John Stevens SME

[Chuck Nessa]

Here's another thread as I'd hoped for.

You might like to know I can't find my correspondence with John. He mostly used post cards. I hope they are in the same box as my correspondences with Ross Russell and Lester Koenig (can't find them either).

I got the Bradford/Stevens material from Alan Bates (Black Lion/Freedom) with Cuscuna as a middle man.

Stevens was delighted and wanted me to press Bates for 3 or 4 additional unissued sessions. One was a large ensemble (including Parker, Rutherford, etc from memory) but I didn't have any money. DAMN.

Edited October 28, 2006 by Chuck Nessa

[paul secor]

Hope it's ok to join this thread.

I'm not Chuck, but I'm an American listener (sometimes adventurous).

I bought the first Bradford/Stevens when it came out - mainly for Bradford - knew nothing about Stevens - listened once, couldn't hear it, and filed it away. I bought Vol. 2 a year or so later. Don't ask why - I just got all the Nessas, figuring I'd like them. Listened to Vol. 2 - same deal. Filed that one away too. I don't know if my response was typical.

25 years down the road: gave a second listen to Vol. 1 and loved it. That says nothing about the music and something about me. Can't really say what. My ears aren't better now. My listening habits are probably less adventurous than they were back then.

Volume 2 will get a 2nd listen soon.

Had a similar but different experience with Chuck's first Hal Russell recording. Couldn't hear it at first, listened to it ten years later, and several times after that, but still couldn't get into it. Don't know if I have another 25 years to let that one get to me. I believe that the Hal Russell/Charles Tyler is the only Nessa (actually Chief on this one) I haven't bought.

One for Chuck - how many copies did the two Bradford/Stevens volumes sell?

Do you still have copies for sale?

[Chuck Nessa]

thanks & yeah... damn! do you think those correspondences are misplaced or... how would you characterize the reaction to Stevens/Bradford here? notable better or worse than yr previous records or ??? was there an interest or even knowledge of Stevens among adventurous American listeners?

c

I'm a ratpacker. The correspondence must be somewhere. I look at stuff and stick it in a pile. Eventually piles go into boxes..............

Nobody (Secor excluded) bought the records.

Edited October 28, 2006 by Chuck Nessa

[Chuck Nessa]

Hope it's ok to join this thread.

I'm not Chuck, but I'm an American listener (sometimes adventurous).

I bought the first Bradford/Stevens when it came out - mainly for Bradford - knew nothing about Stevens - listened once, couldn't hear it, and filed it away. I bought Vol. 2 a year or so later. Don't ask why - I just got all the Nessas, figuring I'd like them. Listened to Vol. 2 - same deal. Filed that one away too. I don't know if my response was typical.

25 years down the road: gave a second listen to Vol. 1 and loved it. That says nothing about the music and something about me. Can't really say what. My ears aren't better now. My listening habits are probably less adventurous than they were back then.

Volume 2 will get a 2nd listen soon.

Had a similar but different experience with Chuck's first Hal Russell recording. Couldn't hear it at first, listened to it ten years later, and several times after that, but still couldn't get into it. Don't know if I have another 25 years to let that one get to me. I believe that the Hal Russell/Charles Tyler is the only Nessa (actually Chief on this one) I haven't bought.

One for Chuck - how many copies did the two Bradford/Stevens volumes sell?

Do you still have copies for sale?

Paul says my batting average is pretty good for him, but he has some "bummers".

That's fine for him (and many others - see below) but I love all of "my babies".

Bradford/Stevens was a big disappointment in the marketplace and I pressed fewer of volume 2. Not really fair to the artists to say how many.

Sorry you don't like the Russell disc. I still think this was a killer "band" and think they are few and far between. The Russell records didn't sell well but the band was picked up by ECM. Might you see a pattern?

I still have vinyl copies of Bradford/Stevens vol 1 but vol 2 is gone. I also have copies of Russell/Mars Williams on vinyl.

No regrets here. EVER!

Edited October 28, 2006 by Chuck Nessa

[Chuck Nessa]

I bought both Bobby & John also, tho' who knows how long our old "pal" Craig ______ had 'em sitting around. (I'd picked both up by '89 or '90 I think.)

to Hal & back--

c

Don't get me started. At the very least, I'm still looking for aroung $500 from CK.

Besides me Bruno (Okka), Koester and a couple other folks want a piece of him.

Edited October 28, 2006 by Chuck Nessa

[paul secor]

Hope it's ok to join this thread.

I'm not Chuck, but I'm an American listener (sometimes adventurous).

I bought the first Bradford/Stevens when it came out - mainly for Bradford - knew nothing about Stevens - listened once, couldn't hear it, and filed it away. I bought Vol. 2 a year or so later. Don't ask why - I just got all the Nessas, figuring I'd like them. Listened to Vol. 2 - same deal. Filed that one away too. I don't know if my response was typical.

25 years down the road: gave a second listen to Vol. 1 and loved it. That says nothing about the music and something about me. Can't really say what. My ears aren't better now. My listening habits are probably less adventurous than they were back then.

Volume 2 will get a 2nd listen soon.

Had a similar but different experience with Chuck's first Hal Russell recording. Couldn't hear it at first, listened to it ten years later, and several times after that, but still couldn't get into it. Don't know if I have another 25 years to let that one get to me. I believe that the Hal Russell/Charles Tyler is the only Nessa (actually Chief on this one) I haven't bought.

One for Chuck - how many copies did the two Bradford/Stevens volumes sell?

Do you still have copies for sale?

Paul says my batting average is pretty good for him, but he has some "bummers".

That's fine for him (and many others - see below) but I love all of "my babies".

Bradford/Stevens was a big disappointment in the marketplace and I pressed fewer of volume 2. Not really fair to the artists to say how many.

Sorry you don't like the Russell disc. I still think this was a killer "band" and think they are few and far between. The Russell records didn't sell well but the band was picked up by ECM. Might you see a pattern?

I still have vinyl copies of Bradford/Stevens vol 1 but vol 2 is gone. I also have copies of Russell/Mars Williams on vinyl.

No regrets here. EVER!

Never thought of you/Nessa Records having a batting average. I always thought that you put out records of artists you believed in and music you loved. Most record companies don't exist in that kind of ideal world. Yours does.

And if there was one record I couldn't get into, and a couple by the same artist I haven't tried, that still gives you a batting average (with me) of around .900, which ain't too shabby. Offhand, I can't think of another record label in that category with me.

Most importantly, you're batting 1.000 with yourself. That's what really counts.