Forums

There is a statement on Uehlinger's AlAy website regarding the Westbrook release (with my emphasis): In Memory of Mike Westbrook Mike Westbrook contacted me in April/May 2025, when I was still Hat Hut Records owner and recommended that I issue his piano blues solo recording. After listening to the music, I agreed. At the end of May, I sold the name of Hat Hut Records and its contents of ezz-thetics productions. The recordings then passed to the new owners of Hat Hut Records, who had no interest in releasing them. Since I had promised Mike Westbrook a CD release, I began working on the release despite a non-compete agreement. The contact with Mike was very intense in the following weeks to achieve his wish that the CD be released before his 90th birthday in March 2026. I succeeded. He received the CD after mid-February 2026. Mike was very happy and very grateful. Mike’s eMail on February 23, 2026: The CDs have arrived! ‍Now the music is able to speak for itself. Thanks for your support and commitment in making it happen. Unfortunately, his illness caught up with him and led to his recent death on April 11, 2026. The Piano In The Room And The Blues has now become a memorial edition. – Werner X. Uehlinger, curator for AlAy Ltd. You have to admire the unwavering single-mindedness, all obstacles - such as agreed non-compete - being brushed aside in pursue of a goal.  

Over the last two days:

'Bout time! I couldn't believe their attitude when I was there. The person "guarding" the door back then was pretty adamant that they were only a recording studio. The attitude gave the impression that they wished that Abbey Road wasn't even recorded there... as if they would have still been in business if they hadn't done it.  

On to another Byrd on Savoy, this with John Jenkins and Curtis Fuller, Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins and Art Taylor Donald Byrd “Jazz Eyes”

Starting off with that 'fifties RVG sound on Donald Byrd “Byrd’s Word” on Savoy/Denon cd. Great jazz I haven’t heard for some time. Donald Byrd “Byrd’s Word” Donald Byrd - trumpet Frank Foster - tenor saxophone Hank Jones - piano Paul Chambers - bass Kenny Clarke - drums