sidewinder

This is extremely sad to hear - but Mike was 90 and was active musically right up to the end. I saw a couple of the last gigs - Lyme Regis in 2024 I think and Torquay last December with his 'Band of Bands'. Both occasions memorable. First time I saw him was on the 'Art Wolf' tour late 90s I think, to my mind this was one of his and Kate's best projects. I also saw gigs with the Rossini orchestral group, the trio with Chris Biscoe doing 'Love or Infatuation', the 'Village Band' and the Devon-based big band with Lou Gare, Dave Holdsworth and Alan Wakeman, including their recording of 'A Bigger Show'. Such an imaginative musical mind. May he RIP and condolences to Kate and the Westbrook family. I hope Kate continues with performances of Westbrook alumni. Richard Williams posted a good obit for Mike in the Guardian:https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/apr/12/mike-westbrook-obituary

Not sure - but they were on the scene in NYC around the same time. Levister did that single LP for Debut - 'Manhattan Monodrama'.

I was always under the impression that the 'Lonnie' was Alonzo 'Lonnie' Levister, whose tune 'Slow Dance' Coltrane had recorded for Prestige.

I've watched it last week - it is very good, illuminating background to how the scene evolved in Detroit and some good clips and interviews. I was amazed when I did the search to find it already on Prime in the UK. Having watched, I now need to delve back into Mark's fine book.

Enjoyed watching/listening to Mulligan with Mingus (!) on that Mingus 'Montreux 75' DVD yesterday.

I picked up a copy of this Cadillac/BBC 'Cortege' 2CD at the Westbrook gig in Torquay this afternoon. Will give it a listen tomorrow. The 'Band of Bands' sounded great today, for my money it is one of the best Westbrook lineups. The material also draws on gems of the past repertoire and is astutely selected.

I was fortunate enough to tell Ian how much I appreciated his book and his albums to his face ! Had forgotten that I've also got a copy of the Cole book. Picked it up cheap last year but not yet read.

I saw Coleman with this group in late 79 or early 1980 at Ronnie's and they played much of the material from 'Amsterdam After Dark'. He - and the group - were phenomenal. From memory it was Herbie Lewis on bass but I did see the group with Ruiz and Higgins several times over the 79-83 period and tried to catch at least one gig during each of their 'seasons' at the club. I think Ronnie Scott Club must have had an agreement with Wim Wigt during that period. I have a copy of that Coleman at Ronnie Scotts LP on Pye somewhere in the racks. Around that time, Coleman also brought his Octet over to the club (with Idris Muhammad on drums plus Sal Nistico, Danny Moore and Mario Rivera - with Mabern on piano).

The programme has been low-key and gradual but is certainly not 'dead', thanks to Tony Higgins' good work with Decca. December sees the long awaited reissue of Neil Ardley 'Greek Variations' and 'Lola' is also imminent. John Cameron 'Off Centre' also got a fairly recent reissue in the series, with new sleeve notes. Plus we have the two Mike Taylors, so some good reissues this year.

I've got quite a number of them - in some cases duplicating original titles for which I have monos. In most cases they compare favourably and it is good to hear a stereo version on very good vinyl. Sleeve quality is exemplary. Recently picked up Bobby Hutcherson's 'Montara' - compared it with the CD and it sounds better. Will be giving Andrew Hill's 'Andrew' a first spin later on. The list of 2026 titles looks pretty good. 'Compulsion' was no surprise - long overdue a good vinyl reissue.

Coltrane 'Live at the Village Vanguard Again' (Image posting not working - for me at least).

I have a Tone Poet of the 'Picture of Heath' and it plays fine and sounds nice. A good issue. Never heard the Pure Pleasure version.

I'm only sorry that I never got to meet him in person and very saddened by this news. Commumications with him and the posts both here and on the BNBB were always a pleasure and he really knew his stuff. Also very kind to send me a couple of spare CDs from Paris on one occasion. May he RIP.

Big fan of the Ian Carr book here. Bought it in hardback when it came out here in 1982 (not long before the Hammersmith Odeon gig I saw) and at that time there were no books out here on Miles. From my recollections, when Carr interviewed Miles in London in the early 80s he was aware of the book and Carr and viewed it favourably.

Whoever designed that one must have just come out of the movie theatre having seen 'Close Encounters..' Gets my vote too. That one I will buy.