Jazzjet

Regrettably, this is pretty much the standard experience in shopping at the very few specialist jazz shops left. A few times I've even found myself buying CDs at prices considerably higher than I know I can get online, in a misplaced spirit of loyalty. Nowadays the only time I use 'bricks and mortar' shops is to buy second-hand CDs, mainly items no longer available online, or good old vinyl where the online option is rather more limited.

Still working my way through this and finding it surprisingly enjoyable, particularly the section on the London 60s music scene. In reality a very small scene with practically everybody playing in each other's bands. It must have been great experience and I didn't appreciate how many different types of band Johnny Mac played in at the time. One constant musical colleague was baritone saxophonist Glenn Hughes, who is mentioned in glowing terms several times and described as at least the equal of Ronnie Ross. I was vaguely aware of his name in the context of Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames but I'm not aware of any more jazz-oriented recordings. Anyone aware of any?

Still in the early stages of the book and enjoying it. Not the greatest writing style but I've read far worse. The early 60s detail is fascinating and evocative. So much so that I'm sorely tempted to get the recent Graham Bond box set - 'Wade In The Water'. Duffy Power is an interesting character as well. Someone from the Larry Parnes stable who saw the light and made some fine records, some with GBO and McLaughlin.

Kenny Burrell's 'Midnight Blue' ever since I got it from Petticoat Lane, London.

I've got a tape (transferred to DVD) of the MO 'Live at the BBC'. Not sure whether it was OGWT or something like 'Rock Goes To College'. I'll have to dig it out. I've got the Harper book on Kindle but haven't got round to reading it yet (there are something like 50 books on my reading list on the Kindle, a lot of them music books, so God knows when I'll reach it!). I'm looking forward to insights on the early years though. The late 50s through to the early 70s were a golden period for British jazz (and, arguably, music in general) and need a proper review. I also have reservations about Heining which was a bit of a missed opportunity. There's 'Innovations in British Jazz' by John Wickes (OOP) but it was rather haphazard to say the least. For the very early years I can recommend 'The Restless Generation' by Pete Frame. More about the 50s popular music scene than jazz but the early sections on bop, trad, skiffle etc are fascinating.

There was an excellent BBC 4 documentary a few year back titled 'The Passing Show'. Well worth seeing if you can find it. Ronnie was a very under-rated songwriter and songs like 'Debris' and 'Annie' are up there with the best.

Pure filth! Seriously though, you're right that every serious collector's needs are different and building your own system is probably the best way to go. Also, maybe concentrate on a single artist or label until you've got things the way you want and then expand from there. Another good suggestion I've heard is that if you have a young (preferably nerdy) offspring or nephew/niece then hire them to do a lot of the basic input for you.

You could always try Delicious Library. It works by enabling scanning of bar codes on CDs. http://delicious-monster.com/ Having played with a lot of these, my view is that the better ones are Windows only. The other point is that it helps to start with a small collection rather than attempt to catalogue a large collection.

It was pretty grim earlier on but brightening up now (here in Cornwall). The south coast seems to have fared worst. Luckily we're on the north coast and uphill from the sea. We have had several spectacular thunderstorms, two this morning and one almost exactly at midnight on New Years Eve. Lost power every time.

Nothing new for Drake collectors (of which I'm one - even had 'Bryter Later' when it first came out on LP) but a good way for newcomers to pick up on Nick. I think I have about 20 items in my collection which is a bit excessive for someone who only released 3 official albums! The Molly Drake songs are interesting as you can hear a link to the way Nick sang his songs, even though the material was from a different era. Sort of Noel Coward, 1930s musical theatre style. Nick's music is very affecting but it is difficult to disassociate his tragic life story from the songs. He was, however, an exceptional guitarist and even today fellow guitarists puzzle over his style. If the chance arises, try and find the documentary 'A Skin Too Few'. It can be found on YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrmR_F5XgwQ

That is an excellent documentary, well worth repeating. Stan tells the story of writing most of 'Under Milk Wood' on the night bus after ong sessions at Ronnie's.

RIP Stan. A wonderful musician who was a lynch pin of Ronnie Scott's club supporting innumerable visiting musicians. Both sides of the deal benefited greatly - Stan through working with musicians like Getz, Rollins, Webster and many others, and the visitors who clearly appreciated the artistry of his support.

Nigella's recipe books are a bit short. Just a few lines on each page.

Thanks for the tip, Roger. Pre-ordered just now!

I don't understand why they don't just cut us off in Cornwall at the Tamar and let us get on with it by ourselves!

Looks very tasty. Thanks, Roger. There's a great private archive of early Chris McGregor ( and other South African jazz ) collected here : http://electricjive.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=chris+mcgregor This collection was recorded on reel-to-reel tape in the 60s by Ian Bruce Huntley. Well worth checking out.

Yes indeed. I've got the Henry 'Red' Allen one and it is very enjoyable. Makes you wonder how many of the Jazz 625s the BBC have actually got - despite the stories about tapes being wiped - as I don't recall the George Lewis one being broadcast since its original airing.

As a follow-on, this coming Friday ( May 24 ) BBC 4 are showing a programme in their 'Britannia' series. This one is titled 'Trad Jazz Britannia' and looks at the growth ( and demise ) of the trad jazz phenomenon in the 50s and early 60s. This is followed by a new ( to me at any rate ) broadcast of an old Jazz 625 featuring George Lewis with the Acker Bilk Paramount Jazz Band, plus Beryl Bryden.

I think the BBC probably sees this jazz night as part of that same archaeology season.

Just seen the schedules for May 10th and the programmes either side of the new 'Jazz Divas' documentary are : Jazz 625 - Dave Brubeck Quartet Jazz Divas Gold - archive material from Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone etc Jazz Piano Gold - Basie, Ellington, Tracey, Peterson, Monk etc Arena : Sonny Rollins - Beyond The Notes ( documentary built around his 80th anniversary concert ) All repeats except 'Jazz Divas Gold' which is archive anyway. That will probably be all we see of jazz on the BBC for at least 6 months. Oh for the days of Terry Heneberry!

Interesting to see that Tony Middleton worked at Dobell's. I attended an evening course in jazz appreciation at the City Literary Institute, Holborn ( must have been 1968/69 ) and Tony was the lecturer. He arranged visits to The Phoenix in Cavendish Square ( Bill Le Sage and Michael Garrick ) and Ronnie Scott's ( Roland Kirk ) which were pretty much my first exposure to live jazz. As an aside, I also met my first wife at the evening class!

Too true. BBC 4 seems to be the repository for the paltry amount of jazz the BBC broadcasts but there seems to be little appetite for unearthing archive material. Probably takes money away from those endless food and antique programmes.

I'm hopeful that there will be some related programmes either side of the documentary, which is what BBC4 usually does. Whether there will be anything we haven't already seen is another matter.

Best steer clear of Cliff Richard as his music apparently kills alstroemerias. I know how they feel.

Love the one in Barnstaple. Looks like the owner never leaves the shop. Or perhaps he can't actually get out.