Mike McInnis
@mikemcinnis.bsky.social
Christian, physician, trombonist, painter, movie buff. Enjoyer of dad jokes and Simpsons quotes. I was @DrMcInnisDIT on Twitter.
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
⭐️⭐️
I think this is more interest in concept than in execution. It’s too unfocused and monotonous for my taste.
Favorite: “Pursuance” - killer extended piano solo
Least favorite: “Pursuance” - dull extended drum solo
⭐️⭐️
I think this is more interest in concept than in execution. It’s too unfocused and monotonous for my taste.
Favorite: “Pursuance” - killer extended piano solo
Least favorite: “Pursuance” - dull extended drum solo
December 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
⭐️⭐️
I think this is more interest in concept than in execution. It’s too unfocused and monotonous for my taste.
Favorite: “Pursuance” - killer extended piano solo
Least favorite: “Pursuance” - dull extended drum solo
⭐️⭐️
I think this is more interest in concept than in execution. It’s too unfocused and monotonous for my taste.
Favorite: “Pursuance” - killer extended piano solo
Least favorite: “Pursuance” - dull extended drum solo
We were in Skagway, Alaska (pop. 1,200) for July 4th this year. The parade was a trip:
December 13, 2025 at 6:48 PM
We were in Skagway, Alaska (pop. 1,200) for July 4th this year. The parade was a trip:
John Coltrane - Blue Train
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite: “Blue Train” - especially when the double-time drum feel kicks in
“Lazy Bird” - I love the horn background lines. Simple, but perfect.
Least favorite: “I’m Old Fashioned”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite: “Blue Train” - especially when the double-time drum feel kicks in
“Lazy Bird” - I love the horn background lines. Simple, but perfect.
Least favorite: “I’m Old Fashioned”
December 13, 2025 at 12:26 AM
John Coltrane - Blue Train
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite: “Blue Train” - especially when the double-time drum feel kicks in
“Lazy Bird” - I love the horn background lines. Simple, but perfect.
Least favorite: “I’m Old Fashioned”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite: “Blue Train” - especially when the double-time drum feel kicks in
“Lazy Bird” - I love the horn background lines. Simple, but perfect.
Least favorite: “I’m Old Fashioned”
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hot take: longer tracks mean longer, meandering solos without the benefit of changing up the groove, feel, key, etc.
Favorite: “Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Least favorite: “My Favorite Things” - he abandons the changes and solos over just 2 chords for AGES.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hot take: longer tracks mean longer, meandering solos without the benefit of changing up the groove, feel, key, etc.
Favorite: “Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Least favorite: “My Favorite Things” - he abandons the changes and solos over just 2 chords for AGES.
December 12, 2025 at 12:23 AM
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hot take: longer tracks mean longer, meandering solos without the benefit of changing up the groove, feel, key, etc.
Favorite: “Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Least favorite: “My Favorite Things” - he abandons the changes and solos over just 2 chords for AGES.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hot take: longer tracks mean longer, meandering solos without the benefit of changing up the groove, feel, key, etc.
Favorite: “Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Least favorite: “My Favorite Things” - he abandons the changes and solos over just 2 chords for AGES.
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very deserving of all the superlatives and accolades.
Favorites: “Giant Steps”
“Spiral”
“Naima”
Least favorite: It feels wrong to name anything! But I’ll go with “Countdown,” because for the first 30-40 seconds it is not much more than a frenzied flurry of notes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very deserving of all the superlatives and accolades.
Favorites: “Giant Steps”
“Spiral”
“Naima”
Least favorite: It feels wrong to name anything! But I’ll go with “Countdown,” because for the first 30-40 seconds it is not much more than a frenzied flurry of notes.
December 11, 2025 at 1:40 AM
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very deserving of all the superlatives and accolades.
Favorites: “Giant Steps”
“Spiral”
“Naima”
Least favorite: It feels wrong to name anything! But I’ll go with “Countdown,” because for the first 30-40 seconds it is not much more than a frenzied flurry of notes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very deserving of all the superlatives and accolades.
Favorites: “Giant Steps”
“Spiral”
“Naima”
Least favorite: It feels wrong to name anything! But I’ll go with “Countdown,” because for the first 30-40 seconds it is not much more than a frenzied flurry of notes.
Graham Collier - Workpoints
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very interesting… experimental and avant garde. Works well as background music. Disc 2 is better than Disc 1.
Favorites: “Under the Pier”
“Clear Moon”
“Workpoints, part 1” - nice trombone section work!
