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Don't sleep on the Lou Blackburn. That stuff is gold! The Herbie Nichols set is sick. A must-have for any jazz piano fan. All those Blakey records (Like Someone/Witch Doctor/Freedom Rider) are great, especially Like Someone. Just got those Tina Brooks albums today, so sad they are putting him back out of print. McLean and Morgan are hard hit too. Everything on Pacific Jazz is pretty much doomed at this point. I gotta get those Jazz Crusaders! Is the era of easily accessible reissues over? -------------------------------------------------- http://bopandbeyond.wordpress.com

Hey Everyone, Bop and Beyond returns to the airwaves in Jan. '09 on WSVA Radio, 590 AM in NYC and on the web. More info as becomes available. I've also been updating my site constantly with album reviews, interviews, and video. Check it out here: http://bopandbeyond.wordpress.com Thanks to those here who spread the word about my Scott Wenzel interview, it was appreciated! - Christopher

Great photos!

I actually agree that Von has been better than Sonny recently, probably since as far back as the late 70's. There's just not enough recorded material around to know about earlier than that. Though he has demurred on this point in interviews, Von's rep among his fellows, including Sonny Stitt and Andrew Hill, was that he was the best tenor to ever come out of Chicago-- a strong statement that Von's recordings, particularly Young and Foolish, Serenade and Blues, and Good Forever certainly lend credence to.

Along with Sonny Rollins, perhaps the greatest living tenor of his era... better now than he's ever been.

What made Miles so special was that he was always pushing the boundaries. When The Complete On The Corner Sessions came out last year, people were falling all over themselves realizing that his work from that era was profoundly influential on almost every form of modern music that came after it. And working backwards, the same can be said for In A Silent Way and Kind Of Blue and Birth Of The Cool. Miles moved music forward for the greater part of 40 years in a fashion that few others can ever equal.

This is a great set that I haven't stopped listening to since I bought it over 10 months ago. I like everything on it: the trios sides are good, George Tucker is a hell of a bass player, the Turrentine brothers are always better together, Booker Ervin and Grant Green really tear it up. I love this stuff!

While I do think that Monk tempered himself a bit on the Columbia recordings, they are still my go-to albums from him because, as many others have noted, his empathy with Rouse was stunning. I'm just listening to "I Didn't Know About You (Take 4/Album Version)" and the interplay between the two men is hauntingly beautiful. If I want Monk to dazzle me on the piano, I might grab a Riverside instead but overall, 'Straight No Chaser,' 'Monk,' and 'It's About That Time" are the albums I dig best. I can discern no decline in Monk's overall playing abilities even if his innovation isn't on the same levels as earlier.

Thanks again to everyone who checked out the interview. I hope to be talking to Scott again soon! ------------------------------------- http://bopandbeyond.wordpress.com

Tomorrow's broadcast features the music of Ike Quebec and Johnny Griffin. I've written a nice little essay about Ike for my blog... http://bopandbeyond.wordpress.com ...a download of the show will be made available for those of you who can't tune in. It'll be my last show for Pratt Radio, Bop and Beyond is looking for a new home.

Thanks for the link! I appreciate it!

Hey Everyone, Some kind soul posted an interview I did on my blog with Scott Wenzel from Mosaic Records and its generated a lot of traffic. I host a radio show and blog called Bop and Beyond. Check it out here: http://bopandbeyond.wordpress.com I'm doing a new show tomorrow night featuring music from Thelonious Monk, Blue Mitchell, Dave Bailey, and more...

Thanks for everyone who checked out the interview. Scott was really generous with his time. Lots of great stuff happening with Bop and Beyond this summer. --------------------------------------------- http://bopandbeyond.wordpress.com