MartyJazz

Joel McRae Gordon McRae Carmen McRae

June 1st. Also recorded on this date: 1954, Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Bob Brookmeyer, Red Mitchell & Frank Isola begin appearing for several nights at La Salle Pleyel, Paris (released on PLEYEL CONCERT, Vol. 1 - Vogue).

An excellent column about the passion many of us share. I also mourn the irrevocable passing of the record store experience, how much more difficult it has become not only to discover the occasional goldmine of a store but the fact that the rarer merchandise is increasingly being put up for auction. On a sidenote, I found that Hawkins 2 LP Riverside interview/documentary in a second hand record store circa 1971 or so, and bought it though I thought it rather odd that one record had the early white label with light blue print while the second disc had the later dark blue label. Didn't cost me more than $4. Those were the days!

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that, however unlikely it may be, there's a chance that I might someday be pleasantly surprised to see it, perhaps in a 2nd hand bin or on e-Bay. If I can indulge you a bit more, Chuck, does the CD have extra tracks?

This is an album my brother and I have owned since it was issued. However, my brother no longer has the capacity to play LPs and periodically asks me if this LP has ever been re-issued on CD. (It is a terrific album, BTW). Anyone know if it has, whether it's currently available and, if so, the link(s) to a vendor? Thanks.

May 31st. Recorded on this date: 1956, Kenny Dorham Quintet with JR Monterose, Bobby Timmons, Sam Jones & Arthur Edgehill appear at the Cafe Bohemia, recording two albums of material - 'ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT (Blue Note): 1957, John Coltrane leads a sextet that includes Johnny Splawn, Sahib Shihab, Mal Waldron alternating with Red Garland, Paul Chambers & Albert 'Tootie' Heath - COLTRANE (Prestige): 1959, Donald Byrd leads a sextet that includes Charlie Rouse, Pepper Adams, Walter Davis Jr., Sam Jones & Art Taylor - BYRD IN HAND (Blue Note):

Thanks, although it's still somewhat surprising that he led two distinctly different groups within 3 weeks or so of each other at the same club. In any event, the KD discography available as the 1st choice when doing a Google, lists no private dates for '67 at all. Again, thanks.

I have two private tapes of KD recently transferred to CD-R of which the discographical data I have is open to question. The KD discography on the net is of no help here. Specifically, the data I have indicates that both live performances were done at the "Blue Morocco" club in the Bronx, NY in April, 1967. Yet the personnel on both is completely different except for the presence of Paul Chambers on bass which leads me to believe that it is unlikely that KD headed two different groups at the same club during the same month in 1967. The tunes and personnel that I have are as follows: KD; Sonny Red (as); Cedar Walton; PC; unknown drums; Joe Lee Wilson (vcl)* 1) Bags' Groove 2) Blue Bossa 3) Four/Theme *4) I Remember April KD; David 'Fathead' Newman (ts); Ronnie Matthews (p); PC; Candy Finch (d) 1) I Love You 2) Straight Ahead 3) Walkin' Can anybody (e.g, Mike F) verify whether the above data is accurate or what corrections should be made?

I picked it up quite some time ago very cheaply in a used book store, but have never read it. After reading these "sterling" reviews, I'll most probably never pick it up.

I always felt that Newborn had all the facility of O.P. but cooked a lot more. A shame that mental problems resulted in a much too shortened career and, ultimately, life span.

May 30th. Recorded on this date: 1952, Thelonious Monk leads a sextet that includes Kenny Dorham, Lou Donaldson, Lucky Thompson, Nelson Boyd & Max Roach, recording 6 titles: "Skippy", "Hornin' In", "Sixteen", "Carolina Moon", "Let's Cool One", "I'll Follow You" (Blue Note). 1963, Bill Evans Trio with Chuck Israels & Larry Bunker record 17 titles for Riverside (through 5/31).

Chick Corea - EXPRESSIONS (GRP) & SOLO PIANO STANDARDS (Stretch) Bill Evans - ALONE (Verve) Herbie Hancock - THE PIANO (Columbia) McCoy Tyner - REVELATIONS (Blue Note)

As far as questions go, I'd like to know anything he can relate about working with Artie Shaw as a member of the Gramercy 5, the last recordings made by Shaw who was only 44 at the time in '54. Also, perhaps I missed something but in his long career, Hank Jones has certainly recorded quite a few albums as leader. QUARTET-QUINTET (Savoy) in '55 and THE ORACLE (Emarcy) in '89 are two that readily come to mind.

May 29th. Recorded on this date: 1969, Joe Henderson leads a quartet that includes Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter & Jack DeJohnette, recording 5 titles: "Black Narcissus", "Isotope", "Opus One-Point-Five", "Lazy Afternoon", "Foresight and Afterthought" (Milestone). 1974, Anthony Braxton leads a quartet that includes Tete Montoliu, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen & Albert 'Tootie' Heath - IN THE TRADITION, Vols. 1 & 2 (Steeplechase): 1980, McCoy Tyner leads a quartet that includes Freddie Hubbard, Cecil McBee & Al Foster, recording 3 titles: "Inner Glimpse", "Manha de Carnaval", "Paradox" (Milestone). 1988, Bobby Bradford & John Carter reunite to lead a quintet that includes Don Preston, Richard Davis & Andrew Cyrille, recording live at the 'Catalina Club', Los Angeles - COMIN' ON (Hat Art):

Don't count me as one Yank fan who was happy to get RJ. Dan's practically my neighbor and I'm sure he recalls that I complained to him how terrible and short-sighted it was for the Yanks to give up Javier Vasquez (what is he, 28 years old?) after only one so-so year in pinstripes for a 42 year old who while he may be a Hall of Famer, is way past his prime. I like youth, e.g., Robinson Cano - where did he come from? I thought the Yankee farm system was completely bare.

