GA Russell

md, so far this thread has received 361 views, so I can't be the only guy here who enjoys ballads compilations. Besides, 50s jazz is my favorite jazz, and Prestige and Riverside are my favorite 50s jazz labels. So I'm going to be predisposed to be interested to see what Concord does with the material they have purchased. When I get a CD that is hot off the press, I enjoy sharing my views about it, and all comments are welcome. Isn't that what a jazz discussion board is all about?

Chet Baker Plays for Lovers is a perfect gift for a Valentine who doesn't have any jazz in her collection. There are eleven tracks, totalling 52 minutes. At least ten of the eleven songs are standards (I'm not familiar with a song called Lonely Star.). The cuts are taken from six different albums. Two tracks are taken from the Mulligan Quartet's first recording date (for Fantasy in January of '53), including the hit which put Baker on the map, My Funny Valentine. Seven are taken from Riverside dates of the late 50s. And two are from the 1965 marathon session recorded for Prestige. Three of the Riverside cuts are vocals. There's not a bad selection in the bunch, although I can understand those who don't like his singing. However, 52 minutes of melancholia can be a little too much. There is nothing here which would alienate your Valentine, and much which would appeal to her. As for yourself, I recommend that you first get the Mulligan Fantasy date for its historical significance. After that, you might find this set particularly enjoyable on Sunday afternoons when you want to enjoy some quiet time. edit for typo

Apropos, each of these has a sticker which says, "Timeless music that sets the mood."

Next up...Bill Evans Plays for Lovers. For me the quality of Bill Evans' work was a straight line downhill. I love his Riversides; I like his Verves; and his Fantasies don't grab me. Fortunately, Plays for Lovers is 52 minutes of Riverside material. There are 11 songs, taken from 8 albums. Six of the songs are by the LaFaro Motian trio. Four are other trios, and one is solo piano. Every song is a standard, if you include Blue in Green. This is an excellent album. I recommend that you buy it for yourself unless you plan to get the albums the songs came from. I believe that all of Evans' Riverside albums are available as OJCs. Evans maintained a consistent mood throughout the 60s, and I can't say that this album is any better than any of his other Riversides. Like all of his Riverside work, it's a little on the dry side. For that reason, I would say that as far as giving this to your Valentine goes, if she already likes jazz and is ready to move up I would definitely recommend this. But if she is a newbie who doesn't yet have a passion for jazz, this might be too dry for her. edit for spelling

That's the one!

I read a book last year called Purgatory and the Means to Avoid It by a French priest named Martin Jugie. It was very moving, and one of the three best I read in 2005. I've been praying for my parents and deceased relatives daily ever since.

LOL! The Coltrane is backordered. I received today my Miles package. They sent me the wrong box! I received the Jack Johnson box instead of the IASW box. I already have the Jack Johnson with the metal spine. I notified them right away. We'll see how long it takes for me to get the IASW Sessions.

I'm not sure that the number of illiterate people is growing. It looks to me like more illiterate people are attending college than in the past.

By the way, when I visited the CD Universe website the week before last, located in the prime spot (top row, upper left) of the featured albums on the site's main page was Tony Bennett Sings For Lovers. I assume that the record companies pay to have their albums featured there, as I know that they pay Borders to have their CDs placed on the endcaps and in the listening posts. So it's nice to see that Concord is putting a little promotional money behind this series.

My bundle has arrived. I've been thinking about Ghost's insight regarding jazz lovers and jazz likers, and I've decided to comment on the albums I've received with the two groups in mind. I'm going to assume that you are the jazz lover, and your Valentine is a jazz liker. First up...Dave Brubeck Plays For Lovers. This has 11 songs, totalling 52 minutes. Nine were recorded for Fantasy in the 50s, and two for Concord in the 80s. [edit: Ten of the eleven songs are standards. The tracks are taken from seven different albums.] If you are not familiar with Brubeck's work for Fantasy, I can recommend Jazz at Oberlin and Jazz at the College of the Pacific. I got both from BMG, but they are not available from them anymore. Of the nine Fantasy tracks, only three feature Paul Desmond. The other six are solo piano. I think this was a mistake. Brubeck's touch on the keyboard is not romantic. I think your Valentine will consider the music to be too dry to enjoy. I think you will find it boring. I'm sure that I will play this album from time to time, but I consider it to be a disappointment.

This interests me. I met Dave Holland in February of 1970, and I asked him who in Europe was good, and he said John Surman. So the recording you mention was I suppose the sort of thing Holland had in mind.

It's been years since I've heard it, but I have a recording of Sue Raney singing Emily. I believe that the album is called Sue Raney Sings Johnny Mandel or something similar. As I recall it was on the Discovery label. Sorry I can't be of more definitive help.

I was browbeaten into lending a CD once. Naturally, I never saw it again. I won't make that mistake again. If I ever lend a CD in the future, I won't expect to ever see it again.

Because of this discussion, I pulled out the first disc of the VV box and played it tonight. As so often happens, I found that my perception of the disc had been colored by my dislike of an early track. In this case, I don't much go for the first two tracks, but like the remainder. I ordered One Down from BMG for $9.99, so for that price I can afford to take a chance and find out what all the talk is about.

Thanks for the tip. Since my One Down, One Up was backordered anyway, I cancelled the Your Music order at $11.98 and placed the BMG order at $9.99. An easy way to save two dollars, which I'm sure they'll get for something!

Is Jazzanova - The Blue Note Trip merely a compilation of Blue Note sides (in which case I might be interested), or are the songs remixed by DJs (in which case, I wouldn't)?

Mine too. I was surprised to see that because One UP, One Down is the Jazz page's Featured Album.

Paul Desmond, disc 4 Never get tired of this set. It's my favorite Mosaic.

This happened to me last month. My CD was shippped on the ninth, it arrived a few days later, and then I received an email saying that it was shipped on the 17th! However, I have not received an extra CD nor have I been billed twice (yet). So I would recommend that you not worry.

I'm listening to the Pacific Jazz CD Trio, which combines a Russ Freeman 1953 date and a Richard Twardzik 1954 date. I believe that the Freeman date was recorded the same day as (and following) the trio's backing Chet Baker. In college I had the Twardzik date on an LP entitled The Last Set. I found it in a trash can! I had never heard of him before, but I retrieved it to give it a listen, and never threw it away. Anyway, I believe that both of these are included in the Pacific Jazz Trios Mosaic Select. (edit for typo)

Happy Birthday!

I received this email today from my sister, about three of her children: Charles called a few minutes ago: he, E-J (who had a four day weekend and came to Pgh. to visit family and friends), and Anne were driving across the Homestead Bridge toward a shopping center when they spotted Jerome Bettis beside them in a Bentley. They all waved excitedly, and he gave them the thumbs up. It happened that "the Bus" was going to same shopping center--to have lunch at P.F. Chang's. So our kids got out of the car and went over to greet him and to tell him "good job" in yesterday's game. He smiled.

Happy Birthday!

I've just placed my order for both of them. Stephanie Z will just have to wait. Thanks for your input!

This sad news touches me more than the usual news of passings. I am more emotionally attached to the Prestige label than the others, because my first hard core jazz record was on Prestige; my favorite jazz record was on Prestige; my favorite jazz is from the 50s, and my favorite 50s jazz label is Prestige; when I was in college, I purchased mono Prestiges for only $1.99 both in the stores and via mail order from the label, etc. - lots of good memories. Bob Weinstock put out a huge number of great albums at an unusually young age. I guess he was at the right place at the right time in the 50s, but he also had the good sense to proceed with what he was doing. RIP