fasstrack

I'm in the library and am gonna read that right now. I heard Benny not long ago and it was wonderful. His mind is one of the best and the material almost is irrelevant. His sound, especially for tenor, bone, and trumpet, is his sound, and one for sore ears. It always comes out Benny Golson.

Was he on the video w/Joe around '60 or so? There was a TV show and they played "The Song is You" and "Sonnymoon For Two". It turned up on a video called The Genius of Joe Pass, also including a lot of solo performances, something with Ella, and duos with NHOP. But those first two tunes are scary. On a little toy Fender someone gave him just so he could play. Burning, and no wonder he scared even Wes, who declined sitting in back then. He was that good. Sounds of Syananon is a jazz guitar classic IMO. It really doesn't get better---unless it's Django or CC. Every solo he plays is so joyful and swinging and his articulation and chops with the pick are on the highest level. Good band, too.

Zinc Bar?

Thanks. What's available on recording? I have Fletcher's Tidal Wave, which has a lot of Don Redman's stuff also.

Yeah. The night I heard him he went into a chorus of 'Soldiers for the Lord'. It was wild. I think I sat in, too. There wasn't much room for me to play as I remember, but he was pretty impressive.

You'll probably see me there. I came with the furniture . My group will be there early show May 29th FWIW-----not much, I'm sure.

Buried deep. Towards the end. Ah, the Saugatuck/Douglas Jazz Festival. That's morphed from what was the Idlewild Jazz Festival. Produced out of Detroit, it lasted a few years in Idlewild, though that former African-American resort town -- Clifford Jordan told me he took his first steps there; and for years Lillian Armstrong had a cabin there with her phone listed in the local directory -- is located in one of the poorest counties in Michigan. So this is the first attempt at moving it down to Saugatuck, which is a beautiful little resort town a reasonable drive from Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago has an extension program there at the Oxbow school, and there's a large gay population as well as throngs of tourists. Looking forward to M.C.ing a night of that fest when the time comes..... It's nice to hear things are going on in places you never---or hardly ever---get to. If it weren't for Smalls and Fat Cat here I would hardly hear live music or play it, b/c luckily friends operate these joints and I (and other musicians) can get in. About once a year I can afford the clubs. Anyway, that's about as often as there's someone I feel I have to hear. Thank God for Mitch and Spike and Noah for giving me and other guys a home and some respect. It was nice to get down there 5 years ago when we came. I guess Tim Scully is the Mitch Borden of NW Michigan. I'm glad you're there too. You guys are kind of heroes. Gotta keep hope alive----and give people other than the big names a shot to be heard and even make a few sheckels.

To Buffalo, then. G'night, Chet..........

They applauded because they knew he would beat the shit out of himself later that night... I don't get it ----and, far more depressing, wish I did.

Now Seinfeld is on at least. It really does hold up. What's that Hughley guy's first name, anyway? That was a pretty good show. I don't watch a lot of TV. I swear. Almost none, except the news. Just shut in right now. And trying hard not to lose my mind

I agree, even though it gave work to a lot of deserving players on the recording. It's pretty out to listen to and ultimately a conceit that should've been left in the pitch room. Also, though Eastwood is a great guy and jazz fan for sure, and I am a fan and admirer, I never quite bought that movie generally----a whole other topic, I'm sure. But your point is well taken. And well-expressed.

Maybe his music is better than that show, but, jeez, this guy was tripping on himself----to a kiss-ass choir (which, unfortunately, included that guy Hughley I think is pretty funny generally). At one point Brown said---exact quote: "I'm in love again----with myself", and the panel right-on-ed it to applause. Truly embarrassing.

Some show on My9 in NY featuring Bobby Brown and with a panel. I never heard him before, just saw his name in the tabloids and never paid any mind. Now I know why: He talked about himself for an hour like he was Christ on the cross. What an excersice in egotism. One of the panelists said 'we heard greatness tonight'. Really?...They had a brief musical segment and it was hardly impressive. They're playing the out theme now and it's infantile. Offensive to me as a hardworking songwriter. If this is pop music these days it's depressing. The blandest pop from Brazil cuts the shit out of this. One amusing detail: the saxophone player was the token white boy.

Yesterday at Starbucks in Riverdale, Bronx everything they played----Jobim to Cannonball---made at least an hour in a pretty difficult morning go a lot faster. And sweeter.

Re this organist: as Rob Schepps might say: 'I'm not familiar with his work'. FWIW: You have the same last name as a nice guitarist from NJ who plays in a lot of organ groups: Bob Devos. Red Holloway is damn underrated. Nothing wrong with 'originals' as long as they're good. It's true too many aren't. But IMO a few more good songs in the world can only help----as long as someone's listening.

