ghost of miles

I’ve been wanting to do a Night Lights Mel Powell show for years. It’s another one I need to get to sooner rather than later—starting to sink in more and more that my professional career, not to mention life, will not be infinite after all! It will focus primarily on his time with Goodman, his 1940s leader dates, and the mid-1950s Vanguard sessions. EDIT: well whaddaya know, next February 12 will be Mel Powell’s centennial. I do believe the time to do a show has arrived!

Belated thanks for this remembrance.

The two Dick Cary-George Wettling sides on disc 2 are a pleasant surprise to listen to—I don’t recall taking note of them when I skimmed over the online discography. Liking the Gene Schroeder that follows as well. I love the variety of artists on this set!

Pitchfork weighs in: Is the CD revival an actual thing?

Quite happy to have discovered earlier this week that these two titles had recently been reissued in Japan:

Saw the list of inductees via JazzTimes this morning and immediately thought, "Wow, Detroit is in the house!" Great news--happy for all of them and on your behalf as well.

It’s here!

Yes, as excellent as Mosaic itself is, their outsourced shipping vendor's service has been erratic just as you describe. I did get a tracking number this time and am expecting the set in the next day or so... excited to hear it and read the booklet. As I think I mentioned elsewhere I was a big fan of Rhino's Central Avenue Sounds mid-1990s box set, and this new Mosaic seems to overlap with that particular bop 'n jump musical realm of 1940s Los Angeles.

One more go-around this past week for Jazz Scene San Francisco.

Great album! Right now:

Ugh—I didn’t notice the disclaimer at the bottom of the article. That should be at the top. I despise this kind of stuff and will avoid the Discogs “blog” if it’s going to engage in it. (The marketplace part of the site remains an outstanding resource.) … or presented as such. The data in the article may be accurate, but the credibility of any such piece tanks for me when it turns out to be an advertorial.

The Discogs blog weighs in: Three trends that prove CDs are making a comeback

Last week’s Night Lights, a centennial tribute to arranger and composer Ralph Burns, is now up for online listening. It focuses on his early years with Woody Herman’s big bands and also includes sides made with Charlie Barnet, Serge Chaloff, Sam Donahue, Lee Konitz, and Ben Webster. Midcentury Maestros: Ralph Burns

I started it years ago but bogged down a bit, though I don’t think that’s to Marcus’ discredit… often happens when I’ve started too many books at once. I do recall being rather staggered at how much meaning Marcus could wring out of a simple chord choice or such. Going to give it another crack, given the subject matter and my respect for and enjoyment of what Marcus I’ve read.

The 6-CD Complete Basement Tapes? I have it and concur! In fact, taking it off the shelf as soon as I finish listening to the original release. (Also pulled out my Greil Marcus and Sid Griffin books about these Dylan/Band sessions, as I can feel a renewed obsession coming on.)

Bill and other UK posters would find this one of interest, methinks. Rob Young has also written an excellent book about 1960s/70s English folk music (Electric Eden) as well as a biography of the group Can; I have yet to read the latter, but given the quality of his other work, I’m sure it would be a worthy read as well. The Magic Box explores the strange and fascinating realm of 1950s-80s British television:

I remember this being quite a big deal when it came out..37 years ago?!? Wasn’t it one of the first major pop-rock box sets to be issued on CD?

I keep coming back to this one in recent years:

All quiet on the midwestern front here in Bloomington. No charge to my credit card or shipping notice yet. Sounds as if the pipeline is opening, though!

Both amazingly well-done productions. I actually ordered the British versions on DVD several years ago because they're complete, as opposed to the slightly-truncated episodes that aired on America's PBS.

You guys are too kind! The show has certainly benefitted from all the years I've spent hanging around this joint (going on 20, and 20+ if you count the old BNBB as the predecessor to this forum). Ralph Burns centennial program on the way tomorrow.