Chuck Nessa

I listen to about as much classical music as jazz. Next would be blues, mostly before 1960, and last "oldies" from Fats, Little Richard, Elvis, Drifters, etc. Gotta feed nostalgia gene. The true test is the number of cds by music type.

I know about most of the BOB negatives, but I planned on attending your last gig there and something else intervened. Because of various comittments my wife and I have our "free" nights are limited and I was bummed I could not go then.

So, you booked back into the BOB anytime soon?

Thanks for the compliments guys. No, there is nothing else in my catalog anything like Snurdy. I always try to make records as different as possible. For example, I recorded a marathon session with Von Freeman, and arranged the material into one aggressive record and one laid-back/rhapsodic. When I recorded Hal Russell's NRG Ensemble the second time, I added Charles Tyler to the band, etc. My catalog will never be large, but it will be as diverse as my taste allows. Concerning the "time issue", we spent a great deal of time programming the record to be the best it could be and I like the way it worked out. I do have a total of 16 more complete takes from the session, but feel that the program would not be improved by adding anything. In fact, I believe the disc would be less impressive with more material. I'm not interested in selling music by the pound. Same situation with our Air record - it could not be improved. Producers make choices like that, and ya gotta live with it. PS anybody notice we recorded this in Curtis Mayfield's studio?

I think Jim was a Pip on that trip.

I think everyone charges $75 or more, plus shipping. Drimala has a deal when you order 4 items you get a 15% discount. My direct price is $75 + 4.00.

Jad, what do you know of the Art Ensemble's output?

Any relation to Moe Green?

Long a - just like a train was coming into a .....................

Harold, you are too logical. Maybe I'll die in time to miss the consequences.

My first encounter with Mr. Beck was from the mouth of Bob Koester in the middle '60s. Bob mentioned the fantasy of foisting a "fake blues rediscovery" on the critics. This was inspired by Steve Allen and Bob Thiele, who issued a Dot lp by the "overlooked legend" Buck Hammer. I don't know nothing 'bout Hef and a stupid Brit.

Bravo Jim. I can't believe you pulled that out of the air. I was really bothered by Mr. Harris's comment, but don't know his music. His statement means I may never bother to hear it. I believe any musician working in the tradition of "jazz" unaffected by exposure to the blues has missed a large part of the vocabulary. Jazz has always been a "conversational" music with a shared (and expanding) vocabulary. Because of this shared language, the music lives. The music is so fragmented now it has lost focus and thus lost audience. The thought of a generation of musicians working without the "blues gene" saddens me and gives me little hope for the future. My first real understanding of the blues changed my life and my perception of all music. Old fart signing off.

Actually, the Xanadu disc duplicates Vogue material, not anything in the Jazz In Paris series.

I have not seen the photo in question, but do have two other 8 x 10 prints from this recording session. While gray-haired, Hank looks fine in these photos. Maybe a bad choice was made for the cd package. For those interested, Hank also recorded his "Early Morning Stroll" at that session.

Name discos, including many on the web are more detailed than Lord and Bruynickx. I use both all the time.

Records be damned, one of my fondest memories took place at one of Joe Segal's events in Chicago. Joe had booked Hank Crawford for the weekend, but Jug was out of prison, and Joe called Von Freeman and Hank Mobley (living in town at the time). The tenors opened the show, but Von had to go to the wings to drag out Crawford when he was announced. HC, dressed in a peach, bell bottomed outfit and was scared to death.

'Bout time Bev. Welcome. Thanks for the support on AAJ.

I love the disc. I have probably played it 7 or 8 times. My only complaint (producer in me rising to the surface) is the cd should have ended with another straight 4 blowout at the end. The only other way to end it (for me) would be a Larry Young inspired "out" tune. Don't be second guessed by others.

The question really is, how does the dog tell you to stick it where the sun don't shine?

Moose, here comes some "unspam". I think the Art Ensemble box is too much for someone looking for ways into the music. Instead, get the Art Ensemble disc on EMI and some other stuff with the extra money left over. Then, if you want more, I'll be happy to sell you one.

Crippled Baby Thomkins here. Damn, I always wanted to be Big Spider Beck.

Digipaks are not cheaper than jewel boxes.

I've met Oscar, and he is indeed an American Jazz Treasure. BUT when Monk was asked about the title of his song, he said it was picked up in Japan. Whenever someone asked a promoter what Monk wanted, the response was "Oska T", which Monk translated as "Ask Thelonious".

Please notice Mike's "tap dance" for the French pronounciation. I buy it, though I have said Mar-shal for the first name, but I'm a language limited American.

I used to be Richard M Jones, then I found out that's not cool. Then I became Mr. Walker with the same result. Then I was Clarence Williams, and H C Speir. Don Law, John Hammond, Irving Mills, Herman Lubinsky, Bob Weinstock and Orrin Keepnews were attempted later. I never tried Alfred Lion 'cause I thought people would see through that. Damn, there's a lot of hate and misunderstanding out there in the real world. If this message seems ambiguous, I succeeded.