JohnS

Jessica's recordings are something of a blindspot for me, initially very nice but they don't stand repeated playings. I've been at a couple of her solo gigs and she's come over well, great personality.

My copy is the twofer vinyl which couples this with Freedom Book. Can't think when I last gave it a spin. A fine album, Booker is a real original with an unmistakable "crying" sound. Sometimes I find him a tad unrelenting but he's always interesting. Byard is on form, always playing the unexpected. Fine bass work from Richard Davis throughout.

Have a great one.

A UK members get together should be possible. Any takers?

Even with the Mosaic's shipping charge (outrageously high) I still only paid around £28.00 for my Selects. Probably a pound or two more because of the fluctuating exchange rate. On reflection I must have bought two. The Compact Disc Club who normally come up with a good price are listing them ar £49.99!

None of the octet recordings will disappoint but for my money it has to be "Exodus" by a nose followed by "Sister Salvation". Fresh Sound have a two lps on one cd of rarer items by the octet but on my copy the music has been transferred from lp and it shows. The sound on the "Americans Swinging In Paris" cd has a dreadful accoustic spoiling what could have been an interesting date.

Shorty Rogers; Blues Express Duke Pearson; Sweet Honey Bee

This is the only cd I bought during my recent US holiday. It's excellent, probably the best of Murray's various Creole/Senegalese/Latin projects. A lot of the credit goes to Hamid Drake for anchoring the whole thing and the driving horn arrangements. I haven't heard very much of Pharoah Sanders recent work but he sounds fired up here and enjoying the experience. After hearing this I regret missing, for family reasons, the concert in May last year at The Brighton Dome (about 50 miles from here) by Murray and Sanders with the smaller Gwo-Ka Masters group.

Highly recommended.

Saw this band live in London, my first aquaintance with James Carter. The music was probably okay but it was hard to tell due to the awful sound at the Union Chapel. Thanks for the link Gary, withouit it I'd have missed the show.

Me too. Raney is always worth listening to. I especially like Raney's 50s recordings, paticularly the Prestige and ABC dates. Definitely an unjustly overlooked artist at the moment-or maybe just unfashionable.

David Murray is THE bass clarinet player.

Towards the end of my working life I was getting six weeks plus two or three more days for odd things like the Queen's birthday. Better than the average uK holiday I believe. Retired now, decent pension too.

Shelly Manne; Yesterdays; Pablo ( Just out in the UK)

Good to re-aquaint myself with this album. I had a job finding it though, mine's on French Blue Note (see below). Farmer's lovely here, I wanted to say cool, but his soft and warm, his solos start gently and build logically climax without getting overheated. Nice choice of tunes too. Good rhythm section, Bill Evans shines as ever. My only small quibble is that I've never been especially fond of Benny Golson. Sorry guys he doesn't do very much for me. Still fine record.

Thanks for that Edward, I'm grateful. I'll hold on to my money for a while. Hopefully the Farmer/Jazztet box will be the same.

This is the only one of Jang's that I own -- what a great album! James Newton is absolutely smokin' on this record. Guy Absolutely.

Just finished Victor Feldman in London Vol 1, The Quartet before that Art Farmer; Jubilation (actually Modern Art)

Thanks Philip, just read it in Jazzwise too. Hope it happens but the way the shop has been run down lately is not a good omen in my opinion.

No mention in the Mosaic brochure that the Tal Farlow set will be reatiled outside the US. Looks like we are going to have to pay shipping and duty to get the set. Shame.

I hear Mole has now closed, permanently? Anyone confirm?

Happy Birthday Jim.

Bertrand,This is a nice pairing of "Doin' The Thang" and "Pleasue Bent". Worth having because Roland Alexander, Marcus Belgrave and Ronnie Mattews dont exactly have extensive discographies. The cd has twelve tracks and there is no mention in the notes of anything being excluded as far as I can see.

HB RB.

Happy Birthday David.