Leeway

I thought that was some pretty strong/moving reading.

Marshal Tito Tito Puente Tinto Brass

THE MIGHTY AND THEIR FALL - 1955- Ivy Compton-Burnett Written almost entirely in dialogue (or one might better say, aphorisms posing as dialogue), this is the story of the corruption of a family. The near-complete lack of narrative guideposts can be disturbing or confusing at times, but if one stays with it, ICB demonstrates a surgeon's hand in dissecting the power plays, hatreds, exploitations and general nastiness of family members bound together by self-interest, arrogance, and pride (or the lack of it). If you like that sort of thing, it can even be funny at times, with a mordant humor.

I have Potsa Lotsa, "Complete Works of Eric Dolphy." I appreciate it more each time I spin it.

Almost forgot: Gebhard Ullman.

Studs Lonigan Spike Milligan Glenn Spearman

I've always wanted to attend that one, plus the Umbrella Fest in November, but haven't found a way to do it. Maybe this year.

Some other bcl players: Don Byron, Marty Ehrlich, James Carter, Bennie Maupin.

Mr Chips Arthur Treacher Benedict Arnold

Ran played amazingly well when I saw him a few months ago in concert in Baltimore/DC.

Sonny Red Kyner Sonny Red Freddie Redd

Thanks for the write-up. Renga is scheduled to be in Baltimore, March 6th, and I will try to see them there.

John Handy Pincher Martin Grabowski

Casey Jones Casey Stengel Sting

I very rarely give up on a book, but 145pp into John Wain's The Pardoner's Tale, I had to throw in the towel, and admit that the book was simply wretchedly written. The structure of the book might be part of the problem. It opens with the tale of Gus and Julia. Gus rescues troubled Julia (but alas not her Mini) from a rising tide on a Welsh beach (shades of Iris Murdoch!). Gus's passionate pursuit of Julia through a variety of obstacles is one of the main narratives of the novel. It is all written in fevered adventure-story, matey sort of prose. At the start of the next chapter, we realize that the story of Gus and Julia is actually a novel-in-progress being written by Giles Armitage, whose own story is told in the 3rd person by yet another narrator (Wain?). This story is faux-James (or Iris? or Penelope?), and while pitched a bit higher than the Gus-Julia tale, is not much better. The two stories alternate throughout. I literally couldn't stand reading it. The prose is execrable, and the stories without depth. Puzzling, since Wain is well-regarded. I have his bio of Samuel Johnson, which is quite good. I was expecting much more, otherwise I might not have made it to Chapter 2. I would like to think the novel is some sort of joke, but if it is, it exacts too high a price on the reader. Plus, the Chaucerian reference implied in the title doesn't seem to have a place in the book. Is it a hoax or just very badly written, slung out for the pop book trade? I'm inclining to the latter. BTW, the publisher must not have put stock in the book; the hardcover glue binding literally disintegrated as I read. I also noticed that this title is rarely referenced in lists of his writing. Maybe others have checked out Wain's fiction? I've read that his first novel, which has a jazz theme, is very good.

NICE AN' COOL - Gene Ammons, Richard Wyands, Doug Watkins, J.C. Heard. Status (budget Prestige) orange label, 203 So. Washington. Big tenor sound from Ammons enhanced by the big sound of this LP.

Omar Bradley Tank McNamara Brigadier General Amos T. Halftrack

I have that one. It's excellent. NP:

Nice pick! NP:

I wonder what the real reason was that Charles Lloyd left ECM for Blue Note?

Plato Platon Platonov

We all wanted to be Spock, but we acted like Kirk instead.

Muddy Howlin' Lightnin'