This definitely is one of the few Milestones I do listen to occasionally, primarily for the first track, "For All We Know". I always get a kick out of listening to Branford take a very good solo on this piece whereupon Sonny then puts him away by roaring in with a fantastic solo.

May 28th. Also recorded on this date: 1962 Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet featuring Grachan Moncur III, Harold Mabern, Herbie Lewis & Roy McCurdy begin recording the session, ANOTHER GIT TOGETHER (Mercury, completed 6/21/62). 1965, Dexter Gordon leads a quintet that includes Bobby Hutcherson, Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw & Billy Higgins - GETTIN' AROUND (Blue Note): 1974, Tete Montoliu Trio with NHOP & Albert 'Tootie' Heath - TETE! (Steeplechase): 1980, Tete Montoliu Trio with John Heard & 'Tootie' Heath - CATALONIAN NIGHTS, Vol. 2 (Steeplechase): 2000, Johnny Griffin & Steve Grossman lead a quintet that includes Michael Weiss, Pierre Michelot & Alvin Queen - QUINTET (Dreyfus, completed on 5/30):

Hey, only stirring the pot. All that matters is how well a baseball player performs. But Dan, players don't turn down the opportunity to go to the Yanks because they can't keep their facial hair. If the money is right and Damon, for some reason, wants to come to New York, he'll shave and cut his hair just like so many others, e.g., Giambi, have done. More importantly, speaking about actual baseball, are the Red Sox going to hold a base running clinic before tomorrow's game? I had a lot of fun watching that 6th inning display tonight. Here I am down by one more run at the time and I'm laughing my ass off. Considering what the Yanks did in the bottom half of that inning, those back to back throw 'em outs at the plate kind of ignited them, don't you think?

Back to what we know is a Yank-Red Sox thread. Check out a face only a mother could love: Call me old fashioned but I much prefer the Yankee look.

May 27th. Recorded on this date: 1960, Oliver Nelson leads a sextet that includes Eric Dolphy, Richard Williams, Richard Wyands, George Duvivier & Roy Haynes: SCREAMIN' THE BLUES (Prestige/New Jazz): 1960, MODERN JAZZ QUARTET performs in Ljubljana, Slovenia - DEDICATED TO CONNIE (Atlantic): 1961, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers (Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt) record 6 titles for Blue Note. 1963, Ken McIntyre Quartet plus strings records 7 titles (available on THE COMPLETE UNITED ARTISTS SESSIONS - Blue Note) 1965, Dexter Gordon leads a quintet that includes Freddie Hubbard, Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw alternating with Ben Tucker & Billy Higgins, - CLUBHOUSE (Blue Note). 1966, Lee Morgan leads a quintet that includes Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Bob Cranshaw & Billy Higgins, recording 4 titles (available on DELIGHTFULEE - Blue Note). 1998 (through 5/28), Brad Mehldau Trio with Larry Grenadier & Jorge Rossy - ART OF THE TRIO, Vol. 3 - SONGS (Warner Bros):

Having just finished reading "DIZZY: The Life & Times of Dizzy Gillespie" by Donald Maggin, I've been playing quite a few sides, mostly on CD, to reinforce aurally what the author has been stating. Anyway, this prize recording is one I have on LP only. It's the "Reunion Band" that performed and recorded in '68, and it's a real cooker with an especially fabulous version of Diz's groundbreaking "Things to Come".

Gee, the World Champs seem to be in a struggle to stay in 2nd place in the AL East with a weekend series against the Yanks coming up. Their record is not as good as the 2nd place AL Central's Twins while the top two teams in the AL West also have a better record (albeit, slightly) than the Sox. I know Red Sox fans would love to win the AL East for once but has it dawned on any of you that your team might have to turn it up a notch just to be a wild card entry this year? What's going on?

May 26th. Also recorded on this date: 1964, Betty Carter backed by Kenny Burrell and unknown rhythm section records "There is No Greater Love", "You're a Sweetheart", "Isn't It Romantic" (available on INSIDE BETTY CARTER - Capitol CD) 1974, Tete Montoliu leads a trio with Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen & Albert 'Tootie' Heath - CATALONIAN FIRE (Steeplechase): 1986, Tom Harrell leads a quintet that includes Bob Rockwell, Hal Galper, Steve Gilmore & Bill Goodwin - OPEN AIR (Steeplechase):

I last saw him at the Vanguard in December 1966. He opened for Coltrane. Listening to him perform jazz standards, e.g. "A" Train, then hearing Trane with Pharoah made for quite a contrast.

This was truly a fabulous and quite memorable concert. Although we all know that Burton has been around a long time, perhaps some here don't realize (for some reason, I had not) what a veritable master at the vibes he has become. His facility and musicianship was breathtaking at times and the audience was very appreciative. His program was an amalgam of wonderful music from all the artificial categories that are imposed on music, making one realize the veracity of Duke's comment, "There are only two kinds of music, good and bad". He played jazz standards from the swing and bop eras ("Opus 1/2", "Bags' Groove"), Latin pieces ("Afro Blue"), American pop standards ("My Romance", "My Funny Valentine"), tangos (Piazzola, etc.), classical pieces (Scarlatti, Ravel) and relatively recent originals (Chick Corea). All of it cooking, in conjunction with a marvelous pianist with whom he has collaborated for some years obviously, Makoto Ozone. A great evening of music. If this duo should come your way, I can't recommend the experience highly enough.