John Tapscott

More incredible music from John Birks.

Having just finished reading the Stan Levey biography, I've been listening to some albums with Stan on drums. This playing by everyone on this album is unbelievable really, the highest level imaginable. And there was tension in the air at the session, too. Norman Granz deliberately brought Stan Levey and Sonny Stitt together for this record. A few years earlier Stitt got a lesser jail sentence for himself by snitching on Levey (who wound up spending nearly 2 years in jail). All drug related, of course. Thankfully Levey got off drugs in prison and really straightened his life out. But there were fireworks in the studio that day, let me tell you.

From the Mosaic set. Both excellent sessions. IMHO Legacy may possibly be the best album Beehive ever released.

Fascinating story. Well worth the read.

from the Mosaic set

Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band - CDR of a one hour radio broadcast - July 1968, Stuttgart. 1968 seems like it was the peak year for this excellent band.

- Dr. Chicago - from the Mosaic set. Nice sessions. No complaints about Mosaic but it would be nice if they included original album covers in the booklet (actually they did that with most of the Selects).

from the Mosaic set