I finally found a Blue Note I hate....

[Soul Stream]

I think Waterloo is a pretty blah record store actually, or at least for my needs Tower is a better store: better location, better selection, very helpful jazz buyer. I've never spent the time and dollars at Waterloo that I have at Tower. Partly because Waterloo has that truly annoying procedure---that they seem to pride themselves on---of not having sections in their new cds, just listing nearly everything alphabetically by artist. Not fun for me to shop that way! And I'm usually disappointed at what I don't find there.

Cornerstone of the music scene? Maybe. . . probably not though in my opinion. I've been in the music scene here, marginally, for a time and Waterloo didn't make any difference as far as I could see, but hey, maybe. Tower has instores too.

Tower opened TWELVE years ago. Tower the chain is on the ropes, not becasue of Waterloo. Also, I have seen Tower take back any cd pretty much for any reason. Company policy may not be explicitly such, but actual store practice is.

Anyway, that's neither here nor there. Take The Prisoner back and get something else! If you already know it is not something you like, so be it. Get somethin' greezy! B)

Well, I like Tower for one reason, Dave the jazz buyer. Other than that... I guess if you like a location on the busy drag with hobos and NO provision for parking your car, it's great.

Tower really lost my support when they took away parking validation at the lot next door. Unless I go at night, I don't go for that reason. But I DO like Dave and like Tower's jazz section (and sale prices!) much better. Waterloo's non-sectioning of styles is a big turn-off for me as well. But I think it's an extension of their philosophy, like it or not. I don't like.

Anyway, in my opinion Tower never really grabbed hold in Austin like people thought it might. And I do think Waterloo and places like Cheapo have kept them struggling. Oh...and the NO parking doesn't help either.

[pryan]

I haven't listened to this session for some time, but I recall digging some of the more interesting colors that come out in the ensemble passages. Herbie's composition and arranging skills are on full display on this one. Thanks for mentioning this one, I'm going to dig it out and give it a spin or two in the days to come. You might want to give it more than one spin, Soul Stream.

[Big Al]

Partly because Waterloo has that truly annoying procedure---that they seem to pride themselves on---of not having sections in their new cds, just listing nearly everything alphabetically by artist.

Yeah! That and the fact that everything is overpriced and it seems like every time I'm in there, the music is blaring something awful, and it usually involves French Afro-gypsies chanting a three-tongued mantra in 15/13 time.

As for The Prisoner, it's probably the one I listen to the least, but it has its moments, not the least of which is its sense of adventure!

[jazzbo]

I guess the no parking zone would be a drag. . . if I had a car. I can get to Tower a lot easier without a car and it's literally two blocks from where my wife works, and less than a quarter of a block from the busstop where three routes I use pass by. The drag worms don't bother me. I feel sorry for these people for the most part.

And unless things have changed recently, Waterloo and Tower always seemed to have the same prices to me.

And at Tower you can go up to a room and hear jazz and classical. Lord knows what you hear at Waterloo.

Anyway, yeah chainstores basically suck. But then Waterloo I don't find too impressive. I'd welcome another alternative, but. . . .

Joe Henderson does some great shit and shinola on The Prisoner!

Edited November 3, 2003 by jazzbo

[Joe]

I'll take THE PRISONER over MY POINT OF VIEW anyday. There's a level of inspiration in the playing and writing on the former that I just don't find on the latter.

Caveat: I'm not a great huge Hancock fan. I feel the great majority of his work as a leader tends towards the bland. To me, his best work was with the Mwandishi band (up through SEXTANT).