Kevin Bresnahan Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 Facebook has informed me that my friend Michael Cuscuna is 70 today. Wow. How time flies. I still have this on my office wall. Michael signed it, "To Kevin - Thanks for keeping me off the web". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 Never met the man myself (exchanged letters a few times in the previous century, but that's it), but his business life has been one of enlightened service to the jazzmusic consumer, and I for one am extremely appreciative. More than "Happy Birthday", I'd like to say thank you, sir, and please please please keep a finger (or more) in the ongoing operations of Mosaic records. Please! If I need to run fetch a cape, let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 One of my true heroes. Happy birthday, and many more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) I had an exchange of e-mails with him about different takes on the mono and stereo releases of MJQ LPs that he was not aware of, it was fiendly and professional. What would the jazz world be without him? Our shelves would be a lot smaller. Trying to find the best way between business realities and the desire to keep all good music in ciculation was his mission, and he succeeded. Thanks for the good work! Edited September 20, 2018 by mikeweil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwbol Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 Yes, sincerely thank you and a happy birthday, Mr. Cuscuna! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 That's a cool memento Kevin. Happy Birthday Mr. Cuscuna and thanks for all the music, too many to mention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 A very happy birthday! I seem to remember exchanging emails with him a small handful of times maybe 12-15 years ago. Re: ideas for Selects, iirc (that might include a few more previously unreleased BN sessions). And I met and talked with him a bit here in Washington, at an event at the Library of Congress. I think I only had 1-2 questions for him, and I didn't want to monopolize his time and attention. (Ok, I really *did* want to pick his brain about a dozen things, but I resisted the temptation.) Ton of music that I own, that he was somehow involved with getting out. Much thanks to him!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 "Thanks" ain't enough. But it's what I got, in abundance. I hope you have/he has another great year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 We have much to thank him for. Happy Birthday ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 24 minutes ago, Rooster_Ties said: A very happy birthday! I seem to remember exchanging emails with him a small handful of times maybe 12-15 years ago. Re: ideas for Selects, iirc (that might include a few more previously unreleased BN sessions). And I met and talked with him a bit here in Washington, at an event at the Library of Congress. I think I only had 1-2 questions for him, and I didn't want to monopolize his time and attention. (Ok, I really *did* want to pick his brain about a dozen things, but I resisted the temptation.) Ton of music that I own, that he was somehow involved with getting out. Much thanks to him!! If I had that chance I'd have picked his brains about the unissued Sounds recordings. And the ill-fated session with Gene on organ and Grant on guitar. I had a pleasant email exchange with Michael back when I got the only existing copy of the Four Sounds demo and sent him a transfer. He seemed genuinely pleased to hear it but said he'd never include it in a reissue, too different from their other recordings. Anyway obviously done much for the music we love so cheers to Michael on a milestone b-day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Dan Gould said: If I had that chance I'd have picked his brains about... The only detail I remember from our emails (eons ago), was that he said the unreleased BN Jackie McLean date with Tyrone Washington, that "the tapes were lost" (which I always felt possibly(?) contradicted(?) the notion I've read here and elsewhere that Jackie wasn't the least bit happy with the drummer on that date - or so I've heard told, anyway). And the only question I remember asking him here in person at the LOC (about 5-6 years ago), was about a previously unreleased live Andrew Hill recording that he (Michael himself) mentioned in an interview, in conjunction with that Freddie Hubbard live thing from 1969 that did come out on BN (greatly expanding what had only been ~2 tracks released previously). Michael had mentioned wanting to get a live Andrew Hill thing out, and I'd always wondered just *when* the heck whatever it was had been recorded? Something from back in the day?? - or more recently?? Anyway, he said it was some concert he'd done within the last 10 years, I forget exactly where - but WAY more recent. I fought the urge to specifically ask him if he thought there was any way he could imagine somehow getting the Trainwreck out officially/legit -- and how strong I felt it was (having heard it 100+ times myself). Knowing his opinion of the date, I didn't think any such discussion would turn out well, and I didn't know how to broach the topic in any sort of way that wouldn't set him off (since my opinion was so strongly different than his). Also, I think(?) this was before Bob Belden had passed away, and I didn't want to run any risk whatsoever, or getting Bob in any trouble, since my copy came from Bob (through someone else). Edited September 20, 2018 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesnik Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 3 hours ago, Rooster_Ties said: Ton of music that I own, that he was somehow involved with getting out. Much thanks to him!! That's also true for me. But instead of ton that would be tons, if it wasn't that what you meant to say. He's all over my collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 17 hours ago, sidewinder said: We have much to thank him for. Happy Birthday ! My view too. Happy Birthday Mr Cuscuna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danasgoodstuff Posted September 21, 2018 Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 Talked to him on the phone once (he called me!). Pleasant chat about BN and jazz in general, don't recall much detail now, 25 years later. Thanks for everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bresnahan Posted September 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 Happy 73rd birthday to my old friend Michael. I still have a hard time thinking that he is 73 today. Damn, we're all getting old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted September 20, 2021 Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 That means he wasn't yet 21 when we met. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted September 20, 2021 Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 Yes, hope he has a great birthday ! 2 hours ago, bresna said: Damn, we're all getting old. Indeed we are..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted September 20, 2021 Report Share Posted September 20, 2021 I hope he has a very happy birthday, Stamford-style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danasgoodstuff Posted September 21, 2021 Report Share Posted September 21, 2021 He did good work, I hope he's happy with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted September 21, 2021 Report Share Posted September 21, 2021 49 minutes ago, danasgoodstuff said: He did good work, I hope he's happy with that. Not only ‘did’ - but ‘is doing’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danasgoodstuff Posted September 21, 2021 Report Share Posted September 21, 2021 1 minute ago, sidewinder said: Not only ‘did’ - but ‘is doing’. Yes, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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