Greybeard Speaks of Old Things

Yes, I caught a few moments of Prison Break and I’m not completely unaware that Kyle is the Midwestern hope for this season’s Next Top Model, but I am awfully prone to burning away my days thinking about those unforgivably old things, those musty items that grandma talked about. Here, then, is the first installment of Greybeard Speaks of Old Things, a painful digression into the cobwebbed corners of the world we share.

I suspect there has been some press about this, but the dork in me (a sizeable part, to be sure) wonders why two new recent jazz discoveries haven’t seized headlines. Forget Katrina relief: when near pristine recordings of the Charlie Parker-Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane bands magically appear, the government should divert its attention to sending these CDs to everyone in America. I mean, to jazzbos (there are three of us left), it’s kind of like a Congressional intern finding ten more amendments on the back of the Bill of Rights. Wow.

I’ll admit that the Parker-Gillespie music is merely exciting, a fine addition to the slim record of bebop at its pinnacle, but not the holy sermon of hip I had hoped for. “Salt Peanuts” still gets my vote for most important recording of the century, though, and I love having a new, very early version.

The Monk-Coltrane is something altogether different. Remember those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup ads? Here you have what may be one of the most exuberant, delightful Monk performances on tape suddenly merged with 50s Coltrane at his angular, acerbic best. I know it’s not everyone’s first choice, but…you know that thing that jazz is supposed to do? Here it is! Lots of it. From the open time miracle of "Monk's Mood" to a devilishly fun "Blue Monk" to an appropriately nutty "Nutty." "Rosetta Stone"? Whatever. But I've been in a great mood all week just from this.

By the way, here is the complete line-up for that night at Carnegie Hall: Miss Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Chet Baker, Monk-Coltrane, Sonny Rollins. Tickets cost from $2 up to $3.95. Grandpa’s eyes are getting teary--if not for the music, for the savings.