John Delaney

Hank Mobley's 'Poppin'', referred to recently as a rare Blue Note CD, is to be found on English ebay at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280321874036

According to the BBC News website, the following are contaminated; Horace Silver, "Silver's Blue", Gerry Mulligan, "Jeru" and Dexter Gordon "Manhattan Symphonie".

Now I remember All Change being at street level, this is the one at the north end of Baker Street. A very small shop. The one at the south end, a more opulent place by far, I seem to recall was in a semi basement and much bigger. Some where around this time, a radio disc jockey named Stuart something or other became invlolved. He wasn't a jazz dj and he wasn't around for long. When I retired Pete Fincham, by then the sole owner of Mole, bought my remaining stock. I seem to recall Ed was known for some reason at school as The Mole and that's where the shop got its name. I always got on well with Ed and he was very knowledgeable. Crazy about Chet Baker. The auction side of things, which was Ed's department, went downhill after he died. Very, very sad as he knew he was dying for some time before he actually did. Rest In Peace, Ed.

That wouldn't be 'All Change' Records would it? Yes! That's right: All Change Records. Andy, also yes. I was in Stourbridge and then Birmingham. Now an old codger and retired to North Wales. Beautiful sea air!

I seem to recall Ed Dipple (good bloke) opened his first shop prior to 1976. It was at the top end of Baker Street, on the left looking north, (near where Sherlock Holmes was supposed to live) and was not called Mole Jazz. I think he had a bequest from his granny to start it off. The second shop was at the south end of Baker Street on the opposite side of the road. Graham Griffiths and Pete Fincham came in as partners and the move was made to Kings Cross with the entrance on the north of the shop. Later the entrance was switched. And the rest is history. John Delaney

There was a Japanese LP issue of this some years ago (East West P-6140). J.R. slung his sax from a bandalero style wide shoulder strap: not unique but quite unusual.

Much of the material used in the 'Jazz In Paris' series was taken from the Blue Star and Barclay labels. Eddie Barclay founder of Blue Star (in 1949) and Barclay (in 1955) died 13 May last aged 84. His obituary in today's Times (London) can be found at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-1615226,00.html

Although the Sasha Distel looks as if it belongs in the JIP series it is marked 'hors serie'; outside series. Also 'hors serie' is a Django Reinhart 2 CD set 'The Great Blue Star Sessions 1947 - 1953' on Universal 835418-2. This has 33 tracks from the sessions of 16 April, 6 July, 18 July, 4 October, 10 December 1947 and 10 March 1953. It seems to be the complete Barclay / Blue Stars sessions but does not include the alternate takes.

I've recently come across a CD originally distributed with an Italian jazz part-work which seems to have been published in late 1994. The CD has no catalogue number. Called "Dizzy Gillespie In Milan 1968"; it seems to be previously unissued as it isn't in the Koster / Sellers discography. No recording date given. Tracks are: Things To Come (6:15), Ray's Idea (4:36), One Bass Hit (5:07), Milan Is Love (6:30), Something In Your Smile (Diz vocal) (4:55), Nbani (10:55), Old Folks (Moody flute feature) (9:47), Frisco (8:46). The recording quality suggests a concert performance (crowd noise but not obtrusively so) and the sound balance is not good enough for a radio broadcast. The personnel is as for the well known MPS issue. Any comments? (Now you're going to tell me it was issued on an Albanian LP some years ago!) JD

Just to add a bit to what has already been said - and this is from memory so usual caveats. The dual catalogue numbering was because you could order them from two sources: the Polydor number to order from Polydor (Polygram was the parent company). The Black Lion number to order from an independent supplier (there may have been more than one of these). Alan Bates is still around, as far as I know, and now owns only the Candid bit. The Black Lion material has been on no end of labels over the years; just to mention one that hasn't been referred to and that is Jazz Colours but that may be part of the DA Music empire. (Just had a look; yes it is).

'Long Tall Dexter', the discography by Thorbjorn Sjogren comes to the same conclusion. John Delaney

I should have mentioned that the first paragraph of my recent posting, which is within quotes"", was taken from Thorbjorn Sjogren's discography of Dexter. John Delaney

"In 1972, Dexter Gordon recorded the music for a Danish pornographic film. Personnel was Gordon (tnr), Kenny Drew (pno), Niels Henning Orsted Pedesen (B) and Jual Curtis (d). Titles: Tivoli, The Group, Girl With The Purple Eyes and Onrop. Some of the music was recorded at Jazzhus Montmartre, where the quartet is also seen performing". There was a TV programme on BBC two years or so ago about the film's director (name escapes me at the moment) who made a variety of mainly art films. Dex was heard but not identified in the TV programme. Sorry. Aric, no sexual activity was shown. The BBC is not up to such things (well, not usually). John Delaney

The session for Volume 2 is listed in both the Claude Schlouch and Bo Raftegard discographies of Kenny Dorham. Both have a note that the tape is believed lost. Now I'm sure I heard somewhere but I can't recall where that the session never took place. When the Dorham was issued as half of a double LP it was paired with the Sonny Criss Peacock date. Do the sleeve notes to this issue throw any light? John Delaney

There's a non vocal Sacha Distel on Pablo 2310 892 called 'My Guitar And All That Jazz'. This was a reissue of Carrere 67.975, recorded in Paris during 1983. I don't think this has made it to CD. I can't comment on the musical content as I have never heard it. John Delaney