GA Russell

Is there a story about The Haig and live recordings in 1952? I have live albums from both Gerry Mulligan and Wardell Gray that I think are from 1952, maybe 1953. The Mulligan sounds great, the Gray not so good. Am I right in believing that this one nightclub had live recordings before the other LA clubs did? I wonder if it was a policy of the club's owner to proactively invite the recording equipment in.

Sam Rivers - Sizzle (Impulse!, 1976)

CD Universe has a Proper Box of four CDs for $20.00 which is probably a good bet for his earlier recordings. You will probably also like Kenton Showcase, which is a CD of two 10-inch records of Holman and Russo arrangements. I can also recommend Contemporary Concepts from I think 1956, and New Concepts in Artistry in Rhythm which I believe are still available. One of his most popular albums is Cuban Fire, but I've never heard it so I can't recommend it. I haven't heard much of what he did after 1957, but I think a lot of it is leaden compared to pre-1957. However, he did a Christmas album called A Merry Christmas! in 1961 (I think) which is one of my better Xmas albums. I have a CD which I enjoy called Innovations Orchestra 1952, which is taken from two radio broadcasts. However, I think it is long out of print. I can recommend the long out of print Mosaic box of Holman and Russo charts, but good luck finding that one.

I'm considering "classics" to be the ones that are always recommended in the paperback guides to jazz. I don't have many. I started out buying records and then getting more of the sidemen I enjoyed and so forth. When I would break the chain and buy a classic, I was usually disappointed, in that I didn't like them as much as the ones that I had bought on my own.

The last of my opened LPs: Jack Jones - White Christmas Various - MCA Records Inc. Prsents A Christmas Programming Special (1971 promo album for radio stations) The Ventures' Christmas Album Johnny Mathis - Christmas with... Frank Sinatra - The Sinatra Christmas Album (Capitol) (Same album, different title as A Jolly Christmas mentioned above)

I must have a low threshold for old pop songs because the ones mentioned here don't bother me. I agree with Jim's point that often the hit version of a song is more irritating than the song itself. That said, I enjoy Roland Kirk's version of I Say a Little Prayer for You a lot more than Dionne Warwick's.

The Als announced today that Jim Popp will remain as both GM and head coach for 2007. I think this is a mistake. I don't think a man with so little coaching experience can succeed in the CFL. He let go one of his two offensive coordnators yesterday. Popp has done an excellent job as a personnel man over the years, and now he is going to be taking a lot of time away from that in order to be involved with the team as a coach, even if he lets his two coordinators do most of the work. And on the personnel side, Popp lost his right hand man Marcel Desjardins to the Ticats a couple of months ago. So I think the Als are going to find themselves understaffed this year compared to past years. The personnel-hunting issues may not show up until 2008, but I look for Popp to make some boneheaded decisions as an inexperienced coach this year. Couple that with the probable lack of help (due to the personnel office lack of expertise) come Labor Day airlift time, and the Als aren't looking so good to me anymore. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

To follow up on Sundog, here is what I received: Thank you for being a valued yourmusic.com customer. Starting on January 1, 2007, we will be increasing the monthly fee and CD prices at yourmusic.com to $6.99. If you do not wish to continue your subscription at the $6.99 price, you are free to cancel at any time by accessing your account. We hope you'll continue to enjoy your subscription and take advantage of our still low price of only $6.99 with free shipping. Sincerely, Yourmusic.com We talked about this when the price went from $4.99 to $5.99. It won't be long before it's $8.99! Still, I don't know of anywhere else that's cheaper so I'll stick with it.

No, it's black vinyl from 1984. No indication of a remastering.

