BLOODY HELL! You folks are GREAT!

New stuff to find...old ones to re-read...way to go!

Art, I had "Really The Blues" for years and finally lent it to the person who forgot to give it back. I've forgotten who has it, needless to say THEY'VE forgotten it was on loan. Oh, how many books and records have we lost track of that way?

Mezz sounds like an absolutely FASCINATING guy. For those not familiar with him, he was sort of a "fifth wheel" in that great Chicago group of musicians (who I still listen to regularly) who stormed the world in the late twenties. He played fine in the ensemble sections, but couldn't solo to save his life (you can hear it on his records) but had that EXTRA value of being able to find any available pot when needed. He was also useful in writing arrangements quickly 'cause he learned to be a great 'reader' while in reform school. Not only did he change the spelling of his name, but he insisted to EVERYONE that he was BLACK! His crowning achievement was having "negro" stamped on his passport under 'race' during the forties. He ended up living and working in France a lot and hanging out with my hero Sidney bechet.

"Life on the Road" sounds very interesting, Harvey. Makes me wonder if the "Classical" guitarist has the same kind of adventures as the folkie.

Jacques Brel...Yeah, I know NUTHIN' about the guy. His image certainly seemed interesting.

Now here's one I highly reccommend. "We Called It Jazz" by veteran banjoist and tenor guitarist (and hustler) Eddie Condon. He talks about practically starving to death as a young guy in Chicago.
One of his stories concerns he and his band getting a cruise ship gig...with the drawback that Eddie (posing as the piano player) can only play in F! He says "I could play EVERYTHING in F...but ONLY in F!" The band goes crazy after a couple of nights! Apparently the listeners don't catch on.

The two Ochs books "There But For Fortune" and "Death of a Rebel" are intersting but really depressing by the time they get to where Phil senses he's not "needed" anymore.

James...I concur about the MacColl book.

Benjamin, I'll try and find the Al Green one.

Thanks for the input folks.

Rick