Music
Discographies & Expanded Sites 
These sites began their life on
the internet in December 1999 and each one has continued to grow and
expand to include more and more material since that time. I
have created and personally update and maintain sites on the
following musicians:
Kai Winding, Claudio
Slon, Walter Wanderley, Henry Mancini, Joao Donato, Antonio Carlos
Jobim, Sergio Mendes, Bobby Rosengarden, Claus
Ogerman and
Jarkko
Toivonen. I also
run a site dedicated to the jazz critic writings of music historian
Jose Domingos
Raffaelli. Sites
belonging to Kai Winding and Claudio Slon are official sites. Direct
links to all sites are listed below.
What do these sites include?
All musician/composer sites listed below include a complete
pictorial
discography
(most albums have front and backs pictured in a size where detail can
be viewed easily)--along with complete listing information including
any reissues (import and domestic) which have been available.
LP, CS and CD listings with year and catalog numbers are
present. Where information has been obtained, listings of 7"
singles and extended play records (import and domestic) are also
included. An
all-recording
index - to which a link
is supplied on the first page of all musician/composer sites - allows
the viewer to easily find an album on which they need information -
by clicking on a link which takes them directly to that album's
location on the site. Special
note: AS OF 9/10/06, ALL DISCOGRAPHIES ON BJBEAR7.COM ARE NOW IN
RECORD LABEL ORDER AND HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REWORKED TO REFLECT THIS
NEW ORDER!
Most sites include a
biography
section as well as a
videography
section where that musician/composer has made appearances on VHS, LD
and DVD. Some artist sites also include a
video
stills section, which
features still photos taken during live concerts or televised
performances. Magazine
and newspaper articles
written on or about the musician/composer's career are included on
many of the sites in easy to use portable document (.pdf) format.
Interviews
conducted personally by this webmaster with those who knew and/or
worked with the musician/composer featured are an important part of
these sites and new interviews are being added on a continuing basis
as more contacts are made. The interviews are an exclusive,
distinguishing feature for my sites - they have been an important
part of my discographies from the very beginning - unlike other sites
which are just now adding them. Where the sites listed
below are designated as "official", I have received the permission,
assistance, and cooperation of either the musician who is featured or
their surviving spouse or family members in using that designation
and term.
In addition to the main
features listed above, several sites listed below include an
extensive photo
section containing
career and personal pictures from the musician/composer's life - most
of which have never before been seen by the public and which can only
be seen here at The Music Discographies at
bjbear71.com. All music discographies listed below contain
NO intrusive advertising of any kind (no banner ads, no cgi or pop-up
ads, ads running down the sides of the pages, etc.).
By the way, if you are wondering
why all my discography pages are full-sized and are unlike most
websites which use up only a third of your web browser page, it's
because I don't believe in wasting precious internet space and
bandwidth! I have an intense pet peeve against any websites that
take up only a fraction of the screen you view them on. Blogs
started this entire ridiculous notion that people's eyes only wanted to
read so many characters per line, so that and that alone determined how
much space the site should take up inside your web browser. Now,
almost all websites - whether they are blogs or not - are doing
this. I say, hogwash!! I've never heard of something so
nonsensical in my entire life. There will be no wasted space
here. You're going to get nothing but full pages at bjbear71.com,
from left to right!
Plain
text, good quality photos and scans comprise most of what you will
see throughout this domain. My sites display well on any
computer platform using the most popular web browsers. For
information and examples of how I restore album covers for use on my
discographies, please see my section on restoration,
here.
What
others are saying about The Music Discographies at bjbear71.com:
"What makes a discography
special? The quality of research that the writer gives to the musician
and his/her body of work. All of the artists on these pages are those
who have special meaning for B.J. Her discographies are singular
in their depth--far surpassing commercial sites that present only the
U.S. recordings or an incomplete discography. These discographies
give you the history that the artist's own site may forego to focus on
current work. As you browse this site, you'll want to bookmark
the pages because B.J. is always expanding the content to give you the
most and the most accurate information."
--Leslie J. Pfenninger, Webmaster, On A&M Records; Author, "From Brass To Gold, Volumes I & II"
"Dear BJ – superb sites and a
dedication unsurpassed in the world of on-line discographies…… so THANK
YOU! I return to your WW site time and time again! [. . .
