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Anything with Sun Ra is worth checking out....!

Well, I will be adding this one to my collection. Has anyone read any reviews of the book yet?

new RVGs are out today and available over on emusic Good! I plan to enventually get all of hem!

"Also don't forget 'The Ringer' by Tolliver, the studio session which came before the great 'Live at Slugs' albums. It is up to the same standard. 'Grand Max' was the name stuck on the Black Lion CD reissue of 'Live at Loosdrecht', which came out as a 2LP set on Strata-East in the 70's. Reggie Workman is amazing on that. And don't forget Tolliver's 'Compassion', a quartet with Nathan Page on guitar instead of a pianist. 'Empyrean Isles' is also fabulous, as is 'Outpost'. I've never been a big fan of 'Candy'. For the person who didn't knwo which label 'Empyrean Isles' was on, it was Blue Note." Great info. I know all of this already. But it was just nice to hear someone else take note. I have all the Tolliver quartets. And I love the Freedie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock classic, "Empyrean Isles". I think the cover graphics is outstanding! I really like it.

Currently listening to his Village Vanguard trio classic while writing this post. Rollins is one of the last major living giants of the music. We are so lucky to still have him playing and creating. I love the mans playing!

Just picked it up. Unfortuntely, I have three other books in front of it. But it looks pretty good from what I have seen so far.

Try listening to Sidewinder full blast in a red 1987 BMW M6 speeding down Laurel Canyon and you will become a convert in about 10 seconds. Sitting in my front room listening to it works for me.

I enjoyed both. I've always been a big fan of Charels Tolliver's. I recall my buying my first Strata East record back in the early 70's. It was his quartet recording, Live In Tokyo. I was hooked!

Well, you and I are on opposite sides about political statements and music. I've never been a big Nina Simone fan per se. But I've always been more curious and attracted to her because of the brazen social/political statements made via her music. Simply put, her political musical statements is what initially drew me to her music. Throughout the 1960s, Simone was actively involved in the civil rights movement and recorded a number of political songs, including "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" (later sung by Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway), "Backlash Blues," "Mississippi Goddam" (a response to the murder of Medgar Evers and the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama killing four black children), and "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free". Nina Simone made much needed political statements about the harsh realities of racism in America. She was also joined by Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp and Randy Weston for challenging the immorality of segregation and racial discrimination. I'm sure you know because of her life long frustration and anger towards racism, Nina renounced her homeland in 1969 and became a world traveler. She lived in Liberia, in Barbados, Switzerland, France, Trinidad, the Netherlands, Belgium and England for various periods. Because of her disagreements music agents, record labels, American racism and the tax authorities, Nina became a very bitter woman. When she returned to the US in 1978, she was promptly arrested for tax evasion (she had withheld several years of income tax as a protest against the war in Vietnam ). As a result of her commitment to social justice and her stand against racism, I became interested in her music. I never considered her a gifted vocalist (e.g. Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin or Nancy Wilson) but her uncompromising style and originality made her a commanding force that deserved recognition and respect.

I agree. It seems as if everyone is afraid someone else is going to benefit without them being involved. Never mind the fact that there are people who seriously want to hear and document the music, it's the fear of someone missing out on a buck that drives these often times ridiculous rules and laws.

Interesting observation. But like you, I can't wait either.

I like all of Jill Scotts music. I really enjoy her vocals and her instrumental accompaniment. I just had a personal concert of her music along with Erykah Badu and Sade! DAMN! I LOVE THIER MUSIC...!!! I also think Alicia Keys is very talented. I heard on the Mary McPartland show a few months back and she played some of her music and a few Marvin Gaye tunes. I like the fact that she writes her own music and plays the piano. A big plus in my eyes since so many of the current popular music icons are totally musically illeterate, compose no music, cannot sing and cannot play any instruments. I don't consider her the most gifted vocalist (e.g. Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Patty Label, et al) but her ability to compose music, play an instrument and posses enough talent to sing well gives her a big plus in my book.

