A Lark Ascending

It is rather strange that more has not been done about the Columbia era. I glanced in a marvellous coffee table book I bought in 1978 called 'The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Jazz' by Brian Case and Stan Britt (my Baedeker to jazz in the 70s along with Joachim Berendt's book...great colour photos of sleeves that made them so desirable) and they mention a 6 LP CBS France series covering this era and a couple of discs (doesn't say if they are singles, doubles or what) on a Swedish label called Tax.

Yep, the Moholo gig was part of the 'Jazz Britannia' weekend I think. It was a fine gig, if a liitle ragged. Included both Soweto Kinch (nice to hear him in this sort of setting) and Jason Yarde, a player I'm astounded has not recorded. He seems tied up with production and other things. Did a great extended piece at Cheltenham a while back.

Great book - he really gets Britain! He even visited Worksop!!!! Worksop is the English equivalent of Nowheresville, New Mexico.

Cheese Rolling! This what 'Being British' is all about! [notice - no pads, visors, body armour!] or

I've always enjoyed her writing and photographs.

Do you know something we don't? Please tell me...I don't want to mark these books if I'm never going to give them back!

Played the first disc of the Fargo pair on 'The Duke Box' earlier on - it really does give you a different take on the music. There's a great "Ko Ko" and "Harlem Air-Shaft" there. Just playing this, one you'll want soon, Papsrus: Recorded just after Billy Strayhorn's death, it aches with emotion. Some of my favourite Johnny Hodges. There's a version of 'Lotus Blossom' that was taped after the main recordings that will break your heart. Along with 'Far East Suite', my favourite late Ellington.

I've never seen anything quite like it, have you? Hello... another refugee? MG Yes, it's me, Sandi Hi Sandi, Nice to see you.

A Cornish Pasty...with lots of vinegar and a cup of tea. Don't get why there are grapes in the picture!

My understanding of the US electoral system is derived totally from 'The West Wing'!!!!!!!! (and you could do worse than get a copy of the old 'Yes, Prime Minister' series to understand the British!). I'm looking forward to the forthcoming election of President Bartlett. Such a nice man!

Lon, Thanks for the info. I have the Mosaic winging its way to me as I type. In fact I can predict my week based on it. DHL will try to deliver it, I will be out, they will leave me a card. I will ring them to try to collect - no-one will answer the phone. I will drive to their nearest depot - Sheffield, Rotherham, Madrid - and, with any luck, take delivery. I have a feeling it'll be a case of piecing the other Columbia stuff together from the sources you mention. Was there an LP survey at one stage of the Columbias? I seem to recall something along the line of the Bessie Smith and Billie Hoiliday twofers but I could be going nuts. Papsrus, Ellington Uptown is great. I'm not so keen on the Mahalia Jackson B,B & B - purely because I'm so infatuated with the early 40s recordings. But I know it has lots of fans.

He did a gig at the Barbican a year or two back but unfortunately I missed it. Seeing Louis' name reminds me of another great drummer-in-exile who was part of the UK scene for many years - Clifford Jarvis. I recall him being very influential on the London scene in the 70s and 80s in particular. Incredible that he chose to settle with us - sad that he didn't get much recognition here. I think that might be the one I was at - part of the Jazz Britannia weekend. I don't recall Clifford Jarvis at all.

Bev my man if you like the sound and the announcements on these, and you haven't already tried them, you should check out the Duke Ellington Treasury Series on Storyville. Fantastic in sound and material. Fascinating announcements/"commercial" spots at times. Thanks, Lon. I've got those discs and the Private Collection ones from later on the edge of my radar. Too much else of Ellington to absorb for the moment - but I know I'll be wanting fresh Ellington to hear in the years to come, so those recordings will fit the bill beautifully. Knowing your expertise in this area, what's your recommendation for the best way to collect the mid-late 30s period between the RCA recordings? I have a couple of Classics discs - I notice a few of the others are MIA and fetching silly prices.

a) British - legally, yes. Though I've always felt uncomfortable with that term. Too many imperial associations. b) English/Scottish/Welsh/Irish - Definitely English and very attached to the place; though my mum is Irish so I'm frequently drawn there (but would never claim to be Irish). c) European - yes. The more links the better. d) ethnic minority - no (unless being a Southerner trapped in the North Midlands counts me as one!).

I'm eagerly awaiting the Blue Notes box. Ogun was one of my initial routes into jazz in the mid to late 70s. I never had any of these records and knew the Blue Notes mainly by reputation or odd appearances on records by the likes of Robert Wyatt. Louis Moholo is still going strong - I saw him with a version of Spirit's Rejoice a couple of years back in fine form and he did a really interesting on stage interview. I think he lives back in South Africa now.

