ghost of miles

Posting this here because I'm doing an online drive for Night Lights to try to help my station make up a large shortfall in our budget. If you listen to the show regularly or periodically, or even if you've heard just a few programs but feel like they've given you something of value, please consider contributing to the Night Lights drive: Night Lights: 25 Reasons to Give $25 ...and you can give lower, and you can certainly give higher if you want to. (We throw in a Blue Note RVG of your choice at the $60 level.) Many thanks to the board member who's already contributed. Very grateful in general for all of the support folks here have shown for the show over the past several years.

The inspiration/idea to do this show, iirc, came from reading Larry Kart's book--a book any jazz fan should read in general, but in this case particularly the passages I cite on the Young Wynton program page. IMO these early recordings would appeal to many lovers of classic hardbop/straightahead jazz (which describes a fair-ish amount of this board, I think) and/or even those who would normally avoid Marsalis recordings. Although I alluded in the show to WM's post-1982 development as both musician and personality/jazz spokesperson, the intent was to attempt to focus primarily on the music that he was a part of during his first years on the jazz scene, at a point before his image became such a large element of any discussion about him.

Thanks for the thanks, desertblues--particularly glad you enjoyed the "Cafe Society" show, which was a lot of fun to put together.

Thanks for posting, Larry--I'm a fan, as you know. Looking forward to hearing the new one as well.

Better yet, some outrageous stories!

Artie Shaw? Any idea what the proposed set would cover?

Thanks for your reflections on these, Matthew--I'm hoping to eventually work my way through Merton's journals as well.

Charles Tyler, SAGA OF THE OUTLAWS (thanks for reissuing, Chuck!) and The Detroit Jazz Composers Ltd., HASTINGS STREET JAZZ EXPERIENCE (on LP).

Any word on whether or not a V. 14 might be in the works?

Excellent suggestion! I will make a note of this. Reminds me of a Doonesbury cartoon from the late 70s where Boopsie goes down to visit Graceland after Elvis' death. She's at a bouquet shop in Memphis, trying to order a flower arrangement for Elvis' grave-site. She gives a rather elaborate order to a harried-looking clerk, and then pauses at the end, saying, "But I want it to be...to be..." "Tasteful?" he inquires. She says yes, whereupon he turns to the back and yells, "Harry! Gimme an E-47, without the motor!" FWIW I'm really digging the OP set, and I think he's perhaps less "florid"--is that the word I'm looking for--then he is on the later Verve recordings. More E-47, without the motor...

I've raved elsewhere on this board about the 33 1/3 book series--there's now one out about Elliott's XO album: Elliott Smith's XO Pretty good--I think he ends up pushing back a bit too hard against certain aspects of ES's media image, although the critique itself is a worthy endeavor--and there's a lot of good background on how the songs for the album developed.

Just finished listening to disc 5 and had to chime in again that this is a remarkable set--Morgenstern's notes, the sound, and simply Armstrong himself, of course. It's given me a new sense of appreciation for this period of his career (been years since I listened to my old Definitive collections of the Decca material, and I don't remember being as enamored of it the first couple of times around).

Yes, thanks, should have mentioned him as well. Bill, that Hep CD (BENNY'S BOP) that I used for the show should still be available, if you're interested--it's a good complement to UNDERCURRENT BLUES. I think the Click CD is pretty hard to find these days (at least for a reasonable price).

I give this one high, high marks--definitely get it if you're at all into this genre: Spiritual Jazz: Esoteric, Modal and Deep Jazz From the Underground 1968-1977 ...and you can dance to it.

Many, many more, Bill, and thanks for all the great radio.

I decided to pay tribute to the Goodman centennial this week with a program devoted to his brief foray into bebop (1947-49): Benny Goodman's Bebop Interlude Mostly small-group, some big band, lots of Wardell Gray, plus appearances from Stan Hasselgard, Mary Lou Williams, and Fats Navarro. Broadcasting tonight at 10 p.m. EST on WFIU and tomorrow night at 10 p.m. EST on Blue Lake Public Radio, but it's already archived for online listening.

Appreciate the advice, CW. I'm probably going to send one more e-mail/make one more phone call and then simply leave a negative feedback rating. I just thought it was particular audacious to send me an e-mail claiming that the item was out of stock and then immediately relist it at a price $150 higher. In response to the original complaint that started the thread, it seems like Half.com's software just takes a little while to update the "lowest price" feature. Earlier today the Miller set was still showing $52 as lowest price, but now it's at $197 (the same set I "purchased," but relisted).

Sounds like this vendor (Woody's Books) has done this to other buyers before. I would definitely recommend not buying from this gentleman:

A VERY unhappy experience just now with a vendor on Half.com. Yesterday I received an update on my wishlist that the same anthology I'd been looking for earlier (OK, I'll 'fess up, it's the Complete Glenn Miller on Bluebird...yeah, yeah, I know) was now listed again at yet another remarkably low price, in "very good condition." I immediately purchased it and received a confirmation from the vendor. About half an hour ago, I received a message from the vendor that the item was "out of stock" and that I was being issued a refund. Just now I checked Half.com, and the same vendor has relisted the item in the same condition--for $150 more. I found the vendor's phone # on the Internet (evidently he's pulled this kind of thing before) and have left two phone and e-mail messages with him, asking that this item be sold to me for the original price listed. If I don't hear back from him, you can bet I'm going to leave a hell of a negative feedback response...but any other advice on what I should do, who I should contact at Half.com, etc.?

Finally got around to picking this one up and it certainly lives up to the plaudits bestowed upon it in this thread--one of the grooviest jazz organ albums I've ever heard.

Ornette was on Atlantic. The others are all Sony/ Columbia, and these are part of their Legacy bells-and-whistles reissues. Bingo--that's why no mention of GIANT STEPS either.

Seeing the new Star Trek movie sent me to Amazon in search of the original series on DVD, and I noticed that the new Blu-Ray edition for Season 1 gives you the option of watching the shows with the original 1960s effects, or in Lucas-style updated versions. I think I'd actually prefer the original, cheesy 60's effects...and therefore I may be on the verge of finally converting to Blu-ray. All Blu-ray players play DVDs as well, correct? Any recommendations on affordable brands/models?

I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and like you, David, I'm finding the sections on Johnson very interesting (reading the chapter about "Harlem Symphony" right now...man, I'd love to hear that 1939 transcription performance!). Some of the Ellington-related info is new to me as well (and I really need to track down the Mark Tucker article he refers to, "Genesis," on the sources of BLACK, BROWN AND BEIGE). Hoping to do a write-up for the Night Lights blog over the weekend.

Thanks for the update--glad to hear that this book's still happening.

A true cause for celebration. Thanks for everything you've given us--the music, this board, your friendship...none of them small things in the grand scheme of reckoning.