jazzbo

In my opinion Ubu, yes, especially the earliest material, which is quite transformed and sounds dead to me on the box set. And there is a Superbit TOCJ of the Roost material with much better sound (by McMaster) which makes replacing the box set possible. I no longer listen to the box set. The RVGs are clearly better (to my tastes, on my system I must say.)

Bud. Bud by RVG is da stuff.

Thanks also Brad, for the same reasons. Well, I feel very very similar to Soul Stream about this cd. Technical brilliance pours from Stitt's horn, but I don't really feel strongly attached to the music, I don't really make an emotional attachment, which is important for me in music. "I Don't Stand A Ghost of a Chance" is probably my favorite piece here; the very SOUND of his tenor is wonderful. But this pales in comparison to a Pres version for me (pick one practically.) I'm sort of on a "lukewarm for Sonny" phase. I listen to a lot of his work and he's a master player who often just doesn't reach me. Kudos to Barry Harris on these dates: Barry plays very well and gives Sonny exactly what he wants. They are both in total command of each performance.

I voted for the Silver, a very important title I have been waiting to be R V G'd. I have all the others, the Blakey has never been a favorite, I guess the second I would pick up might be the Trane or the Dex.

The Hill is the only one I don't have in some format. So it got my vote.

Herman "Sun Ra" Blount Thelonious "Sphere" Monk Ahmed "Oud" Abdul-Malik Horace "Not Mentioned Enough" Tapscott

I'll second all that Jim says about the Open Door set, and I've heard much of the other material on the other two sets, but NOT the Ember versions. It's good playing, in frequently rough sound, some edited. I imagine the Ember will sound pretty good as far as releases of the material go. . .

Seems this four cd set was released late last year in the UK: Four cds, masters only, no Smith and Jones.

Eric, I can vouch for the two two cd sets of material from Birdland. Excellent stuff, in the best sound I've heard this material sound.

Cool, I hadn't realized that all of the Boston had been out before, I only knew of part of it. It's so great that this stuff is out!

The Uptown "Boston 1952" came out about the same time as the Rockland Palace, or a bit after. . . . Another excellent Uptown release that should not be ignored by Parker fanatics!

I actually like to use music that I recorded myself in my old garage apartment with bands I used to be in. . . . In a great system it's like bringing up ghosts! I know how the room and the instruments sounded in life, it's sort of ingrained in my brain after so many many hours of rehearsing and jammin', and they're good tools to evaluate speakers with.

I was going to say that Tristano was a common thread between several of these pianists. I like Ronnie Ball, all that I have heard of him, and what I have heard of the others too. I'm not too surprised that Ball never became a big name. . . he didn't really have enough exposure, and he looked goofy! Just kidding on the goofy part. . . somewhat.

Okay, I hear it differently. I really feel that a lot of the material is fitting for Juba, and the others, and recreates possible feelings from this past reality. I'm quite impressed really with what has been conveyed by these words. I had to listen quite a bit and absorb, but they spoke to me.

I'll recommend a book called "Jazz on the Barbary Coast" by Tom Studdard. Now it won't take you up into the forties, but it will give a fascinating account of the jazz music in the area from the teens (and before) up to the late thirties, compiled from interviews with musicians from the time, and with fascinating photos. You can get this cheap. . . Daedalus Books has it for 6 or 7 dollars, and I noticed on Amazon.com that there were some used copies available even cheaper. I really enjoyed reading this! Someone else may be able to recommend a book that will go up the timeline from there. . . .

I think BOF gets short shrift. As a tale of slavery and escape and self-determination it works. It has great vocalists who actually have interesting material to sing (I differ that it is "schoolboy" or whatever; I think it captures the vibe of the material well, and is well suited to the strong voices.) And in the Ellington/Mingus orchestrated mode it has merit musically as well. And as a jazz opera, I feel it is more successful than some other attempts at the genre. It is in some ways a successful continuation of Duke's attempts to chronicle "my people" in musical terms. It's just my opinion, which I came too gradually after listening to it more than half a dozen times. At first I was ready to dismiss it offhand, but I gave it a chance and it has depth that rewards listenings. I'd honestly myself rather listen to this than Headhunters. Headhunters was cool in its time, but I don't get much out of it now. But that's just me.

Yes, I think this is going to be a landmark reissue (hey, it's going to be an UPTOWN reissue, they're that way for the most part, n'est ce pas?) I'm looking forward to hearing this for many reasons, including the Big Sid Catlett drum solo!

Your opinion, not shared, is duly noted.

Personally, I like "Blood on the Fields," and I play it more often than "Headhunters" which is okay, but really not something I need to hear a lot. I think the book on BOF and some of the writing and playing is quite good. I didn't think so immediately, I had to live with the recording a few years and get it out from time to time, but it clicked with me and I like its story and the execution quite a bit. Personally I don't think either are phenomenally important works in the scheme of things, so I've not really voted for one or the other. But if one asked me to vote for one of these, I would not choose the Hancock.

Fantastic news Tony! Glad to know all are doing well, and thanks for sharing the news!

Thanks for the public heads up Jim! My appetite is WHETTED!

You know what, seriously: don't you think someone should make a Jennifer Lopez PEZ dispensor so it can be called "J-Pez"?

J-Lo to Ben-Fleck: "When I fall in love, it will be forever."

Take my wife, Please. . . .

I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler.