Free For All

This is getting into semantics, but I don't consider practicing alone as criteria for being self-taught. What you're practicing is something you've studied, either with a teacher or by listening to another player. It's just my opinion that there there's no such thing as "self-taught". There are always teachers involved in some way IMO.

Just FYI, I think most people would consider Fred Anderson's importance much higher than "average". He may not be as well known as Ornette, but his influence is widespread. Also, who is truly self-taught? There has to be some level of mentoring at some point. You can't learn jazz on a desert island. I think the lack of a formal education doesn't necessarily mean there is no other teaching going on.

I'm feeling a lot better, most of my symptoms are gone- but it looks like it will take awhile for the cough to go away and the lungs to clear. The chest congestion part of this thing is a stubborn MF.

Speaking of the Sonny Vanguard recordings, today is Wilbur Ware's birthday.

I have NO idea why they made all those substitutions and ran all that time off the clock- very poor clock management.

Gonna be a long year I'm afraid. They needed this one to get started- they go to BYU in a couple weeks, and that may not be pretty. I think they're still a year away from becoming a contender. Bowden's had a great run, but I think it's time to step aside and let Fisher take the reigns.

Very sorry to hear this. Thinking positive thoughts for him.... ....and for you too, Chuck!

Still not a bad deal, really.

Trying to get over the flu. Most of the symptoms are gone, but there's a lingering cough that just won't go away. Not how I anticipated spending this weekend.

This thread is usually Aggie's baby, but it seemed like it was time to start....... So, #20 BYU upsets #3 Oklahoma! Wow! Many close games on this first weekend- close calls for Ohio State and Iowa. Looks already to be a wild year. I watched the Oregon/Boise St. game Thursday night and saw Blount punch that player. Taunted or not, it was a stupid thing to do and may end up costing him an NFL career.

Happy Birthday SW!

I've long been an advocate of the Silver 'N series to be released on CD. The recordings do have a definite 70s sound (esp. drums/bass) but I love the playing of Tom Harrell and Bob Berg, and I've always liked the Wade Marcus charts. Some nice tunes came out of those records (Barbara, Dameron's Dance to name a couple). I remember I originally bought Silver 'N Brass because I saw Frank Rosolino's name on it- of course he only played in the ensemble and didn't solo, but I did get to hear Harrell and Berg for the first time, so it was a good investment. My favorites were Brass, Wood and Percussion- the Voices and Strings less so. I was hoping Mosaic might make a Select, but maybe they don't think it would sell.

Billy Higgins also recorded with those three. I'd think he would be a strong candidate for this thread.

Nice! The band sounds good w/trombone!

Well, that's why I don't think what I have is the flu- it seems to be a bacterial infection. Believe me, I don't want to take antibiotics any more than necessary.

I'm not much of a car guy, but my guess would be a Deusenberg.

Sad news. RIP Eddie. Thanks for some great music.

Well, I woke up this morning with a 102 fever, nasty dry cough and a sinus headache. I realized quickly there was no way I was going to go into school and called the doctor (usually the flu is no big deal for me but this thing totally kicked my ass). Went in and got some antibiotics (I really hate using ab but it seemed necessary this time). The doc didn't think it was H1N1, which was my first concern. There does seem to be a respiratory virus making the rounds, but I'm not sure if it's H1N1 or a different virus. I'm already seeing students start to get sick- I think it's going to be a rough year. This thing is really a drag. Take care of yourself, folks. Anyone else seeing this around your neck of the woods?

True, Wayne would definitely be cool. I was just thinking of the Billy/Bennie late era bands.

Nice tribute band, wish I could be there. Would've been nice to see Harold Mabern or maybe Mickey Roker involved. Is Mickey still playing? Or Jack DeJohnette- he played on the Lighthouse gig, on Speedball.

Shorter obviously has an efficient internal editing process whereas he doesn't need to play a lot of notes to "play the shit out of the changes". His economy and thoughtful note choices achieve that result IMO, and his compositions reflect that same process of avoidance of "noteyness". "Playing the shit out of the changes" to me is as much about saying more with less as it is playing all the time with little space. Wayne can kill with a single note, usually as much because of attitude as content and also the space he surrounds it with. One whose measuring stick is based more on criteria from the bop era might think of that economy as a weakness. I find much merit in both approaches.

IMO- don't engage him anymore- forget about him. Cross him off the list. Life's too short to waste energy on BS like this.

Very nice, love the dancers. I always liked his version of "I Can See Clearly Now".

Now that's truly impressive.