What's your latest "Discovery"

Helen Humes' "Tain't Nobody's Bizness if I Do" is a late 50's, early 60's mixed set of blues, ballads and mid-tempo swing numbers that is simply sublime. Man...this woman could swing! Clearly inspired by Ella but more than a bit of her own bop-inflected rythmicity throughout. However, her emotional expressiveness throughout was the most surprising and gratifying aspect of this discovery for me. She had a Sinatra-like level of abiilty to inhabit the tune and bring it to life. While not as rawly emotive as Billie (Who was?) I find her take on some of these well worn standards to be nearly definitive. The players; a stellar group of Left Coast monsters (Benny Carter, Frank Rossolino, Shelley Manne, Leroy Vinnegar, etc.) was in the pocket throughout. A great record!

Just listened the other night to a non-audiophile CD of David Crosby's, "If I Could Only Remember My Name". It sounded great. Excellent separation, imaging and sound stage. Don't necessarily agree with the political point of view on some tracks but the music is beautful.

I came across a video of Dave Matthews Band "Jimmy Thing" on YouTube (the live version in Central Park). In the middle is a super guitar riff by some guy I didn't recognize. I did a little research and found out it's Warren Haynes of Gov'mt Mule. I p/u his live acoustic CD titled "Live at Bonnaroo". Let me just say... spectacular! If you're into live acoustic stuff, check this one out. Very respectable recording, super song selection, I'm a new fan.

For folks who like light classical chamber music for quiet times (piano & cello) -

I just bought a Naxos recording of popular "Virtuoso Cello Encores" by Maria Kliegel on cello. I'm really impressed with her playing in other performances which created my interest in this disc. I was not disappointed to say the least. The recording is excellent as well. Extremely listenible - if you don't love this you'll never like classical! :-)

Some recent CDs buys we've been digging: vintage soul packages on the British Kent label including collections of the Knight Brothers (60's singles originally on Checker) and the Ikettes (Ike recorded them in the 60's without Tina for singles on Modern), and collector Dave Godin's "Deep Soul Treasures" vols. 1 & 2. Also no-label comps of Alvin Cash & The Crawlers ("Twine Time", 60's singles originally on Mar-V-Lus) and The Detroit Emeralds (late-60's/early 70's sides on Ric-Tic and Westbound).

Some recent vintage vinyl finds include the film soundtrack LPs from "The Swinger" (Ann-Margaret), "Charade" (Mancini), "Thunder Alley" (V/A including Davie Allan & The Arrows of "Wild Angels"/"Devil's Angels" biker-flick fame, though producer Mike Curb, who frequently used them as his house rock band, doesn't credit them here, as he often did not), and an beautifully authentic-looking Japanese '81 gatefold reissue of the '66 swinging London classic "Blow-Up" (Yardbirds, Herbie Hancock).

Also original press jazz LPs including: Harold Land (tenor) "West Coast Blues" [Jazzland, with Wes Montgomery, Barry Harris, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes]; Milt Jackson "Born Free" [Limelight, with Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Mickey Roker and Walter Booker]; The Jazz Crusaders "The Thing" [Pacific Jazz]; Kenny Burrell "The Tender Gender" [Cadet]; Freddie McCoy (vibes) "Peas'n'Rice" [Prestige]; Mose Allison "Takes To The Hills" [Epic].

And as always many old 45's, including the hyperkinetic original version (pre-Little Richard's hit) of "Good Golly Miss Molly" by composer Bumps Blackwell's band The Valiants [Keen, '57], and Wilson Pickett's first band The Falcons' "I Found A Love" b/w "Swim" [Lu Pine '62, backed by The Ohio Untouchables, who later evolved into The Ohio Players], which is signed by its presumptive original owner, one Paul Simon, who of course I'd like to think is *the* Paul Simon... :-)