Free For All

..but now it's 51, and I think I'm gaining. Happy Birthday and Happy Grammy!

Better start taking better care of yourself.

Also, Jack Black and Charlie Haden together- I'm trying to decide who was scarier.

No mention of Hank Crawford, though, which was too bad.

Congrats, Michael! Does everyone get a statue? Nice to see the Vanguard band getting some well-deserved recognition. I have that recording and have enjoyed it a lot.

Mosaic, more than just about anyone, has done right by me enough that I would fess up for their mistake. I would do the same for the likes of Newbury. If you end up buying & not wanting the Handy, let us know and I'm sure someone here will jump on it! Inasmuch as you're baring your soul to the board, it sounds like you've already decided to do the right thing. Cheers!

Nice concept for a concert. And what a great band! Keezer had to sub out on the last day, eh? I've not heard Kenny Washington sing, although I'm very aware of his music collection & his knowledge of the music. And, of course, he's an excellent musician. Where's he coming from as a singer, Tom, if I may ask? Morricone, Mancini and Mandel....three excellent Ms for sure!

Homemade pizza- sauce, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, black olives, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, fresh mozzerella (mixed of regular and smoked). Man, the kitchen smells good! And a tossed salad.

A very happy 27th to our good friend Bee Dub. Salut! It seems like this year more than ever it's appropriate to say "hope your year is a great one". I'd also like to extend that to all Organissimites, especially those who are having a rough time for whatever reason.

The man is a phenomenon. Great to hear that he's still so active filling the clubs. Cool BF- I'd love to see Hank Jones. So he played a JJ Johnson tune? Let me guess.....Lament? Which Joe Hen tune? Who else did he have in the trio? Sorry, lots of questions. Sounds like it was a fun evening.

I also love that side you did. You dig? Welcome to the board Kevin!

I know Al, I did a gig with him & the Colorado Jazz Orchestra last summer. Al is a MF, a real force of nature- it is a shame he's not better known. I'll definitely check out this side! BTW, that Shirley Horn side you mentioned (Here's To Life) is also a MF, great Johnny Mandel arrangements.

You don't think so? Bird in particular was very erudite about "the classics". The cat constantly quoted shit like Firebird & Carmen. That Rachmaninoff piece was a staple of the day, and I'm sure they both knew it. Read carefully...I said "does".

Question answered almost before asked!

Was it really based on the Rachmaninoff prelude that it sounds like? That does sound like something Bird or Diz would have done.

Thanks Ted- I had heard/suspected it was Bird/Diz but wasn't sure.

What is the origin of the intro to ATTYA that people typically play? You know, the vamp w/the bassline that goes from A-Ab-Db to Ab-G-C.

One way to approach this that I would suggest is to go to the site jazzstandards.com and click on "songs". There will be a list of many jazz standards- choose the "rank" option which puts them in a order of general popularity. Click on a tune (like Body and Soul, the first one on the list) and you'll see some suggested recordings and a history of the tune. That should lead you to some recordings- also, most of the tunes listed can be found in jazz fakebooks. You can also go to iTunes, emusic or Amazon and hear samples of specific singers. Ella, Billie, Carmen McCrae, Sarah Vaughan, Helen Merrill, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, Betty Carter, Blossom Dearie...just a few suggestions to start with. More contemporary singers will have been influenced by many of these. Have fun!

Have to respectfully disagree there, GA. That's a tough act to follow. Please elaborate. FFA, what I have in mind is that the texture is rough, not smooth and effortless. To compare to another instrument, not at all like Paul Desmond. I see, you're talking about sound conception more than vocabulary. Understood.

I'm just glad (relieved) to hear them even talking about "future plans"!

Thanks for the kind words GA, but I do feel humbled by the amassed knowledge around here. I'll be interested, as always, to hear what others have to say. My two cents: Regarding CA, first I'd say he's had a great run getting to play on the same stage as Uncle Sonny. I've seen them several times and always kind of wondered why he didn't solo more. Sure, people come to hear Sonny, but still......... I have only listened to the online samples so far, but I have to say I'm a little lukewarm about his playing. Nice sound, good intonation but the content didn't do a lot for me. One of the main challenges of playing a "fretless" instrument like the trombone is that one has to articulate every single note- no keys/valves to help. Some players sound a little labored in this effort to my ears (too much "tonguing" sound), and the result is limited success in communicating ideas. Of course there are other elements to consider than technique, but that's the "delivery system" for content (as is sound) so I tend to obsess on it a bit, especially since IMHO CA is coming out of a hardbop thing. Sustaining interest over the course of a solo is not an easy thing. Have to respectfully disagree there, GA. That's a tough act to follow. Please elaborate. I would be more likely to make that comment about someone like Slide Hampton. My definition of content: vocabulary, melodic construction, harmonic & rhythmic sophistication, motivic development- all things I love about Rollins. Hard to evaluate someone who's played with him all these years without similar criteria. I tend to get a little persnickety about trombonists, and I expect that comes in part from being a self-critical musician, although I have come to a level of acceptance (with age) and the whole "sour grapes" thing is not really an issue anymore. As a fellow 'bonist I wish him all the success in the world, which he has already enjoyed for some time. I sure would have liked to play with Sonny Rollins! I'm sure there are those here who may love this side, and I'm not out to diminish that at all. My opinion is just that.

You conduit.

Found this duo hit on Amazon. Really great, especially for Zoot fans. Just Zoot and Bucky, and really nice- a lesson in playing w/good time, which is even more critical in the duo setting. "Implied time" is often more satisfying than "directly stated time" IMHO. (there's no bassist even though there's one in the cover shot)

Good choice, paps. Big Tea will git it in yer soul.