Comments on: Live From Las Vegas: Jazz Vinyl

By: BigBear

BigBear — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:24:10 +0000

Let’s have some blasphemous fun…If you qualify the list to include at least three 12″ BNs, ie exclude Drew, Dolphy, Trane, Monk, Miles, Cannonball, Clifford Brown, Bags, etc.

I think if you then look at the list of major BN artists, the following could make Michel’s list of BN artists with better work elsewhere:

Newk,Ornette,possibly Blue and Jackie. Been debating Kenny Dorham, as Quiet Kenny is just awesome, but so are some of the BNs. I’ve never heard some of the pre-BN Dexter Gordon’s that many of you say are great so I will defer (keep getting beat on Ebay). And I havent heard Griffin sound better ex BN, but will try to track down some Riverside based on Michel’s comments.

By: Al

Al — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:21:49 +0000

Mike, I agree with you on Rollins. Blue Note, to me is not his best work. Obviously, Monk was on Blue Note very early with 78s and did better work later on. Like you, I also like Johnny Griffin in Riverside. But for the artists you mentioned, plus Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark, Lou Donaldson, Dexter Gordon, Wayne Shorter and many others, a lot of their seminal work is on Blue Note, which is a true testament to all of those who were associated with the label, as Michel noted earlier.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:24:10 +0000

Michel, I love Walkin and Talking, maybe as much as Undercurrent. I also like his Riverside offerings. I prefer Griffin’s Riverside offerings generally as well. I think he was a better player when he was at Riverside, slightly more mature but still Intense. Another person who recorded a few for Blue Note but’s best stuff isn’t on Blue Note is Sonny Rollins. I could pick five albums or more spanning his career that I prefer to his Blue Note offerings. I would say that Tenorman is one of my top 2 Sonny Clark dates.
My favorite Blakey, Mobley, Silver, McLean, and a few others offerings are all on Blue Note. Like you said, the label is about the whole product which is just great.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:48:38 +0000

how dare you, Michel, provoke our cosy community? This is more than a provocation, it nears blasphemy.

By: Michel

Michel — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:38:07 +0000

To be a little provocative, i would say that i many cases, my favourite albums by an artist are not Blue Note. Griffin “Do Nothin.. “on Riverside surpasses IMO all his BN albums. Kenny Drew “Walking and Talkin” on Jazz West is a desert island record for me. Not his BN album. But BN is Al, Francis, Rudy, Reid – and the whole product is so fantastic. It tends to overshadow other labels work.

By: maartenkools

maartenkools — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 23:43:09 +0000

yes Rudolf, Sem has the recordstore/label “swingmaster” in groningen.. they sell jazz and blues..

By: BigBear

BigBear — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:30:14 +0000

As for the 1500/4000/4100 debate, I will nominate a new candidate – my favorites are in the 1550-4050 area…While the first half of 1500 and second half of 4000s all have some great music, I think these consecutive 100 records represent the best of the catalogue.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:57:22 +0000

I think it's too close to be a coincidence. I confess that I don't understand Dutch(and German) words at all. It's funny, because I find Dutch people to speak very clear English but when they start naming Dutch streets it just doesn't register. It was strange getting directions when I was backpacking through Amsterdam. It's okay though, we had a great time anyway even if we had no idea what street we were on. Ben Van Gelder Interview I think I will check out his CD. The CD is a little pricy, but from what I heard in the interview he seemed interesting.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:54:48 +0000

could the town be GRONINGEN? I have known a pianist, active in jazz, from Groningen. His name was Sem van Gelder. He may have been his father.

By: maartenkools

maartenkools — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:42:35 +0000

Mike: the only City i could think of by the sound “hoon” is ‘Hoorn’, a place near amsterdam.As far as i know there is no significant recordstore in that (small) place…

But i think he said “groningen”
In gronigen (north of holland) there is a record store that specializes is jazz and blues: Swingmaster, it is owned by Sem van Gelder .. good store!
http://www.swingmasterrecords.com/cgi-bin/s/aboutus?bpwpIggG;;35