BillF

Foula, Shetland Islands

Humber Bridge

I know of him - thanks to John Tapscott.

Happy Birthday, Horst!

Leonard Cheshire Ann Clwyd Simon Dee

Milt Gold Precious Diamond Lil

Steve Waterman John Locke Canaletto

I shall also be very wary about clicking on that icon. I managed to upgrade from Windows 8 to 8.1, but had to ask a computer-savvy friend to iron out minor glitches. He said some people had had bigger problems. "Such as?" I asked. "Such as needing a new computer," he replied.

Perhaps this post should remain, but be renamed "In Memory of Durium".

David Soul Hal Abbott Mr Kipper

Traffic jam, Beijing

Timmy Mallett Davy Crockett Stix Hooper

End of my street, 100+ years ago. (The only jazz I was listening to at the time was the Bolden cylinder.)

on the qui vive = on the lookout

Mount Sinabung volcano erupts, Sumatra

Route 83 in South Dakota

Curtis LeMay Big Maybelle Belle Mooney

Girls from Ipswich Norfolk Broads The Lady of the Lake

Down Beat Readers' Poll?

Charlie Dimmock The Constant Gardener Digby Jones

Dougas Jay Mr Walker Del Boy Trotter

Did you get a clean-ish copy of this? If so, is it an American pressing? Over the last few years, I've gone through three looking for one that's not making popcorn while the music plays and have pretty much given up. Bought mine used in the seventies (American pressing) and it's fine.

I saw the Marsalis orch doing the Blue Note programme at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester last summer. The most bored, uninspired bunch of musicians I've seen for many a year and that includes everything from visiting American stars to local players. Such a pity, as buried in this soporific outfit were swingers like Ryan Kisor and Ted Nash - who of course get nice, dependable paychecks as members of this easy listening ensemble. All very suited to the burghers of Harrogate, I suppose. The people at the Bridgewater Hall certainly weren't a jazz audience and seemed very happy with what they heard. The other night I saw Dave Liebman with a Swiss trio playing superlative music. They drew an audience of 50. Marsalis got 1,000. Regrettable.