mjzee

Reading the booklet was an interesting experience. The writing (by Art Masarini) wasn't horrible. The writer seemed to have a command of the English language; perhaps that's a low bar, but he cleared it. He also seemed to be familiar with Mingus's music; again, an unexceptional trait, except that many of these booklets sound like they were written by a bot. But I was struck by how much more a good writer brings: not just facts strung in an intelligible way, but verve, drive...a good writer makes the reading experience interesting. Masarini doesn't have that. But he said some things that did add to my perspective, by showing where the Birdland performances fit into the Mingus timeline. For example, he points out that the first performance here of Ecclusiastics (from October 21, 1961) was before it was recorded for Oh Yeah on November 6, with almost the same band (Booker Ervin replaced Yusef Lateef on the studio date). Another example: the performance here of "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me" is the only other recording of that tune. Of course, I don't have 100% confidence that what he's reporting is correct, but it sounds plausible. All the discographical data in the booklet can be found at the link https://mingus.onttonen.info/birdland.html; the odds are good that this is the source for the booklet's data. The odds, IMHO, are also good that the easytree reference earlier in this thread is the source for this music. There are some good photos in the booklet, especially the cover shot, but many of the inside photos of the musicians are very generic, and could range from anywhere in their careers. Having said all that, the music is the reason this package, again IMHO, is essential. It's fascinating to hear Mingus's introduction to Ysabel's Table Dance (recorded May 12, 1962): "This piece was recorded on Victor Records seven years ago, but it's been released this June." So he's playing this older tune to promote the newly-released album!

Let's put it this way: I didn't link to it.

I recently bought the Solar 3-CD collection of these recordings. Pure listening pleasure. Fidelity is great, considering the source, and the music is amazing: think of live versions of Oh Yeah, Tijuana Moods, and others of that era. The band is on fire. I consider this music more vital than the stuff recorded on the European tours. https://mingus.onttonen.info/birdland.html

Who were Savoy's big sellers in the '50's - the ones that kept the company afloat? We know that most releases don't make money, but certain artists sell enough to keep the label going. Blue Note had Jimmy Smith and Horace Silver; Prestige had Miles, Red Garland, Coltrane; Riverside had Wes and Bill Evans; who were Savoy's big money makers?

Dusty Groove is now selling this.

Andrew Cyrille seems to come to Houston a lot. Maybe he just has a good relationship with the Nameless Sound people. It's good for us, too.

You're right, that worked! Thanks for the tip.

I can't get the video to play, maybe because I'm not on Instagram.

Is that the Chester Thompson who played with Zappa?

Just finished listening to this. One thing I found fascinating: there are two performances of a Pettiford composition titled "Battle Axe." There's a note: "'Battle Axe' is also known as 'Something For You,' 'Chance It,' 'Max Is Making Wax,' 'This Time The Drum's On Me,' and 'Harvest Time.'"

Well, Scott recommended the Emotiva equipment I eventually bought, so for that I thank him. He seemed like someone who just couldn't perceive the way his emotionally-charged writing could hit a reader different from him. He was just harsh, y'know? I sometimes wish the Internet could include a volume knob, to just turn it down a notch or two.

3/31 or 4/1? Or both? https://archive.org/details/gd85-03-31.oade.connor.8244.sbeok.shnf https://archive.org/details/gd85-04-01.oade-schoeps.sacks.23659.sbeok.flacf

Good for you, Tom. Retirement gives you the time to live ordinary life well.

Agreed. Out of sight, out of mind.

Mobley arrived today - #0372.

Yes, a happy new year and a great 2020 to everyone here! My new year's resolution is to participate in the monthly BFTs.

I always pay a little extra to have them ship via UPS. It saves a lot of agita.

My Mobley is scheduled for delivery this Friday.

Yehudi Menuhin - The Menuhin Century-Luxury Edition (91 CD): $100.00 plus $3.99 shipping from an Amazon Reseller.

I had the same surprised reaction from the one Auchincloss novel I've read, "Diary of a Yuppie."

I agree with you. Some of the lyrics are actually poetic: "I know now that you never really loved me; it hurts me now to think you never really cared...how could I be taken in by your sweet face..you'll regret the way you treated me, as if I was a fool and didn't know..." But musically, and with the arrangement, the Ruben & The Jets track is really something else. The reason I asked about the key is it reminded me of some of those "Beatles in minor keys" tracks that appeared on YouTube a few years ago. The key change transformed those tracks, and made them sound sinister and haunting.

I owned Ruben & The Jets since my teenage years. But listening to it with adult ears, on the Greasy Love Songs CD, I was struck by how strange so many of these songs are. One song I've recently been obsessed with is "How Could I Be Such A Fool." What key is this in?

Just noticed that the Japanese are reissuing "Very R.A.R.E." on January 22. Elvin Jones, Art Pepper, Roland Hanna, Richard Davis. I've always wanted to hear this.

Something that's bugged me for the longest time. In the sessions for Jack Johnson, all of Miles's compositions were given names of boxers: Johnny Bratton, Archie Moore, (Roberto) Duran, and Sugar Ray (take your pick of Robinson or Leonard). And then there's Willie Nelson, whose name seems out of place. Is Miles paying tribute to the country singer? I did a search for "Willie Nelson boxer," and it turns out there is a Willie Nelson who's a boxer, but he was born in 1987. So does anyone know?

They charged my card.