Pete C

I think so--Big Ben in Europe had previously been released by Rhapsody Films.

Granted, we can agree that Hemphill was great, but we'll have to disagree on the octet arrangements. If I remember correctly, when Black Saint/Soul Note had a group of critics pick the top albums in the catalog, Ming was the consensus winner, FWIW.

Heads up for Ben fans. There's a fantastic DVD that I bought a couple of years ago in the European EmArcy release. It has recently been released in the U.S.--cheaper, and useful if you don't have an all-region PAL/NTSC player: http://www.amazon.com/Tenor-Sax-Legend-Live-Intimate/dp/B002QF31XU/

Steven Franken Al Franken Bob Franken

Not on the "chitlin' circuit," which still existed to a degree. I don't think that's what was going on. I doubt Jimmy Smith had trouble getting work.

For me the best thing about the Paris recordings is hearing Bird and Bechet jamming. But for my money the Sweden recordings are much more rewarding overall.

Brooks, I'm glad to see that Peter Coyote was digging the music. The impression I got when I saw the PBS Summer of Love doc was that there's nothing he digs more than himself.

He seems like the kind of guy who'd have clean shoes.

What does an amateurish arrangement sound like? What does a professionalish arrangement sound like?

I didn't realize they were involved in a cutting contest.

I had that on lp when I was a teenager (ca. 1972, from a cutout bin) and fell in love with Dollar Brand's Tintiyana. That was my introduction to Brand.

I like both, but a full Rivers concert experience usually encompasses all 4 instruments. I think I prefer Sam on tenor, flute, soprano and piano in that order, but he is a good piano player (as is Ari Brown, another great tenor).

A bunch of used copies on amazon for about $11. Also excellent (though the mastering could have been a lot better), and available cheap on Amazon is Waves, from 1978 with Holland, Joe Daly and the great Thurman Barker. Well, there's also Paragon, on the French Fluid label. I don't think it's been issued on CD, either. Thanks for the tip---I found a rapidshare (The Quest can be found too, if anyone's interested)...This group means a lot to me because I saw them so many times when I was 18-19 years old...and the reunion a couple of years ago at Columbia.

I think there was only one album with the Altschul/Holland trio, The Quest, on Red, and I don't think it's ever been on CD.

While we're on the subject, does anybody know the source of the snippet of film from I'll Remember April--why it's not complete and why nothing else from the show has surfaced?

Excellent album. I don't think I'd call anything of Murray's free jazz, but it's not straight-ahead either.

I frequented Rivbea in 1974 & '75, usually on weekends. The usual setup was that there would be two groups, and more than half the time Rivers' group was one of them. It was mostly the trio, but sometimes it was augmented by Warren Smith on vibes and percussion, and sometimes other extended groups, including Winds of Manhattan. Those were the days. The first time I saw Arthur Blythe was at Rivbea, as a guest with Frank Lowe (introduced as "Black Arthur"). The first time I saw David Murray was there too, a group led by Sunny Murray. I saw Braxton with Holland, Altschul & Wheeler. And Charles Tyler with the vastly underrated Earl Cross...

It is my understanding that Damen lives in Ohio. Hi Chris!

At least the Simonal bloodline is continuing to make some great music. Both Max de Castro & Wilson SImoninha are among my favorite younger Brazilian artists.

Bosco is one of my favorites too. I just saw him last night in NY at the Blue Note, and last month I saw him in Montreal with Gonzalo Rubalcaba--they did a 2-1/2 hour show without an intermission (solos & Bosco's group with Gonzalo added). I also picked up my tickets to see Rosa Passos in a couple of weeks. It'll be my first time seeing her live. At the end of this month there is a free concert at Lincoln Center with Oscar Castro-Neves & Carol Saboya. Every year they do a Brazil night. Last year tey featured Miucha. Marcus, the Chico & Caetano disc you mention is different from the early '70s concert album they did together? Santiago is a great singer, but his arrangements are often too saccharine lately.

Moffett & Harland are his current working trio mates, but he always does special all-star gigs & tours.

You can't miss it.

Mike White wasn't really a "name," but to my ears he was great on recordings with Handy & Pharoah Sanders. He may not have had the technique of Grappelli or Nance, or Jenkins & Bang, but he had a real energy & swing and a sound you could sink your teeth into that worked wonderfully in those settings.

The Grimes set on Sunday was all free. I think I might have found a more varied set more interesting. Grimes with Crispell & Cyrille was one of the highlights of the Vision Festival.

I caught the first show last night. I found the Grimes group really disappointing, lacking in both intensity and compelling collective discovery, the two things I look for in free jazz. Maupin did come up with one nice soprano solo with a nice groove from Grimes & Cyrille behind him. The Handy Quintet was tight & cooking. These reunions have great potential for disappointment, so I was pleasantly surprised. The 2 Columbia albums by that group are among my all-time favorites. They did 3 tunes: "My One and Only Love," "Spanish Lady" (amazing), and "Dancy Dancy" (played in the tempo of the Yoshi's reunion album, which is slower than the original). The weak link was Mike White, who seems to have lost his fire. The other 4 are in top form, and Terry Clarke was especially impressive.