Least favorite: “Workpoints, part 4” - too much drum solo
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very interesting… experimental and avant garde. Works well as background music. Disc 2 is better than Disc 1.
Favorites: “Under the Pier”
“Clear Moon”
“Workpoints, part 1” - nice trombone section work!
Least favorite: “Workpoints, part 4” - too much drum solo
December 9, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Graham Collier - Workpoints
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very interesting… experimental and avant garde. Works well as background music. Disc 2 is better than Disc 1.
Favorites: “Under the Pier”
“Clear Moon”
“Workpoints, part 1” - nice trombone section work!
Least favorite: “Workpoints, part 4” - too much drum solo
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very interesting… experimental and avant garde. Works well as background music. Disc 2 is better than Disc 1.
Favorites: “Under the Pier”
“Clear Moon”
“Workpoints, part 1” - nice trombone section work!
Least favorite: “Workpoints, part 4” - too much drum solo
Natalie Cole - Unforgettable… With Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some great tunes, but also a fair amount of crooning over strings. But the good one are sooo good!
Favorites: “Route 66”
“Straighten Up and Fly Right”
“Avalon”
“Almost Like Being in Love”
Least Favorites: “The Very Thought of You”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some great tunes, but also a fair amount of crooning over strings. But the good one are sooo good!
Favorites: “Route 66”
“Straighten Up and Fly Right”
“Avalon”
“Almost Like Being in Love”
Least Favorites: “The Very Thought of You”
December 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Natalie Cole - Unforgettable… With Love
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some great tunes, but also a fair amount of crooning over strings. But the good one are sooo good!
Favorites: “Route 66”
“Straighten Up and Fly Right”
“Avalon”
“Almost Like Being in Love”
Least Favorites: “The Very Thought of You”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Some great tunes, but also a fair amount of crooning over strings. But the good one are sooo good!
Favorites: “Route 66”
“Straighten Up and Fly Right”
“Avalon”
“Almost Like Being in Love”
Least Favorites: “The Very Thought of You”
Nat “King” Cole - Favorite Ballads
⭐️⭐️
The jazz tunes are terrific, but a lot of this is crooning over an orchestra. Cole had a wonderful voice, but this is just not my thing.
Favorites: “Just One of Those Things”
“These Foolish Things”
Least Favorites: “I Had the Craziest Dream”
“Spring is Here”
⭐️⭐️
The jazz tunes are terrific, but a lot of this is crooning over an orchestra. Cole had a wonderful voice, but this is just not my thing.
Favorites: “Just One of Those Things”
“These Foolish Things”
Least Favorites: “I Had the Craziest Dream”
“Spring is Here”
December 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Nat “King” Cole - Favorite Ballads
⭐️⭐️
The jazz tunes are terrific, but a lot of this is crooning over an orchestra. Cole had a wonderful voice, but this is just not my thing.
Favorites: “Just One of Those Things”
“These Foolish Things”
Least Favorites: “I Had the Craziest Dream”
“Spring is Here”
⭐️⭐️
The jazz tunes are terrific, but a lot of this is crooning over an orchestra. Cole had a wonderful voice, but this is just not my thing.
Favorites: “Just One of Those Things”
“These Foolish Things”
Least Favorites: “I Had the Craziest Dream”
“Spring is Here”
Nat “King” Cole - The Trio Recordings, vol 3
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found this in a bargain bin, so I don’t have the other volumes. These are 1943 radio transcription sessions.
Favorite: “Too Marvelous for Words”
Least favorite: “Blues & Swing” - it’s a nice little jam, just over one minute. Too short!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found this in a bargain bin, so I don’t have the other volumes. These are 1943 radio transcription sessions.
Favorite: “Too Marvelous for Words”
Least favorite: “Blues & Swing” - it’s a nice little jam, just over one minute. Too short!
December 6, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Nat “King” Cole - The Trio Recordings, vol 3
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found this in a bargain bin, so I don’t have the other volumes. These are 1943 radio transcription sessions.
Favorite: “Too Marvelous for Words”
Least favorite: “Blues & Swing” - it’s a nice little jam, just over one minute. Too short!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I found this in a bargain bin, so I don’t have the other volumes. These are 1943 radio transcription sessions.
Favorite: “Too Marvelous for Words”
Least favorite: “Blues & Swing” - it’s a nice little jam, just over one minute. Too short!
