sidewinder

There are one or two tracks from 'Visions', which I'm not sure has been out on 'domestic' CD.

Here's a scan:

The 'Chitinous Ensemble' CD is most definitely out. My local dealer had 6 copies of this earlier last week but they flew out of the door literally on day 1. A lot of pent-up demand for this title and the Garricks, in particular, out there. Of the initial batch the only ones he had in stock were the Gonsalves and the Henry Lowther. Once things settle down you should start seeing copies of this one Stateside (hopefully the Bards will stock up). The only one I have heard negative comments about is the Terry Durham 'Crystal Telephone' - on AAJ. Apparently there's not a lot of jazz content even though Evan Parker is on it. I have a copy of the latest Dutton Vocalion catalogue and there's a mouth-watering 2 pages featuring all of the new releases.

Giles Peterson Oscar Peterson Oscar Hammerstein III

If ever any further proof were needed that half the population over here are morons, this is it.. Geez, even my brother-in-law paid the £3.50 or whatever to download this sh*te. That 'Axel F' was a bad enough tune when it came out the first time round in the mid-80s. Aaaaargh...

Django Bates Django Reinhardt Tintin

These CDs are very much recommended ! Picked up the 'Aint it Funky' and 'Mellow' compilations from my local outlet at mid-price (they didn't have the third for some reason). Full of gems from Grant's second BN period. A different player entirely from the one of 5-10 years earlier but in this R&B groove he was entirely convincing, IMO. The tune selections are good - 'Fancy Free' and 'Maiden Voyage' on the 'Mellow' set are very fine performances. Theres also a fantastic and very greazy version of 'Dracula' with Blue Mitchell featured, on the 'Aint it Funky' compilation. Interesting (but brief-ish) sleeve notes from Bob Porter round off the package and the nice art work is from Patrick Roques. I have these installed at the moment in the car CD changer and they are just perfect for that ! Interesting the mention of Scofield's jam stuff being similar to Grant's music of this vintage. One of the tracks on 'Groove Elation' is an absolute dead ringer for the first track off of 'Alive' so Sco has been doing his homework.

The Dutton Vocalions are now in the shops and I was able to pick up one so far ( ) - a good one though. The Paul Gonsalves 'Humming Bird' has Gonsalves featured with a mid-sized modern/mainstream UK band with some fine work from the tenor player and prominence also to a young Kenny Wheeler. Re-mastering is well up to standard and the quality of the CD sleeve is well up to scratch. There still seems to be a hold-up with the Mike Westbrook 'Love Songs' - now word either of when or if it will actually be issued. Looks like the Westbrook approval stages might be throwing a wobbly.

The back cover of this 'Music Box' issue gives the Y Records address in Uxbridge Road, W12 UK but then an address for 'Music Box' in Athens right underneath it. Crazy ! Talking about crazy, was Ra serious when he thought that Columbia would issue the title track as a possible mainstream radio hit?

Yes, I believe it is. Have done a bit more delving and it looks as though there were two issues - one Greek and the other through Italy. Here's the info from the Robert Campbell site: quote:- 99. Sun Ra Nuclear War Music Box SMB 40242 (Greece, LP and cassette) Y RA 2 (Italy, LP, 1984) Side A: Nuclear War (Ra) Retrospect (Ra) Drop Me Off in Harlem (Ellington) Sometimes I'm Happy (Caesar-Youmans) Side B: Celestial Love (Ra) Blue Intensity (Ra) Nameless One #2 (Ra) Smile (Chaplin) From the Variety Studios sessions of 9/82 (see previous two items). Y Records in England planned an album from these sessions -- to be titled Rays from the Outer Tomorrow -- but went out of business before it could be released. The same sequence of tracks appeared on this Greek LP and cassette licensed from Y Records and on the Italian Y release. Drop Me Off In Harlem is the only track not released on either Saturn. [Webber and Trent; thanks to Corbett for information on the Italian Y release]

I've recently got hold of a vinyl copy of Sun Ra's 'Nuclear War' LP put out by 'Y Records' of the UK in 1984 but apparently never properly distributed. I've always been under the impression that the LPs of this one which did get out actually originated from Italy. The LP looks to have been put out under Y-Records licence by 'Music Box' of Athens, Greece though ( ). Anyone shed any light as to the history of this one? (even by Sun Ra standards its a pretty damn weird set of release circumstances..)

