MartyJazz

Well, then y'all are just about due for another one, doncha think? That said, I'm far from counting y'all out either. Boston's a proven post season contender, and I'm sure that you guys are all drooling over the idea of a rematch of last year's ALCS. So, I have to hope that Freddy works his magic on the road again today. Either Dan or I will be talking shit in about 2.5 hours or so, methinks... ← Well, start talking!!! Congratulations. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this last game once El Duque came in. If the Yanks get past the Angels, it definitely will be tough getting past the team with the best record in the AL. (To think that El Duque and especially Contreras might do us in, ugh!)

Thanks a lot Johnny. I was 14 at the time, the best age for devouring baseball stats that for some ridiculous reason stay with you forever.

Having always been an American League fan, I recall watching the '59 World Series on TV and being quite happy with the first game's result: White Sox 11, Dodgers 0. These Sox lost the WS in 6. So while a 14-2 victory is very nice, I wouldn't put too much stock in it. Anyway, I read this morning that Contreras partially credits Ozzie Guillen for his success in that the manager personally speaks to him in Spanish. Gee, is that what Torre needed to get the most out of this Yankee bust? Just think Dan, if Torre could speak Spanish, you just might change your mind about his managerial prowess.

I apologize for the way I listed the answers. I would have liked to have given more info about the bassists as well as listing all of the sidemen. However, time did not permit. I will attempt to assist you as much as possible. ← No need, I just like to bitch once in a while. I went through all the links and got all the info I need for the update. However it would be nice to know who the horn players were on some dates in which the allmusic.com did not provide key personnel, e.g., the TanaReid date.

Nice to see that I was able to ID quite a few of the sidemen if not the actual bassists you were highlighting. I'm especially patting myself on the back right now for correctly guessing Idrees Sulieman on trumpet for Red Mitchell's feature on "Chocolate Cadillac". On another note however, I lament your decision to provide links to the albums rather than actually listing the session leaders with personnel and dates. It's gonna make my update to the BFT track list slow going. Good choice of music on both discs in terms of your overall theme.

Your dislike of the Yankees has clouded your judgment, IMO. Name me a manager who would have been able to survive for this long a period under Steinbrenner, much less won as consistently as Torre has. You severely underestimate Torre's managerial skills and discount factors that make him the best there is. Enough from me on this issue.

Yeah, Steinbrenner's wallet is no doubt very important for Yankee success. But I think that you really underestimate the importance of a manager, particularly behind the scenes. No matter what mix of players Torre is given to work with, they all seem to play to the maximum of their ability, unless that ability is eroded due to age or physical decline (see Kevin Brown). You never. or perhaps I should say, rarely, hear complaints from a player about how he is being used or about how the manager doesn't communicate well (see A.J. Burnett and Jack McKeon), or demands from anyone to be traded, etc. Rarely any disruption, everyone keyed into the same goal year in and year out. That has a lot to do with the tone and interpersonal skills of the manager. Lots of teams have spent money over the past few years, e.g., the Orioles, the Dodgers, without accomplishing a thing. Ask Theo Epstein if he would trade Francona for Torre - you know what the answer would be.

Damon would be a whole lot better looking as a Yankee. But I agree, it ain't happening. For one thing, I would think that the Yanks would like a centerfielder with an arm. Torre is a HOF manager, period. The only way Francona and he sit at the same table is for a Sunday late afternoon pasta dinner.

I graduated from college in '65 (only 20 at the time) and so I was active back then. I participated in quite a few anti Vietnam War protests subsequently, even going to Washington DC on two occasions, one of which resulted in getting caught up in some tear gas during Nixon's first year as President. Overall, hell yeah, we were a lot more demonstrative and against the establishment certainly in terms of how we felt about Vietnam, but also when it came to other issues such as civil rights. Regarding the lack of such actions now particularly on college campuses, especially with regard to Iraq, I think the lack of a common draft can account for much of the apathy from the young. Nothing gets you more focused than when your ass is on the line.

Actually, here's one Yankee fan who isn't thrilled with that news. If it were me managing this team, I would do all I can to knock the Red Sox out of the playoff picture. Go with your best and perhaps you beat the Red Sox tomorrow while the Indians win forcing a one game playoff between the Bosox and Tribe. If the Tribe wins, Red Sox go home and I would think the Yanks would welcome the prospect of not seeing them again. Besides, the Indians have a right to expect that we try to win Sunday's game. Plus there would be no controversy if the Yanks win the division outright by virtue of having a better overall record rather than just a 10-9 edge in the head to head games. But I guess this isn't the way things work. All in all, as Dan knows from personal conversations earlier this summer, I am very surprised that the Yanks were able to win the division this year. They were 11-19 after the first 30 games and really looked like shit. Perhaps Torre is the best manager, Dan, eh?