.] Kind regards,"
--Rory More O'Donoghue, Bowne International Ltd, London
"Hi BJ - Your website is fantastic and
incredibly helpful and informative. Where I am, I am known as the "nut
who reads the liner notes" because I know so much pop-history. The
particular artists you have chosen here are among my favorites and it's
only recently come out to my friends and colleagues that I have any
affinity or knowledge of these Greats: they have all regarded me with
shock at this, many of them 'hearing' this music for the first time
when I put it on and explain as we listen to it, exactly what is
happening and how. How
wonderful to find that there are others out there with similar passion
and interest. [. . . .]
In any case, my best to you and thanks for sharing such a wealth of
knowledge and passion!"
--Nicholas Chase, Composer (and Professor, California Institute
of the Arts)
"I
just wanted to personally thank you for all the work you've put into
the Henry Mancini section of your website. I'm currently processing a
massive collection of scores donated to the New York Public Library by
the widow of Joe Reisman, and a solid chunk of the material is from
Mancini projects that Reisman produced. Your site is an invaluable
source of information as I slog my way through this mountain of scores
and papers, so if you're getting a bunch of site traffic from New York,
that's the reason. I don't think I'll be finished with the collection
until sometime this fall, but when I'm done I'll email you a link to
the online finding aid I will eventually produce. Thanks once again and
know that your work is appreciated by the professionals." and,
in a later email: "I've
completed the processing of the Joe
Reisman Scores. [. . . ] Once again, thank you for [your]
excellent website. It was invaluable in the preparation of this finding
aid, which in turn will surely be of great assistance to future
researchers. And I've decided you can quote me on that!"
--Matt
Snyder, Music Archivist - Wilson Processing Project - The New York
Public Library
[. . .] Just wanted to thank you for putting this
great resource together; this is definitely something I'll be able to
use when helping library patrons interested in those artists. I
especially appreciate the extra touches, like the page on album cover
restoration. Great job!
--Greg Sigman, Senior Library Associate, Ohio University Music/Dance Library
"[. . . .] I hold in high
esteem the accuracy of your site(s) and the undulating power you put
into producing not only a labor of proper craftsmanship, but a work
of love. [. . . .] To me all of your poems
[for Claus Ogerman] read more like love letters, set in lines
or verses, than poems, as they don't adhere much to rhyme or rhythm.
Especially the one where you present your daily 'routine'. I take
them more like little sympathetic stories than poems. I realize that
in modern arts poems often don't rhyme or follow a rhythmic pattern,
but then those modern ones usually don't make any easily discernible
sense at all. And easily discernible sense your works of art (works
of love, I'd prefer to say) do make, lying open for anybody who reads
them. [. . . .] Keep up the good
work."
--[The
Honorable]
Wolfgang Weissbrodt, Berlin, Germany
"Dear B.J., Congrats on some
fine discography sites! As a friend of Claudio [Slon], I can
really appreciate the labor of love which it has taken to produce
your site dedicated to him! . .
."
--Frank Colon,
Percussionist and recording artist (Technoprimal Productions).
"Dear B.J., as a Brazilian
music journalist and filmmaker I have grown very frustrated by the
lack of recognition that some of our wonderful artists have
experienced, both in Brazil and abroad. Sadly, Brazilians are
not very careful with their memory. That is what makes your
excellent work very important for Brazilian music's history. I
deeply appreciate your devotion to all these artists and the accuracy
of all the information that you gathered. Please keep up the
good
work!"
--Guto
Barra, Journalist (Planet Pop News Agency, Director of the
documentaries "Clash of Cultures" and "Beyond Ipanema")
"Thanks to the
extraordinarily exhaustive research of B.J. Major, admirers of Claus
Ogerman's music and arranging skills have a place to revel. Many
recordings of his, as well as those of Henry Mancini and Sergio
Mendes, are in my collection because I saw or learned of them on her
site. With Ogerman's lengthy career in recording, it cannot be easy
to assemble such a discography, but she has accomplished the near
impossible. And it grows weekly. Any fans of this genre of music
should look no further than the wonderful webpage of B.J. Major.
Hearty
congratulations!"
