Kevin Bresnahan

Just a heads up on these Spanish CDs: I did get a chance to talk with Michael Cuscuna about these CDs and they were only licensed for sale in a very specific way for Time/Life in Spain and only Spain. That is why BN is upset that they are showing up at Planet Records. The deal they got was a very good one, better than Michael could have gotten for Mosaic/True Blue. That's also why they are so cheap. Apparently, Time/Life is "big enough" to get a deal. Since they are in violation of their contract, I imagine it won't be long before these things dry up. Time/Life is probably just as full of lawyers as Blue Note. Betcha two phone calls, tops, and these things will disappear. BTW, I asked Michael why he can't get a deal like this one going for True Blue and he said he could never make the sales needed to get this done. That sucks. Why the heck can't BN do this right? They license these hard-to-find titles to a company that doesn't even meet their sales expectations so they sell their stock off? That's just plain stupid. If they would get a deal like this together for True Blue, it would be handled in a win-win fashion.... Actually, a win-win-win (BN-True Blue--and US ) Later, Kevin

Sadly Jim, all indications are that the one track found on "The Lost Sessions" (and the DG box set) are all that we're going to hear from that session... Unless of course a couple of obviously inebriated guys playing saxophone is a "fit" for the smooth Jazz that Manhattan was known for! Later, Kevin

I don't really understand this question. I suppose the simple answer would be to tell you to order the Blue Note discography from the True Blue web site and go through it as I have. There are far too many "unissued" and "rejected" sessions listed in this book to summarize here. Suffice it to say, there are probably plenty still lying around that could be combined into another "The Lost Sessions" CD. BTW, you did pick that CD up right? "The Lost Sessions" is a very nice CD. The great Tadd Dameron tracks alone are worth the price. Later, Kevin

Cuscuna told me a while back that "Blue Train" would be stereo. I agree with Claude that the Blue Note web site is most likely in error. Later, Kevin

I never picked up the Columbia Hot Fives because all indications I read seemed to say that the JSP CDs with John R.T. Davies' work are still the best. Isn't that so? BTW, I would love to get "Something New, Something Blue" on CD, especially if there is additional stuff in the vaults. This various artists LP gets lots of playing time on my system, even if the vinyl is all scratched up. 4 tracks with Art Farmer, Frank Rehak, Phil Woods, Al Cohn, Eddie Costa, Bill Evans, Addison Farmer and Ed Shaughnessy and another 4 with Donald Byrd, Bob Brookmeyer, Hal McKusick, Frank Socolow, Teddy Charles, Mal Waldron, George Duvivier and Ed Shaughnessy. Great blues playing by all. Later, Kevin

I hung with Doug in recent years. We went CD shopping a couple of times and out to lunch at a brewery once too. Impossible, were you with us then, or was that the time you were away?? I thought I met a fellow named Cary and.... damn, I'm forgetting the other name. Wait was it Sean I met? Maybe Doug can refresh my memory. Funny thinking about this, I just e-mailed Doug to tell him I won't be down that way any more as my sister-in-law is moving back up to CT. I'll miss hangin' with Doug. During the early days of the Blue Note board, several of us met at a show in NYC. I remember "hardbop" Heaney, Bertrand, Dmitry, Morgan Fan(?), me, Rob and few others. Anyway, there were quite a few of us. I'll never forget that ride in Dmitry's car!! Later, Kevin

Like Claude, I have yet to be blown away by many SACDs I've bought with the exception of a couple of them from Analogue Productions (like Adderley's "You Know What I Mean"). However, I am very happy with the sound of nearly all the SACDs I've bought, something that cannot be said for nearly all the CDs I've bought. True, I did buy Peter Gabriel's greatest hits SACD, "Shaking the Tree" and it doesn't sound all that great, but it is really the only dud I've encountered in about 50 SACDs so far. I have many crappy-sounding CDs that I've been forced to re-buy and, in some cases, re-buy again... sometimes for a slight sound improvement. If you are faced with having to buy a new CD player, I would recommend looking into a CD/SACD combo unit. There is a possibility that Sony may start releasing hybrids for some of their product (like ABKCO has done with their Rolling Stones' catalog) and it doesn't make sense to exclude yourself from being able to access that extra, great-sounding layer. If you aren't seeing a need to buy a new player, wait until you old one dies. With any luck, Sony will follow through and get a bunch of hybrids into your CD collection so that sometime in the future when you do get to hear the music on that extra layer, you can see if it is better. Later, Kevin

