RogerF

Screened tonight, available in the UK on ITV Player for a month. I actually was quite pleasantly surprised by this show. Bob is clearly a very devoted husband and indeed they are a very devoted couple. His rather endearing west country burr reminded me of the short spoken interludes he recited on Giles, Giles and Fripp's (The Cheerful Insanity of). https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/all-star-mr-and-mrs/series-5/episode-2

I thought at first this post was a joke. But I fear it isn't.

Just been playing Derek's own album 'Increased Demand' and discovered it's a real gem. Probably difficult if not impossible to find(*) but definitely worth the search. What a superb player. RIP Derek. (*)Update: Not impossible, as I've just seen copies on eBay and Amazon.co.uk, albeit not many left.

I work in Central London. There are few record stores left now. Ray's in Foyles (Charing Cross Road) is still going. HMV in Oxford Street is still going but when I visited the jazz dept in the basement a couple of weeks ago it looked like they had emptied it of at least two thirds of the stock. Looked kind of post-apocalyptic and sad. Some second hand record stores in Berwick Street (eg Reckless Records which has a fair bit of jazz) are still going. Not really much else. For gigs check out this website: http://www.jazzinlondon.net/JIL/JILfrontpage.htm Please of venues still going such as the 606, Vortex and the relatively new Hideaway in Streatham, South London.

Yes three Tubbs tracks minus the Cleo ones.

Yes I have nearly all of these on CD except for the Palladium Jazz Date. I would buy this box set for the Simon Spillett sleeve notes though. Although listening on iTunes to the All Members track on Palladium I might buy it for that track alone. Stunning.

Proper Music released on 25 February 2013 a new Tubby Hayes box set, Little Giant Steps which includes in addition to tracks from the Tempo Tubby's Groove recordings, the first six Tubbs albums recorded for Fontana [Tubbs, Tubbs in NY, Equation in Rhythm, Down in the Village, Late Spot at Scott's, Return Visit plus the three Tubbs tracks on Palladium Jazz Date (the album shared with Cleo Laine). Most of these recordings excepting the Tubby’s Groove and Palladium ones are in stereo and have been unavailable for quite a while. This four CD box set is enhanced by liner notes by Tubbs expert and author, Simon Spillett. Full details from the Proper Music website here: http://www.propermus...teps-4CD-148786

and just heard a tribute to him on the 6 o'clock news on BBC Radio 4!

I saw him with the Whole World at the Roundhouse in London. Their version of "Why are we Sleeping" was unbelievable and pretty much changed my life - or at least my musical life. This was the gig where I first encountered the great Lol Coxhill, who along with David Bedford and a young Mike Oldfield made up The Whole World and I think (although may be mistaken) that Robert Wyatt was on drums at that gig. Kevin influenced me greatly and was a superb songwriter, but sadly never quite achived the fame and glory he deserved. Bev, I was at the Rainbow gig too. Again, fantastic. RIP Kevin. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/feb/20/kevin-ayers-dies-aged-68

The CD contains only previously unreleased tracks taken from reel to reel tapes unearthed from various sources, usually from the musicians themselves. The book is going to be controversial because it doesn't take a neutral stance but a pugnaciously (?) political one. This is obviously the author's prerogative. Personally, if I had written this book, I would have left this out and concentrated on the music and perhaps the history of its development in Britain. But having said that it's better produced than John Wickes' Innovation in British Jazz which, despite its excellent comprehensiveness, suffered from woeful (lack of) sub-editing and production. Duncan Heining knows his stuff too and knows (or knew) many of the musicians personally. But, I find the more books that are written about British Jazz and British jazz musicians, the more there is a tendency for them to be long-winded possibly as compensation for the lack of airtime or publicity these musicians receive in the various mainstream media. For me - and I admit I am somewhat biased here - the definitive British jazz book is Ian Carr's Music Outside which concentrated on the music and musicians and was relatively short. Notwithstanding the above comments I still think Duncan Heining and Mike King should be applauded for their book and CD respectively. It's very brave to write and release books and CDs on an art form which has become increasingly marginalised over recent years - check out the dearth of John Fordham printed reviews in Friday's Guardian, for example. Even in the online version they are few and far between. And let's not get started on Radio 3!

Yep, to me anyway, it sounds good. I'm currently listening to the latest GFG album, Girl and Robot with Flowers and this is good, atmospheric, slightly retro stuff and yet still sounding contemporary. The album is dedicated to the late Gordon Beck, a hero of keyboard/leader Greg Foat but the overall sound seems to be slightly reminiscent of Roy Budd - which can't be a bad thing, as he was cut down too early in life. There's also a bit of Brian Auger there too, certainly very Brit 1960s / early 70s influences but as I say, it ploughs its own furrows too, not copyist by any means. Definitely worth checking out here: https://soundcloud.c...-group-girl-and

Why is British jazz always the Cinderella when it comes to tales of ‘Swinging London’? asks Duncan Heining in today's Independent: http://tinyurl.com/affgy3n (I don't have an answer!)

For me, the problem with it apart from the title was it was trying to have its cake and eat it. Jazz is dead "oh no it isn't" "oh yes it is" etc etc ad nauseum. Still this is the pantomime season I guess.

