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Jazzjet
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Posts posted by Jazzjet
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Yes, the 'Sospiri' was a very interesting listen.
Actually passed by the Elgar house near Great Malvern (actually, nearer to Worcester) this year as I was doing some work in the area. Lovely part of England and his music is infused with the feel of the place.
I spent some time there about 20 years back and went inside the house. As you say, highly evocative.
Fascinating programn on Elgar's life and music on BBC4 recently. Some of those late choral works (e.g. the one about the owls) sound totally unlike his usual pomp & pagentry stuff - more impressionistic and Holst-like.
Yes, I really enjoyed that.
Like you, 'Owls' really got to me. Never heard it before.
The one that really undid me was 'Sospiri' - I'd heard it before but never really clocked into it. God knows why as it's 5 minutes of utter heartbreak.
The programme gave some idea why!
There's actually less 'pomp & pagentry' in Elgar than you'd imagine - it just get played more often. He was actually a master of the dreamy tributary! Symphony No. 1, scherzo!
I really enjoyed that Elgar programme as well. The kind of thing that BBC 2 used to do back in 'the good old days'.
Have you read 'Electric Eden : Britain's Visionary Music' by Rob Young? It starts in the late 19th century with William Morris, Elgar etc and works through Vaughan Williams to the history of folk music, psychedelia etc. Very wide ranging and a bit wordy in parts but a fascinating read.
I have - read most of it in Cornwall this summer, as it happens! I associate it with mackerel salad and beer!
Enjoyed the unusual unusual leaps he made between the classical and folk world. Nice to see people like Moeran and Warlock get such space. I just found the ending unconvincing - his examples of who he saw as carrying the spirit up to date seemed random and missed almost completely the amazing English folk revival of the last 10-15 years. And how could he leave out XTC?
As I recall he wasn't too keen on Elgar.
By no means a perfect book and, I agree, there are some large gaps and unfeasible leaps and links. However, it has helped re-trigger the inner folkie in me. Any more and I'll have to move to Penzance ( twinned with Narnia ).
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Wish I was a teacher like Bev and got the week off !
Most unlikely. Sent home early yesterday and it looks like all the schools are closed in Notts today. Very rare - I can only recall about ten days off for snow in 33 years! We might not be engaging directly with kids but like a lot of other professions I suspect, we'll be working from home. Remote computer access is a wonderful thing!
It's amazing outside - I don't recall snow this deep before. I recall big falls in the past that hit the North, South West or the one that caused a huge jam on the M11 a few years back but we rarely get hit with more than a light dusting. These last two years have been exceptional.
Feel very sorry for those who have to go out in this.
Oh dear. The lights have started to flicker! I recall a frealk storm c.1990 when the power went down all over Notts and they had to call in the Irish electricity engineers for back-up.
And it's still snowing.
We had snow at the weekend - although less than you by the looks of it - and it is very cold indeed, at least for us soft southern jessies. The lane outside is pretty icy and we haven't had any post since Saturday, although the milkman still gets through.
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Fascinating programn on Elgar's life and music on BBC4 recently. Some of those late choral works (e.g. the one about the owls) sound totally unlike his usual pomp & pagentry stuff - more impressionistic and Holst-like.
Yes, I really enjoyed that.
Like you, 'Owls' really got to me. Never heard it before.
The one that really undid me was 'Sospiri' - I'd heard it before but never really clocked into it. God knows why as it's 5 minutes of utter heartbreak.
The programme gave some idea why!
There's actually less 'pomp & pagentry' in Elgar than you'd imagine - it just get played more often. He was actually a master of the dreamy tributary! Symphony No. 1, scherzo!
I really enjoyed that Elgar programme as well. The kind of thing that BBC 2 used to do back in 'the good old days'.
Have you read 'Electric Eden : Britain's Visionary Music' by Rob Young? It starts in the late 19th century with William Morris, Elgar etc and works through Vaughan Williams to the history of folk music, psychedelia etc. Very wide ranging and a bit wordy in parts but a fascinating read.
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anybody else use this? I need something for Mac that will save playlists and burn them to CD. I currently use a freebie shareware but it won't save compilations.
I've hear about some problems with Toast.
I've used Toast for a while and I wouldn't be without it. Just drag pretty much any audio files ( including FLAC ) onto the window and it will burn a CD quickly and effectively. The video features are also worthwhile. The utilities bundled with it include CD Spin Doctor which is a good tool for recording from vinyl.
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How about any of the Chris McGregor and The Blue Notes South African material. Brotherhood of Breath or anything by Dudu Pukwana?
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Unfortunately, reading the comments in the quote, it seems that Universal dropped the ball and hasn't picked it up since 2004.
I don't think you're allowed to provide links here but if you visit the aforementioned Orgy in Rhythm site you will find that the full
Impressed 3 set has been contributed by Tony Higgins. A fantastic contribution and one that shows that blogland can sometimes make
up for the deficiencies of the labels.
