Kevin Bresnahan

Paul Gonsalves - boom-jackie-boom-chick (Vocalion). I have this on a Japanese CD from 2007. Great music on this disc. Too bad it has had such poor distribution. It seems to be available on a new-ish reissue label called Monkey Dog Entertainment that doesn't appear to have survived long - 6 titles in 2017/18. This CD was from my last order from Hiroshi Tanno. I miss that guy.

Brad's Deals is not a retailer. It's one of those sites that collates sales pages from retail websites that they consider "deals".

The Gonsalves/Ashby session, issued in England & Denmark in 1961 as "Tenor Stuff", has never been issued in the US in any form. Is there a reason for this? It sounds like a session I'd like to hear.

I've never heard of this wine. By the name, i would guess that it was from an Australian wine company. I see that it's from Oregon. I don't think I've ever seen it on any shelves around here so maybe they are not distributed out this way?

I haven't played that one in a while. Great stuff. I've never seen that cover. I'm used to this one...

Pharoah Sanders - Crescent With Love (Evidence). Playing disc 1 now. The opening track could turn off some, as Sanders' take on 'Lonnie's Lament' is a very direct imitation of Trane's version, with William Henderson doing a superb imitation of McCoy as well. While I appreciate this, others will probably "Been there, done that" this type of approach. In context, as a ballad collection highlighting Coltrane tunes, I think it fits. And FWIW, I could also see someone thinking 2 CDs of ballads could get boring. But there is a time & place for discs like these and as I sit down to dinner with my wife, this time & this place is one of those. I'd also add that I appreciate that Evidence toned these Venus dates down for their CDs. Venus CDs are mastered really loud.

I have been playing the Cables CD a few times this past week and it is as advertised: Jazz for the cocktail hour. Nothing breaks the rules... just lightly swinging piano to sip a drink to. I also got the Barron disc (after two tries to get the package with the CD and not just the cookbook. This I like quite a bit.

I differ a bit with you on those Sanders recordings. I really like "Crescent With Love", a 2 CD release from Evidence that combines two Venus sessions ("Ballads With Love" & "Crescent With Love") into one package. I play these CDs quite often. I got to see this band live at the Regattabar shortly after these were released and thoroughly enjoyed the music. I do remember Pharoah giving the bassist a bit more solo space than I would have preferred. 10 minute bass solos might be fine for the leader but seemed a bit much for a Pharoah Sanders gig. You've just reminded me that I haven't pulled it off the shelf in a while.

I can't see it being any less sanitary than an ice cube tray. Does everyone sanitize their ice trays when they refill them? I'm guessing not.

Mel Powell - Borderline (Vanguard/Mosaic). Disc 3 of the latest Mosaic release. Nice stuff. Sound quality sounds a bit below the previous discs. It's weird to see a pianist listed with a trio and see that it's piano/sax/drums.

I think what turns me off is his intonation. He doesn't seem like he has a firm hold on the sustained notes and it gives it a kind of frailty that makes me cringe a bit. Sucks getting old I guess.

I bought several of Shepp's Venus recordings during a sale and like you, I struggle to get into his playing on them. Thursday night, I saw Dave Schumacher play at Arthur's House of Jazz in Methuen, MA and after the set, he offered his latest CD (2024) for sale so I bought a copy. The place was pretty packed and he only managed to sell 2 CDs. Bummer. I'm playing that CD now and it's really good stuff and I'm very glad I bought it. Dave Schumacher & Cubeye - Smoke In The Sky (Cellar). Great latin jazz here. You can hear/buy it on bandcamp: https://daveschumachercubeye.bandcamp.com/album/smoke-in-the-sky Dave Schumacher - Baritone Saxophone Josh Evans – Trumpet (1, 5-8) Jesus Ricardo – Trumpet (2-3) Peter Brainin – Tenor, Soprano Saxophones (1, 5-8) Manuel Valera – Piano Alex “Apolo” Ayala – Bass Mauricio Herrera – Congas, Iyá, Itótele, Okónkolo, Chekeré Joel Mateo – Drums, Bells

I was watching the ABC TV show 9-1-1 today (S8 E12) and there's a scene with one of the characters (Eddie) driving an Uber. The soundtrack they chose for the vignettes of his drives is Lou Donaldson's "Alligator Boogaloo". I would guess it played for several minutes as a soundtrack to his drives. It actually fit, so kudos to the director who chose it.

Have you watched "The Pitt" on MAX? If their depiction of a Pittsburgh hospital waiting room is based on fact, I wouldn't want to live there.

I still wear mine every now & then but it's definitely showing serious signs of age. The gold plating is far too thin. I'm also on my second replacement watchband. I don't drink whiskey. Can't stand the smell of the stuff. But from what I understand, whiskey stones are a much better way to chill your whiskey.