ghost of miles

What was the line-up at that point?

While making a jazz mix CD-R the other day I came to a point where I wanted some haunting, slightly melancholic/dreamy late-30's Ellington tune, and happened upon "Night Song" (from CHRON. CLASSICS 1939 V. 2) as my choice. It was a Cootie Williams small-group tune, with Juan Tizol as co-composer on that particular track. I realized that I tend to like just about every Tizol composition that I hear, but that I can--off the top of my head--identify only three: "Caravan," "Pyramid," and "Night Song." Any other fans of Tizol's work as either composer or player?

Man, I ordered both Selects, the Mulligan, and the Gene Krupa--they're all shipping together, so I'll probably get 'em in October. Just in time for vacation!

Well, not to turn this into an ex-Borders' employee thread or anything--but, to turn this into an ex-Borders' employee thread for a moment: I think I was happiest as a music clerk. I did SPOs, took care of the jazz section (and yes, got the cream of the promos), sorted the multimedia skids, and tended the music-book section. We had a great staff, a good manager, and I truly enjoyed going to work every day. Once I became music manager I was miserable for about three months, but after adjusting to it I was pretty happy doing that as well. I got along well with everybody who worked for me, and we all had expertise in one area or another, enough to give the department great balance in terms of customer service. The feeling became quite family-like--we even exchanged presents at Christmas-time each year. We were also obsessed with driving multimedia sales, and took great pride in watching our percentage of the store gross climb. I have generally fond memories of that time. After the company re-structured in 2001, morale plummeted at our store, and I left later that year to work at our university's library. Within six months six other employees followed me here, three of them former Borders managers--we've re-grouped. Re: the coupon, I wouldn't feel guilty about using it at all, unless you knew for sure that it had been doctored by a third party or non-co-op partner. I mean, if you kept returning & trying to work it a second, third, or fourth time with a new clerk and/or manager-on-duty, that would be slippery. Certainly as a manager I would have honored such a coupon, unless corporate had sent us a warning not to. Even then, if the customer seemed sincere, I still might honor it--if we screwed up, we screwed up. If it was proven to be a doctored phony, that would be a different scenario, different response.

Thanks for your memories & reflections, Chris. I had a feeling that you might have known him. What a tragedy--my source (David Baker's essay in JAZZ SHRINES) says he'd just given up his police gig the previous year to devote himself fulltime to music. I think he was only 33 when he died.

Came across another reference yesterday to J.J. Johnson's stint in Miles Davis' band around 1961 and '62. While I know J.J. recorded w/Miles in the 1950s, are there any airshots or bootlegs of him playing with Miles in the early 1960s? I'd be intrigued to hear anything that's out there...

I was introduced to this musician's fine vibraphone work via Oliver Nelson's NOCTURNE about a year ago or so. Recently, as I was re-visiting some of my Indiana jazz sources for a presentation, I learned that Winchester accidentally shot himself to death at one of the better black jazz bars in Indianapolis in 1961. I'm hoping to pick up some of his leader dates in the Fantasy catalog and wondered if anybody else had an opinion to share about this policeman-turned-musician.

Bro, you ol' fellow MOD, you! C'mon, man, suck it up, suck it up! Don't forget that buzzing sound that indicates eight skids of remainders have finally, belatedly arrived for that big tent sale that you need to set up by TOMORROW MORNING! No excuses--move it, man, move it! Oh, and btw, the cafe drawer's under by $200.

All right! Glad you got to use it, jacknife.

Hmm...maybe I just got lucky but the only thing the clerk said to me is "that's a darn good savings on this". This seems like one of those situations where we might require the assistance of some former Borders employees (Ghost? Berigan? etc.?) to throw a few clues our way so that we can positively identify the.....um, weakest link in the chain sort of speak, employee who'll not think twice about ringing up that little 40% jobber. B) Not sure what my erstwhile colleague & friend across the aisle would say, but I would recommend politely but firmly pointing out that this is a legitimate Borders coupon and that it clearly indicates 40% is to be taken off any item that isn't already discounted. (Actually, it doesn't clearly indicate that it's for a single item--at first glance it appears it could be for any number of items--but just put it that way.) Tell 'em you signed up for the Dell giveaway, even if you didn't. Ask to speak to the manager if they continue to refuse. Ask why Borders is putting out this coupon if they're not accepting it. Make negative noises about the corporation (ask for the customer care number if you want and then, when you're told that that service has been discontinued, get even more agitated). Raise your voice, wave a gun... just kidding. Steady, slightly irritated persistence usually pays off in the manager basically saying, "OK, yeah, just this once, whatever, let's just get rid of this guy!" At least that was my experience. Mr. B may have a different perspective.

