paul secor

All in all, very similar to the conversation at my luncheon table yesterday.

I would cop the RCA double CD (a lot of extra material, decent sound) if you don't already have it. If you find that you love the music, get the Classic LP, which sounds great.

I'll add my opinion - and that's all it is - an opinion. For me, samplers, turntable artists, remixers, etc. are people who, for the most part, can't sing, play an instrument, or write a song or even a riff. What are future generations going to do, sample samples? Remix remixes? Write, sing, or play your own damn song. Stop stealing from other people. I did listen to a little of the Bird Remix CD, and it didn't do anything for me. But I'm an old fart, so what do I know?

Stephane Grappelli & Stuff Smith: Violins No End - Jo Jones!! The Best There Ever Was - The Legendary Early Blues Performers (Yazoo) - No hyperbole in that title - These were the best.

Jake and the Family Jewels: "Open the Door, Homer" Doug Sahm doing "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" live at the Hole in the Wall Club on a bootleg tape.

I'd forgotten about Hawk. I think that you're referring to "Love Cries", recorded in 1936 with a Swiss band. I have it on an Xanadu LP, Dutch Treat.

I listened to Morning Fun, a CD by Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer yesterday, and Zoot sings "I Can't Get Started" on it. I tried to think of other instrumentalists who've sung on recordings and off the top of my head came up with Pres' "Two To Tango", Jimmy Rowles on The Peacocks, Archie Shepp, and Albert Ayler. There are always the usual suspects, mostly trumpeters (Louis, Clark Terry, Diz, K.D., Doc Cheatham, Lips Page), or pianists who sang along with their playing (Fats Waller, Jelly Roll, Jay McShann, and others), and a host of pianists who grunted along with their playing. Any others that anyone can add? There must be a lot that I and others have never heard.

Finishing off the month for me: Frank Lowe Trio: Bodies and Soul Khan Jamal Quintet: Balafon Dance Zoot Sims/Bob Brookmeyer: Morning Fun Al Grey feat. Billy Mitchell: Snap Your Fingers Marion Brown Septet: Juba-Lee Blind Connie Williams (Testament)

Can't believe that no one's suggested Bird. Though I plan on watching an episode of the Beiderbecke Affair in a few minutes.

Duke Ellington 1924-1927 (Classics) Ornette Coleman + Joachim Kuhn: Colors Reverend Charlie Jackson: God's Got It (CaseQuarter)

Late - Your mention of Steve Swell reminded me that he recorded for CIMP with a group that included Roswell Rudd - Out and About - CIMP 116. I don't recall it as being among my favorite Rudd records, but it's still worth hearing for the two trombonists in a quartet setting.

Serge Chaloff: Blue Serge Al Casey: Buck Jumpin' Charles Brackeen: Rhythm X

Thanks for posting this, brownie. Reading it makes me want to listen to some Ornette tomorrow morning. I liked his statement, "I don't think I have changed one iota from being a poor black boy in a segregated city." When I listen to his music, I believe that.

Lon, When I finally heard Lady in Satin, it was the Classic Records LP reissue. I wonder if it would have gotten through to me if I had first heard the music on a mediocre CD reissue. Perhaps, but perhaps not.

Either the Roy or the Miles Blackhawk - whichever I decide to get myself.

I'm sure that my comments will put me in a distinct minority here (and probably elsewhere, too). Anyway, here goes: I like this recording a lot. Sam Rivers plays with what seems like unlimited imagination, passion, and energy. However, I just don't enjoy his musical companions here. I normally love Jaki Byard's playing, but I feel he sounds somewhat out of place here. The imagination is there, but the energy isn't. I don't know if it's an unfamiliarity with the tunes or what, but his playing just doesn't match Sam Rivers' playing for me. I also don't enjoy Tony Williams' playing on this record. Tony Williams has always struck me as a drummer who plays on top of the music, rather than digging into it. To my ears, he functions as an accompanist on this recording, rather than driving the band, and a drummer who drove this band might have helped. No comment on Ron Carter, other than he's there. I believe that this was Sam River's first record as a leader, so I'm sure that he was up for it - it certainly sounds so. When I listen to Fuschia Swing Song, I'm listening to Sam Rivers' playing, and that's about it. That's enough to keep me going back to it.

Charles Reznikoff and Gilbert Sorrentino are two favorites. Jonathan Williams and Charles Bukowski are two of my favorite poets who write in a humorous mode (tho not everything they've written is "funny".) (I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling that Mr. Williams would not appreciate being listed with Mr. Bukowski, and if Bukowski were alive, probably vice versa, but I'm doing the listing and they're not, so they stand together here.) Thanks for the push and reminder, Late. I'm taking a book of poetry off the shelves this afternoon, and will read some poems. I don't do this often enough - I would say "rarely" would cover it.

Just want to put a word in for Lady In Satin. Having read conflicting things about this record for many years, I refrained from buying it. I was always curious about it, but no one I knew owned a copy, so I never heard it. A couple of years ago, I read that Jimmy Rowles got angry if he heard someone put it down. For whatever reason, that made me want to hear it, so I bought it. I'm glad I finally am able to hear this music. I can understand the negative reactions I read, although I don't agree with them. Yes, Billie's voice is "shot" (but not gone - the feeling and the phrasing are still there), and yes, the string backgrounds can come off as somewhat sweet (not enough to bother me, though). I can't say that this is my favorite Billie - I honestly don't think I have a favorite Billie Holiday recording - I like to listen to different recordings at different times - but I've enjoyed it whenever I've listened. I have a feeling that Lady In Satin is one that listeners will either love or hate - don't think that there will be a lot of middle ground. I'd be interested in reading other people's reaction to it.

Duke Ellington: The Symphonic Ellington John Patton: Mosaic select Merle Haggard: Haggard Like Never Before Sippie Wallace w. Otis Spann & w. the Jim Kweskin Jug Band: Mighty Tight Woman Benny Golson: Free Kenny Dorham: Una Mas Various Artists: I Have To Paint My Face (Arhoolie) Earl King: Those Lonely, Lonely Nights Louie and the Lovers: Rise Jimmy Smith: Midnight Special Hank Mobley: Workout

Amen to those three. Unless I've missed it, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Khan Jamal. He's recorded a number of fine albums under his own name, and recorded a duo LP on marimba with vibist Bill Lewis. Any other duo vibes recordings out there?

Yeah, once David Johannsen (by whatever silly name it was he was going by!) did that one, the plug should have been pulled! Johannsen's version was ripped from the Ray Charles/Betty Carter version, which is a gem. Check it out and you just might change your mind about this tune.

One more addition: Maine (BVHaast LP 011) - Roswell Rudd with Hans Dulfer - tenor sax; Arjen Gorter - bass; Martin van Duynhoven - drums. I haven't listened to this in years, so I won't comment until I have the time to listen again. I don't believe that there has been a CD reissue.

A couple of additions: Roswell Rudd-Giorgio Gaslini: Sharing. A fine, out of print duo recording on Dischi Della Quercia Marcello Melis: The New Village on the Left (Black Saint) - Rudd plays accompaniment to a Sardinian vocal quartet on some tracks - amazing and unique.

Happy birthday to one Paul from another. Only 44? You're just a young fella! Hope you've had a great day.

Good call! Even if there's no organ on the MPS sides, Sugarcane Harris made a great single, "Soul Motion" (Rush 1002), as part of the Don and Dewey duo, with Dewey Terry on organ. It's a great blues/soul violin with organ record.