19-August-1998 -- Khiem Do writes:

Wondering if you can help me out: In passing I heard a jazz set based on variations of the tune rung on Big Ben, known as "Westminister Chimes." It goes, "DUM, dum, DUM, dum.... dum, dum, DUM, dum...." Any hints? A friend of mine suggested Bill Evans, but I really didn't know where to start.

Khiem, we’re about as stuck as stuck can be on this request. We’ve asked several "AAJ" contributors, one of whom even resides in the U.K., but no dice. We therefore appeal to our "AAJ" readership, whose intelligence is apparent and renown: Can anybody help Khiem out here?

I have no idea whether this is what you heard or not (I kinda doubt it), but Maynard Ferguson recorded a song in 1964 called, "At the Sound of the Trumpet" that is based on the Big Ben motif. It has been released by the Fresh Sound label of Spain on a CD called "The New Sounds of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra 1964" (FSCD-2010). It may be out of print, and very few stores carry the Fresh Sound label. Good luck!

-- Dave Hughes (All About Jazz Contemporary Jazz Editor)

As a follow-up to my previous message, on the off-chance that "At the Sound of the Trumpet" by Maynard Ferguson is the song you heard, it is also available on two other CDs that are in print. One is "Maynard Ferguson Orchestra - 1967" on the Just A Memory label (JAS 9504-2); the other is "Buddy Rich/Maynard Ferguson - Two Big Bands" on the LRC label (CDC 9039). The LRC catalog has just been reissued by Laserlight, so I'm sure the catalog number has changed. Again, I hope this helps. Happy listening!

-- Dave

17-August-1998 -- Mike Glover writes:

I have seen reference recently to a talk given by Leonard Bernstein about Jazz. I understand it was made for the American Omnibus Arts TV program during the 1950s and may have featured musicians from the Eddie Condon group. I would be interested if any details are known about this program and if it is available on video. Thank you from the UK.

Mike, although there are several instructional / lecture videos currently available featuring Mr. Bernstein - most notably his legendary series of lectures filmed at Harvard in 1973 during his tenure as Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry, "The Unanswered Question: Six Talks at Harvard" - that title and subject does not seem to be one of them. You should write to the following address with your inquiry, too.

Leonard Bernstein Center For Education Through The Arts
114 30th Avenue South
Nashville TN 37212

They might be able to provide some resources. Thanks for writing "AAJ," Mike.

10-August-1998 -- Les Pacholski writes:

I am new to this space and just read one of your previous queries about Brubeck recordings. Perhaps you can help with this one. I too am a devoted fan. Unfortunately, a lot of my stuff is old Columbia vinyl. Over the years, I have played the Carnegie Hall Concert double album so many times that the level of surface noise is almost unbearable. Does Columbia, or Sony, or whoever, have any plans to release it on CD? I have to believe that the legions of Dave's fans would scoop it up in a New York minute as soon as it hit the shelves! Any thoughts on this. Any hope? Or do I not understand the inner workings of most record companies? Thanks

Les, it may be hard to believe, but it doesn’t appear that anyone plans to reissue this classic album on CD anytime soon. However, the compilation "The Great Concerts: Amsterdam / Copenhagen / Carnegie Hall" features four prime cuts from "Carnegie Hall" -- "Take Five," "For All We Know," "Blue Rondo a La Turk" and "Pennies From Heaven." "Carnegie Hall" was also briefly (VERY briefly) available as an import from Sony Japan. Your closing line, "Do I not understand the inner workings of most record companies?," is as gracious and insightful as anything we’ve written lately, for which we thank you.

08-August-1998 -- Andrea Gibson writes:

I have just found your web site and am just so pleased that I can now access all this information about modern jazz. My question is: I used to have a vinyl recording of Laurindo Almeida and The Modern Jazz Quartet, I think it was called Jazz Samba and it contained a memorable version of "Concerto de Aranjuez." I cannot find a CD release in any catalogues in Australia. Perhaps you can help me if you know if it has been released on CD and the company so I can order from Australia. Thank you.

Andrea, you’re probably thinking of The MJQ album "Collaboration with Almeido" for Atlantic, which came out on vinyl in ’64 but doesn’t seem to have been resurrected on CD. However, you should try to sneak a peak at a copy of their 1991 4-CD box set "MJQ40." We can’t say for sure that this particular version of this track is on there – but it DOES contain the track "Adagio From Concierto De Aranjuez," and Laurindo Almeida IS included in the credits. Good luck, and thank you for reading "AAJ," Andrea.

06-August-1998 -- Justice C. Bigler writes:

About three years ago I was listening to my local public radio jazz program, I heard a big band tune with some screaming trumpets. The artist was a trumpet player by the name of Dave Stahl, who I belive was a former member of the Maynard Ferguson band. The particular tune was "Solarplexis" and the album was Live At Knights. I have been unable to get any information on this musician or his album. I would greatly appreciate any info you can give me on him or where I can get this album or any other which he may have recorded. Thank You.

The Dave Stahl Band released the album "Live at Knights" on Abee Cake Records in the early 1990s. The good news is that Stahl released another album, "Miranda," on that label; unfortunately, the bad news is that none of them -- the label, the two titles, or The Dave Stahl Band -- seem to still be active. Rather than Maynard Ferguson, Stahl played lead trumpet for Woody Herman in the early 1970s and did some work with The Count Basie Band before striking out as a leader in the early 1980s. Sorry, but thanks for asking "AAJ"!