This is an exceptional cd, I can agree with everything DrJ says. Don't miss this it's a real treat in every way. Here here! This is a great disc. I haven't played this one in a while... I'll have to pull it out tonight. Later, Kevin

Danny Gatton & Joey DeFrancesco - "Relentless" is a "must have" for everyone on this board. It just smokes! BTW, it is back in print (for how long, who knows?) at: Big Mo Records. Later, Kevin

Pick up David Murray's "Ballads For Bass Clarinet"! That's a great one to introduce someone who likes the sound of clarinet (abeit lower in tone) to the inner & outer aspects of its sound... and John Hicks plays great on it too. Later, Kevin

It was in the early morning hours when I fell into a phone call. Believing I had supernatural powers, I slammed into a brick wall. I said, "Hey, is this my problem? Is this my fault? If that's the way it's going to be, I'm going to call the whole thing to a halt."

Hmmm... I guess I'll have to pull this one off the shelf again. I can't remember too many drum solos. In fact, I seem to remember thinking how few drum solos there were coming from a set led by a drummer. I guess the last two discs, the "Live At The Lighthouse" stuff, probably has a few but that's not too bad for a live gig where the leader is the drummer, right? BTW, I agree that the Mobley set is one that should catch your fancy. I play parts of it often. About the drawback I could think of is that there is a "sameness" to the sessions... a common problem with a few of my Mosaic boxes... great in pieces but repetative if you try spinning the whole thing. Later, Kevin

Intersting... the TOCJ of "Off to the Races" is in Stereo, not mono like the Mosaic box. This is worth getting even if you have the box. Later, Kevin

Is "Trompeta Toccata" a hard one to find? I have that one. It does sound nice. In fact, I kept the JRVG over the TOCJ and the US versions, which doesn't happen often as I generally prefer the sound of the TOCJ discs. I believe that the Donaldson and Rivers discs are the correct answer. They are supposed to be rare but nowhere near as rare as "Blue Cuscuna", a CD issued in extremely limited quantities (under 200 or so) and given away as prizes. I'd love to get a copy of that! Later, Kevin

Man, now Weizen's gonna have to collect all three pressings just to complete his collection! Later, Kevin

FWIW, Tom Evered of Blue Note Records knows of the moderators affiliation with the Bob Jones University and he was well aware of the problem that link is to Norah Jones. Neon, I think I am going to make another call just to let Tom know that you renegged and reinstated musicboy. I had mentioned the moderator with the Jones link but gave you a good word based on your actions here. Obviously, I jumped the gun. I hope you'll be hearing from Norah's record label soon. Later, Kevin

From Redbones' on-line menu: Memphis Ribs Small $10.95 / Regular $12.95 Pork spareribs w/ Great smokey flavor. Served w/ beans and cole slaw & sauce Texas Beef Ribs Small $10.95 / Regular $12.95 Slowly smoked large beef ribs. Served w/ beans, cole slaw & sauce Arkansas Ribs Small $9.95 / Regular $11.95 Thick, meaty country style ribs. Served w/ beans, cole slaw & sauce Smoked Beef Brisket Small $10.95 / Regular $12.95 Sliced slowly smoked brisket. Served w/ beans, cole slaw & sauce Baby Back Ribs Market Price Pork loin ribs. Served w/ beans, cole slaw & sauce St. Louis Style Ribs Small $13.95 / Regular $15.95 Lean and tender smaller pork ribs w/ beans & slaw & sauce The Barbeque Belt $15.95 A taste of the South, featuring Memphis, Texas & Arkansas Ribs & Sliced Brisket. Served w/ beans, cole slaw & sauce Wood Grilled Chicken Small $7.95 / Regular $9.95 A tender half chicken, grilled on the pit. Served with beans & cole slaw BBQ Hash Dinner $7.95 Pork, Beef, Peppers, Potatoes, Onion & Spices. Served w/ greens & beans & mild sauce Sausage Dinner $7.95 Today's sausage. Served w/ dirty rice & beans Pulled Pork Dinner $7.95 Slow smoked pork w/ cole slaw & beans BTW, their sausage is handmade on the premises, not store bought. They also offer combo plates. I often find myself ordering the "lazy man's meat platter" i.e. pulled pork and BBQ hash. Later, Kevin

