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Quick update. Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I have used a couple of them so far and several others will likely be included. So far we have had five covenant group meetings. We only met in person once because of the current pandemic, but we have continued to have weekly discussions via conference call. Each week I have selected tracks for an approximately twenty minute listening session. Here is what we have programmed so far: Session 1 George Adams/Don Pullen - "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" - Decisions Gregory Tardy - "Amazing Grace" - The Strongest Love William Edgar, Ruth Naomi Floyd, John Patitucci & Joe Salzano - "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" - Heaven In A Nightclub Thelonious Monk - "This Is My Story, This Is My Song" - Monk Alone Session 2 David Murray (feat. Hugh Ragin) - "Blessed Assurance" - Speaking in Tongues Sharp Radway - "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" - Hymns and Things Larry Willis - "The Lord's Prayer" - Solo Spirit Grant Green - "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" - Feelin' The Spirit Session 3 James Williams - "Why We Sing" - James Williams At Maybeck Jay Hoggard/James Weidman - "Lead Me, Guide Me" - Songs of Spiritual Love Cyrus Chestnut - "What A Fellowship" - You Are My Sunshine Wycliffe Gordon - "I'm Glad" - In The Cross Session 4 Willie Pickens - "Jesus Loves Me" - JazzSpirit Volume 1 Kirk Whalum - "Just As I Am" - The Gospel According To Jazz, Chapter IV Tim Green - "I Surrender All" - Divine Inspiration Max Roach - "Were you There When They Crucified My Lord" - Lift Every Voice And Sing Kenny Burrell - "Were You There" - Blues - The Common Ground Session 5 Ramsey Lewis - "Oh Happy Day" - With One Voice Jimmy Greene - "Your Great Name" - Beautiful Life Craig Brann - "Why Me, Lord" - The Twelve Anthony E. Nelson Jr. - "Blesses Are Those That Mourn" - Swift To Hear, Slow To Speak

Very sad news. Although I heard him live that I can remember once with Tony Williams and once with Al Foster, I regret even more now missing him a couple of times recently when he appeared with his own band in my area. Never take for granted that there will be another opportunity. My prayers go out to his family.

Tonight in Northampton, MA I caught Steve Swell's Kende Dreams with Rob Brown (as), William Parker (b) and William TA Thompson (d). This may be my last live music experience for a while since it seems like most shows in my area after this weekend are being canceled. At least it was a good one that will hopefully hold me over for a while.

Last night: Gerald Cleaver, William Parker and David Virelles in Northampton, MA. Long continuous improvised set with a lot of close listening going on between the musicians.

I am leading a covenant group during the 2020 Lenten season at my church titled "Food, Jazz and Disciplines". In addition to sharing meals and the neccesary study, during the group sessions I will also be curating listening sessions featuring jazz interpretations of music from the black church tradition. In about ten minutes of thought I identified several artists in my collection that have either recorded entire albums or individual tracks featuring jazz interpretations of gospel, hymns and spirituals such as Gregory Tardy, Jimmy Greene, Charlie Haden/Hank Jones, Grant Green, Larry Willis, Eric Reed and Jay Hoggard. I would appreciate any recommendations from board members for me to consider as I prepare for my group. Thank you.

I don't think you can entirely blame CD Baby since they only offer what the artists provide to them.

I use Napster (formerly known as Rhapsody) to audition recordings before purchase.

Avery Sharpe Quintet plus the Extended Family Choir - 400: An African American Musical Portrait Polish National Home, Hartford, CT

In the past week I have felt the impulse to fill in gaps in my David S. Ware collection. In addition to the new release I picked up a few missing items to complete all of his leader dates available on CD, except for the solo saxophone recordings. I have also been listening to his earlier appearances on recordings by Cecil Taylor, Andrew Cyrille's Maono and early William Parker sessions on the Centering box set. At times Ware's playing can be a little dense or relentless, but there is something about his music that continues to make me want to listen.

Peter Evans Being & Becoming Peter Evans (trumpet), Joel Ross (vibes), Nick Jozwiak (bass), Savannah Harris (drums) Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT

I am very tempted to drive down Friday to catch Tsahar with William Parker and Gerald Cleaver.

Yes, two. A Movado and a Swiss Army.

It was!

As my father used to say, when you are slow, you blow. Yesterday I received the following email from my local independent retailer which survives primarily on used CD sales: Just received 14 Mosaic used Jazz CD Box Sets All 4-7 CD sets Art Blakey & Jazz Messengers 1960’s Lee Morgan/Wayne Shorter Vee Jay sessions Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orch complete recordings Gerald Wilson Orch complete recordings Phil Woods Quartet recordings Johnny Hodges Verve recordings Jimmy Giuffre Atlantic recordings Serge Chaloff sessions Duke Ellington complete Reprise Duke Ellington complete Capitol Jack Teagarden complete Roulette Jack Teagarden complete Capitol Bix Biederbecke/Jack Teagarden/Wayne Trumbauer 1924-36 We’re here Tue/Wed/Thur see you Bobby Hackett complete None of these sets were priorities for me when they were first released, or items I have felt compelled to seek afterward for a number of reasons. Nonetheless, I figured I might be able to catch a good deal on sets such as the Blakey, Woods, Wilson, Jones/Lewis, Shorter/Morgan or Giuffre, which I at least have an interest in. I spent time this morning debating whether to leave work early and researching reviews on the sets I might want. The store officially opens at 11:00, but the sole proprietor is usually there earlier. I thought about getting there early, but ultimately decided to get there when I knew it was open. I also thought about calling and asking him to hold a couple of sets for me, but I didn't. Both decisions proved to be huge mistakes. When I walked in the door someone else was at the register with two piles of the sets. He purchased everything except the Woods, Chaloff, Hackett and Teagardens. To give you an idea how much of a lost opportunity this was, I purchased the Woods set for $28. All of the sets were in like new condition and all were priced for less than when originally issued. I doubt he charged more than $40 for any set since I suspect he priced them all at around $7 per disc. He does not know the value of some of these among collectors, plus he does not like to price anything in the store too high. Oh well ... maybe next time.

Wednesday night I caught the Ingrid Laubrock quartet with Brandon Seabrook, Michael Formanek and Tom Rainey in Easthampton, MA. Tonight I will likely go hear the sextet with Tomeka Reid and Mazz Swift added at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, CT.

I thought the Sevian date was already released? I have owned it for months.

Sylvie Courvoisier Trio Firehouse 12 New Haven, CT Sylvie Courvoisier (piano); Drew Gress (bass); Kenny Wolleson (drums)

The first time I heard Akinmusire live was with Mark Turner. I know Larry is not a fan of Turner, but I found Akinmusire to be a better foil for Turner than the trumpeter that regularly plays with him, Avishai Cohen. He brought more contrast to the group IMO. I have enjoyed most of the Akinmusire albums I have heard although I confess that the last quartet CD did not resonate with me as much. I saw the quartet live and it was a bit of a disappointment as well. I enjoy Akinmusire's playing, but my best experiences with him have been when there is another horn.

I made it to Newport Friday. I arrived a little later than planned and missed most of the Sun Ra Arkestra, but I did catch about thirty minutes of Tia Fuller, the Gary Bartz 50th Anniversary of Another Earth, and the Billy Hart Quartet. I enjoyed all the sets I did hear, especially Bartz.

I have the two original releases. A lot of compelling music.

Elio Villafranca Quartet.

I have it, but also have not gotten very far yet.

Solid performance by the trio, but very limited drum soloing - only one or two brief understated solos.

Just placed my order.

Louis Hayes trio with Dezron Douglas and Abraham Burton.