Head Man

The Barry Harris liner notes show Paul Goodman as the recording engineer. It was recorded at the RCA Studios in New York.

Thanks for the explanation, Allen. So it's not just me then...phew!

Just picked up this one from the new series..... Very nicely put together package including an expanded booklet with updated liner notes by Mark Gardner. However, there's something about the way some of these Xanadu recordings "sound" that I'm not keen on and unfortunately this is one such album. The instruments sound very harsh to me, especially the piano....is it the way they are miked? I've never heard the original album on vinyl so I can't comment on how this release compares but is it me or does anyone else have a problem with how this album sounds?

Thanks, erwbol.... I might dip my toe in the water with "Lift Every Voice".

Bump.........

... at The Gateshead Jazz festival in April. http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/esperanza-spalding-joe/

I'm with you here, John. Last time I saw Lovano live he was awful. Not sure whether it was just a bad night or whether he's lost his mojo but I'll take a bit of convincing to buy anything new by him.

Shorthand for someone with very left-wing views.....

Know what you mean..... I don't play him a lot now. .... apart from this, of course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U99PMBxhAQ ... MAGIC!

Yes, I've just finished it and found most of it very enjoyable. A couple of the interviews went over my head but the others provided a pretty good picture of what it must have been like to be a jazz musician in 1960s New York. Not sure it was worth the price I paid for it mind you. A very well written biography of the Labour Prime Miinister that never was. Shades of the current ructions surrounding the election of the next Labour leader...what a shambles!

There's a very nice looking batch of cheapish re-issues due out in October including a number from the excellent Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi.... CDJapan reissues for October

As a matter on interest (to me!)... how does the Andrew Hill Mosaic boxset sound compared to these latest re-issues? I've never re-bought any of his Blue Note albums.

Thanks for the heads-up, Roger... that Turtle boxset sounds good. Although I already own the three albums on CD I'll probably get it for the remastered sound and the 56 page booklet. This is top drawer British jazz from the 1970s

Yes. I was going to nominate him too. His work with Maria Schneider is outstanding.

Gone!

I have an extra copy of Horace Tapscott's "The Call" which I bought in error recently which I am offering free to someone with a UK address. PM me if you're interested.

Yes, I use a similar one for storing my CD-Rs... http://www.jetmedia.co.uk/pvc_wallets.htm but they're not big enough to store a pukka CD plus artwork - tray and booklet etc. Is your version large enough for all that?

Jazz Loft may be gone, but the owner of the website kept the business going for their sleeves: http://www.spacesavingsleeves.com I used to use Jazz Loft for these but I see the prices have risen substantially for non-US sales since then. Anyone have a UK outlet for them or something similar? I dumped all my jewel boxes a few years back and went to plastic sleeves. Ripped up a lot of cardboard multiple CD holders too. I too was conflicted at the start. But I've never looked back and saved acres of space. I mainly download now (though I still burn a CD-r and make a functional sleeve (daft, I know). The thing that made me jump was when I faced up to the fact that however beautiful CD packaging might be (and it can often be very lovely) I generally only looked at it once or twice. I keep the inserts for CDs; generally download information can be easily found online (not essays but musician info). I've still to make the final move to playing straight from a designated streamer connected to a giant hard disc. Maybe when I move over the next year. What plastic sleeves do you use, Bev?

Theme tune from Spartacus by the Metropole Jazz Orchestra conducted by Maria Schneider: When I'm in the mood this track always hits the spot for me. On her album "Coming About" Maria has the wonderful Rich Perry soloing on tenor sax but this version is mighty fine too.

.... frightening!

Very nice obituary in the Guardian... http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/19/john-taylor which mentions not only his beautiful piano playing but also the fact that he was a very nice person...as he most certainly was.

Oh, that really is sad news. One of my favourite musicians and someone who I have been lucky to have seen live on many, many occasions.

Another for this.... a superb read.

You and me both, Allen..........

I'm in, Jim.... thanks once again for keeping the ship floating!