Bill Nelson

Yep, I'm also betting the Elvin is the next to go 'Running Low'. Xmas may be a little late this year. Good thing my birthday's in late August. Fortunately (and inexplicably) most of Elvin's Blue Notes are no longer available as single CDs. Otherwise, one must look to Japan, right?

Let me pose a question to the 'free marketeers' of this thread: Would you have a problem if a single buyer/dealer acquired ALL 5,000 copies of a never-again licensed Mosaic set of a modern jazz artist? And, if this buyer placed 10 copies on Ebay each week to the highest bidder? Then let's cut-out the middleman and go one step further: If profit-maximization is all that matters, then why should Mosaic bother selling direct to the public at a fixed price when it can have them bid at auction? The return on investment would be to the direct benefit of Mosaic stockholders. Isn't this the essence of the 'free-market' model you are defending?

Ordered mine today, also. Afterwards, I was told, "We're selling about 30 every day now." Given the parameters, it looks like this window should close by Saturday.

This site sure beats having a buncha you'se over my house. This way, my house won't stink, the carpet stays clean, and I'm the only one hitting the scotch, gin, and vodka. Best of all, I don't have to watch y'all pawing my rekkids while exhorting,"Hey dude, it ain't for sale or trade, alright?"

Why the mono fixation? Has the stereo been futzed-up? I recently got a stereo OJC 'endangered' CD which sounds just fine. 'Dream' is a surprisingly creative date, highly recommended. (Surely to be doomed to extinction by Concord/Universal.)

Surely Francis could slug it out with the Nippon big boys, write a summary of the bidding warfare, and submit a voucher for his winnings to the 'Voice' as a business expense. The rest of us learned that trick years ago.

I deliberately keep small piles of vinyl 'to be cleaned' and vinyl-n-CD's 'to be played'. Just seeing and knowing there's stacks to be processed keeps my index finger from getting 'trigger-happy' and taking my credit card on a 'whing-ding'.

Chuck Nessa: "Why do you trust Steve Hoffman?" Well, how 'bout cause he's got no vested interest in 200-gram vinyl product. In fact, Steve's politely kept his distance from Classic and their wrong-headed 200-gram Q-slabs. Hoffman has flat-out said you cannot properly manufacture audiophile vinyl at the 200-gram level, period. As in, don't buy it or else you're asking for trouble. Comparing Classic 200's with the brilliant sound of Steve's 180-gram DCC pressings is why I trust Hoffman.

My Mobile Fidelity aluminum CD (MFCD-809) just has the 'standard 8' even though it was made by Sanyo in Japan @ 1987. The original engineering of Roy DuNann can't be beat. (Nevertheless, I don't expect to spring for the 3 extra tracks.)

For those who'd like to hear a 19-minute interview with Bob Farnon, BBC Radio 3 did an interview with 'the Guv' two years ago. Thru 5/3, it'll be available on DJ Brian Kay's 'Light Programme' website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/bklp

A Yankee Punter Takes A Holiday The thought of flying to Britain and proceeding to a dingy storage unit to peer at more than 6,000 VG-to-VG+ 12-inch singles, LPs, and 45s...I can hear it now: "Oi, I thought YOU were bringing the flashlight, mate." "Well, fortunately the thatched roof is giving us some light."

Jim, we seem to be getting a busy signal from your dial-up connection. Operators are standing by.

On comparing Riddle with Farnon -- The short answer is,"They're not even on the same level." Not counting Sinatra, I've got 10 Riddle albums. And while they're enjoyable, bouncy, and swinging, NOT ONCE have I lifted the tonearm and place it back down to find the answer to,"How the hell did he do THAT?" As I'm not a writer or player, I'll have to opt out of the technical explanations. Phil might well respond with,"Sent you a PM." As he said,"I've been intensely studying Bob (Farnon) for 40 years."

I know what you're talking about, Phil. Let's tip those who might enjoy Farnon's finest 'classical' recording: Reference Recordings RR-47CD 'Robert Farnon: Concert Works (1992, DDD) Robert Farnon with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Recorded August 13-14, 1991 at Watford Town Hall, London, England featuring the Suite from 'Captain Horatio Hornblower' with 'Lady Barbara' Of all the arrangers we've mentioned, perhaps Claus Ogerman came the closest to this plateau of achievement in his recording with the London Symphony Orch. performing his 'Preludio & Chant', 'Elegia' and 'Symphonic Dances' (1988, DDD, on MFSL).

We shall pity Dmitry, proceed with the topic thread, and continue to praise Robert Farnon. He was excellent with a swinging big band but UNRIVALED with an orchestra -- his true medium. I've already posted about the subtle (to the point of) devastating complexity of his arranging. But let me quote from the AMG site: "In addition to its melodic content, Farnon's music is noted for its deceptively complex internal structure, which makes it as interesting as it is attractive." Please note the lack of pretense and overt self-attention in Farnon's writing. This sublime talent reduced the pool of top arrangers to a gallery effusive in their praise. "Robert Farnon is the greatest string writier in the world," as Andre Previn said. I've read how Johnny Mandel, Quincy Jones, and John Williams were equally awestruck by Farnon while developing and honing their skills. Let me recommend some earlier albums (the two on Philips with Quincy as Music Director and Producer): Philips 600-038 'The Sensuous Strings of Robert Farnon' (1963) Philips 600-098 'The Captain From Castile' (1964) MPS/Pausa 7116 George Shearing Trio w/ Farnon Orch. 'On Target' (1979-80) MPS-22335 Singers Unlimited w/ Farnon Orch. 'Sentimental Journey' (1974) about which Gene Lees wrote,"It's difficult to imagine how one can improve on perfection. But they've done it." We're talking about the art of arranging at the highest level. Within each tune, the keen listener will continuously be rewarded by Farnon's interfacing sectional music petals which slowly progress to reveal a most beautiful flower.