--Peter
Bay, Music Director & Conductor, Austin Symphony Orchestra
"Dear B. J., I visited
your [Walter Wanderley] website two years ago
and
waited for a good opportunity to write about
it. Your
work is wonderfully done. I'll look at Claus Ogerman's discography as
well. I have to thank you for these benefits for Brazilian
music. All the
best,"
--Paulo
Roberto Pires, Journalist, nominimo.ibest.com.br
"Barbara Major has done a
terrific job with her site The Music Discographies at bjbear71.com.
Besides Claus Ogerman, she includes extensive coverage of artists
like Henry Mancini, Kai Winding, Sergio Mendes, Antonio Carlos Jobim,
and Walter Wanderley (among others). It's very informative and highly
recommended."
--Forrest
Patten, Contributor, "Journal Into Melody" publication for The Robert
Farnon Society (September
2003).
"With apologies in
disturbing you, please allow me to express that though I have never
had the pleasure & honor in meeting with you, I must comment that
the respect & honor that you pay to such music masters as Antonio
Carlos Jobim, Kai Winding, Frank Sinatra, Walter Wanderley, Henry
Mancini, Sergio Mendes & Joao Donato (among many others) is as if
a permanent & delightful cloud of memory has been etched upon the
hearts of those of us whom enjoy & celebrate such rich musical
geniuses. So many blessed thanks are due to you for your
devotion & attention to detail. . .Very often I remind my family
& friends that one's love of great music will allow for the soul
to never die, as the privilege in both hearing & knowing of the
gifts of such masters of music allows all of us to live forever in
musical heaven. . .
.
Sincerely with
Thanks,"
--Joseph
Motsch (Great-Great Grand-Nephew of [Composer] Monsieur Erik
Satie)
"These few lines are just to
express all my appreciation for your superb Claus Ogerman homepage,
which has been a constant source of information and help for my
research over the last two years . . .Thanks so much for your
invaluable
work."
--Massimo
Milano - Ethnomusicologist and international music critic; member of
the Down Beat Annual Critics Poll International Jury; Italy
"What a great compilation
you have made of the works of Claus Ogerman, a superb, gifted
musician. It is obviously a work of great affection, respect, and
time. It is also full of many difficult to research details, which
show caring and diligence. I had the pleasure of working with Claus
in 1970 when I owned my first small recording studio at 1595
Broadway, NYC, which was a block or two from Claus'
office. Regards,"
--George Klabin
- Recording Engineer, Producer, former owner of SOUND IDEAS Studio,
New York City, New York
". . . From time to time I
look at your sites and you're really one of the best in the business.
Everything you do has the stamp of a masterpiece; you know
exactly what you're doing. . . . In the last three or four
years I visited many sites but none has the same level of
information, design and good taste. You're a natural and inventive
site
organizer."
--José
Domingos Raffaelli - Reporter and International Jazz Critic, formerly
with O Globo Newspaper; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hi, B.J., Finally
"discovered" João Donato on your site, as I was told
[by] my son and my wife. It is very nice to have friends like
you. [. . .] Keep in touch and very good luck to
you. Your
friend,"
--João
Donato, Brazil
"Dear BJ, So good to
hear from you! . . . For the first time yesterday I found time to
visit Sergio's site. It's fantastic! Congratulations! . .
. Guess what I just did, even before having breakfast? Yeah, I
visited your sites to look at the additions. I love to see the
way you perfect my scans, as you did on the Billy Eckstine LP!. .
."
--Arnaldo
DeSouteiro - International Jazz Critic, educator, and record
producer/founder of Jazz Station Records; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
"Dear B.J., The
João Donato site is wonderful! I met João many years ago and
even recorded with him one track playing flute on a Nana Caymmi album
recorded in Buenos Aires. . . .I will put a link to your site on my
company
page."
--Fernando
Gelbard - Former Argentinian ambassador to France, businessman, jazz
enthusiast and record producer; Beverly Hills, California
"B.J. - Just wondered how
everything was going for you. Sure have enjoyed your website -
it's a cornerstone of knowledge. . . .I appreciate all of your hard
work increasing awareness and information of Brazilian music. . .
.your website is becoming more & more amazing in scope and
information!"
--Vohn
Regensburger - Composer/arranger, producer, guitarist, recording
artist; Denver, Colorado
". . . I will do all I can
to inform others and have your work show up as source material for
all future studies for scholars to find of great value, not just for
teachers but for all
researchers."
