Justin V

Glad to see that you're a backer. Wow, I didn't realize that he played with Powell. He does look great for his age, and his playing is still impeccable. We're fortunate to have so many noteworthy bassists who became prominent in the '50s and '60s still with us. I'm off to listen to this one, with Israels and Arnie Wise:

I've always assumed that his use of electric bass came down to his allegiance to Bob Cranshaw, who happened to switch to electric bass (due to back problems, I read somewhere). When I saw Sonny in Detroit last year, Cranshaw was on upright, while he was on electric the previous two times that I'd seen him. Regarding who Sonny should play with, I think he could poach Joe Lovano's Us Five group for some gigs or recording and make some great music. Poach the band and fry Joe?

Chuck Israels is currently raising funds for a Bill Evans tribute. Based on what I've heard of Israels, on record and with his orchestra in Detroit last year, it's a project that I'm proud to support. Here is the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1292862465/bill-evans-tribute-recording-by-chuck-israels-jazz?ref=category.

I've always assumed that his use of electric bass came down to his allegiance to Bob Cranshaw, who happened to switch to electric bass (due to back problems, I read somewhere). When I saw Sonny in Detroit last year, Cranshaw was on upright, while he was on electric the previous two times that I'd seen him. Regarding who Sonny should play with, I think he could poach Joe Lovano's Us Five group for some gigs or recording and make some great music.

Regarding current musicians with long careers, what about Sir Charles Thompson? Here's a video from a 12/23/11 gig in Japan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Jb2zMHJtc.

For anyone who doesn't already have them, the Paul Chambers ($14.49) and Andrew Hill ($8.99!!!) sets are both available for download on Amazon as part of the Capitol Vaults Jazz Series. There are several other Mosaic Selects available as well, including Don Pullen ($12.49), Dexter Gordon ($10.49), John Patton ($14.49), Randy Weston ($18.99), Art Pepper ($17.99), Bobby Hutcherson ($15.49), Bennie Green ($17.49) and Bud Shank/Bob Cooper ($23.99). The series also includes the full-length Bobby Hackett ($39.99), Gene Krupa/Harry James ($66.49) and Joe Pass ($42.49) sets. EDIT: Without looking up the other OOP sets, it's also worth noting that the Carmell Jones set is available for $15.49.

I caught Steve Kuhn with Buster Williams and Joey Baron on Thursday and Friday at Birdland. As far as I can remember, the two sets were entirely different. I expected there to be some material repeated, and I'd be curious to learn what they played on other nights. Regarding Lou Donaldson, when I saw him last month, the set list included 'I'll Be Seeing You', 'Body and Soul', 'Gravy Train', 'Things Ain't What They Used to Be' leading into 'Wig Blues', a trio version of 'I'm Getting Sentimental Over You' and 'Cherokee'. When I previously saw him 3.5 years ago, he played 'Things Ain't What They Used to Be'/'Wig Blues', 'Cherokee', 'Blues Walk' and 'Alligator Boogaloo', among others (including maybe 'Everything I Play Is Gonna Be Funky' and 'Whiskey Drinkin' Woman'). Regardless whether he plays much of the same material from night to night, Lou Donaldson is still fun to see live.

I caught the 11 o'clock sets of Steve Kuhn with Buster Williams and Joey Baron at Birdland last Thursday and Friday, as well as the 7:30 set of George Coleman's Organ Quintet (w/ Mike LeDonne, Peter Bernstein, George Coleman, Jr. and Daniel Sadownick) at the Jazz Standard on Friday.

The Browns had a decent record in 2007 and were rewarded with a chunk of prime-time games in 2008. Of course, they proceeded to have a horrible season, subjecting the nation to the misery that is known as the Factory of Sadness. Since then, the bulk of the burden has been carried only locally. Although the distractions of the Flying J investigation and the arrest of recent acquisition Quentin Groves loom large, I'm looking forward to the draft. The Browns are a team in perennial need of wide receivers, cornerbacks and safeties, and they did not fully address those needs in free agency. I like their signing of receiver David Nelson from the Bills, but he's coming off of a torn ACL, and depth is still an issue if any starting wide receiver misses time. It's even worse in the secondary; I'm surprised that they haven't signed safety Kerry Rhodes as a temporary solution, as he played under Ray Horton in Arizona. To make matters worse, they are also shorthanded at tight end due to losing Ben Watson. Although Watson has had some injuries, he's a solid player. The new regime seems convinced that third-year tight end Jordan Cameron is ready to step up, but he hasn't shown much in his first two years.

I looked at his discography, and it appears that his most recent appearance as a sideman is with a late edition of The Great Jazz Trio. Has he stopped taking sideman gigs? It just reminds me of the liner notes for Robert Hurst's One for Namesake, where Elvin Jones says, "If Bob wasn't hip, he wouldn't know to call on me." Although it'd be intimidating to approach Richard Davis, it would make sense for someone like Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer or Orrin Evans to record with him.

