Peter Johnson

I'm going to try to attend this Saturday. What a lineup! Anyone else going to make it out? Celebrate the music of trumpet legend Lee Morgan with an all-star ensemble comprised mostly of members of his last working bands plus other special guests Billy Harper: Tenor Sax Bennie Maupin: Tenor & Soprano Sax and Bass Clarinet David Weiss and Charles Tolliver: Trumpet Geri Allen: Piano Christian McBride: Bass Victor Lewis: Drums

Hey Joel--I'll try to make it, but no promises, as I'll be in Philly that day (weekends are easier!). If I come, I will bring some spitballs, per Chuck's request. It would be nice to see you again, and Smalls is a terrific venue.

Hey! Speaking of...where the hell has Chris been lately?

Wicked slow for me this morning (9:30 a.m. EST).

Couldn't get on today (including organissimo.org root website) until now (7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. EST)

I know this is an esoteric/longshot question, but here goes. In 1989/90, or thereabouts, Andy Warhol's "Diaries" were published--somewhat infamously, without an index. The editors of Spy magazine, which was then in its heyday, took it upon themselves to create and publish (in the magazine) an unauthorized index. I am trying to find out in what issue of Spy the index appeared. Does anyone know, or does anyone have copies of Spy from that era? Longer shot: if anyone has copies of Spy from that era, would you be willing to copy the article for me (or sell me your copy of the magazine)? Thanks for any help! Peter

No, thank YOU. This is an astounding release. People, GET THIS.

Damn--didn't hear about that one. Now I'm torn...

Tomorrow night: Hamiet Bluiett + Kahil El'Zabar Philadelphia Art Alliance 251 S. 18th Street Philadelphia, PA Price: $12 General Admission Tickets Hamiet Bluiett, baritone saxophone Kahil El'Zabar, percussion The most prominent baritone saxophonist of his generation, Hamiet Bluiett (b. 1940) combines a blunt, modestly inflected attack with a fleet, aggressive technique, and a uniform hugeness of sound that extends from his horn's lowest reaches to far beyond what is usually its highest register. In St. Louis in the 1960s, Bluiett co-founded the Black Artists' Group (BAG), an artist collective not unlike Chicago's AACM. And, in 1969, he moved to New York City to join the Charles Mingus Quintet and the Sam Rivers Large Ensemble. In 1976 he co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet (along with two other Black Artists' Group members, Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake), which soon became jazz music's most renowned saxophone quartet. Over the years, Bluiett has also worked with Babatunde Olatunji, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Kahil El'Zabar (b.1953) is one of Chicago's jazz treasures. He joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in the early 1970s, and became its chairman in 1975. He regularly records for Chicago's Delmark Records and, during the 1970s, he formed the acclaimed ensembles Ritual Trio and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, both of which remain active today. El'Zabar has performed alongside a myriad of jazz greats such as Cannonball Adderley, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp and Dizzy Gillespie, but also in the bands of Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone.

I actually have Ron's copy...got it when I broke into his basement because I needed a place to stay when I couldn't get home last night due to the SEPTA strike.

Just ordered my copy--plus an extra groovadelphia. I'm excited to hear this!

Joel, man, I'm sorry to hear/read this--had no idea things had gotten so bad. I'm delighted to hear things are on an upward trajectory. This is completely cool--please keep us posted on your gigs. It was a treat to hear you and your friends that night at Smalls.

Me too! We'll keep our eyes open for you. Ron, you coming downtown for this?

Chris--why not jump on the A train down to Murray's in the W. Village??? I highly recommend it...if anyone in the city is likely to have Gamle Ole, they are...and if they don't have that, they've lots of stuff I'd never characterize as bland. Take a number and tell them what you're looking for...plenty of "under the counter" unpasteurized stuff too, if you know what to ask for. Murray's (254 Bleecker @ Cornelia)

Coming up Saturday--the perfect Halloween concert! Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen Saturday, October 31, 2009 - 8:00pm International House Philadelphia 3701 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 Price: $20 General Admission Tickets Marshall Allen, alto saxophone + Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI) Yah Yah Abdul-Majid, tenor saxophone Knoel Scott, alto saxophone Danny Ray Thompson, baritone saxophone Farid Barron, piano Fred Adams, trumpet Michael Ray, trumpet Cecil Brooks, trumpet Dave Davis, trombone + French horn + tuba Dave Hotep, el. guitar Bill Davis, double-bass Wayne A. Smith, Jr., drums Elson Nascimento, surdo drum

I really want to hear this, as I love the kind of music I think Jim is describing this is. Sign me up!

Can swing by and listen to the sessions?

Good god. I have a disease. I got all three. Now I have every box set of evans in existence. WTF is wrong with me?

My pride and joy: the original painting used for the cover of Mingus Ah Um. Directly below it is my first press mono album, also framed. I'll try to post a photograph.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. GO SEE THEM. They freaking rock. P.S. Please come back to Philadelphia soon!

Not Wayne Shorter, but...this Friday at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Sonny Fortune Friday, October 16, 2009 at 5:00 PM Saxophonist Sonny Fortune, who has played with Miles Davis and McCoy Tyner and subsequently made a series of diverse and imaginatively arranged solo albums, is a Philadelphia native and living legend. Free after Museum admission

This is proving to be a tremendous, well-written read. I particularly enjoy the insights provided by the reels of recorded "monk-talk." I have to say, though, one thing stopped me in my tracks. When I dropped the book on my dining room table for the first time, it sprung open to the photo section, and the first one I saw: Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Roy Haynes, and Charlie Parker at a club in Greenwich Village!!! Apologies if this has been covered here before, but holy mother of Christ, does any recorded documentation of this ensemble EXIST???!!! I did a full-on Aric when I saw that picture...and there are others, of similarly potentially sublime ensembles. Please, someone, chime in with a "yes"!

Got mine for $33.14! (in all seriousness-thanks for the tip, man!)

And happy, happy, happy to you Marcus! Another year of good cheer. And a girlfriend--that's the way to kick things off right! Cheers!