sidewinder

Sadly, it looks as if commitments will keep me this side of the pond this time

I don't have any of these so went for it and got my dollar off (thanks Chuck). Should be interesting.. B-)

Looks like there's a whole army of members perusing this thread !

The punters can be loud in Toronto

There was an excerpt of Harriott's voice from a radio interview broadcast on last week's 'Jazz Britannia' and he came across as an intelligent, cultured and clearly spoken guy. He obviously didn't have doubts as to his own importance on the UK scene (rightly so IMO) and I suspect that by the late 60s a great deal of disillusion had set in. To his very great credit he kept on touring the UK and putting his all into some very low-key gigs, whilst obviously very unwell with the bronchial problems. His chaotic home life and lack of a solid base were clearly major issues though and by the end he was very much a drifter, relying on generosity of friends. The Harriott biography is an essential read IMO. There's a great section where Charles Mingus breaks off his UK tour to visit Harriott in hospital in Southampton. Mingus wasn't allowed to visit at the early time he got there (just before boarding ship) so he left a nice message for Joe. Harriott in a Mingus group would have been well worth hearing. That bit of TV footage of Harriott on 'Jazz Britannia' with Stan Tracey's Big Brass last week spoke volumes. Joe plays superbly on his Ellington feature, giving 110% but his face is visibly drawn (by 1968/9) and the health problems seem to have clearly kicked in.

PM for T-Bone !

Yes, I think his London gigs must have been at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town - very much a home here of the 'Acid Jazz' movement.

Stunning !

A Henri Renaud production, Brownie? He put out some nice stuff on CSP around that vintage. Love that 'Essential Miles Davis' 3LP set (the one with the fluffy cover)that was put out around 1974.

Charles Mingus 'Blue Bird' (America). Eddie Preston, Charles McPherson and Bobby Jones in the front line, Jaki Byard on piano.

Good memories of that long, narrow room. Caught fine gigs by Joe Henderson and Red Rodney there back in 1990. The restaurant at the 'Senator' if my memory is correct is ground floor and 'classic American', good place for steaks. Check also the listings for places like the O'Keefe Centre (concert hall) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (who sometimes host jazz performances).

I'm in. PM sent !

Too bad that Big John was pretty well confined to that club in Newark for his last few decades, though it's heartening to hear that he was appreciated by his close family circle (good words on this in the Zorn notes to 'Boogaloo' as mentioned in a previous post). I seem to recall hearing that he did at least one gig in London in the early 90s but (sad to say) I wasn't around here at the time. Now, if only ... I've never heard Big Johns playing on that Zorn 'The Big Gundown' album though. Anyone have any thoughts on his playing on this one? (I think he's given a walk-on role on 'Three Lane Highway').

Tragic that those two Priesters and the Maupin are still out of circulation. I wonder just how bad the master tapes are.

Heresy !

to both of those suggestions. 'Montreal Bistro' has a nice, intimate feel and is a good place to check out solo piano artists. Good local groups also on at the Rex Hotel in Queen Street West.

I've compared my NY USA stereo of this one against the Conn and there's no contest. (Yet again) the original vinyl leaves the Conn for dust.

Yes. A colleague who was with him though though was trading in some punk singles at the time so could have gone for it. C'est la vie....

A friend of mine swears he saw an original 'Sergeant Pepper' signed by all four on the wall of a London shop around 10 years ago, in the middle of the last major recession, for less than £200. He didn't pounce and has been regretting it ever since.

Soon to be putting in a feature appearance on 'ebay madness' no doubt !

Eddie Henderson 'Blue Note/Capitol' anthology (Soul Brother Records) - 2LP set Charles Mingus 'East Coasting' Bethlehem mono original Charles Mingus 'Mingus, Mingus, Mingus...' HMV mono UK issue

Thanks for the heads up. Lots of the old groups have been playing the Albert Hall recently. Souxsie and the Banshees plus orchestra ( ) were there just before Xmas.

Congrats to you and yours !

.. and the occasional archaeological finds (roman pottery, neolithic flint tools etc.)

Black boxes