Big Al

Well, it's my own fault. I saw it used last summer, but didn't pick it up because I was going thru a serious Sam Rivers jones, having managed to score the Mosaic, and I was at this store getting Hutcherson's DIALOGUE (which I don't regret for a second, BTW; I only had enough $$$ for one, and I went with the one I was in the mood for). If I knew then what I know now.......

If anyone has a copy they'd like to sell or trade, or knows where they can get one, I'll gladly buy it. Also, if anyone lives near the Tower in Atlanta, I would gladly pay for that (and Lou Donaldson's GOOD GRACIOUS). I saw a copy when I was there a couple weeks ago, but stupidly did not pick it up. Thanks.

Is it possible to go overboard on the greeeaze? All I've listened to for the past few days are discs with the Wholly Greeeazy Trinity--BIG John Patton, Grant Green, and Ben Dixon--on 'em. And in one of those rare moments of completist nonsense, I'm almost finished getting my hands on everything recorded by them. So far, the only one that's giving me fits (in terms of trying to find) is BLUES FOR LOU. I saw it at Tower in Atlanta a couple weeks ago, but didn't get it (when am I gonna learn?) cuz I figured I'd just get it at the Tower in Dallas. Well, neither Texas Tower has it, CD Source didn't have it, Waterloo didn't have it. GEEEZZZZ!!!! (Hey, if anyone has a copy they'd like to trade or sell, or if anyone lives near the Atlanta Tower and wouldn't mind picking up that copy (and Lou Donaldson's GOOD GRACIOUS if they have that, too!), I would happily and quickly reciprocate.) Anyway, I can't get enough of these guys and can't say enough good things about 'em. Sure, there's other more popular organ combos out there, but in my mind, these guys were wholly unified in their sound. These guys hit a groove hard and stuck to it like glue! Plus, these guys wrote so many of their own songs (which, naturally, belong in a Greeeeaze Hall of Fame): stuff like "Funky Mama," "Fat Judy," and "The Silver Meter" keep the funk flowin'. Finally, no group puts a smile on my face like these guys. How can you not smile and move to The Natural Soul? Brightens my day (and greeeazes it up) every time I listen to it!

I actually made a homemade comp of Sorcerer, Nefertiti and Water Babies. It all flows so well! Nefertiti was the one that made me get the box!

That credit list is about as long as the full-page spread the FW Star Telegram devoted to her yesterday. Free publicity at it's finest, yet it amounted to nothing more than a teen-zine type review (shtuff like Kelly's Top Faves or something like that was included). So I guess if that's all it takes to get free publicity (be from Texas, be cute (damn, that counts me out), round up about 452,975 producers, musicians, hair stylists, etc to make a record), SIGN ME UP!

Oh I LOVE Speak Like a Child; in fact, it was my first exposure to Herbie's BN output and made me want to get the whole box. I think that the extended solo piano is an alternate of "Goodbye to Childhood" and you're right, it is beautiful!

Oh yeah...... (I could really use a "dunce-cap" smilie right now......) Chuck, any order form I need to fill out or anything? Thanks.

So I went to AMG after seeing Chuck Nessa's avatar of Von Freeman's Have No Fear, and of course there's no information. But there is information about Serenade and Blues at AMG. Are either of these in print and available anywhere? Thanks.

Had to flip a coin between Etc. and Speak No Evil, but Speak gets the nod because it moves me in the same way that Maiden Voyage does, with "Dance Cadaverous" being the one that gets me every time. Man, these polls are a lot of fun!

Not a bad one in the lot, and each one has it's magical moments; but very few albums move me like Maiden Voyage. "Little One" and "Dolphin Dance" get me every time.

Judgement. A tough call to be sure, but that interplay between Hill, Hutch, Davis and Elvin is beautifully telepathic!

The suspense is killing me: has an album been named for April 12-19 yet?

You got THAT right!

How about Weird Al Yankovic's parody, "I Lost on Jeopardy?" Man, that guy put out some of the FUNNIEST videos, parody or not, of all time. I still howl at his "Eat It" video, and his takeoff of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video is satirical nirvana, if you'll pardon the pun!

I can only hope!!!

When the movie Amadeus came out, someone put together a video montage to one of Amadeus's symphonies (I forget which one), combining shots from the movie with shots from various videos. David Lee Roth came out like some stoned conductor and "conducted" the whole thing. I think I saw it all of twice, but I never forgot it. Wonder if it's on the Amadeus DVD? I always liked the ZZ Top videos that had the '34 in 'em! Aaaaaand, I always liked the Huey Lewis videos that accompanied the Sports album. Everything after that, well..... And thank you SO much, GoM, for getting that ^%$&%^#$&^# Til Tuesday song in my head, which I hated from day one, and hated the video even more!

I'm glad you mentioned that. Otherwise, I woulda driven right to the old place instead! Used stuff, eh? This sounds promising!

