The Magnificent Goldberg

That cover looks like it was recycled from a 1970's disco album. I seem to remember John posting a few months ago about the state of contemporary popular music in Nigeria. That sleeve seems to prove it. MG

I'm astonished! Really. Is that normal for jazz musicians? MG

I agree with Mike, but it's not the whole story of the MJQ's sound. What took me back to the MJQ in 2010 (after fifty years ) was Milt's other recordings. But when I got back there, I realised what I'd never noticed in my youth, that the MJQ's sound was anchored in Connie Kay's playing (and strange kit). Without him, I think they'd have sounded like any other band. (But I've never heard their Prestige albums with Klook, so I could be wrong.) MG

The English patient Anthony Minghella Michael Ondaatje

Lou Donaldson - Cole slaw - Argo (mono) With the one and only Herman Foster!!!! MG

Er... What's wrong with the Eldridge box? Don't tell me it's Red Nichols on the cover MG

Wee Georgie Woods Wee Willie Winkie Wee Willie Harris Oh, let's have a pic of him

Been playing my newies, just finished the last of 'em - this Lionel Hampton - Blackout - Who's Who in Jazz (Kingdom Jazz UK) now Stanley Turrentine - ZT's blues - BN (Pathe Marconi DMM) Reminded to play this by the Stan Turrentine thread. MG

John Redwood John Birch Herbert Beerbohm Tree

Late last night, got a download of this lot from Amazon Illinois Jacquet - Five classic albums - only £4.99, so I didn't mind that I already had the last 2. Today, a shopping expotition to Cardiff, playing a certain tenor player on me ipod all the way Slipped into Kelly's second hand shop and snagged four groovy goodies: Count Basie - Basie Jam - Pablo (UK) Very, very groovy! Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis - Chewin' the fat - Spotlite So's this one. And isn't that a fabulous photo of the man!!!!! Lionel Hampton - Blackout - Who's Who in Jazz (UK Kingdom Jazz) Listening to this now. Very modern band from 1977 - Wess, Vic Paz, G Tate, R Hanna, Janice Robinson (tb), George Mraz, Sam Turner (cga), Vinnie Bell (g) Afro-Blues Quintet + 1 - New directions - Mira (Promo) I already had about half of this on an Ace compilation, but I don't mind that. There was another one in the shop but it looked trashed and I was bursting for a pee by the time I'd looked through the R&B & jazz, so I didn't have the time to listen to the crackles etc. MG

Jack Nicklaus Saint Nicholas Old Nick

Teasmade Goblin

I got a single of his somewhere. Don't know which one. Still got it, but don't know where. I do remember I thought it was rubbish. Anyway, 51 is quite young. But it does make you realise just how long ago all that Acid Jazz stuff was. RIP. MG

RIP Saul Zaentz. I may complain (well, I do) about Prestige material - like the 7 Freddie McCoy LPs - that never did come out on CD, but a hell of a lot of music DID come out, which I'm sure never would have done under other ownership. And that's my life blood, not Blue Note. MG

Is Jazzmessengers.com in the EU? If so, I'd certainly go to them, given that they're an official Mosaic vendor. It's not so much the customs duty - I only paid £4-32 on the Dizzy Gillespie last month - but the completely outrageous Post Office charges £8 to collect it!!! MG

Nervo & Knox!!!!!!!! Wow! I'd completely forgotten. Buddy Knox Clyde McPhatter Clyde Ankle

So far I'm digging everything. Let us know what you think when you finish. Interesting thing about Syl Johnson is that he started out as a Mississippi blues guitarist - I think he was in either Junior Wells' or Magic Sam's band - before he turned to soul. Can't think of any others with that kind of career pattern. MG

It has what I think is GG's loveliest solo ever (on 'More than you know'). Stan's solo on this cut is particularly lovely. He often starts a phrase an octave (I assume) above the written note with the rest of the line tending in a downwards direction, rather than upwards, which I always find very lovely. Compared with Hawk's version (on 'The Hawk relaxes'), Stan's PLAYING the song, rather than doing a lot of improvisation around it, giving us not an interpretation but THE SONG, seeming to sing the words through his sax. Course, I know all you jazz fans like improvisation MG

I had a look at the CD version the other day. Not sure... Some of his work is just OK. That set looks as if it doesn't have 'Dresses too short' included. Oh, I see it does, with a less than satisfactory sleeve MG

ZT's blues - rec 13 Sep 1961 - with Grant Green, Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers & Art Taylor. First issued in 1985. Stanley was never better. MG

Yesssss! That Joe Carroll has been one of my favourites for many a decade. It's available on Collectables (or was) - shouldn't be hard to get. MG

The one and only Herman Foster entertains even on 'Hello Dolly' An entirely wonderful album! MG

Yeah, I recently reread (after several decades) 'Blues people' and the first 100 or so pages shocked me profoundly, they were so awful. I loved the sleeve notes he used to write for Prestige. Willis Jackson's 'Thunderbird' and James Moody's 'Moody's workshop' gave me more than most other writers. Also 'The screamers' - a little story about Lynn Hope doing a gig in Newark. RIP MG

Don Ellis Ellis Marsalis ****** ********

I must try to get some Bootsie Barnes. I think he made three, all for his own label. Is this one of them? MG Grab your chance: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bootsie-Barnes-Quartet-Been-Here-All-Along-1988-Way-After-Midnight-LP-/141156550587?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item20dd9607bb Cheap record, expensive postage. Amazon UK have a few of Bootsie on DL. I'll get a couple idc. Glad your post reminded me of him. MG