ghost of miles

Glad you enjoyed it, mikelz777. Did you see this thread yet? Jsngry's comments inspired me to pull out those early 1950s Desmond/Brubeck Fantasy CDs that he mentions for some weekend listening.

Braxton sings Desmond's praises in Graham Lock's Forces In Motion, iirc. I also seem to remember reading that Desmond really, really did not care for Joe Morello's presence in the Brubeck Quartet and nearly quit over it--perhaps that accounts in part for the difference, Jim? Ironically enough, given this discussion, we're airing a Night Lights show devoted to Desmond's post-Brubeck work (though it does include one of the 1975 duets with DB) this week. It's already archived for online listening: After Brubeck: Paul Desmond 1968-1977 A quote from Stuart Nicholson about Desmond's solo on on "Wendy" from the Live record with guitarist Ed Bickert, who seemed to have an inspirational effect on PD: "It is assembled in a way similar to constructing a house of cards. Each fragile phrase is laid out, one on top of the other, the melodic continuity of his ideas wholly dependent on the relationship of what has preceded it. It creates a beguiling tension in that the further his solo progresses, the greater the chance that the next card he lays might bring the whole crashing to the ground. It never happens, of course; instead he assembles a series of quietly beautiful ideas that are the essence of his art."

This week's Night Lights show focuses on the recordings that saxophonist Paul Desmond made after the Dave Brubeck Quartet broke up at the end of 1967. Desmond biographer Doug Ramsey joins me to talk about Desmond's life and music in those years, and we'll hear recordings that Desmond made as both a leader and a sideman with Chet Baker and the Modern Jazz Quartet, as well as a reunion duet with Brubeck: After Brubeck: Paul Desmond 1968-1977

Just loving this guy--new Core Four, here we come! Why Greg Bird's coming-out party is no surprise to Yankees Greg Bird 4, Twins 3 So glad that NY did not deal him or Severino (who's also been great, just no run support whatever so far when he's pitched) or Aaron Judge to land Price, Cueto or Hamels. Wonderful turnaround by the Yanks in the past week after that dismal stretch in early August... I think they and the Jays are going to go down to the wire for the AL East title.

We always filed her under jazz in the two record stores where I worked.

Last week's Night Lights show focused on the diverse body of work that Nina Simone recorded for RCA in the late 1960s and early 70s, interpreting songwriters from Hoagy Carmichael to Jimmy Webb, offering civil-rights commentary through songs such as "Backlash Blues" and "I Wish I Knew How It Feels To Be Free," and incorporating folk, pop, rock and soul into her repertoire. You can listen to it here: Here Comes The Sun: Nina Simone On RCA

The Condon/Freeman Decca & Commodore Mosaic.

It really is too bad that the Selects and Singles weren't financially sustainable; so much excellent material that came out in both of those series.

Another recent Night Lights program, exploring pianist Herbie Hancock's powerful emergence on the 1960s jazz scene, up for online listening: Maiden Voyage: Herbie Hancock In The 1960s

Epic collapse by the Yankees in the past week, and it's all at the hands of the suddenly non-existent offense. For all of the concerns about pitching, the starters have been stellar, and the bats absolutely abysmal. Toronto won their 11th straight today and will be facing NY at home this weekend, with a chance to open up a decent division lead going into the last few weeks of the season.

We re-aired "The Scene Changes: The Life and Music of Bud Powell, Part 2" last week on Night Lights, and it remains archived for online listening: The Scene Changes: The Life And Music Of Bud Powell, Part 2

This past April Night Lights aired a show devoted to Billie Holiday's 1950s recordings for Norman Granz, in honor of her centennial. That program is now up for online listening: Late Lady: Billie Holiday On Verve In The 1950s

Can anybody speak to the worthiness of this compilation? Bossa Jazz: Birth of Hard Bossa, Samba and Brazilian Fusion I got the earlier entry in this series and was pleased with it--thinking about picking this one up as well.

Great debut for Severino tonight, spoiled by terrible support from NY, with an unearned run caused by Headley's throwing error and the hitters being handcuffed throughout the game by Boston's Wright. Still, heartened to see him so do well in his first game... NY's going to need him, with Toronto and Baltimore coming on strong. Yep, the AL East is going to get real interesting over the next few weeks--starting this weekend, when the Jays come to town for a three-game series. If they hold on tonight they'll only be 4.5 games back of NY.

Was the experience in any way akin to this? Stonehenge

Happy birthday, Satchmo! We recently re-aired this program, and it remains archived for online listening: It's All In The Game: Louis Armstrong 1947-1957

We re-aired Time Flies: The Life and Music of Bud Powell, Part 1 last week, and it remains archived for online listening.

Listening right now to the Piano Moods set, which put me in mind of this topic. What sets do you think were/are worthy of more attention?

Severino just got promoted, and he doesn't have an innings limit after all: Severino will start next week against Red Sox

Pineda just landed on the DL... hoo boy. Plus Severino has only 50 innings left on his season limit, so even if he comes up and does well, he's probably good at most for 7-8 starts. I think NY will still likely make it into the playoffs this year, but I can't see the rotation in its current state carrying us far at all. Still glad we didn't give up any of the top prospects, though.

Exactly what I was thinking, Paul--and Price will want a similar contract, I'm sure. We got several invaluable seasons out of CC, but as Dan Gould observed years ago, his decline was predictable. ...and looks like it's over--a report now that the Jays have indeed landed Price: Blue Jays land David Price It's going to be an interesting last two months in the AL East.

I'm simply hoping that the Yankees don't give up any of the potential "New Core Four" (Severino, Judge, Bird, and Sanchez or Mateo) to land David Price. Can't imagine how they'd get him without yielding at least one of those players plus perhaps Nova. Also, Price becomes a free agent at the end of this season, is 30 years old, and will undoubtedly want a long-term contract. As uncertain as the Yankees' rotation is at this point (Pineda inconsistent, Tanaka somewhat fragile, CC a disaster against righthanded hitters, Eovaldi decent but rarely able to go more than 5 or so innings), I would rather see NY bring up Severino than give away the future for a rental. Looks as if I may not have to worry--can switch my concern to the Blue Jays loading up for a run at the AL East title or a wild-card spot: Blue Jays making major push for David Price

What do you think, Jim? Good move for the Rangers? I don't know anything about the prospects that they gave up, but seems like a good one... they get Hamels under contract while he's still in his prime for what, two-three more years?

Holy crap... Cole Hamels to Rangers, didn't see that one coming: Phillies trade Hamels to Rangers

God, this set looks absolutely incredible.