Buried deep. Towards the end.

I couldn't find Bran on there. Must've been buried. I found Johnny O' Neal, though. Wow. 20 years ago, at the Jazz Cultural Theater, I heard Barry Harris (not known for errant compliments to jazz pianists) tell Monty Alexander with my own ears: "what are we gonna do with this guy? Tie him down". He was playing that much piano. If you see Bran please give him my best and that I love his soprano playing. What an amazing sound. He's really a great saxophonist, period. I learned Lulu's back in Town the other day playing along with him and his dad on a very nice duet record. He also has an ass kicking coming. On GP (just kidding).

Funny joke. Sorry to rain on your comedic parade but Wynton actually seems to be a very cool guy from what I know of him, and especially approachable to musicians---from very limited personal experience. But it was funny---and, you'd be surprised, he might be the first one to laugh. His skin seems pretty thick. How is that recording? I bet it's pretty nice. I dig Nelson's singing and his songs.

all i can tell you is that jeffrey magee's henderson biography calls him elusive (unfortunately footnote 35 to chapter 7 is not part of the free preview... but i guess that one wouldn't help either, otherwise there'd be more info in the main text... http://books.google.com/books?id=QPCzhsfro...p;lr=&hl=de (lord lists 11 sessions in 1931 and that's it - don't have lord and can't tell you what they were...) I guess I'll settle for Radio Rhythm being written then, and call it a day. Thanks, Niko. Joel

Nat Leslie: Anyone? Especially his music besides Radio Rhythm. I'd be so grateful you can come over for milk and cookies. Or I'll mail 'em to you

still contemplate getting it - my french is very thin (just two years in school...), does your "readable" imply it's not hard to read? (read some math book in french, it worked out ok but i guess (hope) the san quentin jazz band is different) It is a bitch when it's in another language----er, ne c'est pas? There's a bio on Jobim which I'd love to read. By his sister, no less, who knows where the bones are buried. The catch: It's in Portugese. I wish I had the time to learn it, as it's one of the most beautiful sounds these ears have yet heard. My drummer is Brazilian and he recently took a call on his cell on the street as we were talking and spoke in Portugese . I stood and listened in rapture at the sound of it.

Thanks. As usual you guys know your s*&t. Sorry his life was so hard, but I can also relate. Haven't gotten into trouble for the 'usual reasons' myself, but I've known my share of guys that have. And I sure know about the strain of the jazz life. I didn't know about this book. Thanks. Funny, Art Pepper didn't mention Jimmy Bunn in Straight Life. Neither did Hampton Hawes in his autobiog. He also wasn't mentioned in a recent book that covered black entertainers and musicians in L.A. in the 40s (I can't recall the title now, I think it may have had 'color' in it). It was by a white guy, and didn't turn out to be about the jazz scene anyway) I'd rather hear him than read about it anyway. I think he played with Wardell Grey and possibly Dexter, right? He had to have played with Dexter if he was on the Central Ave. scene, and they probably hung if he was also down with that particular powder. I think Phil Yaap played a recording w/Wardell---unless I dreamt it. Then there was the date they made the same day as Bird's, after he split----a few tracks with Howard McGhee to salvage the studio time. What about Joe Pass? He was out of Synanon and coming on strong by '67. That Lover Man intro is haunting. Gotta learn that. The track is beautiful and whatever Bird was going through his ballad performances (the Gypsy was the other) were very moving. He executed better than the other stuff where he took a chorus and had to stop. And the band had his back. On another topic: Another guy no one seems to know anything about: Nat Leslie. He wrote at least one amazing piece in the 30s: Radio Rhythm for Fletcher Henderson. Any info on him or his other pieces would be appreciated. Dan Morgenstern didn't know much, he told me. Schaap either. A mystery man, seemingly.

Does anyone know anything about this Ca. 1940s West Coast pianist? His intro to Lover Man on Bird's ill-fated date was a honey. Then he showed what 'good lookin' out' means, immediately covering the melody for a bar when Parker didn't come in. I'd like more of that, please.........

"Tuppence a bag!" (From Mary Poppins "Feed the Birds"...that's how I know the expression. And I still dig Duke's take on the soundtrack.) "Feed the birds...." I'm still in love with Julie Andrews, I cop to it. Can we do something about that goddamn Blake?

Me too. Miles was full of shit in putting him down. His intros for Bird alone were worth their weight in gold, and he was actually further along musically in that band IMO. Nice touch, too, and beautiful listener. A lot of guys knew what they were doing hiring him. I also like his tunes, very direct and clear.