I think this lost a couple of words in the title, possibly should have read "Jazz is dead at the BBC". If you want to immediately elevate your blood pressure to danger level you can hear it on the BBC iPlayer. A truly depressing start to the year but then again maybe a manifesto explaining the dearth of jazz output by the UK's premiere radio broadcaster. Depressing not because the title is accurate but because of its inaccuracy. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01phg6m

interesting

Bob Downes Mixed Bag just released on the Openian label is a retrospective mélange of tracks charting this multi-instrumentalist’s career, back to 1971 although his actual career spans a bit further back than that. There are some vital tracks here for anyone seriously interested in Downes’ idiosyncratic music and a considerably varied range of styles. Solo tracks include him performing live variously on flute, contrabass flute, alto flute, tenor sax, bamboophone and wind chimes. Then there is Brotherhood of Breath-esque Downes Wind Band, a 65 piece orchestra performing a lively and engaging “Jamican Jump Up”. Some essential archival tracks follow including Lola performed by Downes on flute and vocals, Brian Godding on guitar, Barry Guy on bass and John Stevens on drums recorded in 1977. Going East sees Downes accompanied by the great Ray Russell on guitar plus Daryl Runswick on bass, Alan Rushton on drums and an unnamed horn section recorded in 1974. The next track, another live one, with a brilliantly memorable repeated riff (Seashore) with the same line up substitutes Runswick with Harry Miller dating back to 1974. Following further solo tracks, the CD concludes with a haunting piece recorded in 1971 with Downes on feedback flute plus Laurie Baker on EMS VCS3 synthesizer, Barry Guy on bass and Derek Hogg on drums. Having recently celebrated his 75th birthday this gifted multi-instrumentalist has produced some excellent work over the course of his career and was a mainstay of various British jazz bands in the 1960s before he moved permanently to Germany. But he still plays and sometimes, albeit rarely performs in public. A “free gift” (short at around 10 minutes) CD which is included with Mixed Bag, and entitled Requiem was performed by Downes earlier this year and is dedicated to Faruq Z. Bey an American saxophonist who died in June 2012. Four tracks here see Downes performing on tenor sax and on the final track on bass flute. This extra CD is witness to Downes’ talents being in no way diminished by age (what is 75 now anyway?) and is a fine addition to an exceptional archive set. More here: http://www.bobdownesmusic.de/

Lest anyone is in any doubt, my copy arrived in the post today and it's just fantastic. The (digi) packaging is just perfect with facsimiles of the front and back cover of the album and excellent sleeve notes by Dave Gelly. The music, of course, sounds better than ever.

Indeed "One of the most important British jazz albums ever recorded" is record company publicity-speak, but in my book at least it is a favourite album and definitely within my top 50 all-time British jazz albums. My spine tingles whenever I hear Ivor Cutler's ghostly rendition of The Dong with the Luminous Nose...The Dong The DONG!

Neil Ardley's "A Symphony of Amaranths", one of the most important British jazz albums ever recorded is being reissued for the first time on CD since its original release in 1971. Amongst the stellar line-up of musicians who appear on the album are names such as Henry Lowther, Harold Beckett, Derek Wadsworth, Ray Premru, Barbara Thompson, Dave Gelly, Don Rendell, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Stan Tracey, Karl Jenkins, Alan Branscombe, Frank Ricotti, Chris Laurence, Jeff Clyne, Jon Hiseman plus vocals from Ivor Cutler and Norma Winstone. This reissue is limited to 1000 copies only and is being made available on the Dusk Fire label. The official release date is 21 January 2013 but the album is also being sold from the Dusk Fire website. This is a very welcome reissue. More details here: http://www.musicsogo...eil_ardley3.htm

Just seen that Mothermania (The Best of the Mothers) is about to be reissued on CD (or just has been). First time on CD

Strange that they didn't combine 'Russo In London' with 'Stonehenge'. Good to see this one out on CD, nevertheless ! I'm looking forward to the Russo as the only thing of his I've heard was one track on an EMI sampler called "Jazz Explosion". Sounded good.

