B. Clugston

Sad news. Smoker was a very interesting player. I like his story about how he wound up playing with Braxton, which is in Mixtery, edited by Graham Lock. He saw Braxton in concert in Portland and met him backstage. The next day it turns out they were on the same plane together and they hit it off. Braxton asked Smoker to send him a tape. After much procrastinating, a tape was sent and soon after, Smoker was asked to join Braxton to do a couple of dates playing Composition 98. Braxton told him to get his music released: "You're committing a crime if you don't get it out!"

That was a great BFT. I especially enjoyed the Takeru Muraoka track.

The t is pronounced in my part of the world.

Sanborn is great on Tim Berne's Diminutive Mysteries (Mostly Hemphill). He's also guested with John Zorn the odd time.

I love that album. The hand of Manfred is apparent and it sounds more like at a Kenny Wheeler album at times, but all the more fascinating to hear Adams in this context. Heinz Sauer is also part of what is a really interesting group.

That Lucky LP is a great one. Hamilton really shines on it.

I saw this album sitting in a second hand shop the other day. I remember seeing Bill Cowsill performing covers in a pub back in the early 90s during one of the many mini comebacks he had in those days. It was sad and kind of surreal. Now spinning: Giorgio Gaslini Jean-Luc Ponty...et al (PA USA) & Philly Joe Jones/Dameronia, Look Stop Listen

Anthony Braxton and the Three Rivers Tri-Centric Ensemble, Ensemble (Pittsburgh) 2008. Excellent concert organized by saxophonist Ben Opie featuring some of Braxton's older creative orchestra songs. Braxton conducts and plays. There's also a CD-R featuring a high school ensemble doing a great job on some Braxton tunes.

Sad news. Baker is great on those George Russell Sextet dates and is a big reason why they were so good. Glad he went on to have a long, impactful career in music.

??? Hungarian String Quartet, Bela Bartok, The Six String Quartets (DG). Endlessly fascinating music.

John Coltrane, Black Pearls (Prestige).

Walter used to come up to Vancouver to record, teach and busk. I met him a few times and he was a nice guy and quite a character. I've always liked this LP, but certainly it's not in the top echelon of Lacy's works. The CD version has two further duets which appeared on the LP Call Notes. Now playing... John Coltrane, Offering, Live at Temple University (Resonance). It's late period Coltrane, but compared to the Japan and Olatunji concerts, this one comes across as mellow.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes!

Watazumido-Shuso, The Mysterious Sounds of the Japanese Bamboo Flute (Everest)

I spin Judgement, Compulsion and the Blue Note Mosaic Select the most, but you really can't go wrong with any of the Blue Notes.

Bill Dixon, Aaron Siegel, Ben Hall, Weight/Counterweight (Broken Research)

John Coltrane, Impressions (Impulse, mono) John Coltrane, Coltrane (Prestige/AP) Steve Lacy, Saxophone Special (Emanem)

Ottawa 45

John Coltrane, Soultrane + and the Red Garland Trio (Analogue Productions). Great stuff from the Prestige era. Steve Lacy, School Days (QED). All Monk, before it was fashionable, with Roswell Rudd.

Sign me up for a download please.

Kodaly String Quartet, Contemporary Hungarian Chamber Music (Hungaroton).

RIP. He also did a lot to bring Schoenberg's work to a wider audience.

Those albums seem to get forgotten amongst Giuffre's output, but they are great. Kiyoshi Tokunaga and Randy Kaye are an excellent rhythm section for this music. Evan Parker/Derek Bailey/Han Bennink, The Topography of the Lungs (Incus)

Joseph Jarman and Famoudou Don Moye, Egwu-Anwu (Sun Song) (India Navigation). Nice showcase of both talents without the other guys. Jimmy Giuffre 3, Music for People, Birds, Butterflies & Mosquitoes (Choice). Great album from Giuffre's 70s trio. Lots of flute.

Paul Desmond Quartet Live (Horizon). Great quartet date with on Ed Bickert on guitar, Jerry Fuller on drums and Don Thompson on bass (and engineer). Desmond's solo on Jobim's Wave is packed with interesting moments.