GA Russell

Thanks for posting this. I'm surprised Bill Frisell beat out Jim Hall.

Have Gun Will Travel

I used to have that problem, but it's been many months since I've made a purchase, so maybe that problem is over - if not in remission. I have many I haven't opened yet, mostly from the BMG record club.

Maybe the BMG record club will start to carry Concord products.

I start a new job in the country on Monday. It's a 45 minute drive away from the city (Raleigh) from where I live, which is another 45 minutes from the city. I prefer the relaxed living of the country. I definitely prefer to avoid the driving habits of urban dwellers, although the country drivers around here are pretty bad too.

Jim, I have an MPS CD entitled Two Originals, which is made up of two albums: Back Again from 1979 and The Hi-Lo's Now from 1981. Your guess that it was a post-Singer Unlimited reunion was correct. Perhaps you can order that CD from your favorite importer. I saw The Hi-Lo's in Atlanta in the mid-90s, and they still sounded great.

I'm with Moose. And what's a blendur?

I had the pleasure of seeing them at The Cellar Door, in early '72 as I recall. I also saw a quartet which included Maryann Price and Symphony Sid Page on The Gong Show once. They were great!

In regard to Twardzik, The Last Set also included The Girl From Greenland, a quartet number with Chet Baker which was released on the first Chet In Paris CD (which included an album's worth of Baker-Twardzik quartet material).

William Conrad, radio's (and the original) Marshal Dillon

Great question! It's fun to think about. I like all the answers. My inclination is to say Shorter, but there is plenty I still haven't heard of so many people.

I got ten. I guessed too many shemales.

My favorite is Disc One, with the arrangements. I like the other discs, but the West Coast sound is mostly on the first disc. I didn't realize the extent to which Shelly Manne appeared on Contemporary sides. He is on 12 of the first disc's 16 tracks.

I was thinking about Don Ellis, but I'm wondering if it all (or just about all) hasn't already been released on CD.

I enjoy listening to the Blue Note 45s Mosaic when I'm in the mood for something different from my usual.

I bought my first jazz record in Jan. of '66. Jazz became my main focus by the end of that summer.

Berrigan, I recommend that you look into a group called NASE - National Association of Self Employed. They sell group insurance to small businessmen. The company is owned by UICI, listed on the New York Stock Exchange as UIC. I know that they put in writing that they won't screw you after you file a claim, for what that's worth.

Another one of my favorites came to me last night. Herbie Mann - Standing Ovation at Newport, on Atlantic, with Chick Corea and Dave Pike. I notice that many of my favorites from this period are on Atlantic, or related labels Vortex and Embryo, both of which Herbie Mann controlled in some way.

Thanks Al!

Well said, Wesbed. I believe that the typical cable TV bill is about fifty dollars a month. I don't get cable TV, because there just isn't enough on it that interests me to justify paying anything for it. Even if you spent nothing else on CDs, think of how much great music you could purchase for fifty dollars a month. And the CDs will last indefinitely; they're not gone with the wind like television is.

I've been waiting for years for Super Soul to be released on CD. I'm curious about the Bley. I recall having an album of his on Limelight about 1970 which I think included some syntesizer. It was called Mr. Joy. So I'm curious regarding what year this Fantasy was recorded, and what label it was originally on. I don't recall ever seeing a Bley on Milestone before.

The other night I found an old favorite I hadn't heard since before the New Year: Don Ellis Orchestra - Live at Monterey! This was the Ellis band's first album, recorded at the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival. I still enjoy listening to it these many years later. The band had a gimmick - odd meters. One song is entitled "Beat Me Daddy, Seven to the Bar"!

Thanks guys! I see that the BMG Record Club is now offering Jackie's Bag, so I might pick that one up as well.

I remember the Mosaic box, but I've never heard a Tina Brooks album. Is there one considered better than the others?

I'm jealous!