Gilbert O'Sullivan Gil Evans Jimmy Hendrix

Did I tell you about those Dutton Vocalion Brit-jazz reissues yet?

uh man, somehow I just ended up with an order confirmation in my mailbox... I blame you, Mr. winder! If this is not to my or my credit card's liking, I will send you the bill ←

There's very little you can do on a rainy Sunday in Hemel Hemstead..

Ned Kelly Kelly Osborne Ozzie Cadena

The stuff with Larry Young and Sonny Clark is amazing (the Clark/Green Mosaic is musical heaven) but not to forget the very fine sessions with George Braith. Some of Grant's finest playing on the Braith Blue Notes.

I find this album a refreshing Departure for KD, a definite change of style after albums such as 'Whistle Stop' and the Blakey sessions. There's a real open-ness to the new sounds that BN was starting to embrace in the 1960s. Helped no end I think by the state-of-the-art (for the time) combination of Tony Williams and Herbie Hancock. The freshness of their work on this album comes across loud and clear (I also get the same feel from their work on Miles' 'ESP' - no holding them back). With respect to Tony Williams, his groove on the title track is some of the funkiest stuff I've ever heard him play. He certainly adapts his usual style well for this session. I like the title track, its sense of exhilaration/relaxation and the way it builds on the then-current bossa nova rhythms. I also very much like Kenny Dorham's solo on this track. Technically it's very straight-forward, no histrionics. However he shares with Miles the ability to say quite a lot with the minimum notes, just by phrasing and inflection. For me though the stand-out track has to be 'Sao Paulo'. The previous comment that this would fit well on 'Our Thing' is spot on, it has a definite air of mystery about it. The way that Dorham and Henderson's leads combine almost to one voice is amazing on this track. To sum up then - not a masterpiece but hugely enjoyable. A great lead-in album for Kenny and Joe to build on and a tantalising glimpse of Williams and Hancock just starting to flex their musical muscles. Thanks to all for their thoughts to date on this thread. Some interesting opinions.

Lou Donaldson 'The Natural Soul' (BN NY USA mono) Horace Silver 'The Stylings of Silver' (47W63rd DG mono)

Johnny Coles 'Little Johnny C' (BN NY USA mono, deep groove side 1).

The Conn CD of 'Contours' is indeed one heck of an improvement. I've recently picked up a copy of this and am very impressed with the overall sound and excellent dynamics. Ron Carter's bass is on the quiet side on all 3 versions. Checked 'Euterpe' on this CD and also the Mosaic LP and the NY USA mono LP a bit earlier. As expected the NY USA mono had the best dynamics, presence and soundstage. The Conn CD also had great dynamics, especially the clarity of Tony Williams' drums . The Mosaic LP sounds to me much more 'mannered' but is a very satisfying listen. Almost like a King LP in terms of soundstage and musicality, very nice, very precise. All have their particular strenghts then but my personal preference is for the original LP. The biggest suprise is the Conn. By the way the wow at the beginning of 'Euterpe' isn't noticable on the original LP, sounds slightly noticable on the Mosaic and more so on the Conn, so looks like there has been a bit of tape degradation.

Check out also his work on flugel on Herbie Hancock's 'Fat Albert Rotunda'. He's well on form on that one.

Time to bring out the Miles & Gil Mosaic set. 79 eh? Wow, it seems like only yesterday that his 60th was being celebrated. Da man, indeed...

Oxfam is well worth a look. Apparently they now have rare LP auction lists, thanks to the various donations from the punters. Currently spinning Sam Rivers 'Contours' BN NY USA and also the corresponding LP (LP 3) on the Mosaic set for these tracks. Interesting comparisson ! Before that it was Carmen McRae/Clarke-Boland 'November Girl' on Black Lion.