Ron Carter - Dear Miles,
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Gone”
“Bag’s Groove”
“Someday My Prince Will Come”
“As Time Goes By”
Least favorite: “My Funny Valentine”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Gone”
“Bag’s Groove”
“Someday My Prince Will Come”
“As Time Goes By”
Least favorite: “My Funny Valentine”
December 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Ron Carter - Dear Miles,
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Gone”
“Bag’s Groove”
“Someday My Prince Will Come”
“As Time Goes By”
Least favorite: “My Funny Valentine”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Gone”
“Bag’s Groove”
“Someday My Prince Will Come”
“As Time Goes By”
Least favorite: “My Funny Valentine”
The Benny Carter All-Star Sax Ensemble - Over the Rainbow
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is basically a KILLER big band sax section, plus a piano/bass/drums rhythm section. Terrific arrangements!
Favorites: “Over the Rainbow”
“Out of Nowhere”
“Blues for Lucky Lovers”
Least favorite: “The Pawnbroker”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is basically a KILLER big band sax section, plus a piano/bass/drums rhythm section. Terrific arrangements!
Favorites: “Over the Rainbow”
“Out of Nowhere”
“Blues for Lucky Lovers”
Least favorite: “The Pawnbroker”
December 3, 2025 at 11:13 PM
The Benny Carter All-Star Sax Ensemble - Over the Rainbow
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is basically a KILLER big band sax section, plus a piano/bass/drums rhythm section. Terrific arrangements!
Favorites: “Over the Rainbow”
“Out of Nowhere”
“Blues for Lucky Lovers”
Least favorite: “The Pawnbroker”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is basically a KILLER big band sax section, plus a piano/bass/drums rhythm section. Terrific arrangements!
Favorites: “Over the Rainbow”
“Out of Nowhere”
“Blues for Lucky Lovers”
Least favorite: “The Pawnbroker”
Benny Carter - In the Mood for Swing
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “The Romp”
“Not So Blue”
“South Side Samba”
Least favorites: “The Courtship”
“Summer Serenade”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “The Romp”
“Not So Blue”
“South Side Samba”
Least favorites: “The Courtship”
“Summer Serenade”
December 2, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Benny Carter - In the Mood for Swing
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “The Romp”
“Not So Blue”
“South Side Samba”
Least favorites: “The Courtship”
“Summer Serenade”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “The Romp”
“Not So Blue”
“South Side Samba”
Least favorites: “The Courtship”
“Summer Serenade”
The Canadian Brass - Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Other Fats Waller Hits
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Lounging at the Waldorf”
“I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling”
“Ain’t Misbehavin’”
Least favorite: “Handful of Keys”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Lounging at the Waldorf”
“I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling”
“Ain’t Misbehavin’”
Least favorite: “Handful of Keys”
December 2, 2025 at 12:03 AM
The Canadian Brass - Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Other Fats Waller Hits
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Lounging at the Waldorf”
“I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling”
“Ain’t Misbehavin’”
Least favorite: “Handful of Keys”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Lounging at the Waldorf”
“I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling”
“Ain’t Misbehavin’”
Least favorite: “Handful of Keys”
Can you guess this album?
(Imagine lots of pink.)
(Imagine lots of pink.)
December 1, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Can you guess this album?
(Imagine lots of pink.)
(Imagine lots of pink.)
Cab Calloway: Volume One 1930-1934
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A budget compilation utterly lacking in liner notes.
Favorites: “Minnie the Moocher” (a song so popular that he recorded no fewer than FOUR answer songs!)
“Hot Toddy”
“Hot Water”
Least favorite: “Chinese Rhythm” (racially insensitive faux-Chinese scatting)
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A budget compilation utterly lacking in liner notes.
Favorites: “Minnie the Moocher” (a song so popular that he recorded no fewer than FOUR answer songs!)
“Hot Toddy”
“Hot Water”
Least favorite: “Chinese Rhythm” (racially insensitive faux-Chinese scatting)
November 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Cab Calloway: Volume One 1930-1934
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A budget compilation utterly lacking in liner notes.
Favorites: “Minnie the Moocher” (a song so popular that he recorded no fewer than FOUR answer songs!)
“Hot Toddy”
“Hot Water”
Least favorite: “Chinese Rhythm” (racially insensitive faux-Chinese scatting)
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A budget compilation utterly lacking in liner notes.
Favorites: “Minnie the Moocher” (a song so popular that he recorded no fewer than FOUR answer songs!)
