Leeway

Who is hoping-- or hinting-- for a Mosaic set (or sets for those with generous family members) for Christmas? What are you hoping to get? Two that I've started thinking about are the Wynton Kelly/Paul Chambers and the Max Roach. Don't think there has been that much discussion about them on the Board. Any thoughts on these?

You might want to check out the profile of Elling in the current Jazz Times magazine.

Hey Catesta, what's with the cannolis? That's a great pic for your avatar. It makes me a hungry. I was just up in NYC and went on a cannoli crawl through Little Italy. Delicious!

Perhaps he monitored on headphones only, and since all models sound different, it may have sounded fine on his, but not on others or speakers. If so, a newbie's error ..... Very possible. BTW, Lovano defended Lundvall in a recent letter to (I think) Downbeat. He said that he wouldn't have released something he felt was inferior. Lovano's letter can be found in the current issue of Jazz Times (not Downbeat). Maybe he is sincere, but maybe he is also buttering up Bruce L. a little bit, despite the mess that Sonny made of the recording. Keep the boss (and chief contract signer) on your side- never know when you will record another "Sinatra" or "Caruso" album Had anyone heard of Kurt L. before he made (?) these 2 recordings? Is this just a sheer case of nepotism, or does Ludvall fil have any standing in the recording field? To think this is the company that had RVG doing its remote recordings!

Hey Conn, not to divert the thread too far off track, but can you expound upon the virtues of the "Naima" CD? I saw it recently for around $4.00, thought about it, but passed. Partly because of the price! In a great example of ass-backward thinking on my part, I thought the low price might be an indicator that the session was something of a dud. Not sure how with Walton and Clifford Jordan, et al. I wonder if others have had the same reaction, i.e. low price = low desirability ?

Mike, can't answer most of your questions, but I recommend going to Audio Asylum Vinyl thread and asking there-- you might get more infor (or most likely opinions) than you can deal with but you will probably get your questions answered as to the technical details. As far as belt drive, the best TTs are typically belt drive. You need not or shoukld not shy away from them. In fact, belt drive is usually easier to fix than DD. If you are more than just a very occassional vinyl listner, you should really consider getting yourself something like a Rega P2 or MMF 2.1, both very reasonably priced. The audio payoff makes such a move worthwhile, even (or especially ) with those $1.99 gems (hell, I try to get mine for less ) Oh yeah, here the link [url=http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/bbs.html]

Well, not exactly, I think it was the Stones, but not a bad scenario anyway ...

UBU, thanks for starting this thread, and bringing a very worthwhile series to our notice. I have about 16 of the titles, and they are all quite enjoyable. I second many of the comments already made. One I'd like to give an honorable mention to, don't think it has been mentioned, is Max Roach, "Parisian Sketches," (#96 in the series) with Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Julian Priester on trombone, Stanley Turrentine on tenor, Bob Boswell (don't know more about him) on bass, and Max on drums (of course). A really nice set, and I like the musical sketches Max wrote for the set, based on Parisian sites. Can anyone comment on "Louis Armstrong The Best Live Concert" (Vols. 1 & 2 ), and "Oscar Peterson featuring Stephane Grappelli" (Vols. 1 &2)? Are these among the better performances by LA and OP? How does Grappelli fit with OP? Also, anyone care to comment on the general style or approach to jazz demonstrated by the French musicians on these CDs? Can one attribute a certain style or approach to them? In those sessions where French musicians sit in with American jazz players, do the French bring an identifiable quality to the sessions? For myself, I think there is a certain Gallic order and wit to the playing, a desire to balance improv with structure.

I wonder how the mastering is done on these. Have they really had access to the original masters? Or are these dubs from an original LP? And I suppose they can charge what the market will bear, but $30.00 seems like a lot of money. I note that the remastered CD can be had for 12.99 to 14.99.

