Royal Oak

Not Viz? MG I was going on Glenda Slag's "Crazy name, crazy guy", but you could be right MG. I've not read Viz for a long time.

Up until 2006, HMV in Manchester had most of the basement dedicated to jazz (and a soundproofed room for classical). It was always very civlised down there. Now they have a tiny corner of the packed ground floor with a very desultory selection (RVGs are as far out as it gets). In the mid-90s, Stockport (my home town) had a Sam Goody's which had a well-stocked jazz section. The store didn't last too long; it's now a Halifax bank. I agree with Bob about Zavvi - to paraphrase Private Eye "Shite name, shite store!"

I've also got to get some Shihab! That tenor solo really blindsided me - I definitely heard Oliver Nelson in there - reminded me of (I think) "Cascades" from "Blues And The Abstract Truth".

I REALLY need to get more Tubby Hayes. I bought "Mexican Green" last year and was blown away, can't think why I've not gone back for more. This really did cook.

Bugger, talked myself out of Joe Henderson, saying it didn't sound cocksure enough! That this is from 1987 probably explains it, though Woody still sounds remarkably similar to whatever I've heard of him (which is only mid to late 60s).

Earlier, highlights of the 3rd day of the India-England test match.

Lonnie Doug Todd

I did wonder what on earth this could be! Makes me want to check out those Joe Harriott albums (I read your post about Keane's albums not matching up to his sideman albums)

Yes please Durium - I'd like a download.

Wynton Kelly for me. I only have the OJCs "Kelly Blue" and "Piano" with him as leader, but I don't them play nearly as much as I should, given how much I love his playing.

Pauline Calf Fat Bob Spiros

Thanks for your help Niko/Jazzbo.

I remember being quite excited when I first saw it, but I've never loved it. I've always liked Stanley T, and the best gig I ever went to was Gene Harris in 1998, but this record I always felt fell a bit short. I remember buying "Introducing The Three Sounds" not long after that gig, and that didn't blow me away either (apologies to Dan Gould in advance )

Saw this on Amazon today, looks interesting. All I know of Braith is that he featured in a group of (to me) near-mythical records in the BN cover art book of the mid-90s! I listened to some clips on Amazon. They were poor quality, but do I hear him playing two saxophones at once? Anyone help me out with any info? Who is/was he? Anyone have any opinion on whether this disc is worth having? Edit - just looked closer at the album cover, where he is, in fact, playing two saxophones at once! Plus, I did try and search the forum, but the facility doesn't seem to be working, so apologies if this has been covered before.

We probably have the Euro edition! Probably - it was a "Connoisseur" wasn't it? My copy's in the attic so I couldn't say for sure (I listened to it on the PC).

Just listened to "Gee Baby" on my copy - no skips there. I must have bought mine 5/6 years ago, maybe a different batch?

Tiny Tim

Charles Earland - Black Drops (OJC) 99p new from an Amazon marketplace seller - criminal.

Friggin' freezin' for a few days now. Sick of having to scrape the windscreen in the mornings. Edit - just seen the gritter drive down our street. I've never known the gritters come down here (very small road) - it must be a bad night ahead, else the driver's lost.

Given MG's identification of the album, I take it that the pianist is Richard Wyands? After I got it wrong, I looked up Ammons in my Penguin guide to see who the pianist mights be. After a fair amount of listening I ruled out Mal Waldron, Tommy Flanagan and Duke Jordan. I did listen to some Wyands (Gigi Gryce albums) but obviously not hard enough!

As a fairly recent parent, I've discovered that "Twinkle" has the same changes as those two other end-of-playgroup singalong favourites "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and "Sleeping Bunnies". Don't forget that all time kid's classic, the ABC song. Edit - beat to the draw! Fifteen years after listening to my dad talk about "the changes", I think I finally understand what he meant. Now, if he'd only played me a selection of nursery rhymes, I may have carried on playing my alto saxophone!

As a fairly recent parent, I've discovered that "Twinkle" has the same changes as those two other end-of-playgroup singalong favourites "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and "Sleeping Bunnies".

Clarence Frogman Henry Toadfish Rebecchi Gordon Gecko (not an amphibian I know, but you get my drift)

Oh dear, here goes: The Andrew Gold songs "Lonely Boy" and "Never Let Her Slip Away" Neil Sedaka's "The Immigrant" - think that's what it's called. Actually, I don't know if he wrote it, but I remember hearing it on a tape of a Sedaka album I found in my parents's house.

Eric Dolphy on alto - I can't stand it - that horrible yelping sound. "Plays like someone is standing on his foot" as Miles said.