frank m

This is an alert about Mosaic. I just received their latest catalogue which lists three or their boxes as being in short supply. I ordered one of the (Kid Ory) and the guy on the phone had me wait until he checked supply. He returned and said "Okay, you're pretty lucky" which I interpreted as my having gotten one of the few remaining boxes. If you're interested in any of these, I suggest you hustle!!!!! They are: Complete CBS Condon (LP only) Complete Columbia JJ Johnson (CD only) Complete Kid Ory Verve (CD only) Good luck.

the cheapest and easiest thing to try first is to move the computer away from the turntable. Cables are cheap--for God's sake don't get sucked into the hundred dollar cable scam. As long as they're a reasonable brand, one coax is as good as another.

A little known singer who performed with Teddy Wilson in the late 30's and dubbed for Rita Hayworth in films; Nan Wynn. Wilson said he much preferred her singing to Billie's.

I've been reading a lot on this site and others about how I oughta boycott the Proper Box label, but I see that they have one out of Charlie Ventura. That's 4 cd's of Ventura and I hope it contains those trio records he made with Krupa(?). Anyway, I'm gonna order them now and see and the hell with boycott. Ventura is dead now anyway, so none of the money is gonna get to him or his anyway.

I've been bitching about this administration's scientific stupidity for a couple of years now. I live near Brookhaven National Labs, so I'm probably more aware of the personnel cutbacks that they've had due to President Shitforbrains. And the cutbacks at Nasa so that they'll be able to fund the idiotic Send a man to Mars program while shitcanning Hubble and other science projects. Think about it===why are we supporting the space-station. There isn't a vestige of real science coming out of that program compared to Hubble!!!!. For other jaw dropping Hubble Photos, go to www.spaceupdate@SPACE.com

You know, you guys frequently amaze me. Your knowledge of modern jazz is enormous, and your appreciation of it. But what I am amazed at is your ignorance of a brand of jazz that's been going on simultaneously, seemingly without your knowledge or appreciation. You probably classify it in with old hat dixieland,which I'm sure you are aware of, but that isn't it. What I'm talking about is a brand of more or less straight ahead small group jazz as played by guys like the following. Duke Heitger,Randy Sandke, Warren Vache, Bob Barnard,Joe Wilder, Jon-Erik Kelso,Randy Reinhart TRUMPETS(Cornet and Flugelhorn) Dan Block, Harry Allen, Ted Nash, Scott Hamilton, Scott Robinson (Reeds) Dan Barrett, Bob Havens,George Masso,Ray Anderson(trombone) Vince Giordano (Bass,Bass Sax) Dick Hyman, John Sheridan,Keith Ingham, Mark Shane,James Dapogny, Derek Smith (Piano) Marty Gross, Howard Alden, Frank Vignola (Guitar) And finally, the clarinetists, whose work is really unmentioned on this site. Ken Peplowski, Kenny Davern, Bob Wilbur,Allen Vache. For the most part, these guys probably have a median age somewhere in the mid forties, so they are very active musically. Bob Havens goes back to the days of the Bob Crosby band, and Dick Hyman I first became aware of when I saw him playing with Charlie Parker and Diz. But there is little or no mention on this site of either these musicians or their concerts or other gigs. How come??????

I know of only one Lee Wiley recording that isn't quite up to snuff (Back Home Again, made when she was past her prime) but everything else is magnificent. The one recording you must hear is the one she did with Bobby Hackett and Joe Bushkin; "Night in Manhattan" every cut of which is a classic. (Need I say I'm biased) But be careful shopping. Amazon has it from various sources, many of which are foreign and some are of suspect quality. Even a good pressing may sound sort of dated (it was made in the 40's) but don't let that deter you. If ever a recording could be said to be perfect, this one is. Hackett's backing is brilliant, and Lee is ... Words fail me.

For one season in the late 40's there was a weekly jazz half hour run by Eddie Condon and his mob. It was in black and white tv and had a shifting mob of faces. One could see almost everyone in the trad or straight ahead jazz world at the time, before the day of commercial tape recorders. More's the pity.

Just fiinished the first Henry James novel I've read since college; "The Europeans" Pfooey Without the backward running sentences, it just reduces to a slight plot, with rather dull people of another era of a social level I , for one, have no knowledge of. Double pfooey.

