30-June-1998 -- Ed Enright writes:

Dear Jack:

I played a gig with Billy O'Connell's big band on Sunday, and I was glad to learn that you had reviewed his CD (he was proudly passing out copies to bandmembers). You're right, Bill certainly does derserve more recognition than he gets. I've never played on any of his recording sessions, but I've subbed with the band occasionally over the past 7-8 years, and he definitely leads a talented group through some pretty hard charts. I've spoken with Bill about the possibility of reviewing the CD as well.

Just one important point on the review I wanted to clarify: Down Beat does cover big bands in its annual Readers Poll and Critics Poll (the Critics Poll being the one with TDWR categories). Last year's Big Band TDWR winner was Boston's Either/Orchestra (not your traditional big band lineup, but a groundbreaking large ensemble nonetheless), followed by Maria Schneider, George Gruntz, Gerald Wilson, Mingus Big Band, Willem Breuker and Carnegie Hall. The 1998 winners will appear in our August issue.

I get letters all the time from readers who point out the little mistakes we make (and occasionally the big ones, too!), and I know how annoying the nit-pickers can be. But I must say that the comment "Big bands are excluded, of course" is not only incorrect, it also makes it sound like Down Beat has something against big bands (or is at least guilty of some kind of grand oversight). For the record, we don't.

Best regards,

Ed Enright,
Editor,
Down Beat

06-June-1998 -- Theodore Theodoropoulos writes:

Thank you for a most interesting site. I recall that many years ago I heard a version of "Take Five" with a tremendous drum solo; the whole thing must have lasted well over fifteen minutes. I assumed that it was Joe Morello but in all CDs I have managed to find I was unable to track down such a length. Do you have any notion of what I am talking about?

Also: one summer during the late Sixties ('66, '68 or '69), the Stan Getz Quartet appeared in Greece at the Lycabettus Hill Theatre as well as the Stoa of Attalos. For jazz musicians to appear at the latter site was thought by some inappropriate - almost a sacrilege. I had my introduction to live jazz so I will always cherish these moments. At one point Stan re-introduced Roy (Haynes) to the public and then let him loose on a number that I recall as named "The Knight Rides Again," which was basically a drum solo with sax and bass appendages. I have been trying to track down this title through the Bielefelder Katalog (which also lists tracks) but have found nothing. Dos this jog any memories ?

Finally, about two summers ago I was told by a friend that the third edition of the Penguin Guide to Jazz would come out on CD with full indices, etc. It finally came out in print and I have been trying to get info on the CD ever since. Do you have any knowledge of this or any similar work on CD? Thanks very much.

Thanks for writing "AAJ," Theodore. In reverse order: You might revisit that CD issue of the esteemed "Penguin Guide" with your friend, because we've found no record of it ever being issued on CD. You might want to check an area library; libraries obviously can't physically hold copies of every reference book published, so they might be able to search their affiliates for that work on disc for you.

"The Knight Rides Again" appeared on vinyl on an album by The Stan Getz Quartet called The Quartet in Paris, issued by Verve in 1966, which fits within the time frame of your memory.

Finally, we didn't find any fifteen minute versions of "Take Five," but we DID find two different ten-minute versions for you. There's one on Dave Brubeck Quartet: 25th Anniversary Reunion - recorded in March 1976, it captures the final time Brubeck recorded with "Take Five" composer Paul Desmond, and reunites the most famous Brubeck Quartet, including Morello and bassist Eugene Wright (Desmond died from cancer in May '77). The other is the epic version on Last Set At Newport by the Dave Brubeck-Gerry Mulligan Quartet from 1971, though this has Alan Dawson on drums. Hope this helps, and thanks again for writing!

17-June-1998 -- John Patterson writes:

I have been informed that George Howard died recently. If this is true could you share some light on how this gret young Sax player died ?

George Howard died in March 1998 of lymphoma (a cancer-similar disease of the lymphatic tissue; he was diagnosed with it last fall.) He was 41. His latest album 'Midnight Mood' was released in January 1998. The 6th annual Capital Jazz Fest was dedicated to his memory.