Category Archives: objects of desire

The Columbia and OKeh Benny Goodman Orchestra Sessions

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Mosaic has a lovely Benny Goodman Orchestra set that I have my eye on. I’ve been going through my music lately, doing a little tidying, and I’ve discovered I have only a couple of Benny Goodman Orchestra albums. This must be rectified.
I know it’s just an obessive ‘must have’ completist type thing, but… must. have.
On other (related) fronts, I have been blowing through my 50 emusic downloads not within a month, but within a few minutes after my account ticks over. I can’t possibly get by with these few songs. It’s just not possible. Again, this is crazy ‘must possess all’ thinking. But then, I must. And emusic is really wonderful – it has all those chronological classics. And quite a few other hard-to-get indy labels. And that’s just in the ‘olden days jazz’ section. I’ve glanced through the 50s blues, but I really haven’t even begun to look at anything else.
Think of me, in my obsessive compulsiveness this week. I think I might ‘back up’ my downloads with CD copies. Nerd ON!

bob willis and the texas playboys’ Tiffany Transcriptions

ttbw.jpg Suddenly, I want this Western Swing classic. I know most of the songs, either via jazz or my western swing faves.
Initially recorded for a furniture company to play in their shops (!), this collected set apparently has greater live and vivacity than their other recordings. I don’t much care, so long as the band continues to remind me of the Hot Club of Cowtown… though it should be the other way around.
It isn’t as hot here in Sydney as in other cities and I have largely recovered from the world’s worst stomach virus. Three days of throwing up. Two days in bed. One day partly up and out of bed, mostly sitting or lying on the couch. Today I had a real lunch and kept it in my body. For about two hours. It was pretty cool, though – I had digestion going and everything. My ps are visiting. It’s been hard. I have been foul. But then, I am ill. They’re acclimated to Hobart and think this is hot. We know it’s not in the 40s, so we think it’s nice. Apparently it’s broken 30 in Hobart this week.
I have recently begun saving water from my showers. The Sydney water restrictions aren’t as tight or as well policed and publicised as in Melbourne, so collecting water makes me feel badass and way wicked. Also, it’s free water for our new baby plants. I have plans for a rough tomato/basil patch near the compost bin. But the seeds didn’t come from Eden Seeds, which is just plain weird. I will chase it up on Monday if I’m up to it.
Bought new songs on emusic yesterday. Suspect it’s not so good to buy music when so trashed. But it could shake my collection up a little.
Just finished Alison Bechdel’s Essential Dykes to watch out for. It’s great, as you’d expect. Have eye on Fun House.
Humidity is high. But that’s ok.

Introducing the Rhythm Club All Stars

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I can’t really be bothered writing about this, beyond “want!”.
From the site:

Introducing the Rhythm Club All-Stars . . . a brand new, super swingin collective specializing in jazz from the 1920s and ’30s. True to its name, the RCAS is an all-star aggregation that features some of the top professionals on the Southern California scene. Led by internationally renowned drummer Daniel Glass (Royal Crown Revue, Bette Midler, Gene Simmons), the RCAS also include guitar wizard and vocalist John Reynolds (Cab Calloway, Janet Klein), bassist John Hatton (Brian Setzer Orchestra), and horn master Corey Gemme (Johnny Crawford, High Sierra Jazz Band) on cornet and trombone.
Combining vintage instruments and a classic look with a period-perfect sound that swings like crazy, the Rhythm Club All-Stars offer an authentic, high energy retro experience that has quickly become a favorite among Los Angeles area swing dancers and corporate clients alike.
The band’s debut CD features a wide variety of classics, from the familiar (“Honeysuckle Rose,” “Blue Skies”) to the obscure (“Old Joe’s Hittin’ the Jug,” “Digga Digga Doo”). But it’s the band’s hard swingin’ approach and unique arrangements that bring new life to this material. Check out the moody cadence of “Caravan,” the fiery brushwork on “Jeepers Creepers” or the virtuosic banjo playing on “Digga Digga Doo” and you’ll find yourself screaming for more. This is one disc not to be missed!

CDbaby pleases me: wonderfully prompt service, great products. Yes.

exchanges are great

when you’re a DJ.
It was really nice to hear some quality DJing from DJs with extensive collections and mad skills. It really makes a difference.
One of the nice parts of the MLX8 weekends was hearing DJs playing from albums/collections I own, but taking songs I’d never have thought to play.
Trev played a neat song from the Chu Berry Mosaic collection (Chasin’ Shadows, with Putney Dandridge and his Orchestra) which I’d missed, and now I’m revisiting the collection. It’s so very, very good.
I think, if I were to buy just one Mosaic set, that’d be the one. Actually, I’d probably buy that one and the Lionel Hampton one and the Duke Ellington small group one.
But if I could buy any now, I’d get the Kid Ory one and the (early) Louis Jordan one.

always last to the bar

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Can’t believe I missed CW Stoneking in Melbourne. I’m a dummy.
Old timey blues and low-down action. Just my cup of tea. listen here.
Can be bought via itunes (blurgh) or amazon (double blurgh), or via his label Voodoo Rhythm (check their punkrockingly dodgy site) or here.
And he’s Australian, no less.
Also, note the musicians in his ‘band’ – the sorts of jazznicks you know you can love.

firehouse five

My desire for the Firehouse Five (specifically this album) has forced me to think, even more seriously (as in, will probably do it) about emusic.
This band is in the vein of the New Orleans Jazz Vipers, the Firecrackers and other recreationist bands. Excepting the Firehouse Five are actually from the revivalist period (mostly). I’ve just bought this CD, but I think I could go on and on and on. I know it’s tighty-whitey cultural appropriation, but dang. The quality is good. And, well. You know. I want it. And thinking about music means I don’t have to think about the masses of reading I have left to do.
But the sudden plummeting dollar has meant that buying CDs is expensive, mostly because of the postage. I like to have the liner notes, emusic will hit me with an extra bill each month, but… instant music. Sweet. Cheaper music. Double sweet. I think I will use it for ‘taster’ songs, finalising my departure from itunes, and for albums by newer artists where I don’t need the liner notes. I think I’ll also keep back up copies on CD with copies of the album cover (just in case, and because I’m a bit ob-con).