Roger Farbey

Tangentially, but related to HB, the recent Soft Machine 7" single features an excellent version of Harry's composition The Dew At Dawn. He was as good a composer as he was a trumpeter, and is very much missed.

Yes, and of course he played with Soft Machine too! A true Canterburyan.

Saxophonist/Flautist Jimmy Hastings has died aged 85. For anyone unfamiliar with his work, he played an important role on the Progressive scene playing on early albums by Caravan and Hatfield And The North's The Rotters Club where he infused the albums with proper jazz solos thus inspiring a whole Prog rock generation to the joys of jazz. Jimmy was a fine and respected player on the British mainstream scene and had of course been a member of Humphrey Lyttelton's bands. RIP Jimmy.

Yes, Ichnos is given a double page spread in Labyrinth. I agree it really needs to be reissued just as Oxley's two albums for CBS were reissued on CD some years ago.

Not for nothing he won top place in the drummer section of the Melody Maker Jazz Polls for four years running (1969-1972). I witnessed him playing with Gordon Beck at the Barry Jazz Summer School. He was phenomenal and electrifying. IMO he was the best drummer the UK has produced. Apparently John McLaughlin employed him on Extrapolation because there wasn't another drummer available who could handle the complex time signatures. He will be sorely missed. RIP Tony.

A new magnus opus by Richard Morton Jack is published in January and looks a fantastic read for those interested in the "Golden Age" of British jazz. Labyrinth - British Jazz On Record 1960-75 more details from the elvinyl website here: www.elvinyl.com

Brian Godding passed on 26 November aged 78. His guitar work was crucial on Mike Westbrook's major albums, Citadel/Room 315, The Cortege and London Bridge Is Broken Down. He started his career playing in Blossom Toes and BB Blunder. He then backed Julie Driscoll followed by contributing to her husband Keith Tippett's Centipede album. He played on one of Westbrook's Solid Gold Cadillac albums, Brain Damage and then played with French prog band Magma and other bands including his long stint with Mike Westbrook. He was a very talented guitarist and will be greatly missed. R.I.P. Brian.

Obit in today's Guardian by John L. Walters... Carla Bley obituary - The Guardian

Thanks! That was so funny. Never seen it before. Humour was another vital element of her work.

Damn! One of my favourite musicians and composers. Her brilliant of EOTH is a masterpiece. But her many other timeless recorded works will live on too. R.I.P.

BBC Radio 3 Jazz Record Requests this Sunday, October 8, 2023, 16.00hrs GMT - tribute show to John Marshall. Also will be on BBC Sounds catch-up app.

Thank you! But I would add that John and Pete at Jazz In Britain were instrumental (no pun intended) in getting this 3rd edition out and so professionally too.

John Marshall, best known as drummer with Nucleus and Soft Machine has passed away aged 82. His last studio album Other Doors with Soft Machine was released earlier this year. His contribution to jazz was immense. He played on many significant records including those by Mike Gibbs, Mike Westbrook, John Surman, Graham Collier, Eberhard Weber and Jack Bruce, to name just a few. He will be sorely missed. RIP John.

Thanks! Probably the best purchase you'll ever make!!! 😊

Sorry for the delay in response Sidewinder but I can confirm that the 3rd edition is expanded, up-to-date and includes corrections to errors and omissions that occurred in the previous two editions. I can also say that I don't receive any income from sales of the book since, as with most if not all the JIB products, they are the result of a labour of love promoted by a not for profit organisation. So I can therefore advise that the (extremely good value!) 3rd edition is *definitely* worth forking out for. Plus of course the CD that's included with it. Hope that helps.