agriffith

I would imagine Duke actually wrote it; sounds like him of course. And, yes I knew about the ASCAP/BMI thing; thanks for mentioning that Medjuck. Should have clarified that when I posted. On a similar note: although Mercer is credited as writing "Things Ain't What They Used to Be", it is actually a Johnny Hodges piece (no surprise); Hodges "lost" the piece to Duke in a card game! Then Duke had Mercer put his name on it because of the BMI/ASCAP thing. Anyway, just some trivia I heard from a member of the Ellington band, who heard it from Mercer himself.

By the way, the unidentified bass feature during the instrumental medley (track 10, disc 1) is "Jumpin' Punkins" by Mercer Ellington.

Frankie Dunlop played beautifully with Monk! They came from the same rhythmic tree of swing. And he phrased his solos like Monk. "Rhythm-A-Ning" from the 1961 Monk In France concert, "Evidence" from the Monk in Japan 1963 video, etc. He had the Monk bounce! A lot of subtle humor in his playing as well. RIP Mr. Dunlop! "And now, Frankie Dunlop will play some hot licks for you" - quote from Monk introducing a Dunlop drum solo in Brussels 1963.

Give the funky drummer some! RIP Mr. Muhammad. Check him out on Randy Weston's "Portraits of Thelonious Monk" cd. Great version of "Well You Needn't"!

Beautiful music and beautiful spirit. Thank God for Hank Jones. RIP Time to listen to "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning" and "It's Me Oh Lord"; Hank Jones solos.

Mr. Bateman played beautifully on those Dave Burns Vanguard lps, and with Walt Dickerson of course. I wish he had been recorded more. Joey DeFrancesco talked highly of him many times. Peace and blessings to his family. RIP

Has anyone heard this? http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfwxztsldhe It is a two-disc set just released by Varese Sarabande. Looks like it contains a lot of radio/V-disc performances that have been out many times. but if it contains performances from 1931, I am curious. I don't recall hearing any Fats radio tracks from 1931; anyone have information regarding these? Thanks in advance.

Check out Ore on Elmo Hope's "Final Sessions" also. Great playing on there! As far as, Dunlop goes, his solos are highly expressive and display a great understanding of Monk's compositions. I've listened to the "Monk's Dream" album hundreds of times, and the groove still knocks me out! And Rouse on there too; the four of them swung as one! (Hmmm........ "Four In One"; almost had a gag there son, uh joke that is..........")

Ed Thigpen: one of the all-time great drummers! Beautiful swing, amazing brushwork, always musical and sensitive. Listen to him on Monty Alexander's "The River" cd on Concord. I had the honor of attending a brush master class that he was teaching; he could make brushwork sound great no matter how messed up and worn out the snare head was (like mine was)! A master! God bless Ed Thigpen.

Hi, long time no post. I've been listening to the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Tones date (cd reissue on Prevue). Although the session is listed as being recorded on 11/8/1954 and that Jo Jones is the drummer on all the cuts, my ears tell me something different (I'm a drummer myself). It is obviously Jo on all the sextet cuts and Ain't Misbehavin', but the other quartet cuts sound like a different drummer to me. Specifically, I believe "Cheek to Cheek", "If I Had You", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Undecided". and "Time On My Hands". This is especially evident on "Cheek to Cheek" where there is trading between drums. piano, and sax. I've listened to lot of Papa Jo and I don't think that is him on those cuts, especially compared to the way he sounds on the other tracks. Perhaps it might be Charlie Smith or Percy Brice? I know they played with Billy Taylor's trio around this time. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has noticed this possible discographical error.

For me Marchel was/is a mentor, friend, and constant source of inspiration on and off the bandstand. I was honored to play drums with him for over 13 years here in the Dallas area, and I can honestly say that the nights I was with him on the bandstand were the greatest I've ever had. He played the TRUTH, period. Knowing him and playing with him helped me to know myself better. I played with him Friday night (along with great bassist Lynn Seaton) and he sounded beautiful! Full of energy and passion, and he always had something in reserve. As far as I'm concerned, he's one of the greatest Tenor saxophonists of all time (and a wonderful alto player as well). I think Jim Sangrey would agree. Although I played hundreds of gigs with him, he always would play something I'd never heard; always surprise me with something. Like Sonny Rollins, he played in the moment. Spontaneous beauty. One of the most patient and humble people I've ever met. And a wonderful sense of humor. He could find humor in anything. I've learned more from him than anyone else. So, thank you for everything Marchel. I love you.