I was really impressed with Don's musicianship, technical and expressive. Surprising he doesn't gig more, wish he would. I really appreciate what he's doing for Mobley's legacy. As for Lovano, Youmustbe, did you attend the show? Or are you talking more generally about his career? As I commented, I was not impressed by some of Lovano's solo work during the set. Maybe he was still finding his groove, as this was the early set. On the other hand, a few of the solos DID burn, and the overall quality of his playing was certainly high. I also commend Lovano for taking on such a relatively small gig for him. As for his getting better and better, that I'm not too sure about. I'm still trying to decide if he belongs in the first-tier of Blue Note tenors. Does he belong with Rollins, Shorter, Henderson, or Mobley for that matter? I'm still undecided.

In the new issue of Jazz Times, there is a letter from Lovano in which he stoutly defends "On This Day," maintaining that he was involved in all aspects of the recording. "I am proud of this recording musically and sonically, and feel it will stand the test of time..." Most of the other letters to JT have roundly criticized the sound quality of the recording . As to how this happened, how about "Nepotism"?

I got mine for $20 each, which I suppose must be considered a decent price.

Was at the gym, running on the threadmill, watching CNN, commercial comes on...for the new Van Morrison. A clever, attractive commercial, working off the cover graphics of the CD. First time, except for Norah, that I recall seeing a commercial for BN on TV. Van is definitely getting the big push from BN. Up until now, Elling was probably their first-team male vocalist, but he never got this type of promotion. Definitely a new phase for BN.

So..where are all the Mobley fans? Must not be any in New York

Thanks all for the information and listings. I was just able to pick up (NOT on EBAY ) the following Toshiba 10-inchers: Bud Powell Vol. 2, BN 5041; Lou Donaldson Sextet, BN 5055; and, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols, Vols. 1 and 2, BN 5068, 5069. All with OBIs. From what I've heard so far, they sound really good. I'm not sure they make a whole lot of practical sense, but I couldn't resist picking them up, as I will others in the series if/when they come my way. The formula is pretty simple: BN + vinyl=

Too bad Dolphy isn't around, period. But whoever owns the copyright to the music will receive royalties from its use.

Just got back from NYC, where I had a chance to catch one night of the week-long Hank Mobley Festival. Different tenor each night. On the night I went, Joe Lovano was on tenor, Don Sickler, trumpet, John Hicks, piano, Tom Givens, bass, and Victor Lewis, drums. I really enjoyed the show. Lovano was terrific on several of the pieces, but a bit "off" on a couple of others. Sickler was the music director of the festival and the group, and he was surprisingly good. Hicks also turned in a terrific set, and Lewis and Givens were excellent. Tonight's performance (Saturday) has Seamus Blake on tenor, and tomorrow (Sunday), Eric Alexander on tenor. Anyone have a chance to see any of these shows? It's good to see the memory and musical contribution of Mobley kept alive.

Toshiba EMI put out a series of 10" LPs of many Blue Note titles. Can anyone provide any discographical information about these. When were they issued? How many titles in the series? Sound quality? Is there a site which discusses them? And anything else that might be of interest. Thanks!

It's great to see a Vinyl Forum!

I might have a chance to see Ron Carter and his current group when I go up to NYC next week. Has anyone seen Ron recently and can comment on his current group?

Sort of the Vivaldi of Jazz.

In an act of nostalgia (and with some curiosity), I went to the BN site (hey, guess what, still no BNBB ) and watched the artist pictures scroll through. One that surprised me- Pat Martino? On BN? What's that all about? Also, I noticed Andrew Hill is pictured. I know BN puts pictures of its "backlist" artists on the site, but in Hill's case, it's somewhat disingenuous, as he still very much active and is currently contracted to another label (Palmetto). Oh yeah, has Wynton's picture made it to the BN site yet?

I pre-ordered all the new Conns. Just got an e-mail from CD UNiverse saying that Passing Ships, Mothership and Mobley's The Flip are all on backorder. What the hell is that about! Anyone else have this problem? Can't believe it really. AND, I still haven't received the other CDs. DAMN YOU CD Universe

Will be going to the Jason Moran show at the Kennedy Center Jazz Club 10/15. Anyone else going? I think Greg Osby will be there the next night. Don't think I'll be able to make that. Has anyone seen Osby live? What do you think?

My guess is that in a few years, the RVGs will morph into the SACDs, and not all will make the transition. Sort of death by omission.