Anybody know what kind of clarinet Ed Hall played. Albert of Boehm???bflat?? How did he get that sound out of there???

If I had to leave my home here, I'd head for New Jersey or northeast PA. Reason is that there is more active jazz in those regions that is readily affordable and plentiful than there is in Manhattan. Reason is that lots of NY jazz musicians live there and there are very active jazz societies and jazz joints thereabout. the New Jersey Jazz society and the Allegheny Jazz societies are each productive of their own and each other's concerts. If you'd like their addresses, you need but ask.

Just to demonstrate the difference in the listening public's taste between then and now,I'll flatten you with a number I heard today. I know it flattened me. Back in the 40's, Artie Shaw's recording of Stardust sold better than 16 million copies. Wowie!

Ernie played for years with the Miller civilian band. Aside from his work with the condon mob, he was also a member of the famous but short=lived band that Bobby Hackett had at the Hudson Hotel in New York. I loved his work.

That's a two LP put out by the IAJRC (International Association of Jazz Collectors) on an ARCADIA label back around 1990 or so. made origiinally in 1951 I believe. (?) It was redone in Canada somewhere along about 1990 --again my guess.and originally was supposed to have come with a 12 page bookklet, which I do not have. On the cover is a box from IAJR inviting people to write for information to THE SECRETARY, 90 PRINCE GEORGE DRIVE, ISLINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, M9B 2X8. As IAJRC is still very much in business, you might very well write to them to see what the availability is, but I'm pretty sure that it isn't on their current list of CD's. Who knows what their future plans for it are? I haven't heard it in a while but as I remember it, it does have the sound of a home recording about it. I remember reading a review at the time stating that based on this record, the critic didn't know what all Kelly's reputation was about. My memory of it is that it was OK but it was done late in Kelly's life and he still seemed competent but not overwhelming. I'll listen to it again, however, now that you made me find it. I suggest you get in touch with IAJRC and see what they have in store and then get back to me if things look bleak there. I just got a CD burner but I haven't learned how to use it to maximum advantage. Keep in touch tho.

Young folks probably don't remember Tootie, but he was a great arranger of the 40's 50's until rock came on the scene. He did arrangements for Jimmy Dorsey (also played trumpet for him) and did arrangements for a great number of people, including Sinatra. He was 93.

Just ordered two Proper boxes: Louis in the 40's and Teagarden. I'm a sucker for these guys, particularly Louis at this time when he first organized his group with Barney Bigard, Teagarden, Earl Hines.

We have a high schopl station on fm here, run by a teacher and a bunch of kids for announcers. The poor kids have a terrible time with jazzmen's names. and repeatedly make awful mistakes. Mel Torm for example.

Any of you members of the Benny Goodman coven on this site might want to know of this:On Worlds Records, on one of their sales sites you will find a cd of Goodmans small groups with some 37 or 38 (unless I miscounted) sides for 9 bucks. I am still awaiting mine so I can't attest to the sound quality, but for 9 bucks how much of a risk is that. Enjoy. (You'll find it on the web)

I recently read Mel Torme's bio of Rich. When they were wheeling him into the operating room and asked him if he was allergic to anything, he actually did say "Country and Western"

I heard this story from a guy who had brought his kid to a Wilson concert. At an intermission, he brought the kid over to Wilson to get his autograph, as the kid was a nascent pianist and idolized him. Wilson flipped the kid off, wandered away without signing or even being pleasant to him. Despite this story , which counters other more pleasant accounts of encounters with Wilson, I'm a great admirer, probably my favorite pianist. Anybody heard anything about his responses to fans???? I'd rather think highly of him. In an interview with Phil Schapp, (sorry about that, Schapp haters) Wilson said he didn't really think very highly of the singing of Billie Holiday, listing several ladies whom he thought better, including some white singers.

He also wrote, I believe, "While we're Young". If you've never heard Peggy Lee sing it, you can find it on itunes. Best 99 cents you will ever have spent.

Since summer is around the corner, check out the 92nd st Y. They have a summer series of jazz concerts.

moxie and vanilla ice cream,

And the hell with atmosphere ---stay at a modern air conditioned hotel. You'll get enough atmosphere wandering about the place.

I understand K-Pauls is still there. If so, don't miss it,===but go hungry!