Stefan Wood

49. I'm addicted to the smell of the booklets and the boxes, and I need my fix real bad!

I saw them play 17 years ago at the great Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh. I was 17 and with a bunch of friends and we had a blast. A couple of weekends ago I went to the WHFSestival on a date; had a great time. The Cure was the last act playing for the day. They sucked. 3/4 of the crowd left after two songs.

Dan, if it falls on a Sunday, then Monday is a day off. Banks, post offices, etc. will be closed. And most businesses too, unless it is run by a guy with a hooded mask. I spent my weekend recovering from a cold, and I bought a ton of really cool classical lps for a buck a pop. 50's RCA, columbia, etc. Some really nice performances of American classical music. And some jazz as well -- Buddy De Franco, George Auld on Mercury, etc.

This was an outstanding reissue that Fantasy released last year. If you like this, you should go after the "Live!" cd which is the first part of the live sessions the trio did. Actually, you can't go wrong with any of his OJC cds.

I'm looking for cdrs of a couple of lps that were issued on Decca: Sal Salvador and Brass Fred Katz and Jammers Thanks

The Tapscott Nimbus set ain't gonna happen unless the owner passes away. I remember buying a bunch of the Tapscott lps from him, and we had a long conversation about music, etc. He didn't come across as someone who would be willing to licence his material. Ever.

This has been mentioned in a previous topic, but Israel "Cachao" Lopez's "Descarga Jam Session" on Panart is an excellent mid 50's date. The beginning of the descarga jam session on lp. Other recommendations: Arsenio Rodriguez - Primitivo (Tico or Alegre?) This is an OUTSTANDING cd, reissued in 1999, of one of the greatest musicians/composers of 20th century music. If you want to hear the source for a lot of what the Buena Vista Social Club and others have been performing in the last decade, this is the guy. Foot stompin latin music. Tito Puente - Night Beat (RCA) A great fusing of 50's big band and latin music. Johnny Pacheco - Any of his Charanga cds on Alegre (or Fania) in the 60's. Sometimes quiet, often great swinging latin dance music! Conjunto Libre - Manny Oquendo and Andy Gonzalez are the main players of this great latin group which has been playing for the past 30 years. Any of their titles would do, they have cds on Milestone or Bethlehem/Salsoul.

I thought White Suburban Spiritual Music were the Righteous Brothers, Jim Nabors and Tennesse Ernie Ford.

Jeez guys, this is something. You want to force people into participating? You know, in the guidelines for these tests it makes note that people do not have to participate in the tests yet can receive discs. I have only participated in a couple, but I am more interested in the musical tastes of other board participants. I will down the road come up with a test cd myself, but come on, get real.

Peter Brotzmann - Machine Gun (FMP)

This should be really interesting. I am NOT a Beach Boys fan, not at all, but I have heard the lp "Smile" and found it creative and fascinating to listen to. More so than Pet Sounds.....

This one:

I would switch Miles Davis's KOB with "Relaxin'." I have given this to many people who don't listen to jazz and they all LOVED it. Ella's "Live in Berlin" makes for a nice intro to her work, live and in peak singing form as well. Chris Connor's Bethlehem dates are nice as well. I wouldn't do avant stuff unless you know the person was inclined towards that sort of thing.

I am glad I had the opportunity to see him play with his brother late last year in DC. He will be missed. BTW, his Vanguard recordings are nice as well. Maybe not as good as his Blue Note trio dates with Joe Farrell (my favorites!), but they are well worth a spin.

updated

More new stuff added.

I saw him play up in Baltimore a couple of years ago and it is still one of the best jazz concerts I have ever seen.

Supposedly they are scheduled to come back to the Kennedy Center early next year.

New stuff added.

They were required because it is part of the sponsorship for having shows at the Library of Congress. The musicians either contribute a composition written for this concert, or in this case, in honor of a musician who they have a large collection in their holdings. Cecil Taylor wrote a composition for the Library, a duet with Matt Manieri, when he performed there.

Dave Holland Quintet played at the Library of Congress last night, and I'll tell you, the DC folks were treated to an incredible jazz performance. While I've always liked Holland's recordings, and really dug the Live at Birdland double cd set last year, this performance went many levels higher than anything I've heard. Part of the reason was the enthusiastic crowd, and the other was the incredible playing of his group, especially the new drummer, Nate Smith. I think he will be to Holland like Brian Blade is to Wayne Shorter -- he is a dynamic, aggressive musician, who propelled everyone with a hard and varied rhythms. They introduced a few new compositions that will appear on their next cd -- one dedicated to Holland's granddaughter, and another by Chris Potter. I can only describe it, very poorly, by saying it was like listening to the Jazz Messengers with the aura of the Bobby Hutcherson/Joe Chambers collaborations, but harder. I left feeling exhilerated and gasping for breath at the fierceness of the performance and excellent compositions. Being the Library of Congress, they were required to do some sort of tribute, and Holland did a Mingus composition solo, and the group did a Mingus influenced tune, written by Robin Eubanks, I believe. All I can say is -- go see these guys!!!

An excellent article. Thanks!

And I got a blank box for the Serge Chaloff.

This week's list updated for the final time before I remove it this weekend. I will post new stuff next week.

From California with Love is a nice solo piano lp from the late 70's. Nothing essential, but good music. Evil man that I am, I actually have this on auction on ebay (heh heh heh)......