paul secor

For Von Freeman completists: I was listening to Jimmy Witherspoon's Vee-Jay recording of "K.C. Loving" from 1959 the other day and wondered who the tenor sax soloist was. I checked a discography and the listing said Von Freeman. I took another listen and it does have his sound, though the solo is a relatively short one. Anyone else who has the recording is welcome to offer an opinion.

Happy Birthday, Bill!

The Best of Muddy Waters (Chess) black label

Henry Coker Cracker J.T. Snow

It's an award that has no relevancy. Five years from now, will anyone remember who won the 2015 manager of the year awards? Or even two years from now, for that matter.

Bo Bo Bo

Yes. Miles id definitely playing to the max on this record. I'll have to listen again to the Trane recordings before I comment on his playing there.

Sorry - my bad. I had seen some mention on the Hoffman Board that Sloan was Flip from Skip and Flip and I thought that was what you meant.

P.F. Sloan was neither Skip nor Flip. Skip was Skip Battin, later a session musician, and a member of the Byrds. Flip was Gary Paxton, later a songwriter/producer.

As far as music goes, I have a small pile of recordings that I haven't listened to yet. I usually save certain unlistened to recordings for a time when it seems right. Usually that's not for too long because I don't want to let things pile up. The one time I can think of that I did save something was Doug Sahm's last recording, The Return of Wayne Douglas. It was issued after he passed and I held off listening to it for a year or so. I think I just didn't want to let go. As for clothing, etc., I wear it or use it as needed. No saving there. (Although we do have dishes that are used on special occasions, not everyday. So I guess that counts as a saved thing.)

It's been lamented that with the end of the LP era, cover art has been lost. The size of cover art has been lost, but there is still good work being done. Please post your favorites. Here are some of mine: Virgin Beauty may have been simultaneously released on LP, but I have it on CD. Another (above) that may have been simultaneously issued on LP, but I bought the CD. Issued on LP by Mosaic after the CD issue.

The 1950s and 1960s are generally regarded as the golden age of album covers. That might be true, but there have been some classic LP covers created after the 1960s. Feel free to post some of your favorites. Below are some of mine:

Miles Davis & Sonny Stitt: Live in Stockholm 1960 (Dragon) Listening to this last night, I heard one man immersed in his music and another man playing for a paycheck. Perhaps a harsh opinion, but a true one for me.

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks" Striking It Rich (Blue Thumb)

Jimmy Lyons/Andrew Cyrille: Something In Return (Black Saint)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/arts/music/roswell-rudd-in-a-celebratory-mood-reflects-on-his-winding-path.html?_r=0 From this link in the article http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/travel/escapes/23away.html, it appears that he and Verna Gillis have a beautiful home. No mention of how his cancer treatment is going. I hope that he's well. He's a great musician and e great spirit.

Following Jeff's lead from a couple of days ago: The Legendary Buster Smith (Atlantic)

Interesting to hear of the continuity and changes that have happened in his life.

Bones Howe J.J. Watt Wilbur Ware

Bob Dylan: World Gone Wrong (Columbia)

Barry Melton Abe Vigoda Charlie the Tuna

4 - "Blackberry Winter" written by one of Jeff's favorite composers. I have to admit that I cheated on this one. I had asked Jeff for some Alec Wilder recommendations a while ago and he mentioned this one. I won't give it away so that others can guess. The guitarist has been identified as Vic Juris. Feel free to spill the rest of the beans. From Jeff's PM to me: Vic Juris - Music of Alec Wilder on Double-Time Records is also very good - it's got Tim Hagans and Dave Liebman

Again, haven't looked at previous comments. 1 - A blaring big band. A musician friend of mine once commented that it's more fun to play in a big band than to listen to one - I know for sure that there are exceptions to that for him. I passed this comment on to Jeff once and he doesn't agree. I didn't enjoy listening to this cut and, if I were a musician, I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy playing this. 2- Sounds like a flautist with a somewhat unusual sound but very few ideas. My impression of the piano is similar - very few ideas. The flautist (that sounds so pretentious) sounds familiar, but I can't think of who it might be. 3 - A funk band - not my thing at all, but these guys sound like good musicians who could play this in their sleep. Didn't sound like they put much into it, other than professionalism. But, as I say, it's not my thing. 4 - Is the trumpeter someone who doesn't normally play trumpet? Or an older musician who was having health/age problems? 5 - I'm assuming the vocalist isn't the reason for this track's inclusion. Sounds like a crooner from a Marx Brothers film who was there to give the bros. a bit of a respite. Beautiful guitar solo - though much too short. I enjoyed the trumpet accompaniment when I was able to tune out the vocalist. 6 - A N.O. brass band - again not my thing. Music that would be enjoyed in a crowded bar with a buzz on. On record, it just doesn't come through for me. Jeff - thanks for the music and all of the work you put into this. Apologies for some of the negative comments. I guess I'm the sort who either likes certain music or doesn't. I'm not much of an in between guy.

Again, I haven't looked at previous comments. I will after I've posted. 1 - Brew Moore playing "Zonky", which he took credit for composing. I have a different performance of this on a Steeplechase CD entitled "Zonky". My favorite from this section of the test. 2 - Don't recognize this, but given that the vibist seems to be the leader and it's a fairly large group I'll guess Teddy Charles - don't have any of his recordings with a larger group. My favorite part of this was the guitar solo. When it began, I thought maybe Barry Galbraith, but the tone is lighter and the playing is more fluent, so perhaps Jimmy Raney? 3 - Sounded to me like generic 70's sort of Tynerlike with a lighter touch. Joe Bonner came to mind, but I have no idea. Not my kind of thing. 4 - "Blackberry Winter" written by one of Jeff's favorite composers. I have to admit that I cheated on this one. I had asked Jeff for some Alec Wilder recommendations a while ago and he mentioned this one. I won't give it away so that others can guess. 5 - I'm not a big band guy, so I have no idea. I liked the playing of the head best of all. Is the drummer the leader? I couldn't see any other reason for the drum solo.

Won't look at previous comments until I post this, and once again I didn't recognize anything. (What else is new?) 1 - Liked the clarinet and the strong playing by the trumpeter. I'll pass on the vocalist and the band vocal - of that period, so I'll let it go. 2 - Loved the clarinet. Great full toned lower register playing and just a beautiful tone in general. 3 - I was most impressed by the way the rhythm section kept things moving and jumping. 4 - New Orleans sounding. A great band - no one stands out and that's a big part of what makes it a great band. Wonderful feel on this one. 5 - Another N.O. sounding band. The clarinetist and trumpeter are fine musicians. The piano solo changed the feel of things. 6 - More New Orleans? The clarinetist was impressive in the way he could keep up the intensity, but it was a bit too manic for me. Thanks for more good music, Jeff.