paul secor

Milt Jackson: Ballads & Blues (Atlantic/Japan)

Adolph Hofner: South Texas Swing 1935-1955 (Arhoolie)

Just remembered - The Coasters did a version of "Down Home Girl" on a Date 45 - produced by Leiber and Stoller. The flip, "Soul Pad" contains the only reference to Thelonious Monk I've ever come across on an r&b record. I still recall driving in my car in Buffalo, N.Y., hearing "Soul Pad" on the radio, making a beeline for a record store in the Black area of the city, and picking up that 45. This is a great thread! It's brought back memories and has given me some renewed inspiration to listen to Alvin Robinson again.

I thought that Charly had released Alvin Robinson's Red Bird sides on CD, but when I looked on the shelf it wasn't there, and I realized they hadn't. (They did do a Chris Kenner CD and a Jesse Hill CD, and I guess I wrongly assumed they had done one on Alvin Robinson as well.) Glad I still have my Charly LP. Time to put it on the box and give it a relisten. Ace has released 10 AFO produced Alvin Robinson sides on 3 compilation CDs - Gumbo Stew, More Gumbo Stew, and Still Spicey Gumbo Stew - Original AFO New Orleans R&B. While we're talking about Alvin Robinson, I'd like to give one of his relative contemporaries, Jesse Hill, a quick mention. His Charly CD, Y'All Ready Now? ... Plus, is an amazing recording. Jesse's modus operandus seems to have been to show up at the studio with some riffs and minimal lyrics (tho good riffs and good minimal lyrics), have Allen Toussaint put together arrangements, and let it all happen. And it did happen - his big hit, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo" is merely the tip of the iceberg. There was plenty of other great music, even if it didn't make the charts. The CD includes some bits of studio jiving by Mr. Hill, including at least one good belch, and to my tastes, is one of the great classic N.O. r&b collections of all time. (Good liner notes by Neil Slaven, too.)

I'm not a Pistons' fan, but I'm old enough to remember when they played out of Fort Wayne.

Joe Turner: Joe's Back in Town (Black and Blue) - the pianist, not the singer.

Happy 70th to the Pistons' #1 fan (well, maybe you have to fight that one out with Jim A.).

Happy Birthday, Sir!

Good to see Kyle Koehler mentioned. He plays some good organ on Dom Minasi's Quick Response. I'd like to hear more of his playing. I'd like to add Steve Corn's name. He played some nice stuff on Paul Plummer & Ron Enyard's Trio and Quartet (Quixotic).

Lum Guffin: Walking Victrola (Flyright)

Mississippi John Hurt: Monday Morning Blues - 1963 Library of Congress Recordings - Volume One (Flyright)

Maxwell Davis: Father of West Coast R&B (Ace)

Finals MVP as a rookie. Best passer on the fast break, there is no comparable player. Clutch buckets galore. Magic was the greatest point guard of all time imo, and my favorite player ever. All I can add to that is AMEN!

Augustus Pablo: Rockers Meets King Tubbys in a Fire House (Shanachie)

Hope that it's a great day for you!

Richie Kamuca: Drop Me Off in Harlem (Concord)

Billy Bang: Distinction Without a Difference (Hat Hut)

Just curious - is this stuff being reissued legally, or are we in the Definitive/Fresh Sounds/Proper etc. realm?

Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session with Svend Asmussen, Stephane Grappelli, and Ray Nance (Atlantic)

I saw a chiropractor about 20 years ago when I was having problems with my back. His manipulations usually gave me relief for a day or so, and then it was back to pain again. Now, I try to do back exercises every other day, and that's done me more good than seeing the chiropractor ever did.

This isn't meant as a smartass answer. I let music define itself.

No way I'm going to pay someone who's trying to kill me.

Ornette Coleman: ORNETTE! (Atlantic mono) - This record was my introduction to Ornette's music back in the early 60's.

Grachan Moncur III/Jazz Composer's Orchestra: Echoes of Prayer (JCOA)

I'd like to mention Jackie McLean's Lights Out (now on Prestige/OJC) - a very good record, and Elmo Hope plays some very fine piano on it.