The Green box arrived today! Wheeeeeeeee!

Rangers lose. Again. When does football season start?

Well, I won't have too much time after my meeting in Stone Mountain. I thought I heard Tower closed down there. If not, I may swing by there for kicks. Just something to pass the time until my flight leaves!

I'm coming to Atlanta on Wednesday. Are there any good CD shops between the airport and Stone Mountain to check out before my flight leaves that night?

Well, this is why I like the whole AOTW project: I get to hear albums I might not normally have bought of my own choosing. (Actually, this isn't my copy: it's borrowed from the library). On first listening, I have mixed emotions: on the one hand, the sectionals are breathtaking and energetic, the swingers swing and the ballads are beautiful. On the other hand, some of those solos are just so raucous, especially on the ballads. I may go back and listen to it again before the week is up, but this just confirms what I've always felt: I just don't get Mingus. I appreciate him, respect him, and hold him in the highest regard as a composer, bassist, arranger, and soloist. I just wish I could get him, y'know? I'm looking forward to that day when something in a Mingus record just jumps out, slaps me around, and says, SEE?!?!?!?" Until then, I'll just appreciate from afar, I s'pose.

FWIW, 1. Along Came John can still be had at cheap-cds.com 2. Good Gracious is a Rare Groove. I did a discography search of all the albums featuring Patton, Green, & Dixon, and this is what I came up with: NATURAL SOUL GOOD GRACIOUS BLUES FOR LOU ALONG CAME JOHN** AM I BLUE STEPPIN' OUT* A MAN WITH A HORN BLUE JOHN* SHOUTIN THE WAY I FEEL*** OH BABY*** *unavailable domestically (AFAIK) **available domestically, but will be on the box ***unavailable domestically (AFAIK), but will be on the box So the rest appear to be easily had. But man, why on EARTH did they not put Steppin' Out in there? That album is a perfect complement to Oh Baby!!!! At this rate, I could build my own Mosaic collection for what it would cost if Mosaic actually made a box set out of these albums!

In the Beginning by Hubert Laws I never see anyone talk about this. Were it not for a CTI binge I was on last year, I might never have heard about this lovely album. This is one of those albums that fits every description of a jazz album while still defying category. The music on this album evokes memories of places that seem as distant and vague as those places I have yet to visit. And I guess that's the key here: it hits a nerve, a strong one, but one I cannot really describe. There's the bluesy title track starting the album (one in which flautist Laws effortlessly moves between time shifts), and then the first highlight, the lovely waltz "Restoration." This song evokes a warm breezy autumn afternoon, the flute echoing the sound of falling leaves. Laws' interpretation of Satie's "Gymnopedie #1" chokes me up every time I listen to it. It's as if the guitar and electric piano are played at just the right moments as to tug my heartstrings. Works every time. This is then followed by some soulful Laws double-tracking on the gospel-flavored "Come Ye Disconsolate." A duet between Laws and drummer Steve Gadd (as in, "Gadd, this guy is a helluva drummer!") rips "Airegin" to lovely shreds. At times, it sounds like Gadd has a few extra pairs of arms laying around! The full band, including Laws brother Ronnie on tenor sax, appears for Trane's "Moments Notice" and while Ronnie is no Trane (who is?), he acquits himself well on this. "Reconciliation" is a lot like "Restoration" (besides similar titles) in that it also evokes an early autumn afternoon, but now the wind has picked up, blowing the leaves rather violently. But then the wind dies down, and it comes to a restful conclusion. The album closes with the mammoth 15-minute "Mean Lene," which actually sounds like four or five different themes in one song. What's even more amazing is that this was completed in one take! But MY! how it swings! Great playing all around, but extra kudos must be given to bassist Ron Carter, whose deft touch and fleet-fingers guide the listener through this garden of delights, while still being playful and evocative enough to be just as creative as the soloists. Unfortunately, the preceding is just some dry commentary; how I wish I could describe the emotional tug this album gives me when I listen to it. Like I said before, it's indescribable: I can't tell if these places are ones I've been, or ones I hope to visit. Or maybe they're part of some deep-repressed happy memory swimming in a sea of bad memories. Or maybe I should just stop over-anal-yzing everything and just enjoy it! ****************** Great topic, Soul Stream! I hope others join in on the fun. Gotta confess, your review of Am I Blue made me dig out my copy which doesn't have "For All We Know" on it (long story). I've been listening to it, and it was perfect driving-home music tonight, real relaxing; but on the whole, I guess the charm just eludes me. But I tell ya: you should be writing reviews for Blue Note! Maybe then, they wouldn't need to keep shoving Norah down our throats: in a perfect world, your reviews would have the same effect on everyone else as this one did on me!

Search for the New Land and Procrastinator were my reasons for voting for Wayne! And, of course, those albums they did with this drummer guy named Blakey.....