adh1907

Yes, they were such regular tourers, you expected them to go on forever. My first jazz gig was Stan’s quartet at Southport in the 70s. I think Art Themen was late due to an operation overrunning. My Dad got into argument with the people behind who were criticising the long hair and jeans worn by Stan and his son! I think they were expecting their jazz musicians to be like the MJQ. Anthony

Re Stan Tracey’s Jazz Suite, I accompanied my Dad to the local record shop (in Chorley, Lancs, shop still there) when the first reissue of this came out in the mid 70s. The shop owner called a phone number to track down a copy and Stan Tracey answered the phone! He duly sent a copy to the shop. Loved the record since hearing it then. I have a mono original (‘not for sale’ sticker on the label) which sounds great so will pass on the re-reissue. I bought a Cd years back to learn ‘starless and bible black’. Anthony London

Almost reluctantly going to Cheltenham ‘jazz’ festival this weekend, seeing Xhosa Cole and black top. Not seeing Squeeze, Jake Bugg or Tony Hadley from the famous jazz group, Spandau Ballet…thin pickings this year with most of the jazz shoved into a small arts centre and the main venues given over to pop. Anthony London

Thanks for posting. Amazing recording of Karl with Marion Brown, among others.

Rico quotes Parker’s Cool Blues in his trombone solo on Dandy Livingstone’s Rudy:

I would recommend it. He maintained the story that he was from South Carolina and not Grenada for most of his life. The reasons for doing so were complicated.

A fascinating programme about trumpet player Arthur Briggs on R4 yesterday for those of you who can access BBC sounds. I hadn't heard of him before but he led an interesting life, well covered in this 30 minute programme. More info below: 'Arthur Briggs played with some of the biggest names in jazz, witnessed some extraordinary moments in history and survived a Nazi internment camp. Yet, apart from among the most diehard jazz fans, he's virtually unknown today. Born at the turn of the last century on the Caribbean island of Grenada, then part of the British Empire, Briggs learned to play trumpet in Harlem and is believed to be the only British subject to have participated in the creation of jazz. But for his entire life, Arthur said he was American. In archive recordings broadcast for the first time, Briggs tells of his adventures as a black man leading a band of musicians around the cities of Europe in the 1920s and 30s. Memories include the aftermath of race riots in Liverpool, the execution of Turkish opposition leaders in Ankara, and four years in a Nazi camp. Hugh tries to uncover why this pioneer of jazz is virtually absent from the history books. Presenter: Hugh Schofield' https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001kh4k

I like this clip of Ronnie Scott with Ben Webster. His tone seems a bit harsher than Mobley's at this stage. The Tracey solo is challenging (in a good way) and Webster seems to draw it to an early close! Scott's early style was v smooth and Getz-like, but I think that was the dominant tone for European tenor players in the the early 50s before hard bop arrived over here. regards Anthony

A good example of this in my mind is ‘Bunko’. Slightly corny theme but Niehaus’ intro and solo are very typical of his distinctive style. Attempting to play along to any of this stuff does test out your lung capacity! regards Anthony

Yes, and an earlier one with a cheesy cover, ‘swinging till the girls come home’. Never seen in the wild. There is an amusing review of his first LP: https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2023/01/25/jj-01-63-tony-coe-swingin-till-the-girls-come-home/ By the Honourable Gerald Lascelles!

Don’t fall off the bridge, Tubby Hayes with Paul Gonsalves (plus Ronnie Scott and Tony Coe). Still some debate over which solo is Paul’s or Tony’s. I would agree it’s the fourth. Great album!

A long life and a great legacy. Nice tweet from his son Gideon: ‘Our Dad, the great Tony Coe, died yesterday evening. He'd want me to tell you about the time Duke Ellington said to him "When are you going to join my band ?" (Basie had already asked). But mainly I want to say how much we loved him and how much we'll miss him. Love you TC. Xx’

Good record but poor pressing. Mole Jazz I think? Their Tubby Hayes reissues weren’t much good either.

Bit late to this, I think that would be Annette Walker. I saw her tap dancing to Oleo at the Nu Civilisation Orchestra tribute to Joe Harriott in 2021. Xhosa was in the band but I think Nathaniel Facey accompanied her. She was brilliant. Have booked to see Xhosa at Cheltenham with Black Top. Thin pickings at this year’s festival. Too much pop pap. Jazz has been mainly exiled to a small arts venue.

Ps I will ask my 90 year old Dad about the Bodega. He used to frequent the Manchester jazz clubs in the 50s and 60s, and was a Club 43 member. To prompt him, where was the Bodega, Bill?

Am I misremembering but did I once read that Wayne suffered from asthma and that was reflected in his style? In the phrasing. No long Coltrane like lines. Anthony London

RIP. An interesting and long life. Used to see him playing in our local on Sunday nights many moons ago before he moved out of London. Anthony London

I think this is one of the best examples of Lee Morgan’s style ( and possibly Jackie Mclean), a classic.

Shame I missed that. John Edwards is brilliant, whoever he plays with. is Oto now a seated venue or still the old mixture of seats and standing? Haven’t been for a while.

Fascinating, thanks for posting that. Richard Williams has posted recently about his involvement with the Island demo so will be interesting to compare and contrast recollections. Verlaine is pretty scathing here about Eno, Island and the English more generally! Anthony London

This is brilliant, thanks. Never heard this before, Monk on good form, no need for Jeffrey, Monk is soloing throughout

Steve Kuhn with Pete Laroca and Steve Swallow on Contact records If you stick with it, Steve attempts to destroy the piano about 3 mins in. Are there any recordings of Steve with Coltrane?

Alyn Shipton has a new book coming about the 50s Mulligan quartets. Well covered ground I think, expanding it to cover the sextets would be interesting.

Interesting new book by Ray Kinsella, covered this morning on Robert Elms on BBC Radio London about 36 minutes in: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dsrx6f Slightly shocked to discover the book costs about £100! my impression is that he is countering the notion that the (mainly white) Club Eleven crowd was the start of Bebop in London. Sounds right up my street but not at £100 a pop!

‘Del Sasser’ featured on one of the popular Jamey Aebersold play along records, on a collection of Cannonball Adderley-related tunes, issued in the 80s I think. That’s how I learnt it. Plus, it’s a great tune to play. Anthony London