Cool! Will definitely try to hit Stereo Jacks, if not the others as well. Thanks so much!

Hello all, I will be visiting Boston for a few days in about a week and I wondered if anyone here could recommend some good second-hand record stores in the area. Looking for jazz (of course) and maybe classical. Also gospel! Thanks to all that reply!

Don't miss these beautiful trio recordings featuring the great Higgins!: 1) Freddie Redd: Live At The Studio Grill 2) Cedar Walton: At Pit Inn (Japanese Import) w/ SAM JONES! 3) Hank Jones/ Dave Holland/ Higgins: The Oracle 4) Hank Jones/ Ray Drummond/ Higgins: The Essence

God Bless Mr. Redman. I'll have to get out the duo album he did with Ed Blackwell live!

The Blue Monk track is actually from Paris 1967. It has been released on "The Nonet Live" on Charly as well as on "Live In Paris Vol. 3" on Thelonious Records. The personnel listed is almost completely wrong, but it is the one they used on many old bootleg issues. Here's the rundown: Blue Monk: Paris 1967 Clark Terry, Rouse, Phil Woods, Jimmy Cleveland, Ray Copeland, Johnny Griffin, Monk, Gales, Riley. It's mostly a feature for Clark Terry w/ plunger, though. Great solo! Light Blue & Evidence: Newport 1966 (been issued countless times) Monk, Rouse, Gales, and Riley. Sorry I don't have exact dates in front of me, but I have the Sheridan Monk bio-discography which sorts all this stuff out. The sound should be deasant on most of the tracks on the RLR cd, although it varies from date to date. The Steve Allen stuff is pretty lo-fi, but still interesting, especially the interview with Monk. He does not give elaborate responses to Allen's comments; no surprise. Regardless of the personnel listing though, I 'm sure it is not Mobley playing tenor. The 1948 set might be the most interesting piece on there. Great playing from Monk and nice Sulieman, although none of Monk's originals are heard. The RLR cd is probably an OK buy if you don't have any of the material it offers. However, just know that the personnel listings on some of the tunes must be taken with a grain of salt (& pepper).

Hey Dan, thanks for posting these things. Regarding the Monk Philadelphia cd, it is probably: Monk, Steve Lacy, Rouse, Ore, and Roy Haynes Philadelphia 1960: Straight No Chaser, Evidence, and Rhythm-A-Ning. A radio broadcast that has been circulating privately for sometime. Monk with Hank sounds suspicious; I think it probably contains Monk's appearance on the Steve Allen Show in 1955 with a sextet comprising Art Farmer, Teo Macero (on Tenor), Eddie Bert, Mingus, and Willie Jones. Some discographies have listed Mobley in place of Macero, but I assure you it is not Hank. I have this broadcast and it has Well You Needn't and Off Minor. Let me know the track listing, etc. for that RLR cd if you find it. It would sure be great if a tape DID exist of a group Monk led at The Five Spot for two weeks in 1958 that had Hank, Kenny Dorham, Wilbur Ware, and Shadow Wilson!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those other releases are interesting as well, but the MORE Bee Hive stuff is particularly compelling to me. I think I have all the other Clifford stuff on there. Yeah Jim, MOON LIVES! Maybe a Sonny In Denmark Vols. 3 & 4 are on the way!

Thanks for posting this EKE. I have those Ellington concerts on old Green Line VHS tapes. Great stuff, but dvds will hopefully be cleaner. I still need to pick up the Tivoli '69 and Copenhagen '65 dvds! The Zurich '59 footage on vhs is a very faded piece of film from the visual standpoint, but the music and great camera angles make up for the faded picture. Dimenuendo & Crescendo is SMOKIN" on this!

