ghost of miles

As a kid I was a big fan of the chocolate-fudge version.

Dan, inquiring Norahs want to know--does it feel like home? Congratulations. Good thing you've got a large backyard, too. The house looks nice & roomy, but you know in a few years you'll need to be adding on the "Jazz Annex 2" wing.

Mark--I'd say the Hampton Sisters and the David Baker Quintet came close to burning down the Waldron last night. Aletra Hampton in particular was on fire--more energized than at the IHS tribute last November. (She's 88--man! Virtue is 82.) And the David Baker Quintet was amazing. I heard Lida Baker say to somebody that it had been a long, long time since Baker & Young had played together, and I think that's the happiest I've seen David Baker onstage in awhile. Young did a tour de force solo on "In a Sentimental Mood" that brought him a near-standing, extended ovation. Deno Sanders on drums played with his usual edgy power, and Luke Gillespie continues to be my favorite Indiana-based pianist. A great, great night, one of the best jazz nights out I've had in a long time. The Waldron sold out and a number of people were turned away at the door. I think it was the Topper in 1960 for David B. all over again! David delivered a pre-concert lecture on Indiana Avenue that was interesting and informative, and I talked to him afterwards. I asked him to sign my copy of STRATUSPHUNK, and he said, "Damn, man, where did you find that?" (I think he thinks it's OOP.) He signed it and said, "Show that to David (Young), man, he'll flip out!" I didn't get to see David Young till after the Hampton Sisters set, though. He was really nice, signed it for me, and initially was hesitant about doing an interview for the series sometime--"I never know what to say, man," he said. "Pookie (who was standing next to him) can tell you, just the other night I turned around and some guy was shoving this microphone into my face saying 'What do you think about this?' and 'What's up with that?'" But then he said, "Just look me up in the book, we can do it." I really want to bring his name forth more in the Indiana series. BruceH--I've toyed with the idea. Duncan Scheidt has written an excellent book called THE JAZZ STATE OF INDIANA; its focus is more on early jazz. David Baker has long been at work on a book about Indiana Avenue, and there's another buff/enthusiast/amateur scholar who's supposedly writing one as well. (There have also been several dissertations done throughout the years.) I think at this point I consider myself extremely fortunate to have the series to work on--but I would like to write some articles about Indiana jazz for Traces, the Indiana Historical Society's magazine, and that may come about soon.

Weizen must have posted his 2004 electoral map by mistake.

Excellent to see you back, Mike! I caught David Baker & David Young performing together in Bloomington last night--they each signed my copy of STRATUSPHUNK. How's the HG project coming along?

It sure is, ain't it, Berigan? Thank God the young whippersnappers like you and me can still lob a few--er, uh... oops. Hey, Wesbed, happy b-day, and thanks too for your aggressive advocacy last year regarding the Organissimo board. As I recall, you took the lead in promoting it to those of us still flailing in the water as the BNBB went down.

Teddy Powell, RIDIN' THE SUBWAYS Paul Gonsalves, GETTIN' TOGETHER Chico Hamilton, THE DEALER Dave Brubeck, DAVE DIGS DISNEY Dodo Marmarosa, DODO'S BACK Blanche Calloway, 1925-1935 The Three Sounds, OUT OF THIS WORLD

Alexander, be sure to check out WITNESS as well, Douglas' album that was influenced by Edward Said. Much talk there from Douglas about his--er, ideological leanings. I won't say more outside of the politics forum! Forgot to mention that I'm coming off a huge Paul Gonsalves binge. Just went nuts on Gonsalves CDs (outside of the Ellington orchestra) for quite awhile...

I'm curious as well. Just ordered You 'n Me to fulfill my BMG obligation... it was "Buy 1, get 3 free," so I thought I'd take a chance on Al & Zoot.

Leeway, here are a couple of earlier threads: Boogaloo1 Boogaloo2 (although the second thread contains only one review, per se... mostly anticipation and/or discussion of Smith)

Thanks for posting this, Bol. I've long hoped for a Mosaic treatment of the Giuffre material (I have only the twofer w/Konitz and THE EASY WAY). Not familiar with either the Brookmeyer or Mulligan, but I'd love to be!

Obit from the Indpls. Star:

Nice interview with Hamid Drake in the new issue of Cadence. I met him once, and there's a real radiance to the man that comes through in this interview (and in his playing as well, obviously!).

Oh my God... I had not heard that. I'm sure it will be announced at the concert tonight. I just saw him play not all that long ago. He played with Charlie Parker in Jay McShann's band (told me a story last summer about doing nutmeg with Bird when Bird wasn't able to score!). That's so sad. Damn.

I've always found Bud Powell's version especialy moving and a little disturbing. Yes. Powell's version is quite haunting and one of the better later Verve sides IMO.

My sentiments exactly! Butler was amazing--in fact, I remember feeling a bit jealous at how much my girlfriend ooed and ahhed about him afterwards. And the MIRROR MOVES songs came across quite well live, better than on the record, as you said. They opened with "India," which was just a killer anthem (the intro even more drawn out, I think, than it was on the original PSYCH FURS album) and ended with an extended "Forever Now"... "The Ghost in You" also received a longer treatment as well. That show remains one of my favorites from that era.

Eric, This sounds to me like a scene described in Richard Boyer's 1944 New Yorker profile of Ellington, "The Hot Bach," which is reprinted in THE ELLINGTON READER.

Yep--they will definitely get mentioned, as will Eddie Condon, who was also born here. Also Jack Purvis, the Condoli Brothers, Claude Thornhill, and, of course, Hoagy Carmichael.

Found used on my dinner break: David Fathead Newman, IT'S MISTER FATHEAD, for $13 (one copy listed on Amazon for $55 right now) and the TOJC of the Three Sounds' OUT OF THIS WORLD for $7.99 (going new for $37).

Claude Thornhill, Joe Mooney, and Duke Ellington have been getting the most play of late. Thornhill because I recently picked up most of the Heps and have long wanted to explore his music comprehensively. Mooney because I stumbled across a reference to him in Gunther Schuller's THE SWING ERA and grew very intrigued (I have the two late-40's Heps); never thought I'd be digging an accordion-led jazz quartet! Very hip stuff and "idiosyncratic," as Joe Milazzo put it. Ellington because I just finished a special on him, and because those three Sony Legacy re-issues just came out, and because... well, I can never hear too much Duke.

No, no, that's exactly what I had in mind... I forgot about Prima's involvement with THE JUNGLE BOOK, and I'm not sure I knew about Peggy Lee's involvement with LADY AND THE TRAMP. I'll try to run down that material as well. Thanks, Simon.

Uh--we were too late! All 30,000 spots have been reserved. I am now mini-training for 2005, and that's coming along fine. Up to 3 miles a day, 4-5 days a week--should be well on pace for May of next year!

Just found a used copy of the old 32 Jazz 4fer (?) on my dinner break and am listening to PRESENTS. Livin' up to the hype!

Oh...my... God. That is the album I was trying to think of last night! There's a longtime trumpeter here in B-town, a guy named David Miller, who is a real Ra freak--I think he might have this. I'll run it by him. Thanks, man, one way or another there will definitely be some Disney Ra on this show!

Wow--I'll see if I can track that down. Thanks!