GA Russell

Happy Birthday!

All right! Way to go!

I am really, really saddened to see this. Not only did I love his work, but his music was a part of my youth. RIP

Chick Corea has a new album out called The Ultimate Adventure. As everyone knows, Corea is an enthusiastic supporter of Scientology. Last year he made an album called To the Stars, which was his musical interpretation of an L. Ron Hubbard science fiction novel by that name. Now Corea has given us his impressions of a Hubbard fantasy novel called The Ultimate Adventure. Apparently the novel takes place in southern Spain, northern Africa and Arabia. Corea flavors much of the album with the exotic sounds of these regions, and with the pulsating rhythms (the cliche "pulsating rhythms" is apt here) of sub-Saharan Africa. There are 19 tracks, totalling 73 minutes of music. All of the music is instrumental. There is no apparent connection to Scientology. There are no hummable melodies. There are three aspects emphasized: Corea's electronic keyboards, flute by Hubert Laws and Jorge Prado, and percussion by among many others Airto Moreira and Steve Gadd. The core of the musicians is Corea's current group called Touchstone - drums, percussion, bass and sax/flute joining Corea's keyboards. There are many guest artists playing on various cuts. The result is The Zawinul Syndicate light. Somewhere between Joe Zawinul and Klaus Doldinger's Passport. Sevety-three minutes is a lot, and the first time I played it I lost interest with about 20 minutes to go. Since then I have been playing it as background music, and I have not found myself tiring of it. My favorite Corea is his playing on the acoustic piano standards of bebop and other recognizable tunes. This is nothing like that. You might find it an interesting change of pace from what you usually listen to. Don't let the Hubbard connection turn you off. It has no relevance to your enjoyment of the music. I can imagine that all the Scientologists are going to want to buy this, though!

OK, at this point there are 438 views, so I have sent the link to this thread to Concord/Fantasy, and they will be free to consider the suggestions given. Thanks for your input!

I was a pre-schooler when my sister had the Polly Bergen record, so I couldn't say really. I do seem to recall that she put some emotion into some of the songs. This Sandy Stewart record is quiet, as I mention above, and not at all theatrical, so I suppose just about anyone would be more theatrical! I haven't gone back to Charlap Stewart CD, so I suppose that means it didn't impress me all that much. I'm sure I'll play it in the future. edit for typo

Herbie Nichols disc 1 I've enjoyed this more since Chuck pointed out how much he sounded like Mose Allison did.

Happy Birthday!

I may be wrong, but I don't think any Fantasy items have been added since Concord acquired the company. On the other hand, we have seen items from Savoy, Mack Avenue and ECM. Personally, I'd prefer the Fantasy. I saw so little from Verve in the past year, it makes me wonder if they are still in the business!

What years did that show run? Berrigan, as I recall it was on from Sept. '61 through August '63. Perhaps I have shifted the years back by one, but that's about right.

It's been a long time since I've played ESP from the Miles 60s Quintet box, so I've pulled it out today. You may disagree, but I think I would place this LP as the dividing line in Miles' career, rather than Bitches Brew as is often done.

I remember him as Leo Schnauzer on Car 54. As I recall, his wife Sylvia was played by Charlotte Ray. That was a very big show its first year. Yet it was cancelled after its second. I never understood why. It's possible that the scripts went downhill quickly. I was too young to pick up on such things. But a popular show usually can last more than a year after its scripts jump the shark. Witness Get Smart. edit for typo

relyles and Bright Moments, thanks for those links! I don't know why they didn't show up in my search, but they're what I had in mind.

Lazaro, I met Polly Bergen in 1975! I had a part time job in the wine and cheese section of a department store in suburban Wasington, and she was making the rounds of the store because she was introducing something she was connected with (I think perfume). When I was little, my older sister had an album of hers called Bergen Sings Morgan - all Helen Morgan songs. She was nice when I met her. I didn't have anything to say to her, but she would have engaged in a conversation with me if I had.

It's going to be hard to encourage Concord/Fantasy to reissue Milestones from the 70s if akanalog is the only one who has suggestions.

Here are my reviews of the Dianne Reeves and Nnenna Freelon albums. http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...3&hl=Good+Night Thumbs up on the Reeves, thumbs down on the Freelon. I listen to the Reeves fairly often. I never go back to the Freelon. Here's the lengthy thread on the Sonny Rollins: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...l=Sonny+Rollins I still like it a lot. I would have nominated the album rather than just the solo, but I hope he wins.

Paul Motian has received a great deal of press lately, so for my next one I thought I would go with... Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano - I Have the Room Above Her A lot of people liked it last year, and I'm curious about it. I'm a little bit skeptical, thinking that it would be better with a bass.

John, I love this one! I play it a lot.

I don't get it. What's your problem with Milestone?

My favorite is a black and white one from the 50s called The Wrong Arm of the Law. Anybody else see that one?

Curtis Fuller disc 1 I've never warmed up to this, but I listen to it from time to time. It's not bad, but I don't think it's up to Mosaic standards.

The owner of the Fillmore West and Filmore East was Bill Graham.

I don't know how I could live without it. I try to go through my entire collection every year. The past few years there have been too many for me to listen to every one, but I come pretty close - maybe 85%. If I had to start over again, I'd miss the diversity.

This is due out on Valentine's Day. I see that CD Universe says: List price $19.98. Their price $16.89. Pre-order price $13.99. I received this press release email not long ago: On October 2, 1959, pianist RED GARLAND and his all-Philly trio--bassist Jimmy Rowser and drummer Charles "Specs" Wright--held forth at a Harlem nightery called the Prelude. They delivered three swinging sets, which were captured for Prestige by engineer Rudy Van Gelder (and producer Esmond Edwards) in the label's first location recording. Due for release 2/14 is a two-CD package--"At the Prelude"--that presents the full results of the trio's work that night. The Prelude material--about two and a quarter hours of music--was originally issued by Prestige in somewhat scattered fashion, spread over four albums that appeared between the '60s and early '80s. Its first "complete" treatment had to wait until 2003, when a three-disc box including four previously unissued tracks came out in Japan. This new set contains all the music heard in the Japanese version, plus new notes by writer Joe Goldberg. "At the Prelude" is prime Garland. edit for typo

I drive an '87 Toyota Camry, with 111,000 on it. A four cyl engine with few options. It runs great. So far it's been the most reliable car I've ever owned.