on a solo, you'd be treated to a stream-of-consciousness sermon combining bebop, hardbop, soul and free jazz, all within one solo. A history of jazz. He is one of those who can truly take his time and play a long solo that very gradually builds and roars and starts over, much like I would expect from Jug or Stitt at a live gig. When Vonski was "on", the results, to me, rivaled some of Rollins' greatest late 50s- 60s moments, and that is not a compliment I bestow very often. You know how sometimes you hear something so good and so right it just makes you laugh? This magic didn't happen every time he played, but I never heard him have a bad night. And he's a gem of a person- always made you feel good about yourself, very supportive. He always made me play better. And he do love the ladies! I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

Does go well with turducken, though!

That was my first experience as a participant with the whole plaza lighting thing. It was cold so pitch was all over the place all night (I just love outdoor gigs in the winter), and the sound was really loud with lots of noise mixed in. I taped the broadcast at home and when I checked out the sound there were NO trombones present anywhere in the mix. Just saxes and trumpets. And the singers! Oy! Oh well, glad to have a gig!