Clunky

the Annie Ross arrived today with the Maupin, Featherstonehaugh and Rendell's 'Playtime'. The Ross is more cabaret than jazz but it's very enjoyable. Recorded with studio audience ( or overdubbed). Plenty of songs are just played for laughs 'I've got it hidden' and 'Cat food' for example. There's an underlying light funk feel to plenty of the songs and some excellently cheesy electric piano. Excellent value for 99 pence!

Lou Bennett et son Orchestre --------Enfin !--------( RCA France) French edition of this lively album recorded in Paris in 1963. Rene Thomas is on guitar. Curiously Jane (sp) is credited to Arnett Coleman (sp) . I've not previously come across that spelling of Coleman's first name.

The Meinert sounds (to my ears) more derivative - none the worse for that but it has a heavy and obvious Trane-like sound. Both are exemplary reissues. Clearly a label to watch NP, first spin of...... Julius Hemphill --- Roi Boye & The Gotham Minstrels-----( Sackville )

The Bunky session is wonderful NP Christian Schwindt ----- For friends and relatives-----( Frederiksberg)

Nice, I've a few Cameo sides , all by the Varsity Eight and none sound too great despite being in decent condition.

Manny Albam----A Gallery of Gershwin-----(Coral) Really only the reason I picked this up was to hear more Eddie Costa. He's one of 4 pianists - Hank Jones being the most notable. Some tracks feature all four pianists with orchestral backing. It's pretty soporific as a whole but Eddie Costa's wonderful lower register runs are something else. The record itself seems very brittle and I'm guessing probably isn't actually vinyl.

This's great news. I too haven't bought from ITunes , how does the booklet work-I'd be hoping for some decent detail regarding personnel and dates but wonder how that might be presented to purchasers?

These guys are so consistently inventive. These ought to be good, I'll be listening for sure.

wonderful news.....

My understanding is that 78s are prone to warp when stored in a location with marked heat variation . A modern house's loft ,I was advised ,was something of a death knell for shellac. Too cold in the winter swing to hot in the summer. The garage might be safer , where there's only the damp to worry about!

Tony Oxley ---------Ichnos--------( RCA UK)

Andrew Hill -----Blackfire------(NY BN mono)

Sad day : a giant gone: RIP

Very sad news indeed. A real giant who left behind some legacy.!

Made the trip yesterday with my little portable TT plus around a dozen shellacs. Humphrey Littleton was particularly enjoyed as were some 1940s piano pieces by English pianist Myra Hess .

I've never really engaged with Kenton but this set is worth hearing. Picked up the LP edition in a charity shop for £20 the other day. Worth it.

Joe Harriott-------Swings High-------(Melodisc UK) A rather beautiful album. More hardbop than Harriott's other sessions but very fine none the less. Good find yesterday in mint condition.

Art Ensemble of Chicago ------Certain Blacks------(America) Fr A new one for me but first few spins are very enjoyable.

Ronald Shannon Jackson -------Decode yourself-------(Island) 1980s stamped all over this. The drum machine and synth in particular. It's not without merit though with a great version of "Be-bop". Over all a bit Prime Time like. Overall interesting

Schaap's writing here boarders on the unintelligible at points. None the less the music and sound is very fine.

thanks for checking that out.

One of the negative things about 78s from the 1920-30s is that one side is often 'hot' and the other a more danceable number often with much less or no 'jazz' interest. These sides have their own merit often but it's frustrating that only one side may be of interest - a problem given how heavy 78s are and how much space they take up. No so problem for this one just pulled off the shelf at random as I sit at my desk ; Jack Purvis -------When you're feeling blue/ O.K Rhythm Kings--------Casa Loma Stomp-------( Parlophone R 890) UK issue Superb trumpet from Purvis and I've loved Casa Loma Stomp for years. Heard the latter just as I was getting into jazz on Robert Parker's BBC radio series ( Australian originally?) on classic jazz in the late 1980s. Ok the Purvis isn't a real flag waver but there's plenty to like in the arrangement and the soloing. These both sound like masters rather than dubs given the high quality of the sound. My copy is newer than one illustrated as there's no gramophone horn behind the £ sign seen at 12 o'clock on the label.

I think this set might have great potential. I'll know better once the track listing is clear. A number of Savoy sessions were produced originally for other labels and secondly sessions such as Don Byas have a swing-bop feel so may or may not be included . I'll be hoping that Mosaic do a good number on the transfers . Comparing 'Rampage' by Allen Eager on 'Brorhers and mothers' the sound is really quite dull versus the bright clear sound on my original Savoy 78 of the same tune . The LP transfers on the twofer LPs are decent but I'm sure could be improved . Wonder if metal parts or mint acetates exist ?

Della Reese -----Amen ! -------(London UK) I'm not familiar with Reese's ( or any gospel for that matter) but her singing her is very fine. Perhaps inevitably I prefer the up tempo numbers but the overall mood is a lot less pious than the cover photo might suggest.

Boyd Senter --------Bad Habits/ New St.Louis Blues --------(Okeh) Some lovely guitar on Bad Habits- Eddie Lang, I think ( don't have my discography handy). No sure why St Louis gets the 'New" prefix - I suppose in 1927 it was relatively 'new'