Next up:

You seem to be a little on edge, Dan. BTW, can someone explain the following to me. I read where the Chisox have clinched the AL Central with a 3 game lead over the Tribe due to the fact that even if they should lose the 3 game weekend set, they win the division because they already have an 11-5 head to head edge over the Indians. So, explain to me why if the Yanks. who have a 9-7 head to head edge over the Bosox, only win one out of three this weekend and thereby end the regular schedule with a 10-9 edge, will still have to play a division tiebreaker on Monday?

An interesting article. Thanks for posting. In the audio samples, the Hawkins excerpt contains no Hawkins!! Didn't anybody listen? ← Having owned these sides for so many years as I'm sure you have also, I didn't bother to link up to the samples. (Of course, having posted the link in the middle of the night, I wasn't looking to wake anyone up here). I simply made a mental note to pull these cuts during the weekend and will listen to them while re-reading Sonny's comments.

Enjoyable article, Sonny's insights into some jazz greats, Waller ( and clarinetist Rudy Powell), Hawkins, Bird, Pres. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/30/arts/music/30sonn.html

In all fairness, one of the reasons that Martin isn't running as well this year is that defenses saw quite early that Pennington had not fully recovered from off season surgery and therefore did not fear the deep ball at all. Opposing defenses were then able to cheat, move up, shorten the field and gang tackle Curtis pretty easily. That said, the OL is still suspect but it partially explains Curtis' lack of production this year.

39 year Jet season ticket holder here. Yes, Pennington is injury prone and AFAIAC, his career is done. He'll make a great QB coach one day if he chooses to, but he now belongs with the Greg Cooks of the NFL (anyone remember that name?), i.e., very promising QBs whose careers were cut short due to seriously debilitating injuries. What bugged me more this past Sunday was seeing Fiedler also go out within minutes of Chad, his season practically done also. If not quite over, he's out for at least 6-8 weeks. So we go now with third year QB, Wisconsin grad, Brooks Bollinger, a veritable unknown who'll be working behind a very suspect OL, if the past three games are any indication of what to expect. Bleak outlook, but hey, I'm a Jet fan. I didn't start seeing regular season ending playoff appearances until Parcells appeared in the late '90s. Who can we get - Tim Couch? I sure as hell don't want the "bachelor", Jesse Palmer. Druggie Quincy Carter is definitely out as well as Vinnie it seems.

If you love Coltrane no matter the period, then some may prefer the Half Note material, all of which emanates, I believe (since I've had much of this broadcast material on tape for many years) from the spring of '65. Coltrane's sound in that time is far different than the Coltrane who was a sideman for Monk and playing the latter's music in the fall of '57. I suspect quite a few here will give more play to the collaboration with Monk in the days and years ahead.

I think TODAY AND TOMORROW (Impulse) is a must have McCoy side. Two different sessions, a trio and a wonderful sextet with a terrific front line of Thad, Strozier and Gilmore. A favorite of mine for a long time.

Stilll have it on LP. I also don't know whether it was ever reissued on CD.

Both great albums. Unless anyone has a duplicate(s), no way anyone is gonna part with either disc.

i've been thinking of changing my handle to "idreessulieman". Whadd'ya think?

It has always been my understanding that Woody Shaw was a severe insulin dependent diabetic and that this illness was the basis for his steadily deteriorating eyesight which contributed to the horrible accident.

All this talk has prompted me to pull out my Sonny Simmons vinyl: Music of the Spheres (ESP) Staying on the Watch (") Manhattan Egos (Arhoolie) Rumasuma (Contemporary) Burning Spirits (") It's been many a year since I listened to any of these. Anyone care to rank them?

Yeah, but Wickman's arm is gonna fall off! I see him in the highlights every damn night it seems! And Dan, you sound like Al bashing the Rangers! The Yankees have starting problems as well,(And the Devil Rays can beat up either team at will it appears!) so don't know why you are so sure they will be the team.... ← I can assure you that the only way I'll feel good soon is if we go into the final weekend at Fenway with a four game lead, and that ain't gonna happen.