brownie

Searched that way days ago and came empty-handed. Nada!

The other Dick Johnson was not on Prestige, but on Riverside. That album was 'Most Likely... Dick Johnson'. Johnson was good but the rhythm section on that one was dynamite: Dave McKenna, Wilbur Ware and Philly Joe Jones. Another album that needs a reissue. As far as I know, it was only reissued in Japan in LP days. I have one of those.

Anybody suffered from this Sasser worm? The computers at work went dead late this morning. The Paris heaquarters of Agence France Presse were hit on Saturday evening. From Reuters:

Alix Combelle's glory day was his participation in the April 1937 Swing Records session led by Coleman Hawkins (with Benny Carter and Django Reinhardt) which produced 'Honeysuckle Rose' and 'Crazy Rhythm'. Coleman Hawkins was in top form throughout the date but Combelle managed to shine through on those two tracks where he shared the tenor saxophone solos. He played clarinet on the other sides from the session. Classics has released at least two Combelle albums. He also shone on the 1953 Lionel Hampton in Paris session (with Mezz Mezzrow and Clifford Scott) that was recorded for Vogue and has been reissued a number of times.

Lon, you're wrong. For once It is not Daniel Humair on drums. Don't know who this drummer is. No doubt about Urtreger on piano. Not educated enough to identify the bass player B)

Couw, caught up on the 'What are you listening' thread that you already have the 'Blue and Sentimental' Jazz in Paris CD. Very nice Guy Lafitte album!

From Barney Wilen to Guy Lafitte. Going back in time, Couw? Soon you'll be catching up on Alix Combelle. Guy Lafitte was real good. And a very nice person. Spent some great evenings listening to him at the Trois Maillets club in the heart of the Quartier Latin in the late '50s when I was starting my jazz education. Most of his best records were done around that time for the French Columbia and Pathe labels but I don't think they have been reissued. He made a number of excellent albums in the eighties for Black and Blue including 'The Things We Did Last Summer' and 'Guy Lafitte Joue Charles Trenet' which should still be available. His 1954 'Blue and Sentimental' album is also out on the Jazz in Paris series. So is the session he did with Lionel Hampton which was reissued as part of the 'Americans Swinging in Paris'. There's also one track 'Indiana' which was recorded at a French Riviera jazz festival where Lafitte and Barney Wilen play alongside Don Byas, Stan Getz and Coleman Hawkins. This was issued on one of the Europa Jazz LPs. He was from the Coleman Hawkins and Hershel Evans school of straight-ahead no-frill sax players. Lafitte was a fixture at the Marciac jazz festival (in southwestern France) for years until his death in 1998. Lafitte was from the area and spoke with a thick local accent.

Whoever plays trumpet on that damn track 9 is very good. Tolliver, Woody Shaw or ???

Bertrand, the so-called alternate take 5 of 'Moods in Free Time' on the Candid Eric Dolphy 'Candid Dolphy' CD is listed as being 5:38. I have A/B'ed with the original on the Candid 'Out Front' LP I have where it is listed as being 5:34. I could not trace the slightest difference. I must add that the sound on the Candid original LP is way, way better than on the CD. I do not know of any alternate of 'Strength and Sanity'.

Garth, I am a great fan of Nick Musuraca's cinematography too! I'm out of the past and am constantly in awe of the black and white works of Musuraca, Arthur Miller, Greg Toland, Bert Glennon, Russell Metty, James Wong Howe, Stanley Cortez and many others. Masters of the light all.

Couw, you say Andrew Hill, I say McCoy Tyner. But it's a very wild guess too! I checked the Andrew Hill 'One For One' two-fer and you stand reprimanded B)

The French label Musica was very active during the '70s. They recorded albums by people like Steve Lacy, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp and others. Pianist/producer Henri Renaud helped produce a series of excellent piano LPs by Al Haig, Jimmy Rowles, Martial Solal, Joe Albany. Don't think any of these have been reissued yet.

Trigger is gachette in French, Monsieur

Yes, sounded to me like a few baby utterances on this track. Definitely live, although I really haven't a clue who it is (early Greg Osby?) A very intriguing track, that number 8. I hear variations on 'In a Sentimental Mood' but can't identify the players.

