GA Russell

Sal, how is Dallas's defense against the pass doing?

Sonny, Please is nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, and it's not even in the stores yet. As I recall, there was some controversy a couple of years ago about a Barbra Streisand album being nominated even though it was released after the deadline, which as I recall was September 30. Now we have Sonny selling CDs off his website and at concerts, then later for downloads, then later still at hard copy retailers. I suppose he beat the deadline when he offered the album on his website. This sure is a strange way of doing things. It seems to me that this gradual roll-out eliminates the excitement generated by a new release, particularly when the initial release on the website is done as quietly as it was in this case. I've read that most CD sales occur when the CD is brand new (I have no idea if that is true for jazz), and this gradual roll-out philosophy seems to me to be counterproductive.

Glad to hear the joy in your voice, Ed! I had the twofer, which I haven't heard in years. It's packed away somewhere. Maybe the last week of the year I'll dig out my LP boxes and see if I can find it.

I haven t seen much love for Fats Navarro here. In no particular order: Wayne Shorter - JuJu Wayne Shorter - Night Dreamer Bud Powell - The Amazing...vol. 1 Jackie McLean - Jackie s Bag Bobby Hutcherson - Stick-Up Cannonball Adderley - Something Else Thelonious Monk - Genius...vol. 1 Thelonious Monk - Genius...vol. 2 Fats Navarro - The Fabulous...vol. 1 Horace Silver - Best of...vol. 2

BMG is saying that December 13 is the last day to order in time for the "holiday". I assume that Your Music operates on the same schedule. Of course, once they give it to the post office it is out of their hands; and sending it media mail the p.o. is going to give the CDs a low priority. PS - Christmas is on a Monday this year, so that means that they expect orders placed on Dec. 13 to arrive by Saturday the 23rd, only ten days later. That seems optimistic to me.

I like Egg McMuffins (although I have had some that were over cooked) and Sausage Egg McGriddles. My Toyota Camry has never failed to start. Next month will be my tenth anniversary with BMG; and only once with BMG or Your Music has the CD not arrived in a timely fashion. All of my K2s sound terrific. When it comes to good ballgames, I ll take the Canadian league over anybody.

BC, thanks for the heads up! That link isn't working for me. Here's the link to the CP report: http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

My pick this month is Gerald Wilson - The Artist Selects. Sometime in the 70s Pacific Jazz released a Best of album of Wilson's recordings from the 60s. I found it at a used record shop in the early 80s. It's great. Many of the songs on this CD are from that LP, but for only $5.99 I thought I would get the CD and the extra songs.

Just ordered six CDs for Christmas presents. Hope they arrive on time! PS - Make it seven.

I note that Royal Flush is now available from BMG/Your Music.

I started early this evening: Miles Davis - Dig (Prestige) The Essential Larry Coryell, disc 1 (Vanguard) (a Best of twofer) Charlie Byrd - Latin Byrd, disc 1 (Milestone) (two Riverside LPs) Walter Wanderley - Sambo So! (World Pacific) (recorded in Brazil) Dudu Pukwana - Diamond Express (Arista Freedom) McCoy Tyner - Supertrios, disc 1 (Milestone) George Russell - Sextet (ABC Riverside) (taken from two or three albums) Joe Jackson - Mike's Murder soundtrack (A&M)

Ssergio Mendes Trio - So Nice (Pickwick) This is a Pickwick release of a Capitol album which as I recall was entitled Sergio Mendes & Brasil '65 with Special Guest Bud Shank. Pickwick had a licensing deal with Capitol. They would sell for $1.99 three year old Capitol albums minus one song on what appeared to be lower grade vinyl. Brasil '65's singer was Wanda de Sah, who was the poor man's Astrud Gilberto. She later married the popular composer/singer Edu Lobo. Lobo's wife had been Gracinha Leporace, who later replaced Lani Hall in Brasil '66 and then later married Mendes. I think all those bossa nova people lived in a small world! Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond (Fantasy) This album combined a Desmond date without Brubeck from 1954 on Side A with the first recordings of the Mulligan/Baker quartet from 1953 on Side B.

Comin' On with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige) (the third of five releases from one session which lasted I think three days, now available on three CDs)

Good Lord, how many times was this album reissued? Landmark??? TTK, as I recall Orrin Keepnews reissued all of the Cannonball Riverside albums owned by Capitol in 1985 on the Landmark label. Maybe not all of them, but I think so.

Cannonball Adderley with Sergio Mendes - Cannonball's Bossa Nova (1985 Landmark issue) Joao Donato and Deodato - Donatodeodato (1973 Muse)

Alocis, I don t know how many times Bley recorded Mr. Joy. My introduction to him was an album he did about 1969 for Limelight called Mr. Joy, which as I recall had electronic keyboards. I love that song!

Well I won't kid about Blue Train. It's my least favorite Coltrane album, except for A Love Supreme. I don't get why people make such a big deal over it.

Wayne Shorter - Super Nova. Not a bad album, but I don't think it is on a par with his other Blue Notes.

Paul Bley - Haarlem, Holland concert of 11/4/66, half of Arista Freedom twofer Copenhagen and Haarlem (released on CD by Black Lion as Blood)

Monk Blue Note - LP Sides 7 and 8 Mulligan/Baker - LP Sides 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Monk Blue Note - LP Sides 4, 5 and 6

Well, I don't feel that the Rich and Dizzy boxes reflect the artists' best work. Mosaic has been in business for about 25 years, and I think that nowadays their boxes reflect what they can get ahold of (that hasn't already been released on CD) rather than what Cuscuna really had enthusiasm for when he started the company. You say that you have much of the Jazz Crusaders on LP, so I eliminated that one from consideration. Since you already have the Gerald Wilson (I'm jealous!), perhaps the Woody Herman box would add a sound to your collection that you don't already have.

Dan, I can't vote for any of them either. Since you are not aiming for the usual Blue Note sound, I suggest that you go for West Coast sound that you probably wouldn't get for yourself: either the Gerald Wilson box, or the Art Pepper and Johnny Richards Selects.

Mulligan/Baker - LP Sides 1, 2, 3 and 4

Do you like Roland Kirk's version more than Aretha Franklin's? Edward, it's been years since I've heard Aretha's version. Thanks for the reminder! Comparing Aretha to an instrumentalist is a bit like apples and oranges, but I'll say that Aretha sings it straight while Roland plays it as a gag.

Thanks SJ. I figured there was a story there.