Dan Gould

On the other thread about Foa Records, the link Mike Weil included shows that all Foa Records are hybrids.

is easily available. This one: has been withdrawn due to contract issues. If you can find it, its real good. For Ledonne on piano with a stellar group of youngsters, I recommend this one: Josh Redman, Jon Gordon, and Ryan Kisor make up the front line. Its very, very, very much in the Blue Note tradition.

No coincidence, I just saw that your link went to more details on the releases, and the tracks are exactly the same.

Mike, a while back, through Red Trumpet, I got an XRCD titled Mack the Knife with Ray Brown, Gene Harris, Jeff Hamilton and Ron Eschete. So it was basically the Ray Brown group backing Hamp, plus Eschete. I am suspecting that this is the same release you've found on this other label. © lists Lionel Hampton Enterprises, but here's what makes me think its out again on this new label: credits are split between "USA Staff" and "Japanese Staff" and the "co-producer" is Ichiro Masuda, the same guy apparently on the "new" Milt Jackson release. Could be coincidence, could be not.

And one more to go tonite. If any team should bring Mr. Small back to Earth, shouldn't it be the D-Rays? Of course I agree with my Yankee friends that Papi is the very definition of an MVP. To get hosed because he DHs (and it really isn't some of the time, I think he's DH about 125 out of 140 games or so) is ridiculous. His stats in clutch situations are just plain sick. I think I saw he's slugging 1.000 after the seventh inning? And with his recent surge he now leads the league in 2/3 of the Triple Crown categories, and his RBIs actually lead the majors. One thing that will work in his favor is Manny's up and down year. While his power numbers are where you expect, his average isn't and no one speaks of Manny as an MVP candidate. So there shouldn't be any splitting of votes like there was last year. That's what bothered me about last year's MVP balloting. Sheffield bitching about not winning it? Head to head, Sheffield was beaten by both Manny and Ortiz last year, it was only vote splitting that put him ahead of the two-headed MAHNSTER in Boston. As far as being DH, the ironic thing is that as we saw in St. Louis last year, he really isn't a bad first baseman. He's got very soft hands on grounders and low throws, his one shortcoming is being so big and not particularly athletic on dives, so his range is limited.

Well thanks for all the happy thoughts and wishes, everyone. Not the greatest birthday ever, but since I always make sure to take care of myself, I did enjoy: Out of This World, The Three Sounds (JRVG) Soular Energy, The Ray Brown Trio (Pure Audiophile LP remaster) Killer Joe, One For All (Venus) And as is usually the case from my friends and family, there are multiple gifts yet to come. See, I'll get to turn 40 several times in the next few days! You know, I've been kinda bummed about this "landmark" birthday, but thanks Ron, this makes it all worthwhile. I have to say, this post made me think of this:

BTW, Robert, I finally checked out your sound clip, you get a big . Ever check out Gene Harris for a supremely bluesy approach to jazz? ← Thanks Dan. Oh yeah Gene Harris! In fact as we were driving through Michigan on the way to Chicago I was playing a newly bought CD - "Bam Bam Bam" I also have a Little Piece of Heaven. I'd rather listen to Gene - than our Oscar Peterson - for inspiration. In fact I was just this morning thinking about how I fell into blues-based improv and whether or not I'll ever be an "out" kind of guy. Ah well. I am going to Barry Harris' workshop in Toronto in November so maybe I can correct my bebop deficiencies. ← You've got two of the best of the Concords there. I love "Summertime" from Bam Bam Bam and just about all of the Little Piece of Heaven. Here's the one I always recommend:

BTW, Robert, I finally checked out your sound clip, you get a big . Ever check out Gene Harris for a supremely bluesy approach to jazz?

Doesn't look like ANYBODY is following the drummer! I hope she can keep time. ← Well, you can see the guitarist ain't lookin in the right direction. But don't let the closed eyes fool you, the harp guy knows where its at!

And there you are, following the beat with no help from the drummer. Seriously though, congrats!

Or as he put it, American Music, Texas Style Already discussed here.

C'mon, how can you trust the results of a poll in which "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" doesn't even appear?

Like telling her its not the outfit that makes her look fat?

