DMP

Quincy - Thanks. I guess if I really want to hear Murray, I should buy one of his albums. (Are there any successful appearances by jazz musicians sitting in with a rock band? Besides Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter?) (And Chet Baker?) (Wait a minute - now that I think about it, there are plenty.)

Is David Murray on any of those live sets?

I always thought the original CD release of the two albums showed the promise of the (then) new format - a chance tp put things in some kind of order and fill out original albums with worthwhile additional material. On the other hand, the "RVG" editions sound as good as anything in that seriies - a noticeable improvement in sound. I've kept all of them.

Don't think it's been reissued ("French Riviera" - a similar session has been), but the best cut - a smoking "No More Blues" - is on one of those "Verve" budget compillations.

I'm lukewarm on "Sister Salvation," but the "Exodus" title is very good. My favorite - and a good deal - is the "Collectables" "two-fer" of "Jazz With a Twist" and "Explosion" - similar set-up to "Salvation"' but (to my ears) livelier.

I've always thought of Rudolph Johnson's "Second Coming" as just about as good a jazz album as you'll find. The playing (by musicians who you might not be familiar with) is first-rate, and the album as a whole is sequenced so it all builds and really hangs together. Don't miss it. No kidding.

"On May Way & Shoutin'..." has always been one of my favorites - I'd put it at the top of my list. (Some of the arrangements have a slightly more "modern" bent than the Basie albums of that period.) (Key word: "slightly.")

Never noticed any problems with this - I'll give it a listen again, though. By the way - isn't there a more recent reissue of this? One of those "Original Sound" Warner deals?

How about the recent "Fantasy" SACD hybrid of the Massey Hall concert?

My opinion is that the Gil Evans is the pick of the lot, in any of the layers. Apparently original stereo tapes were discovered, amd used for the first time.

Mannekind"'s been out a couple of times on CD. Also - that Art Farmer and strings session has been out , but it's not in the same league as the Mercury strings session. Another nice feature of the label - in addition to the headphones noted above - lots of chains and necklaces!

Besides the 2 excellent "Impulse" titles, the same line-up recorded for "Reprise" (recently reissued on "Collectables") and "Columbia." But the "Impulse" albums are the ones to get - and a real departure from the Buddy Collette/Jim Hall/Fred Katz "chamber" jazz style Hamilton made his reputation with. (Lloyd was the "musical director" for that particular edition of the Hamilton group.)

Doris Duke married to Joe Castro??

The more I think about the Kessel "Reprise" stuff... It's similar to those Laurindo Almeida "and the Bossa Nova All-Stars" LP's on "Capitol" - short tracks, many of the day's pop hits (remember all the titles emblazoned on the covers in large type?), minimal jazz content, and absolutely nothing to do with bossa nova. Still, they were hard to resist...

The "Reprise" albums - sorry to say, not that good. For the most part a real period piece. Maybe a couple good tracks with Paul Horn. (Now, the Shorty Rogers "Reprise" material that's out on "Collectables" - THAT'S a good deal!)

One of their best. I have an early CD issue ("Applause" label), but the sound is lousy. This (and "The Festival Album") are long overdue for a proper issue. In the meantime, pick up the LP.

"New Wave" would be worth having if only for Charlie Ventura popping up from out of the blue!

Given the personnel, I've always thought "Greatest" was a little disappointing. (A friend of mine uses the word "deceptive.") But clearly it should have been reissued years ago, a no-brainer. (Michael Fitzgerald is right on - "Jambo Caribe??") However, while you're waiting for it, why not pick up "Benny Golson's New York Scene" - similar group, a very rewarding session (superior, to my ears, to "Greatest") - and AVAILABLE!!