DMP

I'm pretty sure all of the "Mastery" material has made it to CD, for the most part as reissues of the original sessions. That was a teriffic series, by the way - in an age before the exhaustive "Mosaic" style issues, it put out Coltrane material that most of us never heard before!

I always thought the original CD reissues of this material were pretty smart - same for the "Sermon"/"House Party" sessions - someone put some thought into it. Are the 3 Mobley titles mentioned above still available in that format?

I always was lukewarm on the Capitol album - it was okay, maybe a little ambitious (and not in the good sense of the word) compared to the more famous version (done in one evening!) - I'd like to hear it again, though. But Manne's other Capitol album - the Gershwin one - was very good. That seems to have disappeared.

Wait a minute - are we talking about 2 different albums here? Didn't Manne do one later when he was on Capitol? I've had the Contemporary album since the late '50's, (and a couple of CD versions) - never came across any extra material.

No rehearsals on the Mosaic. But you do get that actor who played "Blacula" doing his Rex Harrison imitation.

My watch didn't work.

There was an edited version of the song on a double LP Pacific Jazz anthology which contained (mostly) edited versions of material from their whole catalog to that point. ("Prime Cuts?" Early '60's.)) My introduction to some good music, and I always enjoyed getting the original albums and hearing what I'd missed.

I think the Dexter Gordon is easily his best on Columbia, and maybe one of his best, period.

Think I have a CD-R of this - I'll check in the morning, and if I have it I'll be happy to send you a copy.

Red Holloway?

Am I correct in assuming that Marr's "King" albums have never made it to CD? His "Live at Club 502" is a pretty solid organ quartet session, rivalling some of the better known groups of the day.

"World of Piano" is the one to get. The Miles Davis rhythm section of the day is on one side, the Cannonball Adderley on the other. One of the top trio albums ever.

Good question! I was thinking of the first: "Moontrane," "Little Red's...," the live in Berlin... (I'm also a sucker for those early '70's model-vamp back-beat tunes like "Love Dance.") But, now that you bring it up, the second was also very good, if a little more straight-up. Anyway, his "Muse" albums have worn well.

The four live "HighNote" volumes are excellent, some of the best Shaw available. Everything's 10 minutes+, but nothing feels padded. Good versions of material he recorded in the studio. I've always felt his best work was on Muse. And how many artists can you say THAT about. Unfortunately, I'm lukewarm on the Columbia stuff, albums I've owned since their original release - they're good, but seem to missing the spark of his Muse albums. I'm sure I'm in the minority on this. Maybe I should pull out the Mosaic box and see if my opinion's changed. (And, it would be nice if the Columbia Vanguard sessions resurfaced...)

I agree about the Samuels - a slight disappointment, although if you're at all a fan of Tjader you'll want to have it. The Sanchez is good. Are these still in print?

I got the Cugat, played it once, I'll probably never play it again.

One of his Blue Note albums was a straight-ahead trio affair - might have been called "Standards" - it was beautiful! (I'll have to pull it off the shelf when I get home.)

Off by a couple of years, but there are the "K2" versions of "Monk's Music" and "Brilliant Corners."

And was responsible for one of the great (but unheralded) Stan Getz albums ever - "The Lost Sessions." (And the notes detail Alpert's relationship with Getz - very interesting.) (Besided giving Snyder that free hand, he also did the same with Creed Taylor - does one cancel the other out?)

Now that I think of it, Herb Alpert was responsible for perhaps the most unlilely commercial success of a jazz musician of all time - Gato Barbieri! He sold the fiery saxophonist as a disco artist!

Well, they DID have a "hit" with "Work Song" - that probably paid for Nat's kids college education. Does anyone remember the Chet Baker/"World Pacific" knock-off? Those albums (and the notes did talk about their jazz content") make Bud Shank playing "Michele" look like "West End Blues." (Or something.)

At this point, the "Verve" reissue series might be about the most interesting around - lots of unexpected titles this past year. (I wouldn't get too excited about the upcoming Oliver Nelson, though - half the album was a showcase for Impulse "discovery" Mel Brown - pretty routine.)

Very nice, although a little ragged (as the notes explain, it was a thrown-together session). The CD also contains one extra tune from the night which wasn't on the original LP, and 2 more tunes from an earlier and unrelated studio session with Curtis Amy and Bobby Hutcherson. The same Village Gate engagement also produced McCann's "Plays the Shampoo" trio album, and the Turrentine/McCann Blue Note album is from a couple of days later.

This week's "Verve" reissues are all worth picking up - not the usual fare! (The Edison may be the best of the bunch, but every one has something going for it.) The 'live" Joe Newman (with Oliver Nelson) was new to me.

I seem to recall a good Art Pepper "Laserlight" - "Laurie's Choice?" Or am I dreaming.