papsrus

Don't know this band, but I'm familiar with Shepik and have an interest in so-called Balkan jazz, or more generally Eastern European influenced music -- which eventually leads to Middle Eastern influenced music and beyond. It's a fascinating area out there on the fringes a bit, I think. Dave Douglas' Tiny Bell Trio, with Shepik on guitar, falls generally into this category. His "Songs for Wandering Souls," "Constellations," and "Tiny Bell Trio" albums are each worth looking into. The other thing is the different instrumentation used in some of this music, with accordion and strings, violin, sometimes playing a roll. I have only glancing familiarity with Django Reinhardt, but I think his is an early example of music that falls broadly into this area -- gypsy jazz. As with anything, a lot of different rabbit holes to tumble down once you start exploring. And isn't that a fortunate thing?

Thanks Lon. Looking over the Decca collection now. A little pricey. May have to save my pennies for a month or two on that one. Sounds really nice.

Lots of good information here. Just getting into Ellington in depth. I read the comment earlier in this thread that some musicians thought he was overrated, that his bands played out of tune and his arrangements were indulgent. Not getting that. ... I've yet to hear anything that's less than exciting. I will say the Coltrane/Ellington disc with Garrison and Jones didn't quite live up to what I'd anticipated. More spins, maybe. But Ellington seemed to be content to take a back seat in that setting and as a result the magical moments that could have developed maybe didn't fully. Anyways, I'll be adding piecemeal to my currently tiny Ellington collection over the course of the year.

It's difficult to find (especially when misspelling the first name of one of the performers). There are some downloadable copies. I have an MP3 version, just ordered a hard copy from amazon marketplace for a high but not outrageous price. There's three left here. The prices on the new ones are insane, IMO. Listening now. Thanks. One of the things that keeps me from buying any new Braxton is the amount that I already own. There's about 71 titles that I should listen to more often. An even greater problem right now is financing... I know what you mean, both in terms of listening and financing. I probably have somewhere around 20 Braxton titles ranging across his career. Highlights would include Dortmund, Montreux/Berlin, the 85 quartet discs, his standards stuff and the Charlie Parker project, the Iridium box (MP3). All of it compelling to listen to. These duets with Blake, though, are something entirely different, to my ear. It's almost shocking to hear Braxton in this context, playing a lot of straight ahead bluesy phrases with a much warmer tone than I'm used to hearing from him. And he is really on top of his game here, with lightning-fast runs around Blake's playing. He soars on "Just Friends." An incredibly nimble player. Maybe he has other similar discs, but I've not heard them. You may want to check out an MP3 version. Several pop up on a Google search for this album title.

It's difficult to find (especially when misspelling the first name of one of the performers). There are some downloadable copies. I have an MP3 version, just ordered a hard copy from amazon marketplace for a high but not outrageous price. There's three left here. The prices on the new ones are insane, IMO. Listening now.

My mistake. Sloppy. Wonderful album. I don't think I've ever quite heard Braxton sound as he does here. I've listened to some of his standards music and it all seems to me to have his sort of staccato style stamp on it. Great, but distinctly his playing. This on is different, to my ear. More lyrical than I'm used to with him.

Thanks for that link, and apologies for the duplication. I looked for an Ellington thread here and I am somehow not seeing that one in the Artists directory. Perhaps my settings are off a bit. Thanks again ... and thanks for all the recs so far.

I recently got my hands on a copy of Ron Blake, Anthony Braxton -- "A Memory of Vienna" and if you can find it, I'd highly recommend it. I've never heard Braxton sound so soulful as he does on "Round Midnight." A beautiful and surprising disc. Track listing: Round Midnight Yardbird Suite You Go To My Head Just Friends Alone Together Four Soul Eyes I'm Getting Sentimental Over You Has anyone else heard this one?

Thanks. I have the highly regarded "Never No Lament: Blanton-Webster Band" on order -- a 3 CD set which covers 39-42 I believe. Pretty excited about that one. I will look for "Masterpieces" and "Uptown" as well. The catalog is so vast, it's an interesting challenge to begin to acquire Ellington's essential recordings from various periods.

Great! Not wanting to gum up the works here, I posted an Ellington topic on the Artists thread.

