Rabshakeh

Pillars too in places. It seems like a natural mix.

I know it is an amazing record.

What's happened to Sorry recently? It feels like his pace has slowed quite a bit and he has moved more towards jazz releases (that don't really move me) and away from his compositional stuff.

What were the examples? I'd assumed that her stage presence would have matched her voice.

Woody Herman's Big New Herd – At The Monterey Jazz Festival I really enjoyed this one. Possibly more than the classic early comps. I think that is down to better fidelity (important for big band recordings) and the monster talent level of this band. Now enjoying this crunchy jazz rock record from 2017: Reflections In Cosmo – Reflections In Cosmo

Stan Kenton - Contemporary Concepts This is one I'd listened to a few times before. Some really good solos and not too much gimmickry. Definitely a Kenton I've enjoyed. Great cover. How's that. I know Brice (thanks to you) but not the other two. June Christy and Stan Kenton – Duet This one is good too. I'm not a huge Christy fan, and definitely not a Kenton "guy" (despite the recent splurge), but this record is what it should be.

I hope that the year has matched the music.

Rogue Parade – Dion's Quest

Good stuff! I think the biggest risk with all this stuff is that it comes out, we listen once, and never revisit. Good to know what stays exciting.

It's weird stuff, isn't it? Very esoteric.

Woody Herman And His Orchestra – The 3 Herds

Interesting quote. I’ve always found the lack of attention paid to those early Mingus records odd. I guess they don’t fit the picture.

It's a seriously out there record, isn't it?

Teo Macero And Bob Prince – What's New?

Linda May Han Oh – Aventurine (Biophilia, 2019) First listen to this. I like it a lot more than Oh's other records, which always struck me as being too modern jazz of the academies. This is a bit more chamber jazzy - like a dreamier Oregon - and has a lot more personality. Nice break from banging my head with big band racket all weekend.

Leon Thomas – The Leon Thomas Album

The Pete Rugolo Orchestra – Rugolo Plays Kenton I enjoyed the swinging first side of this a lot more than the second side.

How is this?

I may be getting my Kenton bands confused. Not helped by them all having effectively the same name. The Woody Herman pisstake on the version of "Random Riff" on the Tropicana album is pretty telling. "In the vernacular of Herman", Kenton sneers, before leading the group on one of the better tracks on the record.

Rhythm Combination & Brass, Peter Herbolzheimer – Wide Open

Fred Astaire – The Astaire Story

Woody Herman And His Orchestra – Early Autumn Really enjoying this comp. Just hit me recently. I want the colour and complexity of big band charts at the moment. Don't know why. Edit: I should add that all the Kenton today has made me more unpopular with my partner than months of Arthur Doyle and Albert Ayler could have done.

Streaming this now. What is it? A collection of Second and Third Herds singles? It's absolutely great. Oh wait. Found some cover notes. Looks like the Second Herd mostly. Good schtuff.

Stan Kenton – Adventures In Jazz Okay, this one I actually like. It seems like all the energy went in the right place with this one.

Stan Kenton – Sketches On Standards This one you can certainly identify the soloists. Still many of the same issues with not really swinging though, but I quite enjoyed this one.