BillF

Thanks for mentioning the Pepper Adams session, Bill. With Carl Perkins also on the date, it sounds like a winner. I see it's now available together with the very good Pepper Adams, Critics' Choice session on an album called PepperAdams, Hollywood Quintet Sessions.

Marc Myers Ted Gioia David Brent Johnson (Jazz bloggers)

I haven't been on one since about 19:40 on Friday! Knowing you, Bev, I'm sure you're not influenced by Margaret Thatcher's views on public transport: "A man over twenty-five riding on a bus is a failure in life" I'm hoping that these really are the last days of unrestricted freet-marketism and that someone will have the sense to run the railways as a public service once more. You know - simple to understand ticket prices that you can read on a website without having to 'register' and 'search' (the latter normally resulting in 'there are no trains according to these criteria'!). It would make far more sense for me to travel to London by train. I used to get a "Day Return" on a Saturday in the early 80s and it was reasonably priced, you could buy it at the station. I'm told the pricing system has simplified recently. Maybe I'll try it! Not surprisingly, "simplified" in practice means more expensive. The key thing now is to buy tickets online at least a few hours before travel. They can usually be picked up at the station from a machine, using the card used to make the online purchase. The so-called "simplification" has raised the price of many "walk up" tickets to astronomical levels.

He can be heard to advantage on Pepper Adams Quintet (VSOP/Mode) with Carl Perkins, Leroy Vinnegar and Mel Lewis.

I haven't been on one since about 19:40 on Friday! Knowing you, Bev, I'm sure you're not influenced by Margaret Thatcher's views on public transport: "A man over twenty-five riding on a bus is a failure in life"

Aint that the truth ! I never use it either - not if I can avoid it. The Swedish fast train service to and from the airport was very punctual and comfortable but at about £35 equivalent for a return 20 minute journey was damned expensive, even by our inflated price standards. Didn't get to eat the moose but I'll leave that to the next visit. Until then I'm stuck with Swedish meatballs from Ikea ! Welcoming you back with "Dear Old Stockholm" from 'Round About Midnight by the Miles Davis Quintet on CBS vinyl.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Yogi Bear Bear Stearns

Russell Brand Henrik Ibsen Jan Garbarek

Han Solo Napoleon Solo Phil Napoleon

Koko Coco the Clown Coco Chanel

Jazz Record Requests from BBC Radio 3. Now playing: Classic Jazz Quartet with Dick Sudhalter, Joe Muranyi, Dick Wellstood and Marty Grosz.

It could be ugly... I am inclined to think that unless you absolutely need to tap into your savings in the next decade, it's best just to grit your teeth and sit tight with a well-diversified portfolio. The worst thing to do at this point is to engage in some panic selling. Of course, I am just an economist, not an investment expert. Guy Maybe you're not, but it's pretty obvious that the only reason to sell at this point is to lock in your losses. On the other hand, if you are feeling frisky, you can go short in Yen and invest the proceeds in a basket of Rand, Lira, and Real and Kiwi Dollar. Guy My Missus bought a big load of Rand the other day at a very good rate - she's not going on holiday until February. She'll be gutted if the rand goes down more in the next few months. MG Randissimo!

The only Blue Note twofer I own is BN-LA392-H2 Thad Jones/Mel Lewis in what Sidewinder called the "technicolor yawn" format. I bought it used long ago (early 1980s?) in the damp basement of Dobell's Jazz Record Shop, Charing Cross Road, London, staffed by the redoubtable Johnny Kendal, whom British jazzers of a certain age will recall!

Banjo Patterson Guitar Sam Harpo Marx

Dumbo John Moran Argonne "Dense" Thornton

I agree. A quick look at my record collection shows I reached for (i.e. bought) 17 Blakey albums before this one.

Alan Ladd Lester Young Billy Childs

Mister Walker Wes Montgomery Marion Montgomery

Paul Anka Horsa Sarah Tether

Aeneas Ulysses Grant Green

Boy you don't find many who prefer that lineup, fine as it was. It was this group, and the compositions it wrote and recorded, that made the Messengers. Had Art stuck with that band and the bop they favored, I don't think "The Messengers" would be recognized in the same way that they are today. YMMV, of course. Yes, you're quite right in everything you say, but my personal collection of 1957 Messengers' albums remains a highly treasured possession. (No surprise, but I don't own Moanin'! )

Howard McGhee Sextet, Moods by McGhee (Guilde du Jazz 10" LP)

Candido Chano Pozo Sabu

Hope this won't be seen as "Messengers snobbery", but I always preferred the previous outfit with McLean, Hardman and Dockery, even though their album sales were only a fraction of Moanin's.

The Pointer Sisters Brother Soul The Man from UNCLE