Happy birthday, JC, and hope you're blowing in the cosmos somewhere. Much thanks for your love supreme.

Hey, thanks for the tip there, Berigan, I'll try to run it down. Did you ever snag any of those Heps?

The new catalog arrived today. I always scan Cuscuna's note to the customers first, to see if he drops any hints about forthcoming sets. In this one he says that if the new Mulligan set does well, they'll try to get access to all of Norman Granz's live tapes of the band. Hope so!

Yikes! Would keep me away if I were the thievin' kind!

It should work for a single item. I ended up using it last night to buy a birthday present for my brother and had no problems. However, they won't give you more than 20% off if you try to buy a DVD or DVD set with it.

Well, this much-loved CD arrived on Friday, and you're right that Quebec and Green aren't too prominent, although there's enough tasty playing from Ike to make me happy that I got it. I also happen to like Dodo Greene's voice, much more than I thought I would--but the arrangements have a workmanlike quality that gives the album a certain quality of sameness. I've listened to it only once so far, but about halfway through it does start to seem a bit static. However, I think it could be a grower, and I'm glad I got it. Interesting that Dodo is portrayed as a singer's singer in the liner notes--also interesting that the CD (like other Conns) tacks on a second session, its release presumably doomed by consumer indifference to the first. (Wasn't this the case w/the Sonny Red & Fred Jackson titles?)

Hey, that's great news, Vibes! I'll piggyback it on the Eldridge (assuming that that's out too), but either way I'll make sure to get it in time for December. My Christmas season just got even jazzier... hoping Santa puts Red Garland's COMP. PRELUDE & a few other choice imports under the tree this year as well.

I didn't realize that it's part of the forthcoming Select. Great! Guess I'll stick with playing the vinyl on-air this December, as that Pearson isn't due until January--is it? I'm always looking for "new" holiday music to spin.

Found an interesting title as I was perusing the radio-station vaults the other day... a 1969 Duke Pearson Christmas LP entitled MERRY OLE SOUL. The line-up includes Bob Cranshaw on bass, Mickey Roker on drums, and Airto Moreira on additional percussion. Here are the songs: Sleigh Ride The Little Drummer boy Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Jingle Bells Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Go Tell It On the Mountain Wassail Song Silent Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet--hoping to give it a spin next week. Maybe it's the sappy radio jock in me, but I actually like well-done Christmas jazz, and I really dig Pearson, so I'm hoping this one turns out to be a winner. Anybody, Pearson fans or otherwise, ever hear it?

So have all memberships registered since late May been voided? Bummer... I joined in early March, around the time of the BNBB debacle, but I noticed that several people who came later no longer show up on the member list. I'm sure they can just re-register--even if it necessitates a different handle--but it does seem a bit odd over there, as if the past four months never happened... OTOH all of Greg's recent political wisdom has vanished.

A friend showed me this site yesterday--interesting stuff. A sort of story/game that combines the steam-punk genre with Star Trek and the "what-if?" historical novel genre (this particular narrative posits that technological innovations allowed the British to retain and expand their 19th-century empire. It also incorporates storylines from Jules Verne). Steam-Trek

Until recently I've had no problems ordering from Deep Discount--not only have their prices been good, but items have usually shipped quickly and arrived within a week. Lately, though, everything I've ordered has been put on back order. I purchased a copy of the Eels' new CD for my wife and it took two months to arrive. Several jazz titles have been in a holding pattern for nearly a month now, still on backorder; of them all, only the new Hazel Scott Classics is one that I can imagine being difficult to get. Has anybody else encountered similar difficulties since mid-summer?

Patricia, Hope you still re-visit this jazz province from time to time, even if it is admittedly a little guysy. I've enjoyed your contributions and will look for you as "still life" on AAJ.

I just printed it out and may try my luck with the forthcoming Miles Jack Johnson box. Thanks for the link!

Is that one still readily available? I'm about to give up on a domestic RVG of it.