adh1907

Yes you are right, on Sonny’s trio version of ‘Bebop’, his use of the left hand is minimal, mostly a two or three note trill repeated regularly. I like it, it adds some tension to the tune. Generally though Sonny doesn’t do much with the left hand. I now have the Mosaic box set (which is a thing of beauty) and the stereo on Sonny’s Crib is much better balanced and the volume drop corrected. I also see the sleeve notes mention Coltrane’s mistake on Speak Low. The sound quality generally is excellent. I bought my copy from Jazz Messengers and it arrived promptly and well packed. Better than when I used to buy Mosaics from the States! Oddly as I went through the payment process and entered my Uk address, the price dropped about 20 euros!

OT. The Grove? V posh, used to be JB Priestley, Taylor Coleridge now Kate Moss, Jude Law territory. You must be familiar with the Flask.

Yes! Brian Blain’s droll introductions were worth the price of admission. He is much missed in Highgate. The last few times I have seen Chris Laurence he has been magnificent.

Not heard of him. Chris Laurence (not Lawrence), the bass player is still going strong and usually turns up at a local venue, Lauderdale House, once or twice a year. If I see him, I’ll ask him. Perhaps he went into studio/theatre work or teaching.

I have a copy of this which looks shiny and new but unfortunately plays with a lot of crackle, even after cleaning. Annoying. I haven’t played it for a while but remember being disappointed after Integration and Hum Dono etc. inspired by your post, I will replay and reconsider!

On the box set, has the terrible stereo on Sonny’s Crib been sorted at all? On my 1998 Toshiba CD all the horns are shoved into the left channel, sounding really boxed in. On Speak Low, there is also a noticeable drop in volume in the right channel at about 2.15. As an aside, on the same track, it sounds to me that Coltrane loses his way at about 1.46, and starts heading into the bridge. This is the version I have.

Great shop Decoy. That was Mike Chadwick’s place I recall. Pretty ugly part of town, but much missed.

Interesting label. Appears to have been run from a house on a 60s estate in the Edinburgh suburbs. I think the releases date from the late 70s if Discogs is correct.

I have a copy of this flawed record. The slimmed down tracks work best. Will be interesting to read Tony Higgins’ take on it. I guess someone thought an easy listening record was the best use of Amancio’s talent. Unfortunately.

Barney Wilen - Jazz sur Seine, Sam records reissue. Sounds great. Wilen has such a fluent style. Each solo seems as though it was written. Stanley Turrentine has a similar thing going on. Never heard Milt Jackson play so much piano.

My Liberty copy of that Donaldson LP is entitled ‘Alligator Bogaloo’! One cylinder is the stand out track , must have been sampled at some point?

So it appears that the Decca reissue programme has come to a halt?

Donated. All the best Jim, you’re doing a great job.

I love it, especially the whistle! You don’t get reviews like that anymore (well, not in the UK press), everything’s great where jazz is concerned.

Woody Shaw - Rosewood, Columbia 1978. Such a powerful album, beautifully recorded.

Eh?

I recently bought a copy of the Blue Parrot LP purely for the track Creation. The LP (late ‘70s with a Spirograph cover) is an improvement on YouTube, though it doesn’t have the Alan Grant introduction. I am intrigued by two things (mentioned in this thread): why Coltrane doesn’t appear to have played this (untitled original) again and why it hasn’t been reissued. The sound quality is as good as the other Half Note ‘65 recordings and It is mind blowing. As an aside I love that the Blue Parrot label was based in a ‘60s housing estate in the Edinburgh suburbs!

Got it when I reread, thanks, so I deleted my message. I know I am on the vinyl thread ( and have vol 2 on vinyl) but the Storyville 2CD reissue is recommended, excellent quality.

Never seen that sleeve, much better than the Storyville issue. Great album, I love Shepp shouting the time change on Trio during his solo. (Five Five!). Moses dominates on drums. Great drummer who doesn’t have a big discography to his name.

I have the Hot House reissue of this which I bought a few years ago, not a particularly good pressing but I only paid about £10 for it. I’ve just looked on Discogs and the only copy for sale is going for £263! What’s going on?

Val Wilmer was the guest on today’s edition of Desert Island Discs on BBC radio. Available on BBC Sounds. I haven’t heard it yet but should be interesting.

Kell(e)y Great- Wynton Kelly. Veejay. There are some wild solos on here by Wayne Shorter particularly on Wrinkles and Mama G. 1959. Wayne is way out there. Great record. I can remember when these Esquire issues used to be well thumbed, cheap and generally passed over in London record shops in favour of US issues or UK reissues. I can also remember a massive dump of Esquires, 10”, 78s etc in Rays, a lot sleeveless, going for peanuts.

Norma Winstone Edge of Time Argo Stereo. ‘Enjoy this day’ is just incredible.

Absolutely, their Deram and Argo reissues were so good, you would be tempted to sell your original LPs!

Strange label, Dutton Vocalion. Used to release a lot of interesting jazz, Deram etc. but seems to be totally scaled back now. I would have thought keeping Hum Dono in print would be a money spinner but it has disappeared from the catalogue. Owners retiring perhaps?