I'm just now getting into Ellington in a big way. I'd listened to some of his later-period discs and enjoyed them in the past, but not with any great enthusiasm. Such Sweet Thunder and Far East Suite I considered good, not great, albums. Now I'm suddenly hearing these in a whole new way, and I'm looking back into his catalog and practically salivating while pondering where to go next. I've ordered a Blanton-Webster band box set to get me started, and have Vol. 1 of Duke's Men: The Small Groups, also Blues in Orbit and a smattering of other small group stuff. I don't want to overstate things too much, but listening to Such Sweet Thunder and Far East Suite, I'm starting to hear these as almost revolutionary. The detail in the music is vast and the musicianship is superb throughout, Hodges and Gonsalves in particular, but others will emerge too I'm sure as I listen more and more. And the arrangements, of course, are beautiful, exciting, funny. And that's just it -- there's so much to hear in this music. And so ... I'll be interested to read others thoughts on Ellington, his sidemen, his early period, big band, later period, small group. There's a lot there.

I can heartily recommend the Clusone 3 -- Rara Avis (sealed). <---- does that mean you haven't listened? Or is it a duplicate?

I just ordered a disc of this concert the other day. Pretty excited to hear it.

First of all, this sounds like a wonderful book. I will find it. When I think of the word 'jazz,' I think of a process of creativity. And creativity, by definition, means expressing something new. While Ellington and other jazz musicians of the past may have been formulaic to an extent (I'm not sure this is so, but it's what the quoted passage states), I think of Ellington as a highly creative, therefore progressive, musician. The word 'creative' itself suggested not just change for the sake of change, but a 'new' way of presenting things. Is this progress? I'm not familiar with these notions in some quarters of the science community that there is no progress in science. I assume that it means science is merely the art of uncovering what is already there? Of giving us the tools to understand and utilize what is already in existence? This book sounds very good.

I agree that Plus is a real gem. While I love his playing, I only have a handful of Adderley albums -- Lighthouse, Somethin' Else, Plus, with Bill Evans ... a couple of others on MP3 -- and this is hands down my favorite of the bunch. Really nice energy throughout.

Well, I love discussing albums and artists. I go through phases where I'll be into a particular artist or group of artists, and then I'll get turned on to something completely different, and have a thirst for that for a while. Example: While my tastes until recently have been pretty much contemporary and just a little bit outside (Douglas, Melford, Ehrlich, Berne etc.) and I definitely have a taste for free jazz, I'm now into a phase where I'm devouring Ellington, Hodges, Gonsalves, Webster, have about a half dozen Lester Youngs on order, some Basie. So I want to absorb as much about these artists as I can. I've been tempted to start an Ellington thread to talk about his music and the music of his sidemen. Get some recs. Things like that. Maybe I should.

Where's Chuck Norris when you need him ...

Yes, as far as the dog thing goes, definitely find out what your legal liability is, just to be sure. And seriously, check with your homeowner's insurance company. Some will jack up your rates if you have a "dangerous" breed. All in all, a security system (a loud one) is going to be the best deterrent. A thief is going to vamoose as soon as the alarms starts screaming. And he won't come back. And you'll likely get a break on your insurance. But, I like the idea of getting a dog, separate from any security concerns.

Can 'o' tuna. Works every time. The dog thing, think about it. They can be high maintenance. Can't leave them alone for long stretches like a cat. Alarm system with floodlights and high-pitched siren might be something to consider. You should get a break on your insurance with an alarm system as well. With a doby, they might up your insurance!

That really sucks. I would be highly suspicious that this is someone who lives nearby. Someone who knows your pattern of coming and going. Neighborhood kids? That would be my guess. Extreme bummer.

On order. Thanks for the heads-up. $3.25. Deal-o-rama!

I'm with you guys on the newbury comics Art Pepper deal. That's where I got this copy, also. Jumped at it. And Uncle Skid, that V5 Alchemia is an awesome box as well.

In addition to the Jazz Crusaders Mosaic box, I've been listening to this newly arrived excellent box set over the past two days. Pretty amazing.

Been there ... takes a while. But ... amazingly, New, Better things happen ... Q Yes. And one shouldn't feel guilty about forging ahead. There is a degree of excitement about new freedoms, a new life, selfish pursuits, etc. It's all out there waiting for you! Life is good. Embrace the change when you can.

They say (don't they?) that the three most stressful things in life are ending a relationship, moving and losing a loved one. You're dealing with all three. You will feel disoriented (I'm sure you already do). That's of course normal, considering. It will take time. Stay patient with yourself and allow time to heal and re-balance. There will be some "letting go" you'll have to deal with. And that's a process that can be difficult. You may not be able to embrace anything new completely until some time passes. So you should be careful about moving. It may be somewhat disorienting, obviously. It won't cure the emptiness, and you may even feel like you've made a mistake at times. But as a little time goes by and you get your balance again, things will start to become easier, more natural. Laughter returns. Excitement for all the things you enjoy returns. You emerge, scarred but wiser and more complete, Just some thoughts from someone who's been there.