Dan Gould

Thanks!

An important thing I learned in interviewing Eddie Higgins is that open-ended questions are best. Let the subject answer the way he wants to, let him feel that he is in some control over the interview. Also, don't pose questions in which you provide the answer, as in "X happened-was that because of Y?" The biggest thing is to get the subject to talk and the best way you can do that is to ask open-ended questions. And another thing I learned was that a good closing question is, "Is there anything you'd like to talk about that I didn't ask about?" In Higgins' case, he had been so accomodating that I probably was on the cusp of wearing out my welcome (I knew that when he asked, 'Is that it?") but I went ahead and asked that final question and it netted me one of the nicest stories and quotes of the entire 2.5 hour interview.

I've heard about the garage sale/estate sale route before but unfortunately there is no way I'd have the patience to find anything decent amidst the junk. I'm sure the rare find is extra nice, but my feeling is, I'd rather not waste my weekend listening time driving around, pawing through junk to come up empty too often.

Torri Spelling - "You know, I don't know if I'd even have a career if my father wasn't Aaron Spelling!" Anna Kournikova - "I've never been very comfortable with my body." George Bush - "My favorite philospher? Kierkegaard." Dusty Groove Reviewer - "This album has no redeeming qualities whatsoever." Anyone like to add some?

I just stumbled across this one and I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with the singer or the album: Nat Wright, The Biggest Voice in Jazz (Warwick) Sidemen include Coleman Hawkins, Bennie Green, PC, Wynton Kelly, Tommy Flanagin, Mal Waldron. Apparently out on Fresh Sounds, so paying full price for an original copy doesn't seem necessary, but before I do that, I'd like to know more! Anyone? Thanks!

Can't recommend this one enough, unfortunately though, Amazon is no longer offering an additional discount if you purchase The Legend of Teddy Edwards with this one, produced and directed by the same man: But both films are highly recommended!

Glad to share the wealth, guys! By the way, and FWIW, Kynard was well-featured on another Pacific Jazz LP, Sonny Stits' My Mother's Eyes.

Truly terrible news, though considering his age, this is the passing I was "expecting"-though it doesn't make it any easier. Not only a remarkable player, composer, arranger, bandleader, but the fact that he played so well at such an advanced age ... Benny seemd ageless. Now he's for the ages.

Well, I hope everyone dug this album as much as I do. His first recording as a leader, Where its At! definitely takes a different approach, as side 1 is gospel oriented while side 2 is more of a soul jazz thing. About my only complaint is that some of the gospel side skates the edge of "corn". On the other hand, this was the album that led me on my way to locating the rest of Clifford Scott's Pacific Jazz recordings, I just love his work on this album. In fact, maybe a complete Clifford Scott on PJ might make a nice Mosaic Select. There's this one plus his own album as a leader, Out Front, I believe, and two more on the World Pacific label that's more in a pop vein but are still pretty nice.

Thanks for the offer, Tom, but I hereby declare my refusal. Glad its going to a fine home though!

Kevin Mahogany does a nice version of "Dat Dere" on one of his early Enja albums. (I think it was Enja-Ralph Moore is on it, I remember that).

Well, its going to be tough for me to recommend south Florida clubs-the best jazz concerts down here are put on by various Jazz Societies and they book formal performance spaces. The two clubs I've gone to tend to skew older than you guys are looking for. There're some blues clubs that might fit but I'll have to try to do some checking. In the meantime, I do think that Tallahassee, FL is a definite target of opportunity, considering that there are something like 40,000 students there going to Florida State and Florida A&M. However, its been quite a while since I was in school and almost as long since I left. But there was one club that opened while I was in school and is still in business and I do think its got definite potential, and that is the "Musical Moon" or simply "The Moon". Its a converted A&P grocery store so its quite large and the music is definitely not an afterthought-the stage is big enough to have booked Brian Setzer's Orchestra, and the sound system is top-notch. Here is the website: http://www.moonevents.com/ It looks like right now they only have their regular DJ-nights (including "Stetson's On The Moon" which is the Country radio station's night). But I would definitely get in touch and see if they will book you. As far as I know they're it for decent music venues with lots of room for dancing.

Would you consider going the extra three hours south to Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach? If you would, I'll do some checking around. And I'll definitely mark my calendar, hopefully I can make it up to Clearwater for the gig.

Hey, if Coltrane can cross over to be patron saint of a church, why can't Elvis? And speaking of Coltrane, Alan, I gotta mention that I saw a mistake on your upcoming release page, a mistake that perpetuates a mistake that too many people have made: Blue Train not Blue Trane

Baseball til I was 15 and reached the end of the Little League life, softball in college, but most importantly, tennis since I was 12 or so. In fact, I just got back on the court in the last week. Hopefully with a few more sessions, my legs will stop screaming (though my back is aching the most today) The thing is, I've got to get myself back into some semblence of physical conditioning and so I've also invested in a decent ball machine. The last time I was in great shape was also, not coincidentally, the time that I was playing extremely regularly, and my plan is to play 3-4 times a week between the partner I just met and the machine.

