I remember when Juma's record collection was up on eBay. Everything was water-damaged and totally annihilated, but to some people I suppose "provenance" is a big deal. Evan Parker's collection was also for sale piecemeal, but it was in very good shape. I think I got a couple of things from there.
My copy of Don Wilkinson's Preach, Brother! (NY stereo) has the name "John Patton" written in marker on the back. I doubt it's the same one, but still...
Got mine yesterday and have already given it a couple of spins. It's very nice - and Greg certainly pushes out of tight arranging with some very wiry guitar work. Will be writing this one up for AAJ.
OK, unless I killed the thread, here's another:
Nu Band - Lower East Side Blues - (Porter)
Roy Campbell, Jr., Mark Whitecage, Joe Fonda & Lou Grassi. This is the first of their discs I've heard, but it is nice.
The sound is much better.
I'm not talking Warne --> "fire music" here... it's a sort of openness, as well as the recording of the bass and drums, that gives me that impression. Parts of it - stretching maybe, but still - aren't all that out of league with Byron Allen's ESP (whatever you think of Byron's playing notwithstanding). It's just my thinking..
That was the first Hill I bought, on a McMaster CD years ago. I'm now the proud (?) owner of a nice, NY mono edition. But it's also the one I return to least. That, and maybe Judgment.
I've always enjoyed Grass Roots as an issued LP, but the extra tracks take it to a whole 'nother level. Another way of putting it is that the LP is a fine record on its own, while the CD expands its relevance to Hill's oeuvre. Composer vs. songwriter, perhaps.
By the way, I was thinking that "piano-less quartet" usually refers specifically to reeds, brass (tpt), bass and drums. I usually refer to that instrumentation only when I mention "piano-less quartet."
I've often had trouble with the word "standard" as it applies to compositions written in the bebop/post-bop era and played by "current" musicians. What do I call "Epistrophy," if not a composition or a tune written by Monk? I know we critics are always looking for blanket terminology, so help is much appreciated.