Alexander Hawkins

By coincidence, I'm listening to some of my first Lateef as I read, and he's a mofo on tenor as well!

Yep, there's some brilliant writing on Nate's site IMHO

Fair enough! Didn't mean to sound sarcastic with my remark - just short of time, and it came out wrong! Don't know what Jim would make of this, but you might want to think about keeping the piano up, at least at first - a LOT more gigs going, I'd have thought...

I almost wish I had a little 2 year old to use that one on!!!!!!

Just to bump this up - inspired by Luke's post on another thread, just had a listen to some of the sound samples on his site. This piano player Sacha Perry is on to something!

Luke - that's fascinating. Am now listening to that MP3 from your site, along with the score, of 'One For DT'. Great playing. Edit: to say, piano solo's just started. WOW! Some guy not just running the changes Herbie-style. Has heard his Bud Powell, for sure...I'm VERY impressed!

As for easy to find stores in London, there's an enormous HMV with a decent jazz section just off Oxford Circus. And on Piccadilly Circus, in the place where Tower used to be, there's now a Virgin Megastore, with a very very large selection - and occasionally, some good deals. Unfortunately, if you're used to US prices, I fear you'll have to swallow hard to buy over here... I'm afraid I don't know about Amsterdam. But I guess a field trip to research the issue wouldn't hurt

‘Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone’ from ‘Ballads’ is particularly poignant just at the moment.

I think it's in whatever key you want to play it in, actually. Although in fairness, usually F (as you say) in my experience. To answer the question, I sometimes play a Viscount DB3. This has drawbars, so might be a good way to get used to learning your own registrations. It has a good touch, and is also available as a module. It's also much cheaper than other models. However, what proper organists will correctly tell you is that just because it looks a little like a piano doesn't mean it can be dabbled in...it's very much it's own instrument. The techniques are ultimately very different.

Wow - I stand corrected! Quite a choice indeed. Thank you for taking the time to look that up! Actually, I went to NYC for the first time ever just before Christmas, and I confess, I'm jealous...

And - only if you have a chance - 3rd May, 1981 please. Or will the answer be too depressing?

I don't know about now, but I bought those Riversides from them a while back and they were the simple slipcases, not the 12*12 boxes. But, given it's about the music, GET'EM!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder who was in that John Gilmore quartet?

I read this in the paper this morning - struck me as interesting that he should be called a 'jazz' guitarist. I don't necessarily disagree, but don't imagine Derek would have been too impressed!

I'd agree with this!

Of course, when I say 'nice', I mean 'nasty'.

Joe's guitar is also SWEEEEEEEEEEEET on that track. Really nice voicing.

Actually, scrub that - Griff is ON all the way through!

BTW, just heard Wilbur Ware's 'The Chicago Sound' album for the first time (with Griffin and John Jenkins on board, among others). Nice stuff - some heated Griff on the first track in particular!

They are on Disc Moose! Either go to http://www.deepdiscountdvd.com/search.cfm Or use that massive Target discount! Edit, Bev (Or anyone) have these shows made it across the pond??? Yep - we get these on BBC2. Last week, we had late-night triple bills of American Dad - Family Guy - The Office (US version). Not to derail this, but I think the US version of the Office is hilarious!

I think Ware was absolutely perfect for those Sonny Rollins 'Live at the Village Vanguard' sides...That rock steady presence was certainly needed (IMHO), what with the wildly imaginative Rollins on the one hand and the wildly - I don't know, Octopus-like? Wild? - Elvin on the other.

I have to confess to knowing very little Dex. Of that which I do know, I have a real soft spot for 'Our Man in Paris'. [iMHO, it also contains some beautiful Bud Powell.]

Another recommendation for the 'Improvisation' book. It should probably be pointed out that it's extremely readable - easily recommended to someone who doesn't like Bailey's own playing, for instance. Everyone speaks so highly of Derek who's played with him. Apparently a top bloke, as well as musician. And an inspiration. He's scaled down his playing a lot in recent years, but I know there was still quite a number of us young guys holding out for the opportunity to play with him (he would frequently have people over to jam). I love 'Ballads', too (thoroughly non-idiomatic? REALLY? Listen e.g. to 'Body and Soul'!). I've recently also been enjoying 'Pieces for Guitar', and his playing on some of those early Brotzmann FMPs - e.g. 'Fuck De Boere'.