Redbones in Davis Square, Somerville, MA. Can't be beat. One of the best beer selections in town, too. They even have cask conditioned ales on tap! Good food and good beer?? What a combo. BTW, at home, I've settled on Sweet Baby Ray's bbq sauce as the sauce of choice for chicken. It is awesome stuff... sweet & tangy. Oh yeah, I almost forgot... best baby back ribs: The Loft Restaurant in North Andover, MA... sucky beer & wine selection though. Later, Kevin

Bob Belden has said that all the Miles remasters since 1998 have been done in DSD in preparation for eventual SACD release. He had posted that on the Blue Note BBS under the username "indno"... Damn, I wish those posts were still available. I seem to remember him saying that they cut the master in DSD and convert it to PCM for the redbook master. In my opinion, this little step in DSD-land seems to help smooth out the sound... I've liked almost all of the Miles CDs I've heard that were remastered in DSD. Later, Kevin

To clrify my last post, when Sony puts out a multi-channel SACD, it has two separate playback areas on the disc: a milti-channel area and a 2 channel area. If it's a hybrid disc, it has 3 separate areas, with the 2 SACD (DSD) areas on one "layer" and the old-fashioned CD area on another. BTW, each layer is read back with a different frequency laser. This way, the laser "sees through" the other layer. Pretty neat optical trick. Later, Kevin

I am pretty sure that all the Miles Davis SACDs listed as "oop" are in fact the 2 channel versions. Columbia has been switching over to multi-channel versions over the last year or two and they technically "delete" the 2 channel version. It's no loss, since in almost every case, the 2 channel SACD mix has been sonically improved, almost like Sony got better at remastering in a short time period. While I don't think the old 2 channel versions are pieces of junk, others do. In fact, several contributors to the Audio Asylum rank Miles' "Kind Of Blue" 2 channel SACD as one of their worst-sounding discs. Go figure... I don't think it's that bad. Marginally improving something that already sounded pretty good does not render the old version as "unlistenable". Later, Kevin

I have Hartog's "From Here To There" and "Time In The City". The second title is from 1997. I have always looked for Hartog's name in the Boston listings to no avail. He doesn't seem to leave NYC. Maybe he's teaching now? Later, Kevin

Shrugs, I was able to pick up the Roach at Stereo Jack's in Cambridge last night. Turns out Jack got in a bunch of these too. Jack didn't have the Blakey or Corea so I have the Blakey on reserve at Integrity and they're trying to get me the Corea... they say they'll order it on Tuesday. BTW, thanks for letting me know these were at Integrity. I was soooo close to making an order with Fresh Sounds. This is much better. Later, Kevin

Rooster, I understand your frustration. I also can't understand why Blue Note would feel the need to stop these CDs if they are legit... well, from what I was told, legit isn't really true. These are not being sold under the terms of the licensing contract so legally, they aren't legally legit. Anyway, I don't see how these few sales hurt Blue Note if the licensing fee was paid. I just don't get it. BTW, for the very reason that I don't agree with BN on this issue is the very reason I didn't press them on it. I just got the info that they're not supposed to be sold on the open market, that BN is "looking into it" and then I extricated myself from the conversation before they asked me anything else. From what I heard, they are aware of these and they don't want them being sold. Why? I didn't ask. Wasn't I just saying on another thread that it seems like Blue Note's legal department likes to play "hardball"?? They seem to have more lawyers than they need. Maybe this legal department is bored and they're looking for things to do?? Maybe they're reading this thread right.................... THIS IS BLUE NOTE'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE DECIDED THAT MR. BRESNAHAN IS REVEALING TOO MUCH ABOUT OUR INNER WORKINGS AND WE HAVE STOPPED HIS POSTING ABILITY. THE TRIAL IS SET FOR NEXT MONTH.

Anyone interested in any of these titles better get going on them. I checked into what shrugs was told about the legitimacy of these CDs and found out that they are legitimate, licensed releases. However, they were licensed to Time/Life for sale only through a special, mail-order Time/Life "Blue Note Club"-type thing. I didn't press the people I talked to about whether they were actively doing anything about it, but from the sounds of it, I would be very surprised if these stay available for very long. Later, Kevin