I suspect that when all is said and done, Federer is going to break Sampras' record of 14 Singles Slams. I mean, he's got 6, he's only 24 - its up to him whether he wants to strive for that record. But I do think he's going to be number one all time. And here's why: the dominance over his contemporaries. Even when Pete was dominant, there were players that had his number, or could, like Becker, Edberg, Agassi. None of those guys dominated the way Federer does (winner of 6 of the last 10 Slams, and never lost a Slam final ). Unless someone picks it up, or someone new comes along, I think we're looking at continued dominance. And I have to say, as someone who hates girly-men who hit two handed backhands like they're Chris Evert, I really love watching Federer's backhand. Just a thing of beauty.

Well, it took about 90% of the season, but the Yanks finally got the Unit they thought they'd traded for. Its just unfortunate that such a tremendous performance by Wakefield was for naught. Critical win for the Yanks, as I think everyone agreed that five games with twenty to play was too daunting. But I'll still take three games, and if your a Sox fan, you have to regard three games as "par": if the lead goes above, then the final three games at Fenway won't matter. If the lead goes below, they will, and if it stays the same, then the Yanks will have to sweep at Fenway to steal the division. Interesting to note the home/away splits for the remainder of the year (both teams are currently two games under .500 away from home): Red Sox: 11 games at home, 9 away Yankees: 7 games at home, 13 away That's going to be a tough road for the Yanks, unless the Jays and Orioles roll over and play dead for 'em.

Well, a game and a half isn't quite running away, just means you won't fall out of the lead in one day. But with the remaining schedule, if you take care of bidness (like KC) you got an excellent chance. The interesting thing now is that if everything stays the same here on out, Indians open the playoffs at Fenway (because of the rule about inter-division rivals playing each other in the first round). If its the Yanks, then the Sox would host the West winners.

Major bummer this morning. Picked up his last CD around Christmas last year, I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, I can't find it at the moment, and it looks like AMG has gone to membership-only, and since they refuse to recognize the password they themselves gave me, they can kiss my Gatemouth-loving *ss.

Actually, I think you need to sweep. Two out of three leaves you three games back, which still isn't exactly ideal. On the other hand, you won the first game and God only knows which Schilling we get tomorrow. You might have your two wins by tomorrow afternoon.

I do have Blue Trails, or I did. Found it at a Borders, in fact, at regular prices of like $15. At that point, It was the only way to hear the alternate of Blue Train. Pretty sure I sold it though. Also got the "Other Side of" set, used, for a good price. Probably the most I'v ever spent, because I really wanted the two Sounds tunes that were unissued. At that point, there were a few other tunes that were unissued in the US, but since, between BN and Mosaic, the only things that aren't out are those two Sounds tunes.

Yeah, but you got Santana going tonite for the Twins against your boys. Beyond that, I think you got a good chance, especially with seven left against the Royals. That, and the Yanks still facing the D-Rays for 3, could spell the end of the Yanks run, and maybe the end of Torre's tenure, too. Gotta get through this weekend though

Wang returns to the Yankee rotation but no one can stop those D-Rays against the Yanks, and now with Cleveland winning, its the Indians on top of the Wild Card. And even if the Yanks manage a sweep this weekend, they can't overtake the Sox. Thinking back to what I said heading into this season-longest homestand, the Sox went 10-4, not quite as good as I'd hoped, but they still come out with a four game lead. They need to make sure the Yanks are a little deeper in the rear view mirror after this weekend. The pitching matchups: David Wells vs Smalls on Friday Schilling vs Chacon on Saturday Wakefield vs Big Unit on Sunday I have a hard time not favoring the Sox on Friday and give them a good chance on Sunday with the way Wakefield is pitching. Be real interesting to see how the Sox handle the over-achieving Smalls and Chacon.

And I went to bed after the third set, worried that the old man could pull it out, hoping Blake would finish him. So, you can imagine how disappointed I am after I woke up.

Yup.

Its just come to my attention that there are some other good shows coming up in South Florida before the Benny Golson-Eddie Higgins show in the Spring. To wit: Friday November 18th, Hollywood Jazz Festival Denny Zeitlin Trio & Louis Hayes Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band Vincent Herring and Jeremy Pelt in the front line! January 21, 2006 David "Fathead" Newman April 15, 2006 Eddie Henderson-John Hicks Quartet May 20, 2006 Javon Jackson Quartet with Benny Green and Carl Allen Personally, I am definitely at the Fathead show, and thinking very seriously about Louis Hayes. I saw Eddie Henderson in WPB a couple of years ago, I think John Hicks was on the gig too, so I may not make that one. The Javon Jackson should be solid, too. Hope to see some of you south Florida O-People this concert season.

It certainly looks like the A's are starting to fade. Lots of time still to right the ship though. Go D-Rays!!!