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January 2004

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Have a question about hard-to-find vinyl or compact discs? Ask Ken .


Several different readers, who didn’t always include their names, provided the following updates to earlier columns:

An unknown reader sent in this update:

In an answer to Jill Kotchon in your September column on the all about jazz website, you said that the Columbia recording Bob Brookmeyer and Friends was never released on CD. In fact it has been released in Europe on CD. I have a Dutch/French version, "Jazzotheque", COL 468413 2 I got in Tower Records in NYC at the time of release. People who seek out this CD should be warned that the mixing has been changed from the LP issue so that Elvin Jones' drums are mixed way up front and center, and this doesn't sound that great. I will hazard the opinion that maybe he wasn't the right drummer for this date. The record is great anyway.





Dave Binder provided this update:

For the chap who was looking for Parallel Realities Live in your December installment, you should know that (as you said) it is a bootleg, it was issued by a bogus German company called Jazz Door. It is actually just an audio extraction from a DVD that is readily available around the world, ‘Parallel Realities Live at the Melon Jazz Festival (1990)’ - DeJohnette/Holland/Hancock/Metheny. You might want to suggest (a) that the person looking for this pick up the DVD, which is very reasonably priced, and (b) if they have the technology, as I have, they can extract the audio portion into wave files so that they can burn an audio CD (it would be 2CD) for their car, Discman, etc; when they can't be at home to watch it. Note the sound and performance are stellar.





Several readers wrote about the following title:

One of your readers asked in November about the Kenton Christmas album, and you said you didn't think it was ever issued on CD. If they meant Kenton's "A Merry Christmas", it's easily available on the Blue Note Records website, the Collector's Choice Music website, and probably many others. It is Capitol 72435846462. It also includes a bonus track, "What is a Santa Claus"(Kenton narration), and Maynard Ferguson's ‘Christmas for Moderns.’





Erik R. Quick, Esquire of Gaithersburg, MD wrote:

There is (or at least was) a CD is CD called "Umpteen Trombones" (across the cover up the slide) by Urbie Green. It was released on CD in 1987 by Project 3 Records (PRD 5014, DIDX 1772), 200 W. 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. The CD information is limited and does not delineate a recording date but does state that the original title was "Twenty-One Trombones". Of course, there are 21 trombonists listed.





Eric Scott Reed wrote:

Someone asked about a CD called Elmo Hope: Jazz on Rikers Island. You mentioned that this title was originally released as Sounds from Riker's Island on an Audiofidelity LP and was reissued in 1980 by Chiaroscuro on LP as Hope From Riker's Island.

A Japanese-based company called Century Records re-released "Sounds from Rikers Island" on CD (more than likely as a bootleg) in 1988, of which I have a copy. To my knowledge, this date was not recorded "live" (nor dead; in other words, there is no clapping apparent on the recording). Also, according to Elmo Hope's widow, Bertha, the recording was not actually made at the prison; the title suggests that these were a group of cats who all served time there: (from the original liner notes) "...those who have had to divide their energy and spirit between music and such exacerbating preoccupations as addiction or other conflicts with societal norms which have brought them for varying periods of time to Rikers Island and similar waystops."





Rich Barrie from Spokane, WA wrote:

This is not a question but a likely resolution to question submitted by David Hensley to your April 2002 Ask Ken column. Sidney Bechet's rendition of the melody from the song "Deep River" actually was done on the selection titled "Dear Old Southland" (Creamer/Layton). It can be found on cut one of side two of the Riverside 33 1/3 L/P RLP 149 "Riverside Jazz Archives" 1961. Source of the original recording was from the Rudi Blesh broadcast series "This Is Jazz" and occurred on July 12,1947. Along with Bechet on the recording on that date are various prominent jazz performers of the time who happened to be in NY on the day of broadcast.

Happily, this Bechet version is available today, reissued this time on the George Buck Jazzology label JCD 1035/36..."This Is Jazz: Complete Broadcasts Volume Six...a two CD set. This reissue was released in 2000. Buck's website is www.jazzology.com and the CD's are ordered out of and shipped from New Orleans. Hope this has been of help. It's an interesting version of the number and performed in three different tempos. Just came across the All About Jazz website tonight. Acquired the Riverside LP around 1962 while a student at U of W Seattle and still play it today. Great record!





Clifford Allen of Chicago, IL wrote:

I was perusing your August column and noticed Robert's query into hard-to-find Sonny Fortune and Lew Tabackin discs. I'm assuming he's referring to Japanese imports; I've had good luck with Hiroshi Tanno at www.earlyrecords.com (mostly LPs but they do have a fair amount of CDs as well); though one does have to pay for shipping from Japan, the prices are fair. He seems to know where to find things if they aren't on the updated new arrivals list.





Deborah, from Warwick, RI wrote:

I was just reading the front of the web site in your answer to Peter Adanti question regarding Buddy Fite. Buddy Fite is my Father and he passed away due to cancer on September 4th 2001 Thanks for letting me share that bit of information.





