Alexander Hawkins

I'm curious to hear what his Derek Bailey improvisations sound like. Check 'em out! As a regular partner in crime for Derek, the spirit is right on!

Alex is of course too modest to recommend himself ... so I will. Convergence Quartet = That's really kind - thanks!

Btw - for some recommendations... Pat Thomas has recently released a solo piano record on FMR, half Monk tunes, half improvisations based on transcriptions of Derek Bailey material. Both halves are wonderful, but the Monk is some of the most astonishing Monk I've ever heard. Big talk, I know, but I think it's true, and I don't necessarily think Monk's someone many piano players around at the moment do well (notable exceptions, of course!). Veryan Weston has a new solo record just out on Emanem, called 'Allusions', which I haven't listened to yet, but got a copy the other day, and it came with some extremely strong recommendations...

Keith Tippett - yes! Two more masters from the UK - Pat Thomas and Veryan Weston. And let's take it as read that everyone's into Stan Tracey Irene Schweizer, Alex von Schlippenbach... Agusti Fernandez from Spain...

Philly Joe didn't have a union card...but there would be so many of these studio gigs going that I bet it'd be easy to dep it for cash in hand (plus, however heavily unionised the band, I wonder how many guys would kick up a fuss at having Philly Joe sit in on a tune? Don't know!). Agree it's unlikely that he'd go north just for the one job...In fact, the whole thing's really unlikely...I just remember hearing it from a source who would know...wish I could recall who!

BTW - another option for the clip (which unfortunately I can't hear at the moment!) - Allan Ganley?

One story doing the rounds is that actually it's not Clare on the Corry theme tune, but - unbelievably - Philly Joe Jones. He was over in London at the time, but for obvious reasons, didn't have a union card. So it would have been depped for cash, off the books...Can't remember who told me this, but it was someone such that I think there could be mileage in it!

Wow...I'm not familiar with Brian Smith, but Fred Anderson with Han should be fascinating!

Thanks Bev! Yeah, haven't been to Sheffield for a while, and I'm not sure I've ever played in Nottingham... I think I'm going to have to try to pin something down! p.s. glad the Arguelles/Formanek/Rainey gig was good - not able to catch the Vortex show (probably my nearest), but looks like an interesting band!

That's too kind...it's just a privilege to get to play with those guys! Hope the paper's coming along?

FWIW - I think one of the tracks here is wrongly credited...apparently 'Nomali' is one of Dudu's!

Up...Vortex with Mr Parker tomorrow night!

Not sure - haven't seen him for a bit - but I find it hard to believe he won't have things to say (and good for him too!)!

Bud Powell blows me away on this tune on Gordon's 'Our Man in Paris'.

A quick mention of a few nice shows coming up this month. All in London, in case anyone's around!: January 15th, Vortex Jazz Club: Ntshuks Bonga's Qwati: Claude Deppa, trumpet Ntshuks Bonga, saxophones Alexander Hawkins, piano Oren Marshall, tuba Mark Sanders, drums A really exciting new project for 2009 - a modern take on the South African jazz experience. Includes tunes by Dudu Pukwana, Mankunku Ngozi, Chris McGregor, and more. Ntshuks is an incredible player: for fans of the SA stuff, I'd really recommend Abo Bhayi, by one of hs previous projects, Tokolosho. He's most recently been heard in Louis Moholo's current band. Also, first time I've played with either Claude or Oren, so should be a lot of fun! January 18th, Cafe Oto: Paul Dunmall, tenor saxophone Alexander Hawkins, piano Nick Stephens, double bass Tony Marsh, drums A duo/trio/quartet format: AH/TM, then PD/NS/TM, then the full works. January 22nd, back at The Vortex: Evan Parker Quartet Evan Parker, tenor saxophone Alexander Hawkins, piano Dominic Lash, double bass Tony Marsh, drums Would be great to see anyone there!

You'll want all three. London is my favourite, with Coventry not far behind. Coventry also has the added bonus of interviews with Braxton. Beware of the 1-disc bootleg version, however. Agreed - I wouldn't want to be without any of them. And with one vote each already to Coventry and London, just to illustrate how good they all are, Birmingham might just be my favourite! Also - yes yes yes yes yes yes to the Diamond Curtain Wall stuff...the trio on Victo is awesome IMHO.

I met a guy on a gig a couple of months ago who was at the (in)famous Ayler Jazz 625 session...This guy was an essentially straight-ahead alto player, who said that he did sit next to a guy in a big band section once who 'I think was a bit well-known...Mike Osborne?'! He didn't have too much recollection of the date, other than being exceedingly impressed by the drumming.

This Thursday, if anyone's in London - Evan Parker Quartet. Evan Parker, ts; me on piano; John Edwards, b; Tony Marsh. We're at the Vortex - please do come along!

Yes, not Bach! The piece I'm thinking if is the variations on 'Ah vous dirais-je, maman' KV265 - so I guess the melody is a traditional French thing? [Looks like it might be, if this is correct!]

Actually - looking at the new BBC digital stations (thinking about 1extra and 6music), it's probably jazz that does worst out of the whole thing, so point definitely taken.

I agree, it's frustrating...but I'm not sure the debate is one about innovation...JRR, for all I love the show (and I do!), is on the conservative side for sure. It plays Ken Clarke to Live From the Met's David Mellor...

Afraid I don't know the Stevens, but with Ozzie and Paul Rogers, I'd say odds on to be excellent!

I think the Victo one is stunning. All of the players are on fire, and I really enjoy the electronics. Nothing but good things to say about it!

Yeah - Derby has somewhat cornered the musician market in that part of the world