Spontooneous

There was that time I yelled, "Blow that gas pipe, Flip!" It was really all reet.

Yepper. (Slight preference for "Hearinga.")

Hi Lois Thirsty

Let's not punish Jen for being honest about who her employer is. And let's never lose sight of one of our board's most important goals: Taking shill-originated threads and derailing them by any means necessary!

1. Used to have a drummer across the street who had worked regularly with Joe Bonner. His daily practice was a pleasure to hear. 2. In my apartment living years, one day I put on "Mingus Ah Um," maybe a little too loud. In the silences between tracks, I became aware that the guy downstairs had put on his copy of "Mingus Ah Um" too.

Feel like I got off on the wrong foot with this composer. First exposure was the Violin Concerto, on Isaac Stern's LP, and I didn't like it at all. The more recent version of the Violin Concerto on Naxos is better. Didn't care for Black Sounds on Naxos. Too much Varese imitation. The Phaedra music has some moments. Still don't feel like I know what Rochberg is really up to. Seems like he's in search of his voice, not in possession of it. Still keeping my ears open for the piece that convinces me otherwise. (Haven't heard the quartets.)

You missed the important part. He did a guest shot on "Barney."

They're illegal in my little suburb. So I hear an explosion close to the house. I look out the window and see the questionable neighbors shooting them off. Aided and abetted by the neighborhood cop.

Sometimes there's a perfunctory performance or two. It's the kind of staleness that inevitably sets in with regular performing and touring (which Monk wasn't able to do much of before the '60s). But there's no real decline. And then listen to the London recordings from 1971, where he opens up another chapter or two in his own pianism. Nosiree, no deterioration.

When one of the artists involved is dead, it ain't collaboration. No matter what the company says.

Yep, that IS one of your best friends. Magnificent set, especially on the uptempo pieces. Probably my favorite "Well You Needn't," with one of the best Rouse solos I've ever heard. And in case you're wondering, the nearly contemporary "Jazz Workshop" set is weaker when on the uptempo pieces, but the deep-blue slower pieces make it a keeper too.

Fortunately my turntable was in a cabinet with a glass lid, so Cecil could jump up there and swat at the spinning record all he wanted to. Fun to watch. I miss that guy.

Don't know that I've heard any of their music in 20+ years. Yet some songs are burned into my brain. So much music from that period lacks exuberance, but Heep doesn't. But "Stood on a bridge and/shunned religion..." is a line worthy of Spinal Tap.

Started happening on the CD player I bought in 1987 after a few years. Then just as suddenly stopped happening. The darn thing still works.

In a less overtly greasy way, "The Windup" on Keith Jarrett's "Belonging." Really.

Be well, Garth. I'll be sending positive thoughts your way while I'm listening to the discs I bought from your last sale. (They're very cool.)

Yep, "Basic" is a low priority. "Spirits In the Field" on Savant shouldn't be missed.

His solo recital in Kansas City last year demonstrated that the spark is still in there, and sometimes it comes out. A great performance. Then along come things like "The Ultimate Adventure" and the weak disc of duos with Bela Fleck. Yecch. Wish I had a tape of that KC show. Chick's legacy might best be served by bootleggers.

That's a tune on the Jimmy Smith Christmas album, isn't it?

Rod's correct. The beer trick works every time. On slugs, and some people I know.

Phil Proctor Kenny Gamble Leon Huff

Employee training a clueless new employee in the classical department (back when there was a classical department): "Just tell them you recommend the Karajan or the Solti. That's all you have to remember."

It's just an attempt to "improve" on the 1955 mono sound. (Remember the "Electronically reprocessed for stereo" version?) But if I'm in the same room as people who think the 1955 mono sound is a roadblock to their enjoyment, I'll move to another room. I've heard the Zenph disc. The "re-performance" (who made up THAT word?) didn't creep me out. I'd be interested in hearing Zenph take on, say, Schnabel in Op. 111 or the Schubert D. 960.

In a related story: One of the fine jazz concert presenters here in Kansas City just announced their 2007-2008 series. There isn't a single African-American among the leaders. Or among the announced sidemen.

Correct. I thought it was to keep the disc from slipping under the pressure of the cutter.