--David
H. Sheetz - Trumpet player, music educator & Pivot
System specialist; Absecon, New Jersey
"Hi BJ, If I could ever
dream of a perfect Mancini website, yours would be it! What a
terrific job you are doing. . . .Just wanted you to know how much I
appreciate all the work you have done on your marvelous Mancini site.
I check it
daily."
--Dan
Miles - (former) RCA Victor Records Sales Rep, Denver, CO
"Your work is an incredible
labor of love! . .
."
--Rodney
Schmidt - Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies and Technology, School
of Music, East Carolina University; Greenville, North Carolina
"Thank you for everything,
B.J. You're a great webmaster!"
--Claudio Slon
- (former) Recording/Touring Jazz and Brazilian music drummer and
percussionist; Denver, Colorado
"Dear B.J.Major: Hi!
I'm Daniel Slon and first of all, I would like to congratulate you
for my brother's site! It's wonderful! Specially now that
he's left us, many fans can remember Claudio through the beautiful
site you've created! . . . You created the most beautiful site that
an artist can have!!! He was also my "hero"! Since I was
a kid, I followed step by step his recordings, concerts, gigs and
interviews! He really was 'one of a kind'. Yours
sincerely,"
--Daniel
Slon (brother of Claudio Slon); São Paulo, Brazil
"Hi B.J. I read your
reply to my mother and I just wanted to thank you personally for all
that you have done and continue to do to honor my father. I can't
thank you enough. I too thought that he was amazing. If you ever need
anything please don't hesitate to let me know via email. By the way,
my father always spoke very highly of you and always was very
appreciative of all of your efforts on his behalf. I wish he could
see the site now too. Please take care and keep in touch. Love,"
--Patricia
[Kleiman] (daughter of Claudio Slon); Los Angeles,
California
"Hello BJ, . . .Arnaldo
[DeSouteiro] has showed me your sites. I was really very
touched. . .You are doing a beautiful job for these Brazilian
artists, to honor their lives. .
."
--Dom Um
Romão - (former) Recording/Touring Jazz and Brazilian music
drummer/percussionist; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
"Dear Webmaster (of
Slon-Wanderley-Mendes, etc.), Your work is fantastic, you are doing a
great contribution to music. I'm really glad I'm able to get all this
information about those musicians.. .
."
--All the
best, Alex Sanguinetti - Jazz drummer, instructor, clinician; Munich,
Germany
"When I visited B.J.´s site for the
first time in 2000, I found a lot of extremely fine artists there
whom I have admired for years. It was easy to find out
that the person hosting the pages is a real expert on Brazilian
music. Moreover, the site is very fine and professional.
So also is the site B.J. made on me. I'm happy
to be online there and proud to be in the group of artists whom I
have admired for
years. Congratulations!"
--Jarkko Toivonen - Recording/Touring Brazilian music acoustic
guitarist; Finland
"I just came across the
wonderful Kai Winding web site. My name is Eschwan, Mrs. Kai
Winding - his third and last wife. . . . Thank you for your efforts.
. . . Congratulations on the feedback on your site. With your
talent and determination I believe that you will be able to do what
you love for a
living."
and later
"Dear
B.J., Another big thanks to you for all your unceasing work on
the site. Every time I check out Kai's 'Official site' I learn more
about his work. I am so happy to see the photos of the Giants of Jazz.
Somewhere in the States I have a small album of casual photos of the
group on the road. When I visit my family in May, I will have to look
for it. All the best,"
and later
"Dear
B.J., I've just spent a couple of hours perusing the updated site you
have created and maintained so beautifully. I must say I have tears in
my eyes because I miss Kai, but I have great appreciation that his
talent and dedication to jazz is recognized and honored. A
few days before he died he asked me, "What did I do to deserve all
this?", indicating the loving support of other musicians and fans that
helped sustain us during his illness. Now, your web site clearly
shows all he did. Thank you. Your work and dedication means
a great deal to me."
--Eschwan Winding (Eschwan
Winding is a professional artist and sculptor.)
"The Incredible Kai Winding,
His Official Site" was chosen as 'Site of the Month' by the
International
Trombone
Association
in November 2001.