This seems to good to be true - but apparently it's for real (or reel)...coincides with a new book by Duncan Heining on British jazz 1960-1975 (published by Equinox, October 2012) Reel Recordings Presents Trad Dads, Dirty Boppers and Free Fusioneeers: British Jazz 1961 - 1975 1961. Mike Taylor Quintet 1964. Henry Lowther - Lyn Dobson Quintet 1965. John Stevens Seven 1966. Mike Osborne - John Surman Quartet 1968. Joe Harriott Quintet 1969. Amancio D’Silva & Don Rendell - Ian Carr Quintet 1971. Gary Windo’s Symbiosis 1972. Elton Dean’s Just Us 1974. Lol Coxhill - Steve Miller 1975. Graham Collier Music with Norma Winstone When Duncan Heining, author of Trad Dads, Dirty Boppers and Free Fusioneers (Equinox Publishing, 2012) enthusiastically embraced Reel Recordings’ proposal to produce a collection of rare recordings as a musical companion for his book illuminating the classic period of British Jazz, 1960 - 1975, it was clear that the endeavor would uncover pure musical gold. The finding of these recordings was met with generosity by the musicians and their respective estates, and they, along with Reel Recordings, are donating all proceeds from the purchase of this CD to the Musicians Benevolent Fund, U.K. The musicians represented here rank highly among the many talented musicians from this especially creative period of British Jazz as it developed on stages and in studios across London. For some, their reputations precede them, while others have perhaps receded into anonymity. All, however, are unified through a common love for the colours and sounds of vanguardist jazz composition and performance. Today, in 2012, this compendium reveals recordings which will touch listeners, both those who remember the times and those who are just discovering its music, with its beauty, its excitement and its imagination. Trad Dads, Dirty Boppers and Free Fusioneers: British Jazz 1961 - 1975 is a veritable treasure trove of musical brilliance, made personal and distinctive by individual improvisers and accompanists of extraordinary ability and comes exclusively in a Compact Disc Edition that will delight jazz fans everywhere. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Musician Credits: 1. Mike Taylor Quintet “Phrygie” Mike Taylor, piano; Dave Tomlin, tenor sax; Frank Powell, trumpet; Goudie Charles, bass; Randy Jones, drums 2. Henry Lowther - Lyn Dobson Quintet “Scarpo” Henry Lowther, trumpet; Lyn Dobson, tenor sax; Tony Hymas, piano; Harry Miller, bass; Joe Henry, drums 3. John Stevens Seven “Number Three” Alan Skidmore, tenor sax; Kenny Wheeler, flugelhorn; Chris Pyne, trombone; Mike Pyne, piano; Ron Mathewson, bass; John Stevens, drums 4. Mike Osborne - John Surman Quartet “An Idea” Mike Osborne, alto sax; John Surman, baritone sax; Harry Miller, bass; Alan Jackson, drums 5. Joe Harriott Quintet “Shadow” Joe Harriott, alto sax; Kenny Wheeler, flugelhorn; Pat Smythe, piano; Ron Mathewson, bass; Bill Eyden, drums 6. Amancio D’Silva & Don Rendell - Ian Carr Quintet “Joyce County” Amancio D'Silva, guitar; Don Rendell, tenor sax, Ian Carr, flugelhorn; Michael Garrick, harpsichord; Dave Green, bass; Trevor Tompkins, drums 7. Gary Windo’s Symbiosis “Standfast” Gary Windo, tenor sax; Mongezi Feza, pocket trumpet; Nick Evans, trombone; Steve Florence, guitar; Roy Babbington, bass guitar; Robert Wyatt, drums 8. Elton Dean’s Just Us “Beer Garden” Elton Dean, electric piano; Mark Charig, cornet; Nick Evans, trombone; Jeff Green, guitar; Neville Whitehead, bass; Louis Moholo, drums 9. Lol Coxhill - Steve Miller “For Those Who Prefer It Mid-tempo” Lol Coxhill, soprano sax; Steve Miller, piano; Archie Leggett, bass guitar; Laurie Allan, drums 10. Graham Collier Music with Norma Winstone “Singing For The Small Change” Norma Winstone, voice; Art Themen, tenor sax, Harry Beckett, flugelhorn; Derek Wadsworth, trombone; Ed Speight, guitar; Roger Dean, piano; Graham Collier, bass; John Marshall, drums

I'm certainly not offended either. The thing that struck me as odd about "Off Duty" was that it did border on lounge music at times although it definitely had its moments. I have great affection for Dankworth's four major albums that were effectively a suite albeit one recorded over a number of years viz; "What the Dickens!", "Zodiac Variations", "The $1,000,000 Collection" and "Lifeline". These are to my ears significant works with contributions from some notable 'guest star' musicians, many of whom were members of Dankworth's bands at that time (Kenny Wheeler, Mike Gibbs, Henry Lowther, to name just a few). I have listened to "What the Dickens" a number of times now and there are things about it that you just don't pick up on one or two cursory plays. For example, the arrangements Dankworth employed and the tonal colour he got out of the use of such unusual instruments in jazz such as the harp. Also, although some tracks have a rather "Mary Poppins" or "wotcha me old mate down the Old Kent Road" type of feel, there are some that are beautifully and sensitively executed, like the duo of Dankworth and Tubby Hayes on "Dodson and Fogg" which the more I listen to the more it reminds me of the much later work of S.O.S. But all the tracks are worthy of deeper exploration. Those four albums are real gems, which along with "Windmill Tilter" must rank as John Dankworth's finest recordings. I begged for years for these (four) to be reissued on commercial labels when they were only available somewhat less commercially (but nevertheless in a very fine presentation box set) on The Dankworth's own Sepia label. Now thankfully they are available on Vocalion and "Windmill Tilter" on BGO. I believe these are all essential for anyone seriously interested in British jazz. Now let's have those Neil Ardleys please! Oh and "Hum Dono" while you're about it!

I thank you! Did anyone get the Dankworth ("What the Dickens!" plus "Off Duty")? I positively love the former, a great and significant recording but have some slight reservations about the latter, later recording. Any opinions?

Just bought my copy and yes it is superb - thanks for all the info above.