The Magnificent Goldberg

Eddie Bo Sam the Sham Binky Griptite

It's this This is the Greek version - the British dark chocolate version has only 35 cals per mug. MG

Hot chocolate - slimmer's version MG

I've just heard from a friend who says there's an unconfirmed report that Whitney Balliett passed away today. Anyone any ideas whether this is the case? We've had a couple of bad months and February isn't starting out any better. MG

BFT44 b 1 A French or Belgian band, attempting to play something in a twenties/thirties style, and making a big joke of it. Clearly, the guys are having fun; much fun. Funny thing, when they do eventually get it down, they seem rather too modern. 2 Sounds like two guitarists accompanying themselves by patting their feet on a board. Is one of the guitarists playing a ukulele? The tune is very familiar, but I can’t place it. One of the guitarists sings along. Oh, this is really nice. 3 This sounds like genuine thirties stuff: “Sweet Sue” is the tune. I’ve never heard any of their material, but I’m going to guess that this is the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. If it isn’t, well, it sounds like it ought to be. God, it’s good, too! 4 “Running wild” played by violin and rhythm. Sounds like Stephane Grappelli, who used to appear on British TV quite frequently a few decades ago. Don’t know who the guitarist is. And is this followed by a pizzicato solo by the violinist? Wow! This band is so together, as well; what a delight! I thought the sound was a bit funny – so it’s live. Wish I had been there. 5 Duke Ellington’s “Daydream” by trombone & rhythm. I get a Kai Winding feeling about this, though I know not why – I’ve heard hardly any of his music. I love the guitarist’s accompaniment. He strikes me as being one of those really well known West Coast guitarists like Barney Kessel, whose work I’m generally unfamiliar with. Very nice; not quite up my street, but very nice, all the same. 6 Nice, relaxing Bossa Nova by trumpet & alto & rhythm. This would be a lovely number to stand on the dance floor and sway to gently, while holding your lady very close – for eight minutes of heaven! Oh, and the guys are playing, too! Well, the guitarist seemed to lose it, just at the end of his solo and the alto player hurried to the rescue. Fine. 7 Baritone and lady singist – very nice. No, is that a bass sax? Wow, those bottoms are REALLY bottoms! No, I think it’s a baritone. And a really quite preachin’ baritone player, too. Oh, this is lurvely! One I think I want to buy. 8 Fast Bossa Nova with piano, trumpet, alto. Very nice stuff indeed! Lotsa drums – could the leader be a drummer, by chance? 9 “I’ll remember April” by violin and rhythm. This also sounds like Stephane! The guitarist reminds me a bit of Les Paul’s playing on the first JATP gig. More very charming stuff. 10 A great song I’ve never heard before! A lovely singer. And a very nice Django-style guitarist. Pooh gosh! Wonderful! I think I need to find out who this is. 11 Another Bossa Nova. Very interesting and groovy bass solo. Nice flug & piano solos. Yes, very nice. 12 Pretty original ballad which actually feels like a ballad. I love the way they move the rhythm up as the tune progresses, and yet keep it essentially a ballad. Is this Freddie Hubbard? 13 Very groovy playing from a sax only group. Could this be the World Saxophone Quartet? Likeable stuff, anyway, though a bit off my track. 14 “I’ll see you again” tenor sax and ukulele? Enter the tuba. Then glockenspiel. This sounds so much as if it ought to be a soundtrack. Can I hear a baby crying in there? The feeling is so warm. Some of these bands sound rather similar. Could some of them be the same band? Well, I loved this compilation even more than I disliked disc a, Durium. Wow! Thank you so much for a truly delightful ride! MG