Of the two Nelson Riddle MPS albums, 'Communication' has the edge over 'Changing Colors' -- it's a much more solidly arranged affair. ('Colors' has a couple tracks which are certified clinkers.)

RE: Dmitry on J.J. Johnson's 'Tangence' , (quote) "I'd say there were dozens of arrangers whose music I prefer to his (Farnon)." Your ignorance on the art of jazz arranging is on full display. Recording with Farnon in '94 had to be J.J.'s last dream fulfilled. The Farnon arrangements are devastating in their complexity and voicings. Dmitry, I can only hope someday you'll 'get it'.

Yeah, the 'Mwandishi' LP smoked me thoroughly (and vice versa) when it first came out. I buzzed thru two copies prior to the first CD issue. Still got the DJ-only 7-inch promo w/ pic sleeve of 'Ostinato' b/w 'You'll Know When you Get There'. Really jumped at both the Norman Connors on Buddah, thinking they'd be hot shit. Kept 'em for a couple years, then had to admit they weren't happening, and unloaded them in '76. The first one was a notch better than the follow-up, but neither one really lit a fire -- like 'Ostinato'.

"Solid, Jackson!"

My discussion was limited to the 5 Freedom discs at hand. I wouldn't DREAM of exposing my flanks to such an easy ass-kick. I was expecting some sharp-shooter to nail me on Roswell Rudd (who was afforded decent recording situations by Impulse and Arista-Freedom).

Yes, the Frank Wright 'Uhuru' blew me away. I've gotta rave about the other four I got (on a 5-star DownBeat scale): Anthony Braxton - Donna Lee (4.5 stars) Emergency - Homage To Peace (4 stars, but climbing higher with each play) Clifford Thornton - Panther & the Lash (5 stars) Roswell Rudd - same (4 stars, sound not quite as clean as other titles) Every one's a keeper, featuring strong ensemble work with consistent blazing, brilliant solos by the horns. (I'm leery of excess noodling or prolonged, random squeaks and mere sound effects for the sake of 'art'.) Not to be a shrill shill, but with just 1,000 of each title being allocated for distribution Stateside...for the first-time ever issued on CD and at a reasonable price...clear and crisp sound...excellent packaging and booklets... WHY WAIT FOR THEM TO VANISH? It's not as if these leaders have a slew of other albums that were recorded as well (Braxton being the exception). The Free America titles might well rank as THE VERY BEST among the handful these artists properly recorded and 'officially' released.

No, it's just that Jazz: The Rough Guide is thin, hasty, and breezy for casual readers in a hurry. Almost worth taking up space on your shelf. It's basically a reprint of Jazz: The Essential Companion by Carr, Fairweather, and Priestley, which was published Stateside by Prentice Hall in 1988 and in 1987 by Grafton Books (on ye olde sodde?). Still, no match for either the Penguin or All Music Guide reference tomes.

The real deal of jazz vocalese ensembles: Les Double Six - same RCA/BMG Classics, 1999 Dizzy Gillsepie & the Double Six of Paris - Philips, 1986 Blue Stars of France - Lullaby of Birdland - Emarcy, 1989 (Japanese)

As for the current status of OJC's, you might want to check your favorite online CD sources. Notice how many titles say,"Back-ordered", or, "...more on the way". Well, when the last warehouse runs dry of 'second-tier', low-selling artists, Concord/Universal won't be motivated to press any new runs of 500 of any title. What they WILL DO is wreak 'concept package' comps of the bigger-selling Fantasy artists, like 'Sonny After Sundown: Down-tempo Rollins', 'Monk's Magic For Every Mood', and 'Debbie Does Miles'. I can hear 'em now in the board room: "We gotta find new angles and themes to position this stuff, you know, to 'get' the latent 'jazzsters' out there."

Today I ordered 5 of the 15 available from Dusty Groove at $16.99 each: Clifford Thornton - Panther & the Lash Anthony Braxton - Donna Lee Emergency - Homage To Peace Roswell Rudd - same Frank Wright - Uhuru Na Umoja More than half of the initial pages on this thread have dealt with the high cost ($24.99) of imports and relative Stateside unavailability of these limited edition CDs. Well, now at least 15 of 'em are here and quite available. With an apparent 5,000 per unit limit -- let me say at this juncture: "What are you waitin' for, buckeroos -- saddle up and git yer asses in gear!" By year end, please don't fill this topic thread with how you mighta, coulda, woulda, shoulda... And forget the prospect of copping promos or cut-outs on the cheap.