GA Russell

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)

Well, you know the circles you are talking about. I don't know anybody who respects modern movies (except for the occasional art film of course). In my circle of friends, nobody respects pop music or pop movies. Both are seen to be made for undiscerning teenagers. By the way, movie ticket sales have been in a steady decline for the past thirty years. The studios talk about the receipts, which are made up of inflated dollars, but not about the number of tickets sold. Most people don't want to spend good money on the stuff. Hence you see the popularity of Netflix, which allows you to watch, at home, as often as you want, something different from the usual television fare for ten to fifteen dollars a month for the whole family.

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.

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