ghost of miles

BOO, etc.

Now playing: Philly Joe Jones, BLUES FOR DRACULA

I know the Brookmeyer and Shank/Cooper Selects are slated for January, or thereabouts. Any confirmation on regular or Select sets to follow (that goes beyond Alan's site listings)? At one point I heard that the Woody Herman Columbia was targeted for the spring...

Ha-cha-cha! This one will definitely be appearing in my "December listening" posts.

This board hipped me to this artist, and Steve Schwarz hipped me indirectly to his new release, which I just got as a promo a couple of days ago. Pelt plays in a quartet setting on some tracks (Mulgrew Miller, Peter Washington, Lewis Nash); on some tracks they're augmented by a string quartet and/or guitar. Nice selection of tunes by Mingus, Pepper Adams, Jimmy Rowles, Ellington ("Don't You Know I Care," a nice solo flugelhorn performance); nothing that's been done into the ground. I hear traces of Lee & Woody influence, but the guy really does seem to be developing his own sound & voice. A very laidback CD; I'm going to check out INSIGHT later on. Always great to discover a young, promising artist--thanks to youse guys for pulling my coat!

EASY PIECES was my Lloyd Cole poison of choice, Tony. I saw him at the Vogue in Indpls. circa '91 and got drunk to his records a few times as well ("Why I Hate Country Music," anyone?). Throwing Muses were a big influence on Arson Garden, a Bloomington band started by a friend of mine that met with some middling indie success before succumbing to bad label luck. I saw them open for R.E.M. on, good Lord, was it the GREEN tour? (Yes, yes, I was still following them at that point, but my heart belongs to the I.R.S. years.)

Still reading PRESS BOX RED, but now I have a work book started... I tend to have a book that I read while eating breakfast, a book that I read while sitting in my study, and one that I read while taking breaks at work. A little crazy that way! In any case, I am starting James Ellroy's WHITE JAZZ for the third time. I've blitzed through most of his other books, but for some reason the style is SO amphetamine-jagged in this one that I always end up putting it down after about 50 pages. I figure that reading it in short bursts at work might just do me the trick of getting through it.

Coming next in the Rhino Handmade Series:

Hey, I've seen Aebersold play a few times at Bear's Place here in Bloomington--they do a series called "Jazz Fables" every Thursday night. Heard it for the first time (as in purchased an LP & listened to it) when I was 19. Got religion around age 26. Still in the church & ain't leavin'.

Jeremy Pelt, CLOSE TO MY HEART Elvis Costello, NORTH Cassandra Wilson, GLAMOURED Harry James, Mosaic disc 7 Count Basie, AMERICA'S #1 BAND (all of it)

All I can say is that this makes me less than optimistic about 2004. In any case, nothing Steinbrenner does will make a difference regarding the Yanks' fate in the WS--he's better off doing all he can to help a Democrat win the presidency so that NY has a chance in 2005. Beware the curse of the GOP!

The "King of Pain":

Nope. That's one I meant to mention, Paul. Haven't listened to it in awhile, but it made a strong impression when I first encountered it.

Ah, yep, Nate, you beat me to it with those two suggestions, in addition to Chuck's recommendation of AN IMAGE (one of my faves). Might I also toss Bob Graettinger's work with Kenton into the mix?

Krupa/James Mosaic, discs 5-6 World Saxophone Quartet, DANCES & BALLADS (beautiful!) David Murray, OCTET David Murray, BIG BAND Lennie Tristano, INTUITION (Capitol)

Just, for God's sake, man, whatever you do, don't drink or think about babes!

Stretchin' my toes out by the hot-stove w/Irwin Silber's PRESS BOX RED, the story of Commie-pinko ( ) sportswriter Lester Rodney, who covered sports for the Daily Worker, and who helped the push to eliminate the color line in professional baseball.

I just took a look at the roster of the '96 Yanks, and there were hardly any free agents on it. Again, almost all of the key players in the 1996-2000 run were either homegrown or acquired through trades. Yes, you could say that Steinbrenner "bought" the '77 and '78 titles, to some extent, by signing Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage. There were no players of similar significance acquired through free agency on the late-90s teams. (With the possible exception of Orlando Hernandez, who was signed away from Cuba, as opposed to another MBL team.) Ironically enough, Steinbrenner did sign some big-ticket players in the last couple of years--Mussina & Giambi--and hasn't won a Series since. I still think it was arrogant of Walker to say what he did, but that's a matter of personal judgement, I suppose. I just know that I would've been horrified if any of the Yankee players had said something similar.

I've heard that the re-mastering on it is excellent. (Malcolm Addey?) I just re-joined BMG (they always invite you back a week or two after you cancel your membership) and am going to nab this one in the second part of the buy-1-get-12 deal. Never heard the record, but it's supposedly prime late-50s Count.

Have yet to grab the Jack Johnson box, but VERY eager to hear this one, as I'm also a fan of the LIVE-EVIL material. Is any of the 1969 "Lost Quintet" material scheduled for release in this series?

There are a handful of Lennie sides that I still don't have from that era. I'll have to take a gander at that Proper box. Dakota Staton, some big-band LRG record from '73 that I just picked up from Barnes and Noble for $5.99 and can't remember the name of... but it's good. Luke Gillespie, FOOTPRINTS Jimmy Lyons, BOX-SET (disc 3) Don Ellis, A SIMPLEX ONE (Past Perfect re-issue of Candid title)

Well, I can't vouch for Yankee fans elsewhere--I speak only of those in this community, and it seems to me they've been nothing but respectful. As for arrogance (talking players here, not fans) it was a Red Sox player who famously said, "Nothing against the Marlins or Cubs, but whoever wins (the ALCS) will win the Series." And the "buying championships" line just doesn't wash for the mid-to-late 90's teams; most of those players were homegrown or acquired in trades. I don't think there's anything mysterious or puzzling about the roots of it; I just think it's boring & kind of mindless at this point, and that the current players/manager don't deserve it. I enjoy great sports rivalries, like the Yankees & the Red Sox, and I understand how fierce one's passion can be for a favored team. I've just never bought into the hatred trip (well, ok, came close to it with the Cowboys in football, who vacillated between calling themselves "America's team" and "God's team"--there's arrogance for you!).

hey, what am i, chopped liver? go back and read my "go marlins" posts! I'LL BE AT THE TICKER TAPE PARADE DOWN FLAGLER STREET ON TUESDAY!!!! Enjoy it, man! I'm sure it will be a blast. Can you imagine the way Beckett must be feeling? 23 and on top of the world...

My sentiments as well. I suppose some of the collective goodwill here may come from the BNBB roots of many members, but nothin' wrong with roots, you know. And I think Jim & co. have made all kinds of efforts to make this an open, friendly, welcoming board to anybody who comes here. I certainly hope it continues to sustain itself and grow--not only has it furthered and enhanced my love of jazz, but it's also led to several friendships for which I'm grateful. Internet communities continue to really intrigue me; earlier this week, when Elliott Smith committed suicide, I instantly found several people here who were as saddened by it as I was. And when you go to the Sweet Adeline fansite, my God, it's an ongoing, collective outpouring of grief, eulogising, virtual hugs, etc.; it's clear that that board is helping a lot of people who were profoundly upset by the sudden, unexpected death of an artist they loved. I've been thinking about this ever since an exchange of PMs w/Impossible re: the death of Smith, who was the same age as Charlie Parker (34) when he killed himself. How quickly did news of Parker's death travel in 1955? How did Parker fans cope? Probably a topic for another thread...