Milestones

I find Lewis to be brilliant. Give Evolution II a try, especially "Cain and Abel."

Has no one said that #10 is "Blame it on My Youth"? I agree with those saying it is Burton, but I have not been aware of a solo album. #3...some Don Cherry and Ed Blackwell I have not heard before. Fine stuff, and that certainly includes Jordan and Ware. Thanks for including this.

Anyone up on Junko Onishi? I believe she was signed to Blue Note for a while, and she appeared on an album with Jackie McLean: Hat Trick. In fact, that's all I really know of her work. Her playing actually was more enjoyable than his. I know she did a record with Joe Lovano before the turn of the century--and I certainly wouldn't mind hearing that. I have found some recent live stuff that sounds good--listened to tracks "Water Reflection" and "Rain in March." She may have moved on to her own compositions, as opposed to jazz classics and standards. Perhaps we need to be more accepting of Japanese musicians.

I have only just become aware of this record, which I am sure is a fine quartet session but probably not essential. I'm pretty intrigued, but also baffled as to why it's such a rarity. Every now and then you come across a record that is ridiculously expensive. With all the streaming and the many outlets, you wouldn't think this would be the case anymore.

Just seeing this now. R.I.P. A fine writer indeed. Last night I just happened to be paging through his book Like Young, and especially the long and excellent essay on Charlie Haden.

I think he's a cool guy too. His humor and sense of fun tend to sneak up on you.

Besides his playing, one should consider Lovano's compositions and arrangements, his associations with tons of major jazz artists, and his ability to work nearly the entire spectrum of jazz.

I'm perfectly happy with the video that Kevin posted.

What about the Us Five records Folk Art and Cross Culture? No concept on those.

Joey Alexander? He's just a very young man (no longer a "kid") and can be forgiven for drawing wild perceptions, good and bad. Joe Lovano has paid his dues, playing and recording for 4-5 decades.

Interesting that "Mr. Jazzman" has not responded to anything on the board. If you are reading,Jazzman, have you... heard Lovano play Monk? heard 52nd Street Themes? heard Joe with Paul Motian on the "Broadway" albums? heard Joe in concert before? Jut wondering if one concert (and not even present for the whole thing) is the cause of a rather vicious reaction.

I've never seen/heard Lovano play anything close to a poor concert--and I have probably seen him more than anyone. I have tons of his records as leader and sideman. There are some leader dates that didn't work so well (very few), but overall his output his very impressive. Lovano can play his own material, can play a bit "out," and he is masterful on standards. I do find his recent ECM records to be overly low-key, and maybe this new group hasn't quite gelled. I'm kind of intrigued, though, as I have started to enjoy Julian Lage.

Number 2 is Coltrane's "Liberia." I imagine it's pretty recent, and can be found on one of the many Coltrane tribute albums--or can be viewed as jazz standard (as it should). I was thinking it's a bit like Kenny Garrett, but certainly not Kenny on his own Trane tribute. Good stuff. You can't beat Coltrane himself, but I nearly always enjoy others playing his music. Number 3...this tune sounds very familiar. Rather good tune, nice performance. That does sound quite a bit like Lovano--most of the time, but not always. I don't think it's him. It seems to me that many tenor saxophonists have adopted elements of his style.

Not sure whether any of them were truly good singers in the traditional sense--maybe Levon, though he sounded like he was 75 when he was in his 30s. But it worked for The Band. Robbie is at his best on his first solo album, especially the primarily talked "Somewhere Down the Crazy River." Garth's contributions to The Band were enormous.

R.I.P. I enjoyed From Another Perspective. I had always meant to pick up a few more of his records. He liked his Monk! There are four Monk tunes on the record with Pepper Adams.