I've always thought the Canute of legend (rather than the real one) made a wonderful symbol of the collective British character - hopelessly trying to beat off the inevitable tide of change, be it decimalisation, the Euro, asylum seekers etc. Though we do seem to have embraced the Big Mac, the baseball cap and ordering coffee in a bewildering array of sizes and types with little resistance!

I thought bad teeth was meant to be a national characteristic.

Do you really think so, Bev? Because the primaries/caucuses/whatever have always had me completely baffled. It's incredibly hard to keep track of what goes on in even a handful of states - for me, at least - and different states have wildly divergent laws (customs, too). Sorry, seeline. I didn't make that clear...or spell caucuses right. I was alluding to the fact that I found the caucus system totally incomprehensible, but suggested royal succesion rules were even more so. There was a BBC radio broadcast from the New Hampshire primary which described people huddling in groups in some hall and then suddenly moving into different huddles. I remained non the wiser. There's something attractive about the whole improvised, backwoods side of this but I don't get it. Does it have any connection with The Caucus Race in Alice in Wonderland (where everyone wins and everyone shall have prizes)?

Lovely! Actually, MQofS' son became James VI of Scotland and then James I of England - so the present Queen does have a direct descent from MQofS. Can't recall what Mary's claim was. Now I will never forgive William Duke of Normandy for usurping the throne from Harold, Earl of Wessex in 1066. Or maybe it was Harald Hardrada who was the one badly done by. Or Edgar the Atheling! Royal lineage makes even the US caususes sound simple!

Well, the first disc of 'The Duke Box' (radio broadcasts) sounds stunning, given how far back these recordings go. Better than some of the studio recordings (or at least the transfers that have got to us). I even like the commentary, as corny as it is! Here's another magnificent Ellington set, Papsrus, that I've got on now as I'm cooking: Ella with the Ellington orchestra (and smaller units mainly build round Oscar P) in 1957 - 2 discs + a third of bits and bobs. You get Ella, you get Ellington plus lots of full solos from the likes of Webster. Ivy Anderson is the Ellington singer I like best but this set is magical. Along with the Rodgers and Hart, my favourite of her songbook records.

Avebury - to my mind, much more impressive than Stonehenge.

This is tied up with so many things - the way Britain has changed to become far more multi-cultural in the last 60 years; the increasing role and influence of the EC; some anxiety/fear/downright hostility over immigration (only a couple of years ago it was immigration from Africa, now Eastern Europe is the concern) and something of a jealousy with regard to the strong national identies that the Irish, Welsh and Scots seem to have developed (and a fear of the eventual disintegration of 'Britain', if Scotland and Wales decide to go for independence) . As usual the government is trying to do the impossible - create an identikit British identity, based on what they'd like Britishness to be. The trouble is they're torn between wanting what they see as the age old traditional values and their desire to reflect the new multi-cultural Britain. Whatever they come up with - and those of us who work in schools will be expected to inculcate this Britishness - I suspect it will be ignored by the bulk of the population - as in most countries there are multiple identities in Britain, identities that don't need spelling out or distilling into a simplified, standard-fit version. I'm a Cornishmen (or so I claim!) who has hardly every lived in Cornwall, very proud of my Irish half and a keen supporter of European integration! Try and fit that into the standard model. There is a good side though - English folk music has almost become cool again! Having seen the Scots and Irish whooping it up with their jigs and reels there seems to be a bit more sympathy for the English variety. Who knows, the words 'Morris Dancer' may soon not lead to instant guffaws!

Once again, thanks for the welcomes. I don't know whether to be polite and say thanks (thereby bumping this up and appearing to be seeking attention); or say nothing (and then seem unappreciative!). I'll risk the former!

You'll really enjoy the Hasse. I'm about ready to read it again! There's some good Ellington at e-music - you have to wade through oceans of cheapo compilations to find it but it's there. There are four double CD recordings of the Carnegie Hall concerts from the mid-40s, originally on Prestige. The sound is typical of live recordings from those times but I find them all perfectly listenable. These were big 'events' so I suspect they are not typical of live dates - lots of suite premieres including 'Black, Brown and Beige'. Very enjoyable. (Just seen that King Ubu has also recommended these while I was typing! Sorry to tempt you further, Papsrus!!!!)

The piano playing is quite wonderful. A great deal is made of Stan Tracey's Monk influence but listening to lots of Elington over the past week I can really hear his (frequently acknowledged) debt to Ellington as well. Nice and percussive.