Head Man

Now this could cause my first order with Mr. Tanno! That's also the one that jumped out and made my day. Yep! That's the one that caught my attention. I was going to ask if anyone could recommend it but I guess now I know what the answer is! I feel another e-mail to Hiroshi coming on!

My notice came this morning also. This is one I've really been looking forward to and the delays have only whetted my appetite!

Dewey Redman recorded this in January, 1966 and it was one of a terrific series of free jazz recordings issued later in the 1960s by Fontana in Europe. I believe it was subsequently re-issued on CD in Japan but since then it seems to have disappeared. Does anyone know whether it is still available from somewhere or whether there are any plans to re-issue it?

Spelling his name with two 't's might help!

Hot from the press! The Mike Taylor tribute album - 'Mike Taylor Remembered', by The New Jazz Orchestra is due to be released on 18 August by Dusk Fire records. I bought a copy from the late Neil Ardley many years ago but this version is apparently re-mastered from Neil's original master tapes so should sound even better. I can really recommend it. Further details: Dusk Fire Records

How much did it end up costing from RO, with postage to UK? 28.80 euros. That's just under £20 in 'real' money! Quite pricey but I don't think you will be able to get it much cheaper anywhere else.

Volume 2 arrived from redoctopus this morning & I've managed to play both CDs once. Disc 1 with Art Farmer & Jimmy Heath is uniformly excellent, with both the lead musicians on top form and sounding completely at home with the rest of the group. Art Farmer, in particular, sounds wonderful and the arrangements - by Erik Kleinschuster? - are crisp and unfussy. All in all a terrific listen. I also agree with Mike Weill about the excellence of the drummer, Erich Bachtragel. He really drives the group forward and sounds completely at ease with all the different tempos. To me, Disc 2 suffers in comparison. It's not bad but it doesn't reach the heights of the first disc. This may be because the guest soloist and arranger Slide Hampton had not played as often with the sextet as had Art Farmer & Jimmy Heath or perhaps it's just that the tunes are not as memorable. Anyway it doesn't have the impact of the first disc but perhaps it will sound better after a few more plays. This release, plus the earlier Volume 1, shows the high standard of music being played in Europe in the late 60s & early 70s and it would be great to hear more from the same source. Does anyone know whether there are any plans to release further volumes in this series?

That's great news. I have Volume 1 with Joe Henderson & it's terrific! The problem I have with trying to buy Volume 2 through www.redoctopus.at is that I can't speak German and there doesn't seem to be an 'English' translation on the website. Does anyone know if there is another 'English' site selling the CD or can someone tell me which buttons to press on the 'redoctopus' site in order to make a purchase.

I have mentioned before that the Marion Brown - Juba-Lee recording is available as a CD-R from Downtown Music Gallery DMG It comes with artwork and is probably a copy of the CD that came out in Japan some years ago. Whilst it is not my favourite Marion Brown recording it has its moments and it certainly does contain some fierce Bennie Maupin!

I probably shouldn't be saying this but I think I've mentioned before that many of these Fontana releases are currently available as CD-Rs from Downtown Music Gallery. DMG Included are both 'Blood' by Paul Bley & 'Consequences' by the New York Contemporary Five. They appear to be copies of the set that came out in Japan some years ago and come with copied artwork of the Marte Roling covers etc. This is such good music and almost impossible to find elsewhere.

I'd start with 'Flight 19'. 'Live at I.U.C.C.' is OK but rather unfocused - it has the feel of a rehearsal session. I've not heard 'The Call' but unless you are in a hurry I would wait for the CD re-issue. It may have additional tracks.

My only recording by him is 'Big Jim's Tango'. It's excellent.

Yes, this Mike Taylor tribute is lovely. I bought it direct from Neil several years ago. BTW the recent re-release of Mike Taylor's quartet recording, 'Pendulum' on Sunbeam Records is wonderful. He really is a lost talent.

He has some very nice recordings on Artist Share available as downloads: Alex Sipiagin

My 'Ellington - Reprise Recordings' arrived this morning. Haven't had a chance to listen to the music yet but my first impression of the long-box & liner notes is favourable. I wonder if Mosaic will ever go for this format? It would certainly allow them to reduce the cost of shipping, particularly to 'non-US' destinations.

Some more information on the Dick Morrissey album posted on 'that other place': http://forums.allaboutjazz.com/showthread....66&page=159

PM sent re Thomas Chapin

You need to be careful what you say. There's always someone else who knows better!

I'm lying down at the moment trying to recover from the shock. The appointment with the shrink's been booked for early next week. My fault, I suppose, for not looking more closely at the first posting date.

PM sent re Mark Helias CD

I have over thirty LPs currently for auction on ebay: LPs on ebay Thanks for looking and drop me a PM if you need any further information.

For anyone that may be interested I have a couple of David Liebman LPs for sale on ebay, including 'Sweet Hands' mentioned above: ebay sales

I bought a batch from Downtown Music Gallery about four months ago when they advertised them as 'end of stock' which they would not be restocking. From this I assume that in future they will only be available as used copies on ebay, Amazon resellers etc. If you are thinking of buying any then I suggest you get an order in quickly with Cadence or DMG.

My thoughts exactly! Drop them a line & ask whether it's on their 'we'll get around to it later' list.

Crap!! That's the same night as my son's 3rd birthday. Take him with you!!