BillF

Pianists again, I note. (See my post above.) I also think Tyner's something of an exception. Perhaps it's because he had so much to live up to after the glory of the Coltrane years.

Carlos the Jackal Dr Jekyll Dr Jackyll and Mr Funk

Kenny G Matthew Gee Matthew Mark Luke John

Marvin Hank Marvin Hank Hank Cinq Moms Mobley Honk Mostly

From the preface to Gaddis' general account of The Cold War, where he explains why he decided to write a one volume survey: Reminds me of Philip Larkin's words in his introduction to All What Jazz (1970), a collection of his jazz criticism articles. He imagines his audience as "fathers of cold-eyed lascivious daughters on the pill, to whom Ramsay McDonald is coeval with Rameses II".

Me too! Heard bits of that BBC version last night, drifting in and out of sleep. Sounded intriguing but I can't imagine I'd be any more successful reading it now - I like a narrative! Just started this: I love Gaddis on the Cold War (though not always his conclusions!); thought this a good way to kick start yet another year teaching the topic. Nice to know the Cold War is now history! Was even more gratified to realise that Thatcher was already history ten years ago when she appeared on my daughter's school history syllabus!

Very much liked Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries and Larry's Party and less so Unless, but haven't tried the short stories. I must be among the millions who have read bits of Ulysses, but not the whole book.

Tommy Steele Metal Mickey Little Tin God

Hines didn't improve his playing, he just grew another hand. A lot of pianists seem to improve - or at least not decline - with age. I suppose it's because declining physical strength doesn't affect their playing ability as it does, say, high note trumpeters like Roy Eldridge or Maynard Ferguson, to give pretty obvious examples. Hines and Bill Evans have already been mentioned - I've been listening to some beautiful contemporary stuff by Harold Mabern, Richard Wyands and Kenny Barron, none of them young men any more. And Basie and Ellington were still there right up to the end, as far as I'm aware. It's not a hard and fast rule though - you only have to think of Bud Powell, but then his problem wasn't physical decline.

Tommy Whittle Britt Woodman Richard Carpenter

Plastic Ono Band Earl Bostic Frantic Fanny

Byron Wallen Dave Burns Eubie Blake

Missed them! Just tuned in now. Perhps I'll catch up with the first numbers on the i-Player later. Might not be your thing, Bill - sort of Brazil meets Spain meets general Latin meets film music - but worth giving it a try. Er, yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPzt3A4Se_U

Missed them! Just tuned in now. Perhps I'll catch up with the first numbers on the i-Player later.

How 'bout "Stan Getz better"? Sounds like one for the Getz Stuff Quintet (apologies to Ronnie).

Here she is in a detail from a photo of the Herman band in 1945, Chubby Jackson in the background:

Many people - and I'm one of them - think the late work of Bill Evans was something else. Sadly, he wasn't around long enough for the word "age" to be really applicable.

Mel Blanc Red Rodney Blue Mitchell Filthy McNasty Dirty Harry Mucky Alice

Now we're on to Phil in larger outfits led by others in the 50s and 60s, don't forget that he did sterling work on this classic:

Have made a modest contribution.

Wow! There's some great jazz in Italy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6fOPYBj628 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fne2XA0mhSc

Ione Skye Ringo Starr Keith Moon George Crater Lennie Bruce Mort Sahl