GA Russell

I have received this email from Concord/Fantasy: "Specialty Records, another [along with Stax] vintage r&b label with a glorious past, will mark its 60th anniversary this year when six SPECIALTY PROFILES discs are released in August. Founded in Hollywood in 1946 by Art Rupe, Specialty bridged the gap between swing and rock 'n' roll with jump blues practitioners like Roy Milton and hitmakers such as Lloyd Price, whose "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" (the label's first New Orleans session) was the top r&b record of 1952. While recording for Specialty, Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers turned the gospel world on its ear, and Percy Mayfield, the Poet of the Blues, emerged as that idiom's greatest songwriter. Larry Williams broke through with singles such as "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy," "Bony Moronie," and "Short Fat Fannie" that would later be covered by the Beatles, the Who, George Jones, and many others. The Specialty work of these artists--and that of bluesman John Lee Hooker--will be Profiled for 8/12 release." I'm looking forward to some of these, particularly Percy Mayfield and Roy Milton.

I'm listening to a CD entitled Driftin' Blues - The Best of Charles Brown, which is taken from his Aladdin recordings. The Mosaic box of Aladdins was five CDs, which is probably more of Charles Brown than I would want; but sometimes I'm sorry I didn't get it.

By coincidence, at this moment I'm listening to the Four Freshmen's Love Lost, which is a good album, but not as good (IMO) as their previous ballad set called Voices in Love. Both of these are included in the Mosaic box, which I highly recommend. I would have been first in line for the Mosaic box if I hadn't already purchased most of the material.

Happy Birthday Berrigan!

George Wallington comes to mind.

I would add two points to the cool jazz topic. First, I think that Shorty Rogers had a major place. And I disagree with the comment that Art Pepper was not a cool jazz player. Second, a lot of the cool jazz on the Contemporary label that I've heard bordered on third stream - heavily influenced by classical music.

By the way, FFA, what instrument does your wife play that she is away on a gig? I didn't know that she is a musician. My girl friend plays the flute, mostly in Columbus, Ohio.

OK, if you insist... Happy Birthday, Asshole! Glad it's been a good one!

I emailed Concord/Fantasy today regarding this, and received this reply: "The Stitt box is kind of in limbo at the moment. It's been moved around a lot, but I don't have a firm date for it now, unfortunately. Will report on any news from that front when available."

I received an email today stating that the Stax Profiles will come out April 25, and the Monk/Coltrane not till June.

Happy Birthday, and thanks for your efforts!

HolyStitt, I can't find the previous post on this (and I wrote it!). As I recall, it's going to be a 3 CD set of late 40s bebop. edit for typo

I've been wondering the same thing. When the time comes, I'm sure that they won't let it slip under the radar.

My pick for this month is Vijay Iyer - Reimagining. A few weeks ago I started a thread asking about this album, and as you can see there were not many responses but all of them were positive: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...5&hl=Vijay+Iyer Your Music has allowed me to try a few current acts like EST and The Bad Plus just to see what all the fuss is about without spending serious money. So I'm happy to try another one, just to see.

Jim, I'll give it a try. I guess I thought it was about some of those Blue Note samba albums from '62 that never appealled to me.

A few months ago I got a new album by a New Orleans group named Kermit Ruffins and the Rebirth Brass Band, called Throwback. When it arrived in the mail I decided to wait until Mardi Gras day to open it up, which I did on Tuesday. This is a good album! There are two songs which I have omitted in my burn copy for the car, but other than those it's exciting. There's no doubt this is a New Orleans band. The sound is somewhere between Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima. Lots of tuba! It's a party record, for sure. The label is called Basin Street Records, which is a New Orleans company. I get emails from them every week. The owner has relocated to Austin, Texas, and in his emails urges everyone to contact the politicians, to vote, etc., to get New Orleans rebuilt promptly. Anyway, from time to time I have picked up New Orleans records, and for the most part I don't think they are very good. But this one I can recommend. Has anybody else heard this?

I've found another gem from this label. It's by a Brazilian composer named Moacir Santos called Choros & Alegria. There are 15 songs totalling 58 minutes. All are light, perfect for a Sunday afternoon. There are 24 musicians, 23 Brazilians and Wynton Marsalis. Surprisingly, Marsalis is not featured; he's just one more player. The album was recorded in Rio last spring, and I wonder if Marsalis happened to be in town on a tour, and agreed to join in the recording session. A number of the tracks are big band, but the majority are small group. It seems like no two tracks have the same personnel, giving every song a different sound. Many of the small group songs feature the clarinet, giving them a sound similar to that of the Modern Traditions Ensemble mentioned above. It looks to me like the album was recorded for a Brazilian label called Adnet Musica. I wonder if Adventure Music waited to hear the results before agreeing to put it out here in the US. Good stuff.

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for those links, Jazzshrink and Ken!

Midnight Mood is one of my favorite albums of his. I first saw Mark Murphy on The Steve Allen Show, which was taped in '68 when that album was current. However, it wasn't shown in New Orleans (my home) until a year later. I prefer his 60s recordings, as they seem effortless. Once he joined Muse he started to make it more soulful, which I think was a mistake.

The BMG and Your Music threads. Always! Before OJCs go away. Recommendations, New Releases and Re-Issues, at least once.

Amen!

Baseball Hot Stove League and other sports threads BFT Andrew Hill signs with Blue Note for third time Name Three People Hard Bossa Funny Rat Emusic Happy Birthday to people I haven't seen post in months Maureen Dowd This list makes me feel like a curmudgeon!

Happy Birthday!

I really like You've Got a Date with the Blues, which was released on Verve in the late 80s, but I think was originally recorded for a Leonard Feather label in the mid 50s.