Thanks to everyone who submitted updates. Sorry not all of them were posted promptly. Keep the information flowing in! Sincerely, Ken





Lewis Porter from Port Chester, NY wrote:

One of your earlier columns had the following question (I don't know how old it is):

David Filkins from Orpington, Kent, England wrote:

I have the complete Institute of Jazz Studies Official Archive Collection-the greatest jazz recordings of all time, by the Franklin Mint Record Society. They are in new condition, never been played.

I know of a couple who are desperately looking for the complete set. Could you put this Mr. Filkins in touch with me? Thank you!

Lewis:

Sorry, but because of the volume of mail, I don't keep emails once they've been posted in the column. You could put a free classified in All About Jazz, though I'll be glad to stick a mention in my January column in hopes that the owner contacts me. You might also try [email protected], as he's had some in the past and they were slow to sell.





KanSM wrote:

My son, David, is a senior in high school and will be attending Berklee next year, he recently was one of 8 winners in CT for best in jazz tenor sax high school player, and the "final" competition requires him to play "On Green Dolphin Street" as per Steve Grossman from 'Way Out East' Vol 1 which was on Red label and is no longer being sold. We have tried every way possible to locate a copy or recording of this, any suggestions as to how he can hear Grossman's rendition? Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.

KanSM:

Congratulations to your son for his success as a musician!

Several dealers at musicstack.com offer this out of print CD, though it may be kind of pricey. Euclidrecords.com has the LP, though you might want to email them to make sure it is the equivalent of Volume 1. Also try gemm.com, half.com, spun.com, and hitmenow.com, though none of them seem to have it in stock right now.





Vic Berger of New Orleans, LA wrote:

I remember a few years back, the New Jersey/New York P.B.S. Radio Station played several days of Earl Hines recordings, celebrating his life in music and his passing; one of the outstanding sets was the Earl Hines "Little Theater Sessions" which I have never been able to find on vinyl records nor on CD. Do you have any information on these recordings? Thanks!

Vic:

Initially, only one record was issued from this historic concert on March 7, 1964, which helped to re-launch Earl Hines' career. It was put out on the Focus label, with a reissue by Atlantic. The full concert appears on the two record sets issued by both Muse and DeLuxe. None of this music seems to have been reissued on CD, though it may have come out overseas. Hines is joined by bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, drummer Oliver Jackson and on three selections, tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson.

Several dealers at musicstack.com have volume one, while one of them has the two record set for $20 plus shipping.





Susan from Fullerton, CA wrote:

I am having a really hard time locating a Dinah Washington album: The Late, Late Show. Any help would be appreciated.

Susan:

It's taken awhile to track a copy down, but Jazz Record Center in New York has a copy. Email them at [email protected] for price, condition and shipping costs.





Arthur Sherman of New York, NY wrote:

Is the double album from I think Savoy records entitled "Brothers and Other Mothers" available in any format? Thanks for checking.

Arthur:

Your memory serves you well. This Savoy Jazz two record set, issued in the 1970s (I believe) is available from euclidrecords.com right now for just $9.99. Better hurry!





Vic Berger of New Orleans wrote:

Please let me know where I can find some of my favorite LP's (not on CD):

Bill Evans Trio with Jeremy Steig

'Love Swings' by Bobby Darin (one of the best big band Jazz Vocal Albums ever, on ATCO, Atlantic Records)

Sammy Davis Jr. Sings, Laurindo Almeida Plays (Guitar)

Les McCann Sings (Pacific Jazz Records)

My LP's are wearing out on these great recordings! Thanks, keep up the good work.

Vic:

I've managed to track down the Bill Evans/Jeremy Steig LP at Jazz Record Center in New York. Email them at [email protected] for price, condition and shipping information.





Debra Booth wrote:

Have you ever heard of an old LP called Percussion in HiFi? One of the songs was called “Hells Bells.” My uncle gave it to us when we were kids so it has to be from 50's? I would appreciate any info you can give me as my mom threw it out.

Debra:

I get the idea from my research that Percussion in HiFi may not be technically considered a jazz record, as it doesn't show up in Tom Lord's Jazz Discography. There are some pieces named "Hell's Bells" by Art Kassel, Jimmy Lunceford, Clyde McCoy and modern pianist John Hicks, but I have no idea if any of them is the same composition you heard as a child.

Sorry to not be of more help.





Michael Dreeben wrote:

I was wondering if Charles Tolliver "Paper Man" exists on CD? Thanks.

Michael:

This music was first released on a Polydor LP as ‘Charles Tolliver and His All Stars.’ It was subsequently issued by Arista/Freedom (as 'Paper Man'), and also Black Lion and Intercord, but evidently none of these labels reissued it on CD.





Donald Johnson wrote:

I'm trying to find a CD of Wilton Felder's ‘Bullet.’

Donald:

The reason you're having a hard time is that Wilton Felder's ‘Bullitt’ was issued on LP by World Pacific circa 1969-1970, and it doesn't seem to have been reissued on CD.





One final note to all readers. Although it may not always be clear, I haven't necessarily purchased music from every single website listed in any of my columns, though it should be obvious when I mention a business owner by his or her first name that I have. Your recommendations to me about good, dependable on-line sources for jazz are greatly appreciated, and if you are the first one to let me know of one who ends up becoming an advertiser on this page, I'll think of a way to thank you.

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