David Ayers

Nice one!

Thanks JK. Wow, my thread idea sure took off. I'm wondering what to try my hand at next.

There are some records that you listen to often but don't think of as being great music and don't even think of as your favorites. They are records you might even hesitate to recommend to someone else. But these are also records that have sneaked up on you and which you wouldn't like to have to do without. These poor records don't get the credit they deserve! I realised this the other day listening to Hank Mobley's Reach Out! I know this record note by note and I drink it in every time I play it. George Benson, Woody Shaw and Hank - maybe these aren't the most outstanding solos they ever played... or maybe in a way they are - this is a cool cool record. So I'm going to give it its due: Reach Out! is one of my favorite records and I didn't even realise. There, it's done. What unacknowledged favorites do you have? Look in your heart and fess up!

Thanks guys! It's very kind of you! I didn't log on all weekend - not because I was drunk but because I was running, cycling and playing footie (= soccer). I was trashed! By the way (as some people know) I should mention I'm not the guy who played bass in Red Snapper, or any of those other guitar-y things. Though I'm thinking of sneaking some aspects of his career onto my CV - just to pad it out a bit...

Speaking of the wristwatch - mine is no longer working. So I'm thinking of bringing all my Conns back to the store to get a refund!

Well, I think it is refreshing to see a good dose of dissing. If we think everything is excellent and every last splat on a flawed outtake is worth preserving, then we can't easily move on and we aren't really interest in music.

Not alone. I now find it quite easy to ignore all EMI jazz issues and reissues. I don't even consider them. It's not as if there is nothing else in the shops. I see this has become a hot topic over at bluenote.com: review of Sonny Clark RVG

Those who are not squeamish about the issues can also go for the master takes on 3 CDs issued by Lone Hill.

I'd add the two Verve (reissued as an ECM double) to that 'essential' list...

I heard them in London and posted about it here. Enjoy!!

True. I love this material and it is a shame its not more easily available. I think a series issue of those Fontanas in Marte Roling sleeves would sell like hot cakes, though it seems that licensing questions make this unlikely.

I traded a load of LPs for this box at Ray's last weekend. Sure looks purdy...

No doubt. Was he the single greatest instrumentalist in jazz of all time? I'd say yes.

No disrespect, but this is the sort of elitism that I feel hurts our cause. Rather than think that the vast majority of people out there are "depraved" idiots who don't understand the superiority of jazz music, I prefer to think of jazz as a specialized - even special - niche that only a few seem to really "get" and appreciate. "Popular taste" is exactly what it is - a common ground enjoyed by the masses - not something to be disparaged. And certainly not something to be bummed about. I tend to agree. In fact I'd go further. Does nobody wonder why jazz 'collectors' are seen as social misfits in cardigans, not some kind of intellectual elite? When I played in a band my interest in jazz got me branded a 'muso' and my solos were called 'laddle-daddle' - no-one thought of me as a hero. I understand why people resist jazz - it IS possible to have other priorities!

Thanks to john b, gnhrtg and double delta for responses on Subterranean. I'm pretty keen on the Dutch improv I have heard so I may dip into these - I'll let you know as and when...

You can currently hear this session here. There seem to be just two numbers, plus interview.

By the way, is anyone up on the Dutch improv scene? I find that a number of CDs are listed at Subterranean in the Netherlands, but I only know many of these artists by name. There is even a little known Roswell Rudd appearance hidden away in there somehwere...

You go Jon! I'm under 2000 and If anything I'm better off - more manageable and more time spent with recordings I really like.

They must HATE you...

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That's Joe Harriott's Free Form, right?

Did somebody say 'tome'? [if you need me, I'll be out in the shed tidying up my tools...]

it looks square to me, are your monitor settings okay? You're so hip.

But they ARE reissuing Yusef Lateef...