Rabshakeh

Which would you start with of these ones?

Any views on the Jazz a Confronto series? They're a frequent feature of vinyl fairs. What was the concept meant to be? Some mention above of the Enrico Rava but does anyone rate any of the others?

Howard Hanger Trio – A Child is Born Does anyone know who plays on this?

Maarten Altena Octet – Rif

It certainly doesn't sound like one. Probably one of my favourite commercials jazz tunes.

I really enjoyed that Water Music record that he did with John Garner.

Various – Jazz Behind The Dikes

Charlie Shavers With Maxine Sullivan – The Complete Charlie Shavers With Maxine Sullivan One of many frustratingly disparate Charlie Shavers records with scattered veins of excellent moments throughout.

I love the Beatles cover on the second side.

It's like hearing him live on a good day. Nicely recorded too.

اسم = ism – Maua The new Pat Thomas. A really excellent one.

Mulatu Astatke and the Heliocentrics - Inspiration Information 3 First listen. I'm not a big fan of The Heliocentrics, who I tend to find just recycle past music with the trappings of modern production (an issue with a fair bit of modern jazz), and I tend to dislike music associated with the current Ethio-jazz (Registered Trade Mark) revival, but this is a surprisingly substantial album, with some actual effort that has gone into songwriting and arrangement; not just capturing a mood that will fit nicely on a playlist in the background.

Revolutionary Ensemble - The Psyche

I always struggled with Hanrahan's releases under his own name. They often have dry 80s production, and I don't like the way that the prominent Latin percussion is, to my ears, decorative rather than rhythmic. Plus I definitely missed him first time around.

Thanks! I'll check it out. I'd heard that his son played too and so I'm interested to hear it.

Chet Baker / Steve Houben – Chet Baker - Steve Houben This one ranks pretty high in my opinion for late period Chet. Seems under-rated.

Billy May and his Orchestra / Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra The Swing Era: The Music of 1940 - 1941: How It Was To Be Young Then More out of interest than anything. Listening to it reminds me that I already knew these versions from hearing them played. Presumably for many consumers, the recollection of the Time Warner box set has replaced the recollection of the originals. Much like how the filmed versions of the moon landing have replaced the original news footage in many people's memories.

Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich – Krupa And Rich This is a fun one. Much better than just a drum battle record.

I feel that there should be some good cool or west coast arrangements of doowop tunes, but maybe doowop wasn't regarded as sufficiently 'clever' at the time.

Can anyone think of any good examples of doo wop or close harmony vocal songs played by jazz groups? Given that these tunes are well known, have complex arrangements and are generally blues or gospel based, you'd think that they be frequent choices of tunes for smaller jazz grouos, despite being classed as 'lowbrow'. The main one that comes to mind for me is The Great Pretender by Lester Bowie.

Thanks. Brandon Ross. Weird Boston connection. Slightly soul / afro-beat sound. It's a bit of a random one. I do quite like the record. Or at least 3/4 of it.

Not sure that this is the one with which to start. He has done loads. They seem pretty ordinary to me. Borasisi (solo) and Resting in the Heart of Green Shade (with a group including Vinny Golia) are maybe the standout ones to which I've listened. Both are good.

Chris Williams & Patrick Shiroishi – Sans Soleil What's the view here on Patrick Shiroishi? He's a name that comes up on other corners of the internet (e.g. Twitter and Reddit) frequently as a leading recent saxophonist. But he's never / rarely discussed here. I don't really hear it, personally.

Zenzile Featuring Marion Brown Does anyone know any background to this one? Not much information on who or what Zenzile was.