jazzbo

Yazz Ahmed, “Polyhymnia” . . . a very hip listen.

Woody Herman, "Complete Woody Herman Decca, Mars, MGM Sessions (1943-54)" Mosaic Records cd box set, disc 2 Great sound on this box set so far. And some really nice tracks.

They definitely lost track of my Herman preorder and I had to prod more than thrice to get it going, so I recommend contacting Scott and getting that started. It's not the Mosaic of old operations wise, but the sets are worth the effort.

That's interesting, I'm a big fan of Yazz.

Yes, you're lucky that way. Not so lucky here in Ohio. Occasionally I dabble a bit, but the material could be better.

George Benson "Benson Burner" CBS 2 cd set, disc 1

Nope.

That's cool. I don't rank it very highly. We're different. So be it.

I'm aware, I've heard quite a bit. Just not stuff that interests me.

I personally don't care what Sinatra said, I'm not a fan. I've seen alcohol ruin the lives of friends and coworkers and I come from a family that did not drink, as does my wife My late first wife didn't drink either, as her grandfather, father, and two brothers were all severe alcoholics. I'm not a saint, and I do things to make me feel better, alcohol drinking is not among them. For me jazz is far more than background of any kind, let alone cocktails and decor, neither of which I am passionate at all about. I share many activities with my wife, but we have different musical tastes and attach different values to music itself. Which is okay, we are very loving and close. And these little snippets of studio chatter are more valuable to me than these other sounds you disingenuously mention. Sorry that they bother you. They don't bother me. We're all different, and you and I have many differences. I'm not a big fan of movies and movie soundtracks, and you are. Mancini albums are not in my collection. Jazz isn't background for me, and it seems to be for you. Vive la difference.

My wife doesn't listen to jazz with me, and neither of us drink.

A present from my best friend. . . ."American Epic" box set, disc 1. Nice sound, music that isn't normally my cup of tea but nicely selected and sequenced. If I were a neophyte to cds mastered from 78s I'd be really excited about the sound here, but truth is I've spent three decades exploring early recordings and there have been many good restorations and masterings along the way. But it is true there's an immediacy to the music brought about by the technology that is captivating. . . .

Still available: The following Blue Note cds are NM and if Japanese include OBI. Price includes media mail postage within the US. US sales only please. If interested PM here. Thanks and Merry Christmas! Hank Mobley "Reach Out" Universal Japan cd, UCCQ-9515 13 dollars Hank Mobley "Straight No Chaser" Blue Note US Connoisseur cd, 7243 5 27549 2 2 (saw cut) 10 dollars Kenny Dorham "Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Vol 1" plus 4 bonus tracks, EMI Japan cd, TYCJ-81038 13 dollars Stanley Turrentine "Up at Minton's Vol. 1" Universal Japan cd, UCCQ-9529 13 dollars Sonny Rollins, "A Night at the Village Vanguard" (Complete) 2 cds, Blue Note US RVG Edition cd 11 dollars Thelonious Monk "Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2" 24 Bit by RVG Japanese TOCJ mini-lp cd, 16 dollars.

I like the banter. We're all different.

Both those Ellingtons are great! Right now Ennio Righetti Quartet Plays Jobim Interesting arrangements. At first I had my suspicions that they had bitten off more than they could chew. But in the end they pull it off and it's an enjoyable listen.

All the talk of this made me dig out my "24 Bit by RVG" LP facsimile cd of this. It really is a good sounding session. And great playing. When Green brings out his bag of tricks on these songs great stuff happens. I really like the sound of his guitar on sessions of this time (P90 pickups, I think). And Kenny Drew is really "on" . . . .

It's cray cray.

Yes, it's frustrating. I got my Herrman weeks after others, and if I hadn't sent a number of emails about it my pre-paid pre-ordered set probably would still be unnoticed. I got the Mobley very quickly thereafter, no doubt because of my nagging them about the Herman. Seems they have farmed the shipping out to someone who is. . . challenged to deliver speedy service.

"No Room for Squares" and "The Turnaround" from the "The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70" box set from Mosaic Records.

What's interesting to me is the sound of this set. It says that Malcolm Addey did the mastering from transfers, implying he did not do transfers from the original tapes. Interestingly I compared a few of the sessions here to the recent Japanese releases and the sound is similar, with EQ choices being slightly different. It seems that perhaps Universal has been transferring the Blue Note material systematically and the transfers have been used in Japan this decade, and the few reissues from the US, as I have read surmised (by Bernie Grundman is the guess). If so I can see why that makes this an attractive prospect for Mosaic, as well as the upcoming Lee Morgan--they have transfers available to work with.

I got a uDiscover "dispatch" notice 8 days ago on the cd set I ordered July 30. Hopefully early next year I'll have it!

A number of photos I have not seen before in the booklet. Really a nice set overall.

Back now to Hank Mobley "Thinking of Home" from the new Mobley set from Mosaic Records. I really like the compositions on this one. The concept and the compositions really mesh well. I get caught up in the feeling in the music and the interesting grooves.

Grateful Dead "Blues for Allah" Mobile Fidelity SACD, just released. Wow.