David ...
The fact that SR continues to improve their products is a reflection of the competitive nature of a capitalistic system wherein improvement is necessary or a competitor will create that improvement and out of business you go. Who benefits? Well, the business that provides the most benefit for the end consumer ... and the end consumer/user. That's us. After all, money is nothing more than a scoreboard reflection on one's service to others. Its the old adage: Help enough people get what THEY want, and you will get what YOU want in return. So, let's hope that the good folks at SR makes a TON of profits off of their products and continues to lead the field with these wonderful, effective fuses. Bring on the Black ones. And then perhaps the Purple ones after that.
Charles ...
I first got into jazz as a teenager though listening to Rhythm & Blues. This was before the guitar replaced the saxophone as the usual lead instrument as it did with the "White" music of Elvis, the Beatles, etc. So, it was just a natural progression from the saxophones of Earl Bostic, Joe Houston and Big Jay McNeely ... right into Chu Berry, Ben Webster, Lester Young ... and then into Paul Desmond, Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane and more.
When I first heard Monk, my reaction was very similar to that of Louis Armstrong when he first heard Charlie Parker and Diz playing BeBop ... "I hate it ... it sounds like Chinese music!" *lol*
I couldn't stand Monk with his discordant poundings on the ivory. But then ... but THEN ... as I started listening more critically to his playing I began to understand what he was trying to do. As time progressed, I came to realize just how great of a genius he truly was. At this point, I have a lot of Monk's music, both solo and with groups. I don't however have those two recordings you mentioned. I'll check them out. Thanks.
Another genius of the piano ... Bud Powell. I love his music too. A true master of the bebop piano style.