In a similar vein to the joke above: A woman who positively adores the Beatles and particularly John and Paul goes into a tattoo parlor to get a special tatoo: She wants John and Paul each tattoed onto her right and left inner thigh area. The tattoo artist says no problem and gets to work, but when he is finished she is thoroughly displeased with his "artistry" and refuses to pay. After arguing back and forth they agree that the next person to come through the door will be asked to settle their dispute. Wouldn't you know it, the next person to walk in is the town drunk, who of course agrees to look at the tattoos and render a verdict. He peers in, desperately trying to focus as he gazes right and left at the Beatle tattoos. Finally he announces his decision: "I'm not sure who those two guys are, but the one in the middle, with the beard and the bad breath? That's definitely Willie Nelson!"

Stonehenge riddle 'solved.' It's a girl Thursday, July 10, 2003 Posted: 10:08 AM EDT (1408 GMT) TORONTO, Canada (Reuters) -- Stonehenge is a massive female fertility symbol, according to Canadian researchers who think they have finally solved the mystery of the ancient monument in southern England. In the arrangement of the stones, the researchers say they have spotted the original design: female genitalia. The theory is laid out in a paper entitled "Stonehenge: a view from medicine" in the July issue of Britain's Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. "To the builders of the henge, the most critical events in life were birth and death," Anthony Perks, a retired professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of British Columbia, wrote in the paper. He noted there was no evidence of tombs built by the original builders. "Of birth, we could expect little evidence. However, evidence may be there but so large as to be overlooked." Viewed from above, Perks suggests Stonehenge's inner bluestone circle represents the labia minora and the giant outer sarsen stone circle is the labia majora. The altar stone is the clitoris and the open center is the birth canal. "Could the outer avenue of Stonehenge...represent the way by which new life entered?" the article wondered, adding that when comparing "the layout of the henge with the anatomy of the human vulva. There is a distinct similarity." Perks, who is traveling in England, could not be reached for comment. The mysterious ancient monument on Salisbury Plain is recognized around the world for its circle of standing stones. Perks said the ancient sacrificed child found at nearby Woodhenge bolsters his theory and said an excavation at Stonehenge could produce a similar find. "In ancient societies, ideas of a dominant creator, a Mother or Earth Goddess, were widespread," Perks wrote. "If ideas of Earth Mother originated with, or were shared by, the people of the henge, Stonehenge could represent, symbolically, the opening by which Earth Mother gave birth to the plants and animals on which the ancient people so depended. "The henge would honor her for giving them both life and livelihood." Scholars say Stonehenge, a World Heritage site, was built between 3000 and 1600 BC. For a time, it was used for ceremonial burials of local chieftains. Theories for why it was built range from a temple, an astronomy site, and a variety of spiritual and temporal purposes. David Batchelor, an archeologist with English Heritage, which manages the prehistoric site, was hardly convinced by the latest speculation. "I would be skeptical of that...but the Stonehenge people are entitled to draw whatever conclusions they wish. Some are more probable than others," he said. "The only thing we can know with certainty is that we will never know why they built it. All we are left with is what has survived 5,000 years of time." -- CNN.com Senior Writer Richard Stenger contributed to this report. ****************** If Stonehenge is a girl, maybe its time to introduce her to the Florida Capital building, also known as Bush's Erection?

This is only tangentially related but if I could be a jazz record producer, I would absolutely bring Ira Sullivan and Eddie Higgins into the studio together. Amazingly, though they've been friends for nearly 50 years, I learned in my interview with Eddie that though there have been plans in the past, they've never recorded together. On top of that lengthy time playing gigs together, Eddie described Ira as one of his favorites to play with because Sullivan "makes me play better than I think I can." Heck, if I had the $$, I'd bring those two guys together on my own coin!

Solid but not mindblowing. A nice version of Moment's Notice, a couple of bluesy originals, the inevitable "Willow Weep For Me" and a couple of standards. I sent a copy to Jim S., maybe he'll pop in with his impressions.

'Fraid not. Doesn't even rank with "That's a spicy meat-ball!"

That was pianist Johnny Griffith, whose Workshop Jazz album, "Jazz," I recently acquired. He was a mainstay of that label, also appearing on singer Paula Greer's two releases and another one by Lefty Edwards.

WHAAAATTTT!!! For real? Here're the details on Groove Note's Concord SACD licensing. Gene Harris Trio + 1 is scheduled for a September release. http://www.groovenote.com/htm/news1.htm

There was a link on that forgotten BB to a Left Bank site which listed all of the concerts they sponsored. Mobley was there many times, and there was lots more that you'd hope was of releasable quality. So here's hopin'!

Amazon has it for $17, Barnes and Noble has it for $14, but I'll be you can find better deals on line elsewhere. I also think there is an SACD/Hybrid issue that's on the schedule in the near term. Don't tell Greg but I just might give that hybrid a try, at least to hear the CD layer

ABSOLUTELY! To me, that album is a desert-island disc. So soulful, so blue (the original session, especially) ... I find it especially great when listened to in a dark or darkened room-it brings out the deeply blue feelings, for me. By the way, if its the so-called "snooze" factor that keeps this date from working for you but you'd like to hear Gene and Stanley really wail on some blues, then I absolutely recommend their Concord release "Gene Harris Trio + One" which was a live date at the Blue Note in New York, and Harris and Turrentine tear it up, big time, with the superlative support of Ray Brown and Mickey Roker.