Clunky

Last Thursday night the Sun Ra Arkestra , lead by Marshall Allen, totally mobbed at Summerhall Edinburgh. Standing crowd , no place for the clostrophobic. The band delivered exactly what you might expect Ra's greatest earthly hits. Two nights later I had my ears blown off by The Ex. I don't know too much about them other than some of their collaborations with Ken Vandermark and Ab Baars. This was plain sohphiscated punk rock of pretty high order. More energy than a Saturn V , these guys and one girl blasted off with a terrifying roar. Sun Ra would have approved no doubt. My tympanic membranes could only take so much before an early departure. I'd happily see them again with ear defenders.

Ronnie Ross------Cleopatra's Needle----(Fontana UK)

Otoroku

A year ago yesterday I paid by PayPal for Cafe Oto's Chris Corsano Summer Residency LP. It was a pre-order , I unwisely felt the need to support the release. Since then I've hear very little , which is exceptionally poor to say the least. I've sent numerous pestering emails and received only one vague response five months ago. Anyone else know what's happening to this release. ?

Kalaparusha ---------Peace and Blessings -----(Black Saint) excellent lively date from 1979. AACM like vibe.

Had this set a few days and I have so say I love it. No complaints at all. A great package , well thought through. Roll on Vol 5, I'm with Lon on that too.

Gil Fuller's two Discovery 78s showed up on a Savoy Bebop Boys LP twofer, but don't seem to be out on CD. And this seems to be the only session under his name in the 1940s. I have a British Vogue 78 of the Fuller sides FWIW.

Lon Another year chalked up. Hope you manage to get some time to yourself and enjoy the day. All the best Adrian

Ok, my shot at mentioning someone who has something special to say on the ivories and isn't properly recognised by the jazz cognisant amongst us. Franco D'Andrea - brilliantly fluent Italian , touches of Monk but his own thing. Amazing discography in all manner of settings.

oops and apologies to Jim, I was in too much of hurry to think about that. Selecting G or S just reduces the value of the contribution rather than costing Jim?

I listened to the first of the Hep discs last night. The sound of the Decca sides is indeed very good but not quite on the level of the quality Mosaic have achieved on the Lunceford or Fitzgerald sets. The 1936 session good be a lot better I'd imagine it Mosiac have their hands on decent sources. Speaking of sources the recent Condon/Freeman has generally excellent sound ( few exceptions) but I was alarmed to see how many tracks were sourced from the earlier Mosaic LPs or CD issues. Mosaic undoubtedly did their best but it does make you wonder how well the source materials are being looked after.

Thanks Jim , it's a great place. Done

Wayne Shorter ---- Night Dreamer---- ( NYC mono) Another session that I only appreciated once I got it on vinyl. The RVG just didn't grab me but it's a fine progressive BN date . It's all Wayne and Elvin with Lee along for the ride

Condon/ Freeman --- disc 4

Very,very sad. John Taylor and Kenny Wheeler to giants gone within a few short months. Taylor had a fantastic touch and a very distinct voice.

no foolin', you won't regret it...

Curtis Fuller - disc 1 not played this in years, it's just fantastic music. The Mosaic sounds terrific.

It would great if Sam Records reissued Zodiac. Their reissues are of the very highest quality and won't disappoint even the pickiest audiophile. Here's hoping??

It's interesting to me how varied Roscoe's recent output is. This release is utterly different from recent sessions on Rogue Art, ECM, Widehive. No doubt those with greater knowledge of his extensive discography will know better, but he seems to be in some sort of purple period. Discs of widely varying style, all of the highest quality with a range of personnel. This release is quite muscular and all the more refreshing for that. Less usual for an artist at this stage in his/her career to keep mixing it up.

on Facebook Patrick Wilen urges that fans avoid this release , saying its a boot ! Any truth in that claim?

Agree with all of the above. I'm only one track in. Sound is breathtakingly good with a full sound from all instruments . Great separation between the quartet allows for close listening. Photos by Lauren Deutsch are excellent. Looking forward to some more extended listening when I get back from work

Today's record fair mini haul. Reasonable prices for all. The Bill Dixon side sounds as if it's been recorded under water. It's a CBS Realm pressing ,known for being dodgy in these parts. In fact it's just fine. The original recording is the problem. Good to hear it any way.

Bobby Timmons This Here (Riverside Interdisc) UK pressing - very quiet Hand clap you way through the title number , plus Dat Dere, Moanin and others. It's simultaneously a shout and a chant.....

I'd tend to agree

Gary McFarland -----Point of Departure-----(Impulse) 1972 reissue but none the worse for that. Still has lovely heavy glossy GF sleeve. I've not played this in a while and it's a very good album.