Royal Oak

If only me left arm'd work

Melodica, Vocoder and Stylophone? Actually, I reckon that would sound pretty far out.

Theo Paphitis (spelling?) James Khan Duncan Bannatyne Probably meaningless to non-UK residents...

That's a wonderful Evans album. Well worth going to Manchester for! Yes Bill, spent a pleasant half hour in Vinyl Exchange. The apparently alphabeticised CDs were all over the place, which rather added to the pleasure of browsing. I'm looking forward to the Evans very much - the choice of material is interesting.

A very rare trip to Manchester brought: Sonny Stitt - "Kaleidoscope" (Prestige/OJC) Coleman Hawkins "Hawk Eyes!" (Prestige/OJC) Gil Evans - "Great Jazz Standards featuring John Coles" (Pacific) None of them were what I was really looking for. Bought the Evans partly because everybody digs Gil Evans and partly because it opens with "Davenport Blues", a tune I was shamefully ignorant of until I looked up Bix in the Penguin Guide.

I've never heard that one, Richard, but I was surprised to see it on sale last year as a new 12" LP at Fopp, just off Market Street, which I'm sure you know. I don't think you've missed anything Bill. From 1957, it's a nice line-up - rhythm section of Horace Silver, Curly Russell and Blakey, but it seems uninspired. I have to go into Manchester for work next week (not been for about 2 years) so I'll have a look in Fopp and Vinyl Exchange. Surprised to hear that you haven't been into Manchester for two years, Richard, as you name Manchester as your location. Which part of Greater Manchester do you live in? (I'm in Didsbury). Not so far from you Bill, in Stockport. I say Manchester because no-one outside the North West has heard of Stockport! Also, my family is from Wythenshawe, so we do have a Mancunian heritage. Having children put paid to trips into Manchester - like mobilising an army. I don't get time to go alone (and let's face it, who wants to browse jazz record shops in the company of stressed spouse/whining kids?). I used to go regularly as a single man, when Decoy was still open.

I've never heard that one, Richard, but I was surprised to see it on sale last year as a new 12" LP at Fopp, just off Market Street, which I'm sure you know. I don't think you've missed anything Bill. From 1957, it's a nice line-up - rhythm section of Horace Silver, Curly Russell and Blakey, but it seems uninspired. I have to go into Manchester for work next week (not been for about 2 years) so I'll have a look in Fopp and Vinyl Exchange.

I've been listening to Clifford Jordan/John Gilmore's "Blowing In From Chicago" today - for the first time in many years. I bought this when it came out as a Conn in 1994 and it didn't do anything for me. Other than now being able to tell the two tenors apart (paid some listening dues over the years), it still rather bored me. Jordan is OK here (I much prefer "Spellbound" however) but Gilmore is unremarkable IMO.

Yes, but that's only one out of five or six marvelous tracks! Rightly regarded as a classic, IMHO. Bill - I should perhaps explain myself. The Sidewinder was one of my first jazz CDs, and I played it to DEATH. Consequently now, I can't listen to it any more.

I bought Smoke Stack and Black Fire expressly to 'get' Andrew Hill, and it didn't work. Others I think are OK but don't love: Maiden Voyage The Sidewinder Minor Move The Sermon Gravy Train (come to think of it, I find Lou Donaldson slightly boring)

Relative newcomer here, so forgive my two penn'orth. I agree with you on Lush Life - I bought this last year, and hate it - very syrupy. Horace-Scope I'd also agree with - I've since traded it. I like that Cook/Mitchell incarnation, but I don't think those albums hold up well against Song For My Father, Cape Verdean Blues or The Jody Grind.

Freddie Redd Red Norvo Red Rodney

Bully Eric Bristow Phil "The Power" Taylor

Corey PM sent

The Motorcycle Boy The Boy With The Thorn In His Side The Girl With The Flaxen Hair

Some OJCs arrived yesterday: Gene Ammons - Late Hour Special Charles McPherson - McPherson's Mood Harold Land - The Fox (looking forward to this one)

Mad Max Max Walker Min Patel

A J Soprano Jimi Tenor Fontella Bass

It's not that obscure, but "The Wicker Man" (the original British one) disturbed me as a 15 year old. I watched it the night before I sat my English language O-level. I never saw the end coming and it played on my mind for days afterwards. Another one which vaguely disturbed me was "Watership Down" which I saw at the cinema aged about 10.

Clever Trevor Rocky Sharp Diana Quick

Yeah, full price here is around $29 for one CD. BTW I got the Shihab at 18.99 from Dusty. A steal! I'm sure someone can explain this, but ... since CDs are apparently cheaper in the U.S., why not buy them here? If you were able to buy several CDs from one source and have them shipped as a single order (presumably cutting the cost of mail a bit) wouldn't this be more cost-effective? It is paps. I've been buying from the US for about 18 months. Plus, the big US sellers have a much bigger range of titles.

20 dollars? When I first started buying jazz CDs in the 90s they were 15 British pounds sterling, as standard.

Dollar Brand Bill Evans Cat Stevens

^ Count de Money - are you referring to the all-weather stalwart Sidewinder?

"Better Git It In Your Soul" would be an ice-breaker.