Just found out about this............. very sad. Mr. McLean is one of my biggest inspirations. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to see him in person. He created beautiful honest music with all the swing and soul you could ever want. R.I.P. and God Bless Jackie McLean.

Could someone give me the personnel list for this Xanadu lp, and a recording date? I have a cdr of the album, but no info. I did find the names of the tunes online, though. Thanks in advance for the help!

I agree with Lon. I think she sounds fantastic on several things I've heard. Actually I've enjoyed her appearances on recordings as a sideperson more than I have her own cds. Overall, I'd say she's a bad mutha on the fiddle!

I'm wondering whether any Organissimites (Organissimoans?) have the Tommy Flanagan "Solo Piano" CD which Chris commented on in the AAJ thread, and whether anybody has any ideas related to this. I find it very interesting and curious. Maybe even worthy of its own thread... ← I have the Flanagan cd. I don't have a track list in front of me, but if I remember correctly, tracks 12-19 are NOT Flanagan. I'm certain those tracks are by the great stride pianist Joe Turner. I have some other recordings by him where he does the same interpretations of several of those tunes on the Storyville cd. Anyway, I hope Storyville corrects this error. Not fair to Flanagan, and especially not fair to Turner. Great playing by both, though!

QUOTE from Jsngry: "the Rouse/Riley edition strikes me as being the inevitable slow decline which follows any peak. If any Monk drummer gets on my nerves, it's Riley. SNOOOOOOOZE!" Well, I feel compelled to defend Riley somewhat here. For sure, at times I've noticed that he and Larry Gales would occasionally drag the beat (check out "Blue Monk" on Live At The It Club; the tempo slows down as the tune continues). And sometimes Ben sounds like he might be getting bored or sleepy. BUT, when he's in the groove and swinging with Monk, he is EXCELLENT! Check out "Rhythm-a-ning" from the same It Club cd; GREAT Riley playing on there! Comparing his solos with Dunlop: I think Dunlop's solos with Monk are always on target in terms of following the tunes' forms, as well as their melodic and rhythmic subtleties. Ben Riley's solos tend to be harder to follow, although he does play some very nice ones. Sometimes, though, I think he might be unsure of where he is in the form. BUT, Monk being the greatest musician at following drum solos I've ever heard, ALWAYS seems to know where it is. I've seen Ben in person and talked quite awhile with him about Monk. Funny, he mentioned to me that he DID get tired of playing Blue Monk night after night. But, he said laughing, the more he played it incorrectlly (or dropped the tempo on it, perhaps), the more Monk would play it again and again. To test him, in other words. Also, Ben spoke of Shadow Wilson as one of his biggest influences; he was there at the five spot often to see Wilson with Monk. I think I can hear the Wilson influence in Riley's cymbal work and in his phrasing at times. By the way, when I saw Ben he had just recovered from a coma about a week before. This was his first job back out with Kenny Barron. Ben played beautifully that night (wonderful brushwork)! Very gracious and warm person. I feel blessed to have met him. And, in reference to Monk Trane Carnegie, Shadow wilson is OUTSTANDING in every way! One more Riley story: He told me this himself. When he was fairly young he saw Monk play at the Apollo Theater. He said Monk came out and played one tune AND sounded just like Bud Powell (could be an exaggeration, but still............)! After he finished he slammed the piano lid down and left the stage! Needless to say, Ben was pretty shocked by that. (I think I messed up the quote part here, but hopefully it's clear.)

Shadow is one of the giants! And he is recorded probably better than ever on that new Monk/ Trane release. Mike Weill is right about Shadow's technique, too. Listen to his breaks on Trinkle Tinkle for a great example of his control and musicality. I have a video clip of him playing with Louis Jordan and he takes a solo. Unfortunately the film was done when they were still not filming the sound and picture together, so what you hear is somewhat different from what you see. But, it's great to watch Shadow at work; a real master! Great brushwork too, by the way.

Sounds intriguing! I'm a Sonny Red fan for sure, so I would love to hear that!