Jazz for aficionados

I said Soho, I should have said Chelsea.

Goofyfoot, why do I feel we need to argue, when there is no argument at all? You are reading into my comments things that I am not suggesting at all. Where do I say anything suggesting that the "hipper" players are not deserving of their popularity? I don't disagree with anything you wrote (I LOVE Wayne Krantz, BTW) with the possible exception of your comments re funding for the arts. That's a discussion about the politics of all this, and I think it wise to stay away from that one; or, at least, save it for another thread.

Vignola and Krantz are completely different players, and I suspect they would be the first to say it. When I say "hipper", I mean "in a more contemporary style", and not in a style that is a kind of throw-back to a what can fairly be considered a bygone era (swing). In the case of my comment, "hip" is a nod to popular vernacular. The truth is that in musicians' vernacular hipness can be found in ALL styles, retro or not. It is a statement about a player's mastery of an idiom, and ability to be inventive within that idiom; wether that idiom was popular 70 years ago, or on the cutting edge of the present.

****The niche players will often maintain a higher level of artistic integrity but they're also more susceptible to burdening financial woes.****

Often, but not always. Yes, susceptible to financial woes. But, many outside the music industry would be surprised at the level of financial success that players like Vignola enjoy. It is all relative. Is it the kind of success that the Kenny G's of the world enjoy? Of course not; not even close. I prefer to consider the Kenny G's of the music scene to be anomalies. These kinds of anomalies have always existed in the arts, and are pretty irrelevant as far as what defines the true merits of any art form; they are to be simply ignored.

Beauty comes in different shapes and sizes. Next to Brecker, my favorite post-Coltrane tenor player: Dave Liebman.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BrIfp7F6wR8

Rok, the west coast jazz by Chico was flat, and I'm not an extreme audiophile. At the beginning, I stated there was a CD I wouldn't review, and it had some of the very best jazz in my collection, but the CD was lacking "nuance", that was essential to this music, plus the record is no longer available; consequently there was no point in even mentioning this music.

I won't buy any of the music you're ordering until I get your report.

Enjoy the music.

A few comments on some recent posts....Clarinet-Kenny Davern,fill in the blanks of superlatives because they all apply,plus a determination to excell beyond his usual musical orbit and create in each solo,not only a history of Jazz, but to convey it in the most personal way.
Frank Vignola...Fine player,but listen to Howard Alden.
Eric Alexander...behemoth player,like the "Thanksgiving" of all the living big toned Tenor Saxophonists,he always seems to fill you up and satisfy you musically and emotionally.His latest effort,among many,"Touching" on Highnote tends to magnify his "sound" over content and some of the tunes are of a more recent vintage that don't capture my interest.I have to give him props for trying to extend the circle of compositions for improvisations.I am anxious to hear him over the next few years.
Dave Liebman and the re-formed "Quest" (with Richie Beirach,Ron McLure and Billy Hart) are back at it on "circular" on Enja.This is a program of 60's compositions associated with Miles Davis.This is a delightful session of mature players,comfortable together and pushing forwards in a sideways move,nothing earthshaking,yet forging a collective quilt of music that draws you in.Billy Hart is a gifted drummer who can see beyond the music while creating the pulse of it.
David Liebman....prolific and sublime,as a listener he instills an air of confidence that he is giving his ultimate expression,this is a direct influence of John Coltrane who re-newed high standards in a post Charlie Parker Jazz world.
Some interesting younger players to watch Jonas Kullhammer and Jon Irabegon (sp on both? sorry)
The curse and gift of Jazz is that it can be the greatest thing and it can be the most mundane thing,both survive, and can only be limited by the intelligence of the listener.I have ALWAYS found that the best music has the least audience and musicians that "promote" themselves usually do so because they don't have the dedication to put it into their instrument.The least talented always have the most time to hype themselves.