BillF

Joe Bananas Peaches Geldof Mr Plum

Bill - you're as safe as houses. Did I say 'houses'? I hope you're right, Sidewinder. I have a nervous disposition

Michael Barrymore Stuart Lubbock Eric Lubbock

Dean Moriarty Professor Moriarty Count Jim Moriarty

Junior Mance discusses his records with Alyn Shipton on Jazz Library from BBC Radio 3. Great show, which can be heard on www.bbc.co.uk/radio3.

Diz Disley Jeff Green Ken Sikora (British guitarists)

Walter Pater Hairy Bikers Max Headroom

My wife and I have four pensions - all from government sources, as we were both employed in education. We no longer have a mortgage and our savings are divided equally between government National Savings and a building society which has remained mutual, i.e. never floated on the stock exchange and retaining a communal aspect. But I'm still worried!

Casey Jones John Axon the Railwayman Long John from Bowling Green

Philip K Dick, Time Out of Joint

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (Blue Note 1518)

Roy Haynes Roy Hargrove Roy Porter

Tubby Hayes Peter King Ronnie Scott

Monk birthday special on WKCR. Now playing: "Ask Me Now" from 5 by Monk by 5.

Horace Silver, Silver's Blue (Epic)

Thanks for letting me know about that one, aloc!

Already been listening to it, aloc. Missed part of Tuesday's live broadcast of Bebop Spoken Here.

"The Duke Pearson Songbook" on Night Lights From WFIU.

Looks good, aloc! I also have Lenny on vinyl: a Fantasy twofer called The Real Lenny Bruce.

Great news, Bill! I'll certainly be making use of that!

Tubby Hayes Will Hay Jack Straw

I'll certainly back the recommendation for Hawes's book.

Incidentally, just how long can the classical stranglehold of BBC Radio 3 - often bemoaned on this board - go on? Here the Royal Northern College of Music, long a classical-or-nothing bastion, has a new principal who digs contemporary Norwegian jazz. As I go past on the bus I can now see vibes and drum kits through the windows of the practice rooms. The winds of change!

Bring it on ! It's so obvious - yet no-one in this damn country has got the balls to do it. Instead I guess we get another 30 years of Wogan, Jonathan Ross etc. Not to mention endless food and cookery, makeover shows and those damn programmes following round trawlermen, lifeguards, traffic cops etc etc. What next? Toliet attendants? Our broadcasting is capable of being world class but has dumbed down to a significant degree. Thank goodness for the little gems that remain; e.g. Alyn Shipton talking to Junior Mance on Saturday at 4pm about his best records.

Billy Bauer Arnold Fishkin Jeff Morton (Tristano sidemen)