Ghost, I love that one. It is shown pretty often on the movie channels here (so is 'Laura'). Robert Mitchum and Jane Greer were a wonderful combination. My favorite Jacques Tourneur film.

Deepest condolences, Randy. Your mother was obviously a wonderful person. I know she will live in the memory of the persons who loved her!

Looks like damage from an atomic bomb. The North Korean A-bomb!

I knew I invested in good music when I bought the full set. Did not realise I also invested in financial profits. Hope the prices that are quoted hold on if and when I need to sell it. The set is in near perfect shape.

I Remember Bebop. Thanks Pete! This group never fails me... The 'I Remember Bebop' has been reissued on a double CD by CBS France.

Brad, PMed you re Wilen/Geller!

The three Commodore Mosaic sets total 66 LPs. First and second sets had 23 LPs each, the third set had 20. The sets gather music from Commodore's first session (January 17, 1938 Eddie Condon and his Windy City Seven) up to June 1957 (a Peck Kelley date). A few pre-1938 tracks by Cow Cow Davenport, Fletcher Henderson and the Quintette of the Hot Club de France were also included. Each set was limited to 2,500 copies. They were issued in the late '80s and sold out very quickly. It was a pretty expensive investment at $230 each set (with a 20 percent discount on the third box for anyone who had already bought the first two). But there was an incredible amount of extraordinary music there with lots of material from people like Jelly Roll Morton, Billie Holiday, Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Pee Wee Russell, Ben Webster. There were a lot of wonderful unknown music. For example, it was my introduction to the wonderful sides by Bunk Johnson whose music I had neglected after reading adverse comments. And that's when I caught the Pee Wee Russell bug. He was on quite a number of Commodore sessions and he was a true revelation to me. And the Lester Young, Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins sessions are part of jazz history now and are awesome. The third set was a little less interesting even if it included great sessions with Wild Bill Davison, Willie Smith, Sidney Bechet, Ralph Sutton plus more modern sessions led by Frank Wess. Liner notes on all were done by Dan Morgenstern. The booklets were wonderful in true Mosaic fashion. No idea if Mosaic is planning to release in CD. Doubt it would be a feasible enterprise by now.

Detroit's nightclub Baker's Keyboard Lounge is celebrating its 70th birthday with a four-day celebration this weekend. Interesting lineup: http://www.freep.com/entertainment/music/bak30_20040430.htm

Steve, thanks for the information. Glad to hear he is involved in education. Too bad he does not seem to perform or record anymore!

Sidney Smart is the outstanding drummer who plays on the opening disc of the Jimmy Lyons box set, the September 1972 session recorded at Studio Rivbea. The more I listen to that disc, the more impressed I am with his playing. A drummer in the Andrew Cyrille/SteveMcCall tradition who propels the men he plays with thru his amazing dynamics. I had heard him before on the 1976 Sam Rivers double LP 'Black Africa' on Horo (with Joe Daley and Don Pullen) where he was also very impressive. The notes on these albums don't say much about him. Did a search on the internet and could not find anything beyond references to the Lyons box. Anybody knows what happened to him? Is he still playing? Any other interesting albums he appeared on?

It's May Day in Paris today. And all the stores are closed. Practically the only thing you can buy on this day is the lily of the valley that in typical French tradition you buy on May 1 to your loved ones. Went out this morning to buy some for my wife and walked past a secondhand book and records store which turned out to be open. Went inside for a quick look at the jazz records section and found the following items: less than 20 euros (about $25) for the lot: - AEC & Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy 'Live at the 6th Tokyo Music Joy '90' on DIW, - Howard McGhee-Benny Bailey Sextet 'Home Run' on Storyville, - Jay McShann and his Orchestra 'Jumpin' the Blues', a 2CD set from Proper - the bastards. I know I will burn in Chuck Nessa's hell for getting this but could not resist it. Already have all the early sides with Parker and the 1951 session with Ben Webster that was included in the Ben Webster 2LP Japanese EmArcy set but I never ran into the rest of the McShann sides. Enjoying the McGhee/Bailey disc now. My wife enjoyed the lily of the valley which smells delicious.