Richard Davis also shines in this unexpected context:

So, is anyone interested in a rare Black Lion mis-pressing? Calling all Del Shannon fanatics...

I stumbled upon Blues in Thirds by Earl Hines at a shop a few days ago. When I went to listen to it, I discovered that it was a '60s pop compilation. It's not that the clerk put the wrong CD in the case, as the CD is stamped as being the Earl Hines album. The shop is far enough away where I'd spend more in gas than I'd be refunded, so I'm stuck with it. Has anyone encountered this problem with Black Lion CDs? The album appears to unavailable via mp3, and I'd be more than a little hesitant to buy it again.

Like many, I'm a fan of his work with Andrew Hill and elsewhere. It's also great to hear him with Cecil McBee on Burning Spirits. The most recent recordings I have with him are with Hank and Elvin Jones. Here's wishing a master many more years.

Thank you, everyone! Looking at the Penguin Guide, it appears that Konitz recorded a couple of duet albums with Don Friedman as well. I can't think of any other saxophonist who has recorded as many duet albums with pianists, but Konitz really seems to flourish in small groups. I'll post about Heroes after I receive it.

Has anyone heard either of these two albums? I've been getting more into Lee Konitz's music and have heard two other piano-duet albums of his, Duos with Lee (with Dan Tepfer) and Duplicity (with Martial Solal). Scott Yanow, whose listening and reviewing skills are often questionable, blasts Evans's "arranger's piano," but I like the idea of Konitz with sparse accompaniment. At any rate, I've just ordered Heroes, so I'm interested to read what people think of these two albums.

John Burks is also pictured in the liner notes of Let Me Tell You 'Bout It. I once wrote Buck Hill and asked him if he could share any information about Burks and Bill Swindell, but I didn't hear back from him.

Steve, I saw the band in 2007 in Buffalo. I actually hadn't heard the group before, but I was intrigued after reading an article in DownBeat and seeing that they would be touring the States. I went with two friends, one of whom I routinely went to jazz shows with, while the other friend wasn't into jazz at all. Oddly enough, the friend who wasn't into jazz liked it, while the one who liked jazz hated it! I had a blast, so I don't doubt that they will still put on an excellent show. I'm hoping to catch the group again in Buffalo. My wife isn't usually into avant-garde (although she did recently like the Frode Gjerstad Trio), but the ICP Orchestra is such a beguiling mix of various elements that I think they'll win her over. Han Bennink is such fun to see and hear. If Misha isn't there, I'll miss his mischievous spirit, but I expect his influence to loom large over the proceedings regardless. I'm hoping for the best for him.

What's going on with Misha Mengelberg? I missed that he wasn't listed among the personnel for this tour. It's hard to imagine the ICP Orchestra without him.

Lee Konitz Quartet with pianist Vadim Neselovskyi, bassist Jeff Denson and drummer Ronen Itzik in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I was very impressed with the entire group, none of whom I'd ever heard (excluding Konitz, of course). Konitz had apparently only just met Neselovskyi and Itzik; despite his unfamiliarity with them, he had the same adventurous spirit, first asking the audience for requests and then asking individual bandmates to start playing a song of their choice. Other than Denson, the entire group was unamplified. As a result, I didn't need to wear earplugs, and sitting in the front row, I really got to soak up Konitz's gorgeous sound. To see Konitz at the top of his game, cracking jokes and leading a group of musicians 50 years his junior, is simply remarkable. We may even visit Antietam after checking out of the hotel.

I wondered what had become of her. She definitely held her own among the stellar musicians on Burning Spirits. RIP.

John Carter/Bobby Bradford - Seeking Paul Bley - 12 (+6) in a Row Joe McPhee - Survival Unit II, New York 1971 Barney McClure - Photographs Wolff & Clark Expedition

I just caught the (Michael) Wolff & (Mike) Clark Expedition with Jeff Berlin. It was a very loose, fun set. Michael Wolff is an underrated pianist and Mike Clark, known for his distinctive funk style, is a pretty versatile drummer. I was pleasantly surprised by Jeff Berlin, whose playing is quite fluid. They all obviously enjoy each other's company as well, so their in-between-song banter was pretty funny. I'm looking forward to giving the new Wolff & Clark Expedition album a spin; it has Chip Jackson on bass, and he has a different style from Berlin and is on double bass rather than electric.

of my favorite tenor players on the scene. I particularly like his Underground group, and I was impressed by his new quartet when I saw them last month (Sirens is well worth picking up). Two of his sideman appearances that stand out for me are Kenny Wheeler's What Now? and Kenny Werner's Lawn Chair Society. Although Antonio Sanchez's drumming has yet to really grab me, Potter excels in Pat Metheny's Unity Group as well, based on the record and when I saw them in Pittsburgh in August(?). As I mentioned on the 'What Live Music[...]' thread after seeing his quartet, his work on bass clarinet really appeals to me, but he doesn't seem to think that an album focusing on bass clarinet would draw much interest, which is a shame.

Roy Haynes turns 88 today. Here's wishing one of the greats a happy birthday.