With today being National Star Wars Day…I couldn’t go without listening to this album on viny composed and conducted by John Williams.

MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU!!

When I pulled out the Sidney Bechet Mosaic to play this one was right alongside so I relocated it to the upstairs as well.

This was only available on LP, and it's a great set in many ways.

"Complete Mosaic Johnny Hodges Sessions 1951-1955" LP 1

Mary Halvorson "About Ghosts" Nonesuch cd



I still struggle with Mary's music. I like this one perhaps most due to the personnel--Wilkins and Brennan are my most valued players.

Adam O'Farrill – trumpet  
Brian Settles – tenor saxophone  
Immanuel Wilkins – alto saxophone  
Jacob Garchik – trombone  
Mary Halvorson – guitar, synth  
Nick Dunston – bass  
Patricia Brennan – vibraphone  
Tomas Fujiwara – drums

Gary Burton "Duster/Country Roads & Other Places" Beat Goes On cd

Two quartet albums with Steve Swallow and Roy Haynes, and either Larry Coryell or Jerry Hahn on guitar. Cool stuff.

Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto: Live At The Berlin Jazztage 1966, disc 1

After a long wait the 2 UHQCD set of "John Coltrane - Live in Finland 1961 • 1962" is in hand from The Lost Recordings.

I have had the first disc, the 1961 Helsinki concert on another release from Gambit, and this version sounds much better!

We went to sleep early and I woke up early, my brain started and wouldn't stop, so I'm up listening to music.

I got this two UHQCD set in from The Lost Recordings in Switzerland yesterday and I've long wanted to hear these recordings. With Lou Levy (and the great bassist Max Bennett) these recordings sound very similar to the studio recordings recorded at the time by Stan with Lou at the piano. Great playing, excellent sound (purportedly from the original tapes for the first time) and a great way to start the day. UHQCD 1.

"Stan Getz at Zardi's" 2 UHQCD set

Joel Ross "The Parable of the Poet" Blue Note cd

I find Ross a very intriguing writer, arranger and player. This one has a great ensemble: Ross on vibes with Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, Maria Grand on tenor saxophone, Marquis Hill on trumpet, Kalia Vandever on trombone, Sean Mason on piano, Rick Rosato on bass & Craig Weinrib on drums.

I’m listening to Eddie Bert “Musician of the Year.” The sort of “house trio” of Hank Jones, Wendall Marshall and Kenny Clarke is always great support. As the cover subtly suggests, there is overdubbing of additional Bert trombone on tracks, which was a novel thing in 1955 (the title comes from the fact that Bert was so awarded by Metronome magazine that year).

Eddie Bert “Musician of the Year” Savoy Denon cd

Another cool morning. Going to hit 50 today. Good day to work outside.

Starting off with Yes, Tales from Topographic Oceans, Super Deluxe Edition disc 7. This disc features "Single Edits" made by Steven Wilson that I find quite interesting.

I recently obtained a 1959 original mono copy of of Legrand Jazz. Incidentally, Steve had just picked up a newer (Impex,45rpm, 180g- I'm pretty sure), and I was able to A/B them the other night. It was very fun and I would like to do a deeper dive someday. Getting over the minor noise and pops of the original was fairly easy as it was in pretty good shape, though not perfect. Clearly the newer pressing was cleaner, bolder, denser, just plain better... but the original was still a very nice listen. A pristine copy would be amazing to find, but I think I will just order the Impex one of these days, highly recommend!

"Stan Getz at Zardi's" The Lost Recordings 2 UHQCD set, UHQCD 2

Great sound, great playing. It just amazes me how inventive Stan can be, how masterful his bebop is and also how swinging his flow is, and how beautiful the sound he produces.

"Chick Corea & Origin A Week at the Blue Note" disc 1

Tom Harrell "Number Five" High Note cd

The fifth High Note release of this excellent quintet!

Kurt Elling "1619 Broadway – The Brill Building Project"
Concord cd

Big bad thunderstorm at about 1 a.m. and I was up with an upset dog for a while. No rain now, a bit warmer, hopefully it will be a nice day.

Starting off with J.J. Johnson "Origin--The Savoy Sessions" Savoy Jazz cd. I'm a fan of Savoy material. Important ealy bebop.

Starting off.stuffy morning re-playng this Jazz Oracle gem. So much "Bix" with no Bix present. A real snapshot of his early influence.

Red Nichols "Red Nichols On Edison: Recorded in New York 1924-1927" Jazz Oracle cd

"Symphonic Jobim" Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo under the baton of conductor Roberto Minczuk Adventure Muisc 2 cd set, disc 1

Randy Weston "Randy Weston plays Duke Ellington" Verve cd

Cold again this morning. Slept a little longer and feel a little foggier. Have an appointment today so listneing will be curtailed.

Starting off with that 'fifties RVG sound on Donald Byrd "Byrd's Word" on Savoy/Denon cd. Great jazz I haven't heard for some time.

Donald Byrd "Byrd's Word"

Donald Byrd - trumpet
Frank Foster - tenor saxophone
Hank Jones - piano
Paul Chambers - bass
Kenny Clarke - drums

John Mehegan "Reflections" Savoy/Denon cd

Mehegan with very sympathetic drumming by Kenny Clarke.

Eddie Bert on the transport next, the "Encore" Savoy/Denon cd

I really like this music. Part of the disc is a quartet with Joe Puma on guitar, the rest a quintet with Hank Jones on piano and J.R. Monterose on tenor, both have Clyde Lombardi on bass and Kenny Clarke of drums.