BillF

Yes, in the 50s Jay and Kai were very popular by today's jazz standards - not the popularity of Elvis, of course, nor even the popularity of Brubeck or the MJQ for that matter - but they were big enough for a 17-year-old friend of mine to take up trombone in an attempt to emulate them. Anything that can get through to someone of 17 must be called popular, don't you think? Don't forget their arrangements were catchy, almost singable, and their varied tonal effects - with mutes, etc - helped make an attractive product. I'm well aware of this as I frequently go to hear a trombone duo who do a Jay and Kai show with transcribed arrangements and they're very easy on the ear and get a big reception from an audience, many of whom must have been teenagers in the 50s.

Master of Arts Hugh Smellie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Smellie George Tosh

Just speaking for myself, I'd certainly be happy to hear Scott Hamilton, Matt Skelton and Jim Hart. I'd also like to hear guitarist Dave Cliff who's on tonight at the 606 Club in Chelsea. http://www.606club.co.uk/

Jodie Christian Godchild Venus de Milo

Bill Stickers The Stuckists Billy Childish

William Dampier Dimples Cooper George Smiley

Ruth Roman The Happy Wanderer The Lady Who Is a Tramp

Coltrane's sheets of sound passages, so evident on Prestige dates c.1958, must have left the other musicians not knowing quite what to do. At one point (can't remember which album) Red Garland turns to a long-sustained double tempo run in his solo and on Black Pearls you hear the same thing from Donald Byrd. In neither case does it sound right.

Mal Waldron Ronnie Waldman Paulie Walnuts

Clyde Chestnut Barrow Sir Mortimer Wheeler The Hairy Bikers

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/26/how-i-taught-my-son-to-love-vinyl

Poppa Piccolino Poppea Nero

Watermelon Man Peanut Vendor Peter Sellers

Nipper Kenny Napper Head Man

Killer Ray Appleton Joe G Laser The Idler

The Christmas Guest Santa Rudolph

Tory strongholds hit by Biblical-style floods. Should we read anything into this?

Glenda Slagg Colin Stagg Stig of the Dump

Merry Christmas!

George and Dragon Pig and Whistle Marquis of Granby

(Blame) Boehm (Don't Blame) Me My Old Flame

Quintin Hogg Quentin Blake Ran Blake

Henry Royce The Master of the Rolls Shorty Baker

Steve Swallow Arthur Ransome

Never saw him play - by the time I saw the Adderleys Charles Lloyd had replaced him - but once saw him walking across Leicester Square with his saxophone case at a time when he was appearing at Ronnie's.