Just got a new turntable today! My old one crapped out and I have been without one for a few years now. I have no acceptable excuse but I am very excited about playing my records again. I have boxes of stored records at home and in my storage space. So I'm very excited about breaking them out and playing them again. Gonna start out with a Blue Note twofer by Sonny Rollins live at the Village Vanguard. I LOVE THAT RECORD!! Yeah...!!!!!!!!

Buy all of it! I love all the Miles Prestige recordings. I have all the Miles Prestige twofer double and single records. LOVE THE PICTURES AND COVER GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR THE 24000 SERIES !

I first became introduced to Herbie Nichols when I read A. B. Spellman’s book “Four Lives in the Bebop”. In 1966, at the height of the avant-garde and the year when the book was released in its first edition, Spellman interviews and writes about Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Nichols, and Jackie McLean. Nearly forty years later, in the newest edition, Spellman notes the capriciousness of the jazz industry and writes of darker cultural currents. I read the book around 1974. I still have the original paper back. At that time, I was very familiar with Taylor, Ornette and Mclean but I had never heard of Herbie Nichols. Shortly after I read the book, Blue Note came out with a Herbie Nichol twofer called “The Third World”. I lost my mind when I played those records! I highly recommend Spellman’s book which has been reprinted under the title “Four Jazz Lives”. Check it out!

So what is the real purpose of this church? Are they using Coltranes music to accent the worship of God? Or are they worshiping Coltrane? Does anyone know?

Currently listening to a wonderful recording called “Coltrane Plays for Lovers”. Of course the title of the cd is silly and reeking with rank commercialism, but the music is stellar! It is a collection of recordings from Coltrane’s Prestige years. The listing of tunes is outstanding! I cut my teeth on these Prestige recordings so they have a special meaning to me. The recordings on this cd will give the listener a sample of Coltrane’s playing style which was considerably different from what he did years later for the Atlantic and Impulse labels. Tunes such as I Want To Talk About You, Invitation, Lush Life and You Leave Me Breathless populate this wonderful recording. Again, don’t be discouraged by the silly title and commercial cd graphics. This is very, very nice recording.

I saw them in concert in San Diego. Outstanding group! They did the music of Ornette Coleman.

There are a number of tools that you can use. If you wanna get hard core, you can use programs like Photoshop and Illustrator to design all your graphics and lettering. But I recommend a very nice program (it has it limitations –but works for the average Joe) for creating graphic covers, called Discus by Magic Mouse Productions . I have been using the program for years. I have three versions and there is a fourth version coming soon with more graphic features. Check out the web site for details. I do have to say this, the last version (3) can be unstable for some reason. It locks up and freezes at times. The other previous versions don’t. The newest version (4) is supposed to address this issue. But it is a nice program and you can import all your graphics used for building covers. It’s very basic and intuitive to use. Check it out.

Well, there ya have it. So what must the average person do? Perhaps a newer and more reliable media may hit the market soon. This entire article is nothing short of depressing.

Gotta bring this one up. I absolutely love those Bobby Hutcherson and Harold Land collaborations. Medina demonstrates those illustrious and outstanding recordings between the two.

But Duke, man, that cat is in there, if you know what I mean. EVERY day is "Ellington Day" in my life in some form or fashion Couldn't have said it better. I agree 100%. Everyday is Ellington day for me.

Does Tchicai live in Denmark now or is he working in the states?

Well, thank good there are a few serious radio outlets for serious improvised music. Check out KSDS 88.3 FM, San Diego, CA. It’s a hip community college radio station that I recommend listening to. Leo Gates has a Monday evening show from 9 pm till midnight. He also subs during the week. OUSTANDING! Straight ahead hard core music. None of the predictable wimpy white wine and jacuzzi jazz. The guy gets down! Andrew Hill, Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, Miles with Coltrane, Woody Shaw, Jackie Mclean, Clifford Jordan, et al, is the music of choice! Miff Mole has an interesting program on Thursdays from 9 pm till 11 pm (straight ahead music -no silly smooth jazz) and from 11 pm till midnight he features his "Free Time" show. The last hour is dedicated to free improvised music (e.g. Archie Shepp, Sun Ra, Cecil Taylor, Impulse Coltrane, WSQ, Steve Lacy, Albert Ayler, et al). Well worth checking out.