Dub Modal

I dig the Mizell Bros' productions from that era. And totally agree that Shorter's Etc. cover from the LT series is a classic and should've been the only cover it ever had. Perfect. Some of the others definitely work as well, and indeed better than the follow up edits. Also, I thought these LT series covers were more under the influence of ECM rather than CTI in that they used a rather abstract photo that hinted/suggested a connection to the title and/or music contained and rarely if ever used shots of people. I guess maybe the cropping/border used on the LT series evoked some of the style of those earlier CTIs like Wave or some of the Wes Montgomery albums...? Using hind sight on this, it seems to me that those LT series covers help tell the story about the era they were released in a little better than the revisions, which do seem to muddy the BN story esp if like me one is coming to jazz at a much later time. I think maybe the only revised cover I like is Solid, but that's because it's a badass shot of Grant Green...but then the LT cover is good too.

This morning so far:

These Heath arrangements on Big Sax are top notch

The ballad closer on this one, My One & Only Love, is a real beaut. And now:

Alfa Mist's album from 2019. Gets lumped in with "jazz" but it's roots are more tied to fusion IMO. Some really nice tunes reminiscent of Sade and a healthy J Dilla influence.

I guess this cover is a love/hate thing...regardless, the music is spectacular. Might - just might - be my favorite of Green's Blue Notes. His only trio session, at least for BN, correct? (well, sans B3)

Reading through this via the link in Now Playing...I have no Prestige Nelson in my collection. Actually the only Nelson album I have is Skull Session. Will have to give these an ear...

This morning's session so far:

Nice. I suspected there was a Legends of Acid Jazz volume but I didnt find it on discogs yesterday.

Well, my partial Sonny Stitt Roost Mosaic doesn't include disc 8 with Paul Weeden. Oh well...vinyl may not be too hard to track down.

He is killing it!

Same here. It's ridiculously good

Damn. That sucked for Weeden and co.

The interactions between these guys is fun to watch. At the 8ish minute mark McGhee skips over Stitt while JJ is soloing and starts snapping and bouncing again, and looks back at Stitt and seems to give a little business back to him. Classic stuff.

Wow. Who was in Stitt’s working band at that point?

He's comes across like an on-court Jordan. All biz and tolerating no nonsense, with almost everything carrying the edge of competition.

Disc 2

A couple of videos come to mind. The first is the Bill Cosby one where he talks about Stitt coming on stage while Bill was sitting in on the drums (after having a few lessons). Stitt calls for the band to play Cherokee and Cosby loses it immediately, with Max Roach tapping his shoulder to cue him on getting off the stage. Cosby makes it funny, but it comes across that indeed Stitt is all business. The other is that live Charlie Parker tribute with Howard McGhee. McGhee is hopping around during Stitt's solo and at about 5:26 appears to catch Stitt's ire. Looks like Stitt tells him to "move" and then an additional command at around 5:40. You can see McGhee's demeanor isn't quite the same after that exchange. More words toward McGhee at 7:20. At 20:20 Stitt gets a short interview, and maybe he's had a few but it seems the host cuts that interview a little short... Then there's this audio only of a Dex/Stitt session with I think Don Patterson on B3. Most of yall have probably heard this?

Shepp Quartet's Splashes

Calling Dex one of the worst sax players ever is some real edgelord stuff. Whatever the reason, I can't agree but then I'm not a professional musician.

Indeed! NP: Via the Conn ed. CD...I won't be going for the new TP reissue, but I dig this album. Not Sonny's best but still enjoyable.

Ben Riley & Larry Gales holding it down.