BFrank

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From today's SF Chronicle "Letters to Datebook": Editor -- Joel Selvin's delightful and thoughtful reminiscence did a wonderful job of re-creating some of the many special qualities of Ralph J. Gleason, and of recalling the creative ferment of the Bay Area music world in the decades after World War II. To so many of us who were involved in creating and/or appreciating in those days, Ralph's rare combination of knowledge, literacy and intelligent enthusiasm was of tremendous value. I had produced jazz records in San Francisco on several occasions since 1959, but I first became a resident late in 1972, when I was invited to run the rapidly expanding Fantasy Records jazz program. Thus I was briefly fortunate enough to be at that company at the same time as Gleason. I can quickly think of several reasons for considering this to be my good fortune. To begin with, when I arrived at the office for my first morning, I thought my sports jacket was properly casual California record-company attire, but I quickly realized that Ralph and I were the most formal men in the building. By the next day, Gleason was back to his unique status as the one and only Fantasy jacket wearer. Second, I had taken the job on very little notice, and the rest of my family was still in New York. But in a warm human gesture that I intend never to forget, Ralph and Jean Gleason insisted that I have Thanksgiving dinner in Berkeley as part of their family in that very friendly sprawling house on Spruce Street. Third, I quickly developed a pattern of beginning each working day by stopping at Ralph's office for what I described as my daily Ellington fix -- he had an anecdote or recollection or comment for me about Duke or one of his many great musicians, and I swear he never repeated a story. Less than two years later, Gleason was a major mother-hen throughout my recovery from a heart attack, scolding me for indiscretions like taking the stairs two at a time ("Slow down; you're not in New York anymore"). Then, without warning (other than the fact that he was a diabetic who stubbornly insisted on living in the late-night world of jazz and folk and rock people), he had his own heart attack and was gone. The jazz world in which I have spent most of my time is known for early deaths, so over a working life of more than 50 years I turn out to have outlasted a great many friends and colleagues. But few if any of them remain so vividly in mind, and perhaps none possessed the enviable quality of somehow being mentor and scholar and -- far from least -- fervent fan, all at the same time. And he was one of the most readable entertainment columnists I have ever encountered. Thanks for all that, Ralph, and much gratitude to Joel Selvin for reminding a great many people in this city of how rewarding it was to read and/or know Ralph Gleason. - ORRIN KEEPNEWS San Francisco

Classic: Don Pullen

I keep meaning to pick up the "Self Portrait" box. It got great reviews when it was released and sounded like a very interesting compilation. Maybe now it's time.

Me, too. That's the scary part. Maybe that's the difference between those who like the film and those who don't. It's the level of connection. (maybe age, too)

I enjoyed that article, too. Great art! Thanks, Jim, for the link!

Well......it didn't arrive today. Now I have to wait until Monday. Bummer.

Received from BMG today ($1.99 clearance specials!) Traffic "On the Road" Jefferson Airplane "Takes Off" (remaster) Jack Bruce "Shadows in the Air" Latin Playboys "Dose" Sandy Denny "No More Sad Refrains - Anthology" ($3.98 - 2CD) Miles Davis "Volume 1" RVG Miles Davis "Volume 2" RVG "Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins" (Impulse)

I just ordered it from Amazon the other day. Hoping it arrives today, so I can watch it over the weekend. Sounds great.

I agree - DeJohnette's "Directions" band was really good. Especially the "New Directions" configuration with Bowie. I think they only made 2 albums - "New Directions" and "New Directions in Europe". Both excellent.

You had a class with Marshal McLuhan? That's pretty impressive, too.

I was actually listening to "Gateway 2" just the other day. I liked it a lot. I'll have to track down the first one, one of these days.

"Infant Eyes" and "Mama Roots" (both on Muse vinyl) would be great ones to pick up if you can find them.

Bay Area legend, Vernon Alley.

Ahmad Jamal - "Reevaluations: The Impulse Years" (Impulse collection from 1973)

I know him from the 1975 Herb Geller album, "Rhyme and Reason".

Ahhhhh, the truth comes out.

Does anyone really care about these guys anymore?

Santana - "Lotus" (with the insane "fold-out-o-rama" cover)

LOVE those albums!

I was fortunate to see the Adams/Pullen Quartet a few times. Always incredibly entertaining! I recommend "Earth Beams", if it can still be found anywhere. Also the Mingus albums with these guys: "Mingus Moves" and "Changes One & Two" are good starters. I wonder why Atlantic hasn't re-packaged the "Changes" albums together....perhaps with additional tracks?

If Tony were alive today, he would be wondering the same thing

Here's a very interesting retrospective on the life of Ralph Gleason in today's SF Chronicle - the newspaper he wrote his columns for. Don't let the tweed jackets, trench coat and pipe fool you -- Ralph J. Gleason was an apostle of jazz and rock with few peers

KCSM Jazz 91.1, of course. Favorite DJ has to be Sonny Buxton on Saturday mornings. Not only does he play great music, but he always has interesting anecdotes and stories. All the DJs are local - including Clifford Brown, Jr. At 9pm on weeknights they run syndicated shows by Nancy Wilson, Ed Bradley, Marian McPartland and Dee Dee Bridgewater.