paul secor

Are the two antithetical? I guess that for M.W. they were.

Larry - I'm not a critic in any formal (or even informal) sense, but Martin Williams was a sort of idol of mine in the early to mid sixties. I used to read and reread his columns in Down Beat and the Evergreen Review - I believe I remember reading a few pieces that he published in Kulchur also, but my memory may be misleading me there. I felt that as time went on, he seemed to avoid writing about the emotional sides of the music - I came to think of this as "music is logic". I know that's an oversimplification, but for whatever reasons, Martin Williams' writings seemed to lose most of their appeal to me. Perhaps this may be a good time for me to reread some of his essays and columns.

It was one of the first dozen jazz records I ever bought (41 years ago). I still have it, I still listen to it, and it still sounds fresh to me. I guess that's a pretty good recommendation.

I'm also not an Alexander fan, but I do find that Cookin' with the Mighty Burner is enjoyable whenever I play it. I have to admit that I haven't heard as much of Alexander's playing other than this and some things on the radio, but what I have heard hasn't blown me away. I agree with a lot (not all) of what Larry Kart wrote in his posts on this topic, but I can't understand why some people have gotten upset. What he wrote are just his opinions. You can read them, think about them, or ignore them, but why get so carried away about an opinion?

Happy birthday, Chuck! Many, many thanks for all you've given so that the rest of us (here and everywhere) could hear some great music.

Basie Jam (Pablo) - Fine, fine stuff!

TheComplete Erskine Hawkins Volumes 1/2 - 1938-1939 (RCA Fr. Black & White)

Happy birthday, Larry. Hope it's a great one! Thanks for all you've written over the years - I've learned a lot. P.S. - Looking forward to your book.

I saw Joe Kennedy Jr.'s obituary in the NY Times about a week ago. I didn't have the time to post right then, and it slipped my mind until now. My apologies to Mr. Kennedy's memory and to Board members who would have wanted to know about this at the time. He could make his instrument sing.

I know I'm late with this, but I still can't get over that finish. I agree with Pop. There's just no way Fischer did all that in .4 seconds. Had to be an error by the timer, IMO. You can't catch the ball (AND move a few feet with it like that before releasing it) in .4 seconds. PQ is right- the Spurs should have fouled him as soon as the ball got to his hands. You and Popovich may be right, but the game was played on the Spurs' home court. I guess that the people who run the time clocks don't go along with the refs and give the calls to the home team.

Miscellaneous Music - 39%. I'd never bothered to check before. I thought that MM would have my highest percentage of posts, but I didn't think that the percentage would be so high.

Happy belated birthday Charlie. Enjoy being 18!

I recommend all of the following Silkhearts: 116 - Charles Gayle Trio: Homeless 121 - Denis Charles Triangle: Queen Mary 122 - Rob Brown Trio: Breath Rhyme 139 - Roy Campbell Pyramid: Communion Plus 2 I listened to today and rediscovered after seeing this thread: 119 - William Hooker 4tet: Lifeline - some good free blowing, especially by Claude Lawrence 125 - Joel Futterman 4tet: Vision in Time - This may be out of print - a problem with small record companies - but it contains excellent playing by Futterman, Richard Davis, Robert Adkins, and Joseph Jarman; plus an opportunity to hear Jarman blow outside the milieu of the Art Ensemble.

Does anyone have any information about Fred Lacey, the composer of "Theme for Ernie"? - Recorded most famously by Trane, and also by Archie Shepp and others. Thanks in advance for any info that anyone can provide.

Welcome to the Board, Marla, and don't be put off by first impressions. If you've been a lurker for a while, you won't be. All of us here have gotten a bit feisty and carried away now and again. Hope to see you posting more in the future.

Yesterday, on my lunch hour: An Alice Munro story, "Passion", and an Aline and R. Crumb comic strip, "Creeping Global Vilagism", from the March 22 New Yorker.

I'm not much of a fan of Wayne Shorter's solo records. Some of my favorite Shorter (playing and composing) is on Blakey's Pisces album.

It was. I have a copy on my shelves. Not sure if it's still in print, though.

I saw it when I was in college in the 60's. I remember almost nothing about it, which may say something about my memory, but probably says more about the film. I do have a double LP of Ornette's soundtrack, and that IS memorable.

It looks like you've already decided to get this, but I'll just add my positive vote. I'd heard pieces of this set on OJC, but the sound quality on the Mosaic is much, much better. The music runs the gamut from good to great. When I ordered this set I was expecting a lot. When I listened to it over a few days period, I got even more than I expected. I don't think that you'll have any regrets once you hear the music.

I just want to add my sympathy and condolences, Randy. You and your mother were lucky to be able to share so much with each other.

Raphe Malik did record a trumpet/drums duo track with Dennis Warren, entitled appropriately, "Trumpet-Drum Duo", on Sirens Sweet & Low (Mapleshade). As I remember, it had its moments, though there were better moments elsewhere on the CD.

Just finished reading Preston Love's autobiography A Thousand Honey Creeks Later. (Honey Creek, Iowa was the site of his first gig, as a teen aged drummer.) In some ways, it's a fascinating book, granting a look at a number of music scenes - from his travels with territory bands, to playing with Basie and Lucky Millinder, to leading his own bands, to his work as a Motown musician, bandleader, and music contractor. In other ways, it's a frustrating read. Preston Love was obsessed with being the best big band first alto he could be, and much music that falls outside of that realm is given short shrift in his autobiography. That's certainly his right, since it's his life and his book, but, as I say, the narrowness of focus became frustrating for me after a while. A more frustrating point is that Mr. Love concentrates almost entirely on his life as a musician, and never gives the reader a look at Preston Love the man. His family life is virtually ignored; he writes about his good friend, Johnny Otis, but almost never writes about the time they spent together, except when it involves music; he never gives the reader any real sense of why he continued to return to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Perhaps I'm being too harsh. There is a wealth of fascinating material in A Thousand Honey Creeks. I certainly found Preston Love, the musician there. I just never found Preston Love, the man.

Missed the news of Selby's passing. He was a helluva writer. I remember reading Last Exit in college in the mid sixties. Not to intrude upon Mr Selby's tribute, but, as Clem mentions, his friend Gilbert Sorrentino should be read too. I like his novels, but like his poetry even more. "A Classic Case" has been one of my favorite poems since I first read it in college. (Even then, I identified with Major Hoople.)

Whichever it was - they're both good!