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In Reply to: Jazz on the Pablo label... posted by nobody on September 11, 2006 at 07:52:53:
I have read good things about the label here, but was under the general impression (informed by jazz record fanatics) that the recordings are primarily from artists near the end of their careers, and therefore past their prime.They are readily available, and cheap at Amoeba and the like, I called my guru and he said to basically skip them and spend a bit more for earlier recordings. This is no secret. I am thinking primarily of the dates with Ella and Sarah.
Of course I saw Joe Williams well into his 70's and he was still fantastic, as good as he was in his 50's. And the same goes for Ornette, who I thought was better in 2004 than he was in 1986. I could probably cite more, including Tommy Flannagan near 80.
So, I guess you should search the archives or inquire about individual LP's, there are bound to be some gems in there.
I have a box of Sarah called "the Pablo Years", I don't think I've ever listened to it. So it'll go on tonight, and we'll see.
Follow Ups:
In general, you are correct about the fact that many of the artists were in their latter years by the time they recorded for Pablo, but withhold your judgment until you listen to that Sarah Vaughn boxed set. Those are some of the best recordings she ever made. I think the boxed set was created from leftovers from each of the 5 or 6 separately issued albums contained therein, because the samples from my boxed set (purchased NOS from a local store only about 10 years ago) are sonically slightly inferior to the individual issues, which I also own, but very enjoyable nevertheless. Also, the Oscar Peterson ouevre on Pablo is topnotch. Ella seems to have lost her magical smootheness by the time she was recording for Pablo in the early 70s.
I was a Johnny come lately to jass, but lived in KC in the 70's and got a treasure from the Oscar Peterson and Basie small group venues and also like my Basie Big Band and others. Great great recordings of true simple acoustic jass, and lovely stuff from Ray Brown and Freddie Green and the other swingers like Joe Pass.try not to believe gurus, you ought to know better with a moniker like that.
well he was the guy who turned me onto Coltrane nearly 25 years ago, helped me build my Jazz collection as a teen, and has every Impulse and Blue Note record ever made. So I guess I respect his opinion, still do, but am not afraid to go venture into uncharted territory. I still think he is probably right about his assessment of Pablo, but like I said there are some diamonds in the duff.
HJ
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