“Hot Toddy”
“Hot Water”
Least favorite: “Chinese Rhythm” (racially insensitive faux-Chinese scatting)
Ken Burns Jazz: Dave Brubeck
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Selected highlights from Brubeck’s career. Unfortunately, the sparse liner notes provide no real context for the music or why these recordings were included.
Favorites: “Le Souk”
“Koto Song”
“Mr Broadway”
Least favorite: “The Real Ambassador”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Selected highlights from Brubeck’s career. Unfortunately, the sparse liner notes provide no real context for the music or why these recordings were included.
Favorites: “Le Souk”
“Koto Song”
“Mr Broadway”
Least favorite: “The Real Ambassador”
November 27, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Ken Burns Jazz: Dave Brubeck
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Selected highlights from Brubeck’s career. Unfortunately, the sparse liner notes provide no real context for the music or why these recordings were included.
Favorites: “Le Souk”
“Koto Song”
“Mr Broadway”
Least favorite: “The Real Ambassador”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Selected highlights from Brubeck’s career. Unfortunately, the sparse liner notes provide no real context for the music or why these recordings were included.
Favorites: “Le Souk”
“Koto Song”
“Mr Broadway”
Least favorite: “The Real Ambassador”
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s an absolute treat to intently LISTEN to a great work of art. Especially when you’ve heard it a million times and you STILL hear new things.
Favorites: “Three to Get Ready”
“Everybody’s Jumpin’”
Least favorite: “Pick Up Sticks”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s an absolute treat to intently LISTEN to a great work of art. Especially when you’ve heard it a million times and you STILL hear new things.
Favorites: “Three to Get Ready”
“Everybody’s Jumpin’”
Least favorite: “Pick Up Sticks”
November 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s an absolute treat to intently LISTEN to a great work of art. Especially when you’ve heard it a million times and you STILL hear new things.
Favorites: “Three to Get Ready”
“Everybody’s Jumpin’”
Least favorite: “Pick Up Sticks”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s an absolute treat to intently LISTEN to a great work of art. Especially when you’ve heard it a million times and you STILL hear new things.
Favorites: “Three to Get Ready”
“Everybody’s Jumpin’”
Least favorite: “Pick Up Sticks”
My wife is prepared for tomorrow
November 27, 2025 at 12:02 AM
My wife is prepared for tomorrow
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath - Country Cooking
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Country Cooking”
“You and Me”
Least favorite: “Bakwetha”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Country Cooking”
“You and Me”
Least favorite: “Bakwetha”
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath - Country Cooking
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Country Cooking”
“You and Me”
Least favorite: “Bakwetha”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites: “Country Cooking”
“You and Me”
Least favorite: “Bakwetha”
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath - Bremen to Bridgewater
⭐️⭐️
A double live album recorded in 1971 and 1975, and released in 2004. It’s overlong, and frankly the playing is frequently quite sloppy.
Favorites: “Kongi’s Theme”
“Sonia”
“Untitled Original” (the first one)
⭐️⭐️
A double live album recorded in 1971 and 1975, and released in 2004. It’s overlong, and frankly the playing is frequently quite sloppy.
Favorites: “Kongi’s Theme”
“Sonia”
“Untitled Original” (the first one)
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath - Bremen to Bridgewater
⭐️⭐️
A double live album recorded in 1971 and 1975, and released in 2004. It’s overlong, and frankly the playing is frequently quite sloppy.
Favorites: “Kongi’s Theme”
“Sonia”
“Untitled Original” (the first one)
⭐️⭐️
A double live album recorded in 1971 and 1975, and released in 2004. It’s overlong, and frankly the playing is frequently quite sloppy.
Favorites: “Kongi’s Theme”
“Sonia”
“Untitled Original” (the first one)
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
McGregor was a South African bandleader and pianist who sought to meld traditional African music with modern jazz, often with great results.
Favorites: “Andromeda”
“MRA”
“Union Special”
Least fave: “Night Poem”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
McGregor was a South African bandleader and pianist who sought to meld traditional African music with modern jazz, often with great results.
Favorites: “Andromeda”
“MRA”
“Union Special”
Least fave: “Night Poem”
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
McGregor was a South African bandleader and pianist who sought to meld traditional African music with modern jazz, often with great results.
Favorites: “Andromeda”
“MRA”
“Union Special”
Least fave: “Night Poem”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
McGregor was a South African bandleader and pianist who sought to meld traditional African music with modern jazz, often with great results.
Favorites: “Andromeda”
“MRA”
“Union Special”
Least fave: “Night Poem”