paul secor

I find most of what's been written on this thread insulting to Monk's memory. I doubt that anyone who has posted was personally close enough to Thelonious Monk to write anything worth reading about his life or medical history. That makes it all speculation, and speculation can easily turn into rumor, which can, in turn, become "fact". The music is there for all of us to listen to, enjoy, and learn from. That should be more than enough.

The Louis Armstrong Legend 1925-26 (World Records)

The Best of Bobby Bland (Duke)

I'd like to put a word in for Live in Seattle. It's late Trane, and probably not to everyone's tastes, but it contains some of the most intense, and, at times, frightening music I've ever heard. I don't listen to it often, but when I do, I always hear things I haven't heard before, and perhaps learn things about myself.

Hope that you're enjoying your birthday!

Joe Albany Sadik Hakim Dodo Marmarosa

My copy of To Bird With Love has held up ok, but I've been very careful with it. I guess it would be well worth having it rebound if it's going for $750 (!) I don't know if this qualifies, but Francois Paudras' La Danse des Infideles - Bud Powell is an impressive work, and obviously a labor of love. I bought my copy at Tower Records in NY in, I believe, 1986 or 87. The publisher is L'Instant. I have no knowledge of that publisher - perhaps brownie can tell us something about that. The book itself is huge, with hundreds of photographs (many rare) and essays by Francois Paudras. I bought this primarily for the photographs, since the text is in French, and my French is less than sketchy. (I did have thoughts of using a French-English dictionary and reading it little by little, but that was obviously when I was in a revved up psychological mode and it never happened. A couple of years later I had thoughts of buying the French edition of Francois Truffaut's correspondence and trying to read it in French, but in that case sanity ruled (there also weren't nearly as many photographs) and I waited for an English translation.) Years later, I bought the Da Capo English translation edition of the Powell, and was able to read the text. I'm sure that there are those who have their differences with Mr. Paudras and what he wrote, but there is little else that has been published about the later years of Bud Powell's life. I still treasure the French edition, partly because many of the photographs in it are not included in the American edition, and because it is a treasure. Two other books that I'd like to mention, though they are not beautifully printed, are Bud Freeman's if you know of a better life! and You Don't Look Like a Musician. Both are collections of anecdotes written by Bud Freeman. Both were published by small (perhaps private?) publishers with minimal distribution. And both are very entertaining reads.

Hope you've had a great birthday!

Another original passes. When the time comes for me to sit down, listen, and honor his memory, I'll probably put on some of his Columbia sides recorded under his own name or with Kenny Burrell, and definitely the version of "Harlem Nocturne" that he recorded for Verve. (I'd try dancing to some of his uptempo early sides, but my wife says that I dance worse than Al Gore, so that's out.) Rest in peace, Mr. Jacquet. And thanks for sharing your music.

I've bought maybe a half dozen recordings over the past six months, and I still have a lot of catching up to do. There's my answer. I also have a lot of CDs and LPs that I've only listened to once, and to me, that's not a good thing either. Too much music - Too little time. One of (my) life's quandaries.

The New Yorker had an article on this phenomenon two or three months ago. A personal experience: A Dutch gentleman was at my workplace a few weeks ago. He was probably 6'4", or so and about 30 years old. I made a comment about the New Yorker article, and he replied, "Yes, it's true. When I was young, I was tall. Now I'm only average height."

I seem to have the same edition that Michael Fitgerald mentioned. Bought it back then - possibly from Cadence, or possibly at the original NY Tower on 4th St - can't remember.

Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan: Goin' Home (Steeplechase) A perfect record - I enjoy it every time I listen to it.

Another for this one. Charlie Haden - believe that he was just returning to the scene around this time - plays some very fine bass on this, too.

Who cares about pressing criminal charges? He should sue the sucker and get his hands on some of that McCarthur "genius" money. Crouch never deserved it, anyway.

I guess that I do lead a double life. Now and again, my wife will say, "What Is this record world that you're always in?" B)

I could not describe it better That's what my wife tells me, and she's absolutely right!

I've lived in small towns for most of my life, and generally enjoy a low key, relaxed mode of living more than a faster paced lifestyle. That said, there are times when it would be nice to live in a large city and have easy access to cultural events without having to truck a long distance.

Johnny Hartman: From the Heart (Affinity) - Bethlehem sides.

Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster (Verve/Classic Records)

Hey - I see it as a chance to rebuild. The Lakers have done that a number of times over the 40+ years that I've rooted for them. This is just one more time. Rebuilding and renewal can be a good thing.

I LOVE Dan Hicks and all of the incarnations of his groups, but especially the Sid Page, Girton, Page, etc. Hot Licks. After reading about him over the years, when I finally met him after a concert in a small club about five years ago, I was surprised that he was a friendly, nice guy who was willing to take the time to talk for a few minutes with a fan, and willing to autograph a number of albums. Once again, I learned not to believe everything I read.

When I hit a dry listening spell, I tend not to listen to anything for a day or two. I try to find as much quiet time as possible - reading often takes the place of listening for me. After a day or two, I usually find that the urge to listen to music has returned, and I can enjoy my listening time once again.

The Louis Armstrong Legend 1926-27 (World Records)

Jon Eardley: From Hollywood to New York (OJC)