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Right, that is correct. It's funny, in the ensuing years I bought all those "London is the Place For Me" calypso comps - this stuff is excellent!
It is interesting that Surman never really followed up with the Caribbean theme. My guess is that Ronnie Scott's Old Place - which encouraged young musicians like Surman - probably featured Caribbean flavoured jazz alongside the South African musicians in the Chris McGregor group, and that the selections on the album mirrored that.
And, yes, those 'London Is The Place for Me' comps are great. We have to thank Damon Albarn for those as he part-owns the Honest Jon operation which released them.
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Yeah, and IIRC Alan Jackson is the drummer, can't recall the pianist. I want to say Roy Fry, but I know that's not it.
There was a record on Decca Eclipse called "Jazz In Britain '68-'69" that had more of this Calypso stuff, and the band slays - Surman, Osborne, Jackson, Miller, Oxley, Skidmore, John Taylor, Malcolm Griffiths and Harry Beckett, among others. Unfortunately, the tunes themselves do not slay at all.
Interesting thought on the Rollins/"St. Thomas" connection, though. Food for the next time I listen to these.
Russell Henderson was on piano, also from the Caribbean I believe.
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Thanks for the info on Fripp. I've got his 2006 Churchscapes album. I assume this is the same sort of thing?
Yes, very similar. Do you know Travis at all? A good jazzer but with a love of late/60s and early 70/s rock. His band with Mike Outram on guitar is well worth catching - I seem to recall they played the St Ives club at one point. He guests sometime with Gong (still going, it seems) and Porcupine Tree.
Travis is another of those names I know but whose music I haven't heard. I'm definitely going to check this Fripp gig out.
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Neither did I, but there's a lot I don't know about Cornwall. There's a good cafe/restaurant at Porthtowan called The Blue Bar which also does great breakfasts ( and other meals ).
I'll remember that - I've been in the pub there. My cousin and his wife live in Porthtowan, immediately as you drive in after leaving the coast road.
Another favourite of mine is the National Trust tea shop at Carnewas by Bedruthan Steps. Gets busy but makes for a lovely 10.00 coffee followed by a decent onto that marvellous beach.
Don't know if you have followed Robert Fripp down the years but this might be of interest:
Travis & Fripp will be making their final UK appearances for 2010 in two beautiful churches in Cornwall in October. It is also their first appearance in the South West of England. The performances are as follows-Friday, 29th Oct (7.30pm) Falmouth, Cornwall. - All Saints Church, Killigrew St (01736 334 682)
Saturday, 30th Oct (7.30pm) Newlyn, Near Penzance, Cornwall . - St Peter's Church (01736 334 682)
http://www.dgmlive.com/news.htm?entry=3113
Thanks for the info on Fripp. I've got his 2006 Churchscapes album. I assume this is the same sort of thing?
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You'll be very welcome down here, Bev. I think I recognise that boathouse shot as Trevarno ( ? ).
Trevarno indeed - the normal publicity shot, but I couldn't resist!
I thought of you as I whizzed up to Wheal Coates one night to catch the sunset, passing signs to Mount Hawke (was staying at the campsite the otherside of Tehidy Park. One of my favourite cafes in the world lies just a mile or so away at Hell's Mouth. The breakfasts are amazing!)
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Was staying up near Rock a few days later (before Cameron got there and started misusing village names) - unfamiliar territory for me. Stumbled on this while walking the headland:
Didn't know that.
Neither did I, but there's a lot I don't know about Cornwall. There's a good cafe/restaurant at Porthtowan called The Blue Bar which also does great breakfasts ( and other meals ).
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Thanks, Aggie. Cornwall is where my heart lies...hope to retire there in a few years.
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Nice flora shouts, alocispepraluger102. I love trying to get abstract pictures out of the natural world - I get very strange looks as I point my camera into rock pools or cliff faces!
You'll be very welcome down here, Bev. I think I recognise that boathouse shot as Trevarno ( ? ).
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I don't see a lot of support for Safari! Thanks guys!
Safari 5 now has an extensions gallery with some fairly neat options, such as one that cleans up the You Tube experience, ie without the page distractions. Safari is a bit plain but does the basics well, as does Chrome which is faster. Firefox quickly gets cluttered and slow in my experience.
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Thanks for the tip, Jim. Speaking of Mr. Reece, does anyone know about his "Nirvana" album - a weird, Eastern-influenced thing I found at the Limewire store?
There's an even weirder Reece album than that called The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh. It is definitely NOT worth seeking out.
On the definitely worth seeking out side of the fence, check out an album called This Is Jazz Music of the 40's and 50's on iTunes. In addition to Dizzy Reece, this one features Tony Crombie, Don Rendell, Howard Roberts, Ronnie Ross and Eddie Thompson playing both separately and together.