Tonight, three CDs and two LPs: Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song The New England Jazz Ensemble - Wishes You a Cookin' Christmas Various - Christmas Party with Eddie G. (Columbia) Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas Al Hirt - The Sound of Christmas

BC, I think Pierce is playing it smart. I think a guy, particularly a QB, should prove himself to be a winner in the CFL for a few seasons before he tries his hand in the NFL. I think that was Burris s mistake. Pierce is evidently sticking with one of the best teams in the league, making good money, with a good chance of inheriting the starter s position in a few years. If it works according to plan and he can win the Grey Cup as a starter, the NFL should give him a real shot, not just put him on the practice roster. **** The Toronto Sun is reporting that Steve Buratto, the highly respected offensive coordinator just let go by the Stampeders, is being wooed by the Eskimos and the Argos for the same position. The Argos are also considering Danny Barrett for that role. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...560920-sun.html

BC, if you ever hear what Pierce signed for, I hope you will let us know. I imagine they gave him a big bonus before the midnight 11/19 deadline. **** The AP reports that T.O. objects to the Cowboys' releasing Vanderjagt! http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home **** The CP reports that Sask has signed both Andy Fantuz and Luca Congi to one-year plus one-year option deals. I don't know why they don't lock up good young talent for a lot longer than that. They are always free to renegotiate later if a guy's career is a disappointment. http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

Tonight, one CD followed by two LPs: Various - The Alligator Records Christmas Collection Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas Various - Phil Spector's Christmas Album

I've reprinted below from USA Today's website the text of Lindsay Lohan's public message of condolences to the family of Robert Altman. Now my question to those of you who are fathers of 19 year olds is this: Is this girl just an idiot Hollywood actress, or is her writing typical of Americans that age? Judge for yourself: Lindsay Lohan released a statement Tuesday extending her condolences to Robert Altman's family: "I would like to send my condolences out to Catherine Altman, Robert Altmans wife, as well as all of his immediate family, close friends, co-workers, and all of his inner circle. "I feel as if I've just had the wind knocked out of me and my heart aches. "If not only my heart but the heart of Mr. Altman's wife and family and many fellow actors/artists that admire him for his work and love him for making people laugh whenever and however he could.. "Robert altman made dreams possible for many independent aspiring filmmakers, as well as creating roles for countless actors. "I am lucky enough to of been able to work with Robert Altman amongst the other greats on a film that I can genuinely say created a turning point in my career. "I learned so much from Altman and he was the closest thing to my father and grandfather that I really do believe I've had in several years. "The point is, he made a difference. "He left us with a legend that all of us have the ability to do. "So every day when you wake up. "Look in the mirror and thank god for every second you have and cherish all moments. "The fighting, the anger, the drama is tedious. "Please just take each moment day by day and consider yourself lucky to breathe and feel at all and smile. Be thankful. "Life comes once, doesn't 'keep coming back' and we all take such advantage of what we have. "When we shouldn't..... ' "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourselves' (12st book) -everytime there's a triumph in the world a million souls hafta be trampled on.-altman Its true. But treasure each triumph as they come. "If I can do anything for those who are in a very hard time right now, as I'm one of them with hearing this news, please take advantage of the fact that I'm just a phone call away. God Bless, peace and love always. Thank You, "BE ADEQUITE" Lindsay Lohan

Al, thanks for your offer of a copy, but that's a lot of Columbia, it looks like, and I've never gone for the Columbia sound. My sister and brother-in-law have plenty of it, and I hear all I need for the year when I visit them! My Snowfall is the CD. My sister has the LP, and I'll plan to listen to it to see if I notice any difference. I doubt that they have overdubbed anything, as his style of singing on my CD is that of his older recordings when he was still somewhat ethnic, although not nearly as ethnic as when he started his career in the early 50s.

