Epithet Posted August 31, 2006 Report Posted August 31, 2006 Any recommendations for or against this (domestic) two-CD issue? How much of it has vocals (that I'll be skipping)? Quote
king ubu Posted August 31, 2006 Report Posted August 31, 2006 No idea how much of it has vocals, but it's excellent... wait a minute, I'll go and look for it and will report back in a minute! Quote
king ubu Posted August 31, 2006 Report Posted August 31, 2006 Just so there's no confusion, you're talking of this compilation of the three Verve 1957 big band albums, right? Soloists include Joe Grodon, Al Grey, Ernie Henry, Phil Woods, Billy Mitchell, Benny Golson, Wynton Kelly, Charli Persip is on drums throughout, arrangements are by ERnie Wilkins, Melba Listion, Tadd Dameron, A.K. Salim, Quincy and Dizzy... as for the vocals: 3 Dizzy ones (one with the band added) on CD1 (19 tracks), on disc two one track Diz/band, two tracks with some guy caled Austin Cromer (with the band, too), and one with a female singer, possibly Melba Liston. So vocals are no reason to keep you from buying this great set! Quote
Epithet Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks for looking that up. Was not aware it contained three albums. Quote
JSngry Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 Is that a "complete" set of that band's works, or a compilation? Quote
Epithet Posted September 1, 2006 Author Report Posted September 1, 2006 (edited) Is that a "complete" set of that band's works, or a compilation? According to Nate Dorward's Amazon.com review: This band was decidedly a Cold War-era band: its three albums (compiled on this 2-fer set) were called Dizzy Gillespie: World Statesman, Dizzy in Greece and Birks' Works [...] Edited September 2, 2006 by Epithet Quote
sidewinder Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 (edited) Strong 'buy' recommendation for this set - it is outstanding. As mentioned, it compiled 3LPs on a 2CD set and was part of an excellent Verve series of such compilations (the Gillespie/Stuff Smith, various Ben Websters etc. also come to mind). Sound is good and you get great soloists like Lee Morgan, in addition to Diz, featured throughout, as well as superb arrangements from Melba Liston, among others. Original cover art in the liner notes too ! Edited September 1, 2006 by sidewinder Quote
Clunky Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 Good set, the Dizzy In South America CDs ( Of which I only have Volume 1) complements it nicely Quote
king ubu Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 I don't have any of those, but half of a live gig from the US (Chester, Penn., I think) that has been released on the slightly doubtful Jazz Unlimited label (they're linked to a serious one, Storyville I think, but what they release are actually boots that just look a bit nicer, are better documented and include some nice liners, but they're still boots, I think). Here's the cover - great disc! Quote
EKE BBB Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 I don't have any of those, but half of a live gig from the US (Chester, Penn., I think) that has been released on the slightly doubtful Jazz Unlimited label (they're linked to a serious one, Storyville I think, but what they release are actually boots that just look a bit nicer, are better documented and include some nice liners, but they're still boots, I think). ... I don´t think you´re right, Flurin. To my knowledge, Jazz Unlimited is part of Storyville Records. I have a few Jazz Unlimited issues, such as the wonderful Fats Waller´s Complete Associated Transcriptions two discs release, and no trace of "doubtfulness" there. Look at the newly designed Storyville website: http://www.storyville-records.com/Default.aspx?tabId=2621 Anyway, Chris Albertson could clarify. Quote
king ubu Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 Maybe, AgustÃn, but how do you explain their Miles Zurich 1960 bootleg (a radio recording), or their Miles compilation that contains the Newport "breakthrough" gig of Miles', as well as other radio recordings from Europe and the US? These are most certainly bootlegs, don't you think? Not sure if that applies to all their releases, but these and the Dizzy look plenty like boots to me! Quote
king ubu Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 And the older transcriptions etc. issued by JU are not copyrighted in Europe any longer, so anyone can release them - question would be are they ok to be sold in the US. This makes me sound pretty catholic now... you know I am not bothered by the morals of this too much, my friend! Quote
EKE BBB Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 As for those Miles radio recordings, are you sure they are bootlegs? (I haven´t got them, so I can´t quote their source). They may be concerts previously broadcast that years later were sold to a label by the XXX Radio Company and subsequently released on CD (i.e. the "Dexter In Radioland" series on SteepleChase). Quote
king ubu Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 The Zurich concert is out on Gambit also, and I wouldn't think Storyville sued them... anyway, these radio recordings are problematic, since the radio stations don't even really own them for release... I have both the Miles discs and they do look fine (and are great), but I still consider them boots... Quote
EKE BBB Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 The Zurich concert is out on Gambit also, and I wouldn't think Storyville sued them... anyway, these radio recordings are problematic, since the radio stations don't even really own them for release... I have both the Miles discs and they do look fine (and are great), but I still consider them boots... Nuff said! Quote
king ubu Posted September 1, 2006 Report Posted September 1, 2006 The Zurich concert is out on Gambit also, and I wouldn't think Storyville sued them... anyway, these radio recordings are problematic, since the radio stations don't even really own them for release... I have both the Miles discs and they do look fine (and are great), but I still consider them boots... Nuff said! Nice one! And definitely legit (but watch the spelling!): Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted September 2, 2006 Report Posted September 2, 2006 As for those Miles radio recordings, are you sure they are bootlegs? (I haven´t got them, so I can´t quote their source). They may be concerts previously broadcast that years later were sold to a label by the XXX Radio Company and subsequently released on CD (i.e. the "Dexter In Radioland" series on SteepleChase). FWIW, I did some work for SteepleChase at the time of the "Radioland" issues and the band members were paid. That series was included in a contract the label had with Dexter. Quote
BruceH Posted September 3, 2006 Report Posted September 3, 2006 Just so there's no confusion, you're talking of this compilation of the three Verve 1957 big band albums, right? Soloists include Joe Grodon, Al Grey, Ernie Henry, Phil Woods, Billy Mitchell, Benny Golson, Wynton Kelly, Charli Persip is on drums throughout, arrangements are by ERnie Wilkins, Melba Listion, Tadd Dameron, A.K. Salim, Quincy and Dizzy... as for the vocals: 3 Dizzy ones (one with the band added) on CD1 (19 tracks), on disc two one track Diz/band, two tracks with some guy caled Austin Cromer (with the band, too), and one with a female singer, possibly Melba Liston. So vocals are no reason to keep you from buying this great set! Oh man, this sounds good. Quote
montg Posted September 7, 2006 Report Posted September 7, 2006 I have the Birks Works CD and I find it pretty enjoyable. There are just a few vocals and only one that I recall that was pretty dire. These are 3 complete LPs--it's not a compilation: "Dizzy in Greece", "World Statesman", and "Birks' Works". Quote
jazzbo Posted September 7, 2006 Report Posted September 7, 2006 Some cool cover art too! World Statesman and In Greece have recently been lp facimile cds from Japan. Quote
Bright Moments Posted August 20, 2007 Report Posted August 20, 2007 another strong recommendation for "Birks Works" also my first exposure to Austin Cromer Quote
mr jazz Posted August 21, 2007 Report Posted August 21, 2007 Birks Works is fabulous with excellent mono sound. One of my favorite big band recordings. Quote
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