paul secor

Listened today. I'll have to echo Ubu's opinion - good, not great - and, as he says, there's not much Sadik Hakim out there. Hakim wrote some good tunes that are on the album, and imo the date would have been better if Al Foster had been replaced with a drummer with more drive. I wouldn't give it a definite , nor would I give it a definite . Your call - which is as it should be. How's that for being wishy washy?

Amos Milburn: Rare Masters (Aladdin/Pathe Marconi)

Horace Silver touched so many listeners and musicians in ways that I can't imagine. I recall that Cecil called him an influence. Thanks, Mr. Silver. You were loved and you'll be greatly missed.

Whitey Lockman Cliff Clavin Norm Nixon

We didn't get into his attitude toward women when I interviewed him for Down Beat back in 1968 or '69. But he was on a personal level as mean as a snake, even rather cruel (though I admit that in my still callow relative youthfulness and anxiety to please I left him an opening or two that I shouldn't have). The interview took place by a motel swimming pool with most of the Mothers within earshot, and they (Don Shelton, especially) were more or less appalled at the way Zappa had behaved and gathered around after he'd left to say a good many insightful things about the band that helped to make the experience a success after all, at least journalistically. I used to work with a drummer who went on tour with Zappa as a percussionist, and he said that FZ treated the musicians like dogs. And then there's his two famous quotes about jazz: "Jazz, the music of unemployment". "Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny..." Well, that was a dumb forecast if ever there was one, jazz is still here and..you know the rest. I've listened to a fair amount of Zappa and the sky-high praise for him always had me a bit puzzled, a lot of his output seems to oscillate between juvenilia and academia. I agree completely with your assessment of Zappa.

Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Spiritual (Freedom/Trio)

Gilda Radner Roseanne Roseannadanna Baba Wawa

Blue Mitchell: Step Lightly (BN King)

The excerpted quotes don't give a sense of the article - imo.

Serge Chaloff: Serge & Boots/The Fable of Mabel (Storyville/Trio)

Ross Macdonald: The Wycherly Woman

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/jun/19/charles-ives-wins/?insrc=hpma Ostensibly a review of a new Ives biography, it ends up being a short essay on Denk's opinions about Ives - which is fine with me.

Buddy Guy Bosom Buddies Paladin

I just listened to Hakim's Memories, a solo LP, last night. I enjoyed it and recommend it. I'll have to try and get to Witches, etc. sometime soon. I have good memories, but it's been a little while.

Sadik Hakim: Memories (Progressive Japan)

The Whiskeyhill Singers Wine Headed Woman Bebop Wino

Eddy Arnold Arnold Stang Little Sister http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ANaBgAxio

Milt Jackson: Bags' Opus (UA Japan)

Listened last night. Thanks again for bringing this record up, Larry. As you wrote, Benny Golson is in very fine form, as is Milt Jackson. And I was happy that Connie Kay's drums were played down.

Happy Birthday!

Salty Parker Sweets Edison Candy Barr

Nope. I'll hang around and stick with my opinion.

That reminds me that when one of the musicians tried to compare Charlie Watts' jazz playing with Ginger Baker's, Giampaolo gave a GTFOH reaction to the comparison. Not in the same league... I've never heard Charlie Watts play jazz, so I can't comment. As far as playing rock, I'll take Charlie Watts any day.

Have a copy and haven't listened in years. Time to take it off the shelf. Thanks for the reminder.

Mars Williams Venus Williams William B. Williams