More love for Walter Booker! He's rated an obituary in the LA Times! Walter Booker, 72; played bass with Adderleys, Vaughan From Times Staff and Wire Reports November 29, 2006 Walter Booker, 72, a double bass player who performed with jazzmen Cannonball Adderley and Nat Adderley and mentored young musicians at his Boogie Woogie Studio in New York, died at his home in Manhattan on Nov. 24 after suffering cardiac arrest, said his wife, pianist Bertha Hope. Born in Prairie View, Texas, on Dec. 17, 1933, Booker began playing the double bass at age 26 when he was in the Army. After leaving the service, he joined a quintet that caught the attention of Cannonball Adderley. Booker's playing was marked by voice-like inflections, glissandos and techniques such as tremolo. He often danced while playing, Hope said. In a decades-long career, Booker played with a long list of jazz giants. One of his first jobs was touring with the Shirley Horn Trio. After moving to New York City in 1964, Booker worked with Donald Byrd and later with Stan Getz. In the 1960s Booker performed with such jazz artists as Sonny Rollins, Ray Bryant, Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, Chick Corea and Thelonius Monk. In 1969, Cannonball Adderley invited Booker to join his group, where he remained until Adderley's death in 1975. From 1975 until 1981, Booker performed with Sarah Vaughan. During those years, he also recorded with such artists as Betty Carter and Billy Higgins. From 1981 to 1983, he worked with John Hicks. In later years, he joined the Nat Adderley Trio and remained with the group until Nat Adderley's death in 2000. For 15 years, he also ran a free studio where young musicians were able to learn and "were free to explore their creativity," Hope said. In recent years, Booker performed with the Bertha Hope Trio, the Walter Booker Quintet and Elmollenium.

OK, md, I'll put it in my queue.

Last night I pulled out my Christmas LPs! First one up: Johnny Mathis - Christmas Eve with...

I thought this was going to be about album covers and cheesecake!

The Toronto Sun reports that even though Casey Printers' rights still belong to BC, the Argos' management are openly discussing their desire to sign him. Printers is currently on the Kansas City practice roster The article also says that BC has signed Buck Pierce to a three year contract extension. Why Pierce would agree to such a deal is a mystery to me unless he is being paid an awful lot of money. They are not going to let him start ahead of Dave Dickenson, and Pierce is IMO better than the starting QBs in Sask, Winnipeg, Toronto and maybe Hamilton. Anyway, with both Dickenson and Pierce, the Lions have little interest in Printers coming back. I believe that the Lions' rights to Printers expire in a few weeks, probably Feb. 1. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...545653-sun.html

Here's an article about the Ticats. It says that former Als coach Charlie Taafe is the favorite to be the Ticats' next head coach, but they will also interview Winnipeg defensive coordinator Greg Marshall. Marshall used to play for the Ottawa Rough Riders, and should not be confused with the former McMaster and Ticat head coach of the same name. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ham...530891-sun.html ***** Here's an article which verifies my hunch that Eric Tillman will hire Dave Ritchie for the Roughriders head coaching job. It also says that in Montreal Jim Popp will probably relieve himself of the head coaching duties, and is considering hiring BC Lions offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine. If both come to pass, Wally in BC would have to find himself both a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator to defend the Grey Cup with. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Sas...530892-sun.html edit for typo

I'm jealous! The Charles Brown is at the top of my list of Mosaics I regret not getting. I saw him at the 1991 New Orleans Jazzfest, and he was much better than I expected. I grew up hearing Please Come Home For Christmas each year on the radio, and in '89 I got a tape of the album it came from. I think it cost $2.99! So at the Jazzfest I didn't expect much, but I thought for old times' sake I would check him out. And he was great! If I had had the moolah at the time I would have gotten the Mosaic for sure, but I guess all of us can say that about one Mosaic or another.

I suspect that for the albums mentioned in this thread, the owners got tired of them and got rid of them. But my hunch for both USA and Aja is that their owners upgraded to CD and then disposed of the LPs. We shouldn't forget that most people consider CDs to sound better than LPs.

McDonald s has invented a tool to use in making a sandwich. It is seeking a patent in the US and Europe to prevent anyone from using a similar tool. The tool has a cavity. You put the garnishes in first, then the meat, then the bread, then turn it upside down. That s what I make of it. Here s the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1952246,00.html

Here's a link to the Chicago Sun-Times' review of the new Microsoft Zune mp3 player. I don't recall ever seeing a daily newpaper rip into an electronic product like this review does. "just plain dreadful" "Doug Morris, CEO of Universal Music Group...is just a big, clueless idiot..." "a complete, humiliating failure" http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko...-Andy23.article