There was also a 50s LP titled 'Changing The Jazz at Buckingham Palace', one side of which featured Tubby Hayes and the other Dizzy Reece. Lavish colour photo of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace on the cover. Weird concept -presumably aimed at tourists.
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And as for Ronnies, again somewhat later than other memories, the dreaded sandwich had disappeared but the chips had replaced them, the beer was still very costly but The Leaders, Geri Allen and Elvin Jones were all very memorable. The night buses north were as crazy as the ones described earlier travelling west - they probably still are
It was on one of those night buses that Stan Tracey mapped out 'Under Milk Wood'. Difficult to imagine any musician travelling home by night bus nowadays.
My first time at Ronnie's I sat just behind Pete Townshend watching Roland Kirk. This was his Whistleman period - must have been 68 or 69.
Nice ! Did the vice squad call in to confiscate the whistles?
Not sure which Kirk visit it was but on one occasion he led members of the audience out through the club, into the street and back again. A policeman's helmet was 'borrowed'. Allegedly.
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Admission at Ronnies usually got you in for the full night - although as previously mentioned for the 'big names' bookings were for 2 sets only (main act plus support). They then cleared the club out for a second audience.
Some famous names could occasionally be seen. Once had Marty Feldman dragged right passed me by a couple of bouncers heading for the exit, pretty well out of it. On another night Oscar Peterson and a companion were at the next table !
The student club member mid-week deals at £1 for the whole night to see Woody Shaw, Gil Evans, Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, Pullen/Adams, George Coleman, Cedar Walton, Mingus Dynasty led by Danny Richmond etc. were the best.
My first time at Ronnie's I sat just behind Pete Townshend watching Roland Kirk. This was his Whistleman period - must have been 68 or 69.
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I know.
But they should have released.....
Hum Dono? ( But I'm not complaining )
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There's a great Harry Beckett solo on the extended version of 'Venceremos' on this Working Week 12" single:
One of the few singles I bought in the 80s!
And one of the best singles of that blighted decade!
There's a great Harry Beckett solo on the extended version of 'Venceremos' on this Working Week 12" single:
One of the few singles I bought in the 80s!
Indeed Bev. That's a marvellous disc. Brings back some great memories of seeing Working Week live (and that first album). Hadn't thought that it was Harry Beckett that was featured...will try and dig it out over the weekend
Wasn't there also a dance floor 12" (forget the title but it wasn't by Working Week) with Larry Stabbins and Keith Tippett on it? That one was mentioned in the 'Jazz Britannia' documentaries and I'm pretty sure Harry Beckett was on that one too.
Another good one is 'Joy Unlimited' on Cadillac Records. That one should be reissued on CD for sure.
There are some other LPs on Ogun, like 'Memories of Bacares' and 'Got It Made' that deserve a CD reissue.
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Remember seeing his 'comeback' performance at the London Hammersmith Odeon in 1982 when he hobbled onto the stage with the aid of a stick. First major performance in London since 1967 (at same venue, I think - not counting the one night at Ronnie Scotts).
He also played the Hammersmith Odeon in 1969, and then the Royal Festival Hall in 1971. I didn't realize he played London in 1967 - too bad it wasn't recorded.
Guy
I was there at the 1967 concert. Miles played the first half of the concert and Archie Shepp ( with Jimmy Garrison, Beaver Harris, Roswell Rudd etc ) played the second half. About half the audience walked out when faced with what was then the 'New Thing' but the rest of us who stuck it out gave Shepp and Co a standing ovation for a riproaring set.
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Can't compete with Jazzjet's Cornish Versailles but I thought these three were interesting showing 6 months in a suburban 'free jazz' garden:
January, March and this morning.
Lovely, Bev. Ornette, Shepp or Coltrane?
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More garden photos from sunny Cornwall :
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Our garden and place to get away from the crazy world.
That looks great! Nice and lush, just like an English garden.
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Nadal's fifth was a smash! And not a single set lost
Surprise came from the mild reactions from the usually much more agressive Robin Soderling!
Two hours and 13 minutes was a fast three-set victory;
Hats off also to Italy's Francesca Schiavone who defeated Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the women's final!
Her first major tournament win!
Schiavone defeated Australia's Sam Stosur in the final, not Wozniacki.
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That works, Jazzjet.
Much nicer to see the pictures straight away rather than clicking links etc.
Don't know if it's just the angle of the shot or the lense but that garden looks huge!
The formal garden is about half an acre. We also have a small woodland which we are battling with nature to tame.
We're part of the National Garden Scheme, where owners open their garden for charity. Our Open Day is June 19th which,
luckily for our marriage, doesn't conflict with an England game in the World Cup!
England's Dreaming
in Classical Discussion
Posted
Nor me, although you couldn't be seen without the '5000 Layers' LP about your person in the 60s. That said, there was a nice clip of them in the recent BBC 4 profile of Jac Holzman and Elektra.