BFT44 a 1 Modern big band, apparently trying to sound old-time, but with modern solos. Sounds a little like some of the George Russell I’ve heard (but I’ve not heard much). I really don’t like this. 2 Modern piano trio. Exciting piece. Too much piano (ie he’s too good for me). Another I really don’t like. 3 I know this tune I think. Modern big band, with tenor solo, saxman all over his horn. Ditto trumpet player. Then alto player, also too competent. And a piano solo that also leaves me cold. 4 “Time after time”, by guitar, bass, drums & trumpet. Very pleasant, with very friendly interactions between guitar & trumpet. I’m not keen on the sound the guitarist is getting but the piece is pretty. 5 Alto intro to ballad? I know the tune, but what is it? No, maybe I don’t know it; maybe it just sounds a bit like “How about me”. All very nicely done, but it doesn’t quite get to me. 6 Drum solo intro. Then post-boppish tune. Alto soloist fits the mood. Another one that sounds a bit too much like jazz for my taste. I’m a bit more with the pianist, though. Well, I was on his first chorus. 7 Oh, someone’s trying to be modern and funky. Tenor player sounds fairly good on the head. Hate the guitar solo. 8 Piano trio. This is OK, but nothing to pick out of a crowd. 9 “Straight no chaser” played too fast. Yes, we can hear you’ve all got chops. 10 A recognisable Bop tune (the title of which, as often happens, escapes me) by piano & alto. Yes, another jazz recording. 11 Sounds like a film theme to start off with. Then the groove gets going. Is this off an LP? I thought I heard a skip. Love the busy rhythm section. Love the trumpet solo. Oh yes, this is REALLY getting to me. Loss of tension when the intro comes back, then it picks up again for the electric piano solo. But this isn’t as effective as the trumpet solo. A tenor player would have been a better choice at that point. I’ll be interested to see who this is. Well done for a live gig. 12 What is this thing called, love? Slightly disorganised start but settles down after they’ve played the head. Trumpet led quartet; a good live performance. If you were there, it’d be very acceptable, I think. 13 “Cherokee” by piano & alto. Nice idea to take it slowly. But I don’t know that the pianist entirely agrees. Oh, in comes a bass player; is he late or was he just having a quick cough and a drag for the first 7 minutes? 14 “I want to be happy” and so does the band. Sounds like Spike Jones. Sounds like they succeeded. Sounds like the audience thought so, too. I’m afraid there has been very little in this set that I’ve enjoyed much. In a way, this has been pretty interesting. It’s clear to me that much of this music is very good. I think of it as a jazz equivalent of l’art pour l’art movement of the back end of the 19th century and early 20th – essentially an aesthetic adventure. As such, I’m certainly not equipped to appreciate it. Sorry. MG

Jim, that was a much clearer statement of how a Hammond actually works than I've ever seen. Thank you so much. MG

If you're referring to T-Bone Walker: I Want A Little Girl It was originally a Black&Blue recording made in France. It has Hal Singer on tenor and George Arvanitas on piano and organ. In the French reissue (Feelin' The Blues) there are a few extra tracks with Jay McShann and Eddie Cleanhad Vinson. This one I like a lot. T-Bone also plays piano on one tune. F OK, well I also remember a European Polydor LP floating around in the '60s. MG

Jimmy Owens' first Horizon album would be a good 'un. And Hugh Masekela. And there's '80s stuff on JAM that I'd like to see out: Arnold Sterling; McGriff; McCann; Upchurch; Holloway etc. MG

I just started listening to "The Godfathers of Groove" by Reuben, Grant Green Jr and Bernard Purdie. This photo appears in the insert. Wow! What about that! Oh, the album sounds great so far! MG

I think that's right. Actually, it wasn't very good - well, not as good as I thought it ought to be. But I was a passionate Goons fan in those days. MG

Oh wow! Just came through the door! MG

I am tempted to give chewy/Aric my number. For real. So there are some good points about living in a different time zone MG

Redd Foxx Dick Gregory Jimmy Pelham

Do you mean this one? Mm - haven't listened to this for some time. MG

Boogaloo Joe Jones Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith Guitar Crusher

Ray Charles - Genius + soul = jazz - HMV mono Ray Charles - My kind of jazz - Tangerine orig Ray Charles - My kind of jazz 3 - Crossover orig Groove Holmes - A bowl of soul - Loma orig MG

Yeah, very, very nice. MG

Progress! MG

It's good; but I'm less enamoured of Groove's work with big bands than I am with small combos. This is, I think, the best of his work with big bands. MG

Nigella Lawson is one of the most Tory people in the country. Father deliberately created recession by booming housing market. Her second husband was Mrs T's chief publicist. I don't think she looks all that much, either. MG

I went in May and it sucked. MG

There are some very interesting GM things in that list. The two George Freemans are the best, but McGriff's "Fly dude", which also has Freeman and all of the Holmes, particularly "American pie" are extremely good. I'd like to get the O'donel Levys and the Joe Thomas. Missed those back in the day. What's the deal with emusic? Is this material available to Europeans? (The Verve stuff isn't.) MG

Come on - give us details! (Pretty please) MG

Yeah - I saw him in a disused warehouse in Southall in '61 or '62, with Sounds Inc, and he was effin' dynamic! Even with his leg in irons! (Mind you, Jerry Lee, whom I saw in Boulogne in '63, was the total killer!) MG