GA Russell

I've been thinking of getting something along these lines for my travels. May I assume they don't weigh much?

Guys, I said I would be away for a few days this week! Give me a chance to respond! I used to review CDs for AAJ, and I got on the mailing lists of a number of labels, mostly small, some big like Fantasy and Concord. They know that I no longer review for AAJ, but they send me things from time to time to talk about here. Now on to the record...I've had the chance to listen to it for the past two days, and I like it. But I should tell you that it doesn't remind me of the little Andrew Hill I know. I have Point of Departure which has never done much for me but I listen to it a couple of times a year. I know that many of us here are big Andrew Hill fans, and those who are may recognize all the songs on this album and enjoy the different takes on the melodies. But maybe not. As I say, this doesn't remind me of Andrew Hill and the Blue Note sound. This reminds me of what Fred Frith was doing thirty years ago with people like Henry Cow, The Art Bears and Slapp Happy. I was a big Fred Frith fan back in the day, and I saw him in concert with Skeleton Crew with Zina Parkin in Atlanta back in '85. So if you don't like Fred Frith, I don't think you are going to like this Nels Cline either. But since so many here are such big fans of Andrew Hill, I recommend you give it a listen to see what Cline has done to the music.

In August of '73 I drove across the country from New Jersey to San Francisco with a buddy. When in Los Angeles we stopped at the Tower on the Sunset Strip. I had never seen such a place. I remember buying Mark Murphy's first Muse LP, Bridging a Gap, which was new at the time.

I received in the mail today an advance copy of the new album by guitarist Nels Cline called New Monastery, which is Cline's interpretation of the music of Andrew Hill. The band is: Bobby Bradford, cornet Ben Goldberg, clarinets Andrea Parkins, accordion Devin Hoff, contrabass Scott Amendola, drums Nels Cline, guitar Alex Cline, percussion The songs are: McNeill Island/Pumpkin Not Sa No Sa No Doubt/11/8/Dance With Death Yokada Yokada/The Rumproller Dedication Reconciliation/New Monastery Compulsion You will note that the band doesn't include a piano! I haven't listened to it yet. I'm going to be spending the week on the road, so I'll plan to give it plenty of listens in the car and the motel room, and I'll report when I get back next weekend. This is on the Cryptogramophone label, so I expect that it will be available from eMusic, as well as CD Universe at a pre-order price. The relase date is set for Sept. 26.

I learned today that Jeff Gauthier is the owner of the Cryptogramophone label.

I placed my order, #5756, very late Friday July 14. My Fedex tracking website says that the shipment is due to arrive August 9. That's a long wait. But at least I know that it is on its way. It left San Leandro August 2 and Sacramento yesterday.

Happy Birthday Lon! Open up a good new CD for the day!

RIP. I remember two hits from my high school days - My Little Red Book and 7 + 7 Is. I had one of their albums, I think the third. Was that Forever Changes? I'll have to dig it out if I can find it. Love was a good band, willing to experiment.

Why the heck are you doing that when you could be over at conn's house using his computer? I wish I could spend some time with friends! I spent all last week in Chicago. I've been working all day and night. Can't wait to get home. Like Chuck said, everybody makes choices and pays the price.

I've been on the road since Sunday the 23rd. Today I'm outside Toledo, Ohio, using the computer in the hotel lobby. I received today the email from Concord that my order had been shipped. Everything included. Since I've been away all this time, the delay hasn't bothered me a bit. I expect to return on Friday. Hope it's there by then.

This morning's USA Today has an article in the business section on page 4B about SonyBMG releasing a song for downloading that will play on all mp3 players. The article is mostly about the digital rights management programs used by the majors to prevent the entire market from purchasing a product. Anyway, I was surprised to see that our favorite here, eMusic, is mentioned as the #2 downloading retailer next to iTunes, and ahead of Napster and Rhapsody. The article says that this is due to eMusic's selling the songs without drm restrictions. It doesn't occur to USA Today that people might actually want to listen to the songs eMusic offers. Here's the link: http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2006-0...sony-usat_x.htm

When I ordered on Friday, Sonny Rollins - Worktime was not listed among the sale items. I wanted to order that one because Chuck said it was his favorite album by Sonny Rollins. I wonder if they are deleting all of the K2s or just the ones on tap to be remastered by RVG.

I'm sorry to heaer of your loss Kevin. I'm glad you and he had such a good relationship.

I think I received in the mail today the answer to the question. On Sept. 26 Concord will release a 6-CD Coltrane box entitled Fearless Leader. No further details.

Thanks BB!

Karrin Allyson I always figured the first name sounded just like Karen, with a weird spelling. But last night on Sirius, dj Les Davis pronounced it Kahr-in. I figure he ought to know. Anybody know for sure?

Thanks for this ss1. I haven't been receiving press releases regarding the RVGs in the past month, so it's good to see what's up.

Happy Birthday! I listened to the AFL's Grand Final last September on the internet. The greatest game of any sport I have ever heard on the radio!

I've felt for the past five years that the period of 1995-present has been the Golden Age for fans of 50s and 60s jazz. Naturally, I would have enjoyed living in New York at that time (and being old enough to get into the clubs!) to see all of my heroes performing live. But since that was not an option, the best I can do is collect records, and there has never been a better time than this! In the liner notes to the Fantasy 4-CD compilation The Contemporary Records Story, it is pointed out that there are more Contemporary albums currently in print than at any time during the company's existence!

33 plus the Bill Evans box. Not sure how many CDs in the box, but Evans recorded 14 LPs for Riverside, so I figure the price is about $4 per album.

I placed my order Friday night - #5756. I haven't received my confirmation yet, and I'm already having regrets. I should have ordered more compilations! PS - Just got my confirmation. All items ordered are included.

I came to realize on Friday that I don't like the first track of the Jimmy Scott. That typically colors my evaluation of an entire album. I played the CD a lot over the weekend, skipping the first track, and enjoyed it much more.

I remember being informed of his death. I was on vacation, and a fellow I met told me of it. How many days after the event I don't know, nor do I know how he found out about it. RIP

I'll never get tired of the Four Freshmen!!! As I mentioned the other day in the thread about the 1957 Monk Coltrane Riversides, I think that over the years I have overdosed on Monk. I just don't find him as exciting as I did years ago. I enjoy this 1957 Riversides set, but I'm sure that everyone here enjoyed the Carnegie Hall tapes more than I did. Don't dislike the CD, but don't listen to it very much either.

I saw Michael Franks when he was touring to promote his second Reprise album. Not too many years later, I saw in the store an Australian LP which apparently was taken from the tour. It was never released in the US. I didn't pick it up, and mildly regretted not doing so for years. Last December I picked up the Australian CD of that album from Amazon for $25 as I recall. It still has never been issued on a US label to my knowledge.