Archives for 2006

Recordings are a commodity. Companies sell them to make money. When a CD stops selling briskly, only a label willing to make money slowly over a period of years, or one that feels a cultural obligation, keeps it in the catalog. For decades, the Fantasy complex of labels took the long view. Its … [Read more...]

In the final installment of … [Read more...]

Welcome to the final installment of messages from Rifftides readers sharing with all of us what you have been listening to. "·I enjoy reading your blog. The following is what have been listening to recently. Dave Holland Quintet, Prime Directive. I have been listening to this album for the last few … [Read more...]

Ah, well, over the weekend so many more of you responded to the request for your current listening choices that we can't wrap it up today after all. If you wish to understand the genesis of these listings, go here. But--I am sorry--it's too late to contribute. At some point, we have to get back to … [Read more...]

Here is the third report on the survey of what Rifftides readers are listening to these days. "·Today I have two CDs in my car player: A lovely duo recording by Randy Sandke and Dick Hyman, and a CD reissue of one of my favorite LPs, Boss of the Blues, with Joe Turner and a dynamite studio band … [Read more...]

Entries are still arriving in the worldwide Rifftides listeners' sweepstakes (no losers, no prizes). It is not too late to join. All civil responses will be published. Simply send an e-mail message telling us your current listening choice. Please include your name and where you live. Here is the … [Read more...]

We suggested that Rifftides readers around the world disclose their current listening. The replies are rolling in, so many that we will have to post them in installments. Here is the first batch. Wherever possible, the Rifftides staff has provided links for those who are interested in pursuing their … [Read more...]

Homeward bound on a two-hour ride, I saw this sign on the front of a ramshackle house: HIPPIESUSE SIDE DOOR If you have forgotten about hippies or are too young to remember them, or if you're an aging hippie and want to read about yourself, here are the first few lines of the Wikipedia … [Read more...]

The site meter shows that new Rifftides readers have checked in this week from Algiers, Algeria Tokyo, Japan Bejing, China Reykjavk, Iceland Ajidjan, Cote D'Ivoire Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain North Ockendon, Thurrock, in the United Kingdom And from these places, among others, in the United … [Read more...]

Devra DoWrite, of eagle eye and encylopedic knowledge, adds information to the Rifftides item in the following exhibit about a good old Cal Tjader album wth Eugene Wright, Gerald Wiggins and Bill Douglass. What was not mentioned was a small fact that gives "but of course" understanding to why … [Read more...]

At a concert, Louis Armstrong almost invariably said, "And now, we're going to lay one of those good old good ones on you." He used variations of that introductory line during his entire career. Here's an example, on video, from 1933. I'm borrowing Pops's line and applying it to two albums from … [Read more...]

Terry Teachout has come up with a terrific idea for his About Last Night blog. I only wish that I had thought of it first. In recent months I've been posting links to interesting videos that I found on other blogs, but until a few days ago it never occurred to me to experiment with turning this blog … [Read more...]

There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. ~Red Smith You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury Writing does for me what milking does for a cow. ~H.L. Mencken … [Read more...]

From Washington, DC: The other morning I was pawing through my CD collection, looking for something to accompany my pre-work meal when I came upon The Oscar Peterson Trio at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. I put it on and, in seconds, was reminded why that recording has stayed near the top of … [Read more...]

The DVD choice is now among the new batch of Doug's Picks in the right-hand column. It took a while to get it there because isolating nearly two hours of viewing time during the holiday weekend turned out to be impossible. When I finally got to it, I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would … [Read more...]

Hey, do you want to read some nifty short stories? Go here. You may get hooked. Don't forget to come back, please. … [Read more...]

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.--Benjamin Franklin America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.--Abraham Lincoln … [Read more...]

Jason Crane writes concerning the Doug's Picks item about John La Barbera (right-hand column): If I'm not mistaken, Joe is a co-owner of Jazz Compass with Clay Jenkins, Tom Warrington and Larry Koonse. The label has put out a crop of high-quality releases. It's refreshing to see the players taking … [Read more...]

In the right column under Doug's Picks, you will find three new CD entries and a timely book tip. A new DVD entry will follow before the week is out, if I can get ahead of the apricot and cherry harvesting long enough to watch the one I have in mind. The birds got most of the Royal Annes and Bings, … [Read more...]