Free For All

H a P p Y b I r T h D a Y d M i T r Y ! ! !

Yes, that's Jeff. He's equally at home in a trio or a big band, which is a tribute to his high level of musicianship.

Yes, I heard this, it's good. I believe it's Robin Trowers, isn't it? He was brave to play with those guys, but he did pretty well. Edit: I just checked and you're right, Jim- it's Robert Trowers. My bad.

On an unrelated topic, in Green Bay do they have a "joie de Favre"? Well, not this year, I guess.

I just checked out your link, and it's outstanding, Jim. Thanks a million. I didn't realize Jack was an Iowa boy (as am I- I have the same birthday as Bix). What Shaw recording is the famous Stardust solo on?

Thanks for the link, Jim. I guess I could have done that search myself, but I'd rather hear what you guys have to say. Phil Wilson is indeed a freak. He has great high chops and has dabbled in many interesting techniques such as singing while playing. This is a technique mastered by Albert Mangelsdorff- you play one note while singing another, and often in addition to the two notes heard, there is a third (or more)"sympathetic vibration" pitch that is audible, creating 3 or more voice chords. Someone who has more knowledge of physics could explain this better than me. Anyway, there is some good footage of Phil w/Woody's band on one of those "Jazz Casual" videos. He plays with a rather bizarre embouchure, kind of off to the side, but he does some freaky things. I think he recorded some things that are out of print on the Famous Door label? I think of him as a logical extension of Bill Harris, another Woody veteran. He swings hard like Bill.

Thanks, Lon- the HEP Cd is the only one I was aware of. I didn't know if he had made some other sideman appearances that I hadn't heard- he's kind of an obscure name, like Freddie Webster. And thanks for the providing the correct spelling of his name.

On a related topic, just how do you store your CDs? I've got an entire wall devoted to wood CD racks, not all the same type, plus a home-made monster to pick up the slack, plus a bookcase devoted to my Mosaics and other box sets. It ain't real purdy, but it's accessible. Anyone have any slick built-in or home-made storage facilities? Since we are now in our own house, I home to someday build a nice-looking permanent storage area. I started with LPs, then went to cassettes and now have re-bought much of my collection on CD. If there's another format change, screw it. I'm done.

Anybody hip to Jack Jenney? Both Carl and JJ cited him as an influence, among others, I'm sure. He had a well-known solo on a recording of "Stardust". Does anyone recommend any recordings by/of him?

Thank you for the kind words and the unsolicited testemonial, Miles251. I appreciate it, although I think this thread at least started as a tribute to the Al Grey/Benny Green type of players, which really doesn't include me. But thanks anyway, and please don't be a stranger to this board. Is there some hipper board you're hanging out at, or are you just too busy with your teaching, gigs and love life to visit? No, there is no hipper board! (a tune by isham Jones comes to mind)

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!