sidewinder

Old myths die hard. It has been established that this jam session actually was recorded on May 31, 1955, over a year before his death. Brownie did indeed play at the same location hours before his death, but that's not what's on the recording. The presence of Billy Root makes it impossible that it is from June 25, 1956, since he was with the Kenton band at the time. Root has also stated himself that is was from an earlier occasion. This takes nothing away from the actual music of course. Wow - news to me. I'd always assumed that the notes on the old LP were correct..

I saw him once as part of Louis Hayes' group (which also had John Stubblefield in the lineup) at a gig in Toronto back in 1990. Wasn't even expecting him in the lineup. The crackling trumpet sound and fine attack that Tolliver is noted for were both well in evidence that night. Looks like BA has flights for less than £200 so I'm seriously considering this NY gig..

Also essential IMO is the Columbia 'The Beginning and the End', which has both Brown's first sessions as part of an R&B group as well as that amazing jam session recorded in Philly literally hours before the fatal crash. I think this one has also been put out on CD as well as the original Columbia LP. The version of 'Walkin'' on this one is just incredible..

Definitely worth adding the Mingus Debut box to the list too. That collection is one fascinating listening experience and the booklet is a great read.

Absolutely, Jazzbo - Just as Wes was hitting the charts with his A&M albums, Grant was releasing albums such as 'Visions' and 'Live At The Lighthouse' which seemed to sink without trace at the time but are now very much sought after by the sampling merchants. I recall reading that even Madonna has sampled 'Windjammer' (taken from 'Alive', I think).

Other particular favourites in this series are the Milt Jackson/Lucky Thompson (covers 3 original Savoy LPs), the Coltrane/Harden 'Countdown' and the Fats Navarro. Of the single LPs, I particularly like the Donald Byrd 'Long Green', with Frank Foster and Hank Jones. I've got my eye at present time on a copy of the Cannonball 'Spontaneous Combustion'. Hope it doesn't before I get my hands on it.

yes, and a rare occasion of hearing Andrew Hill playing in the Roland Kirk group, even if one cannot see much of him! Is that the track that is included on the bonus disk with the Kirk 'Complete Mercury' set? The bonus disc from the Kirk box has a 7'08 version of 'A Stritch In Time' from Newport 1962. The sound is fine there. On the DVD, Kirk plays 'Three for the Festival'. The sound is terrible. The visual is even worse. Looks like a tenth generation copy of a video found in a garbage can! Just awful! And a shame! Thanks for this info ! Too bad..

One of my best CD finds was a 'Spanish Blue Note' of Larry Young's 'Into Somethin'' for £3. I was pretty happy when I saw the Toshiba number on the inside of the case.

This lineup is so good that I'll be checking the British Airways fares to NYC for mid-Feb.

In addition, I suspect that Grant's profile has only increased significantly over the past 10-15 years, with some publicity resulting from his contributions to numerous BN sessions and 'acid jazz', including work used on remixes etc ('Windjammer' for one). Wes's profile peaked back in the late 1960s as a result of the Verve/A&M Creed Taylor-produced work and has stayed consistently high thereafter. I suspect that another factor too is that previously obscure but excellent BN releases by Grant are only just starting to be really appreciated by the listening community at large, as a result of the CD reissue programme. One case in point would be 'Idle Moments', which seemed to be something of an obscurity until the first BN CD issue.

This CD seems to have picked up more than its share of negative comment over the years but I agree with you that it's definitely a keeper. Very cool session IMHO..

... and the Rahsaan...

'Black California' Vols 1 and 2 are also good ones to get hold of. As are the Savoy 2LP Curtis Fuller, the Yusef Lateefs and the Sahib Shihab.

Wolff - look out for a NY USA mono 'Little Johnny C'. That's the one to get, if you can find it (BIG 'if', I know..)

yes, and a rare occasion of hearing Andrew Hill playing in the Roland Kirk group, even if one cannot see much of him! Is that the track that is included on the bonus disk with the Kirk 'Complete Mercury' set?

All of this makes my £10 King pressing feel like quite a bargain ! Sounds more than acceptable, although I'll bet that the heavy vinyl original kicks ass..

Neil Ardley

If my memory is correct, she originates from Halifax, Nova Scotia but came to prominence in the late 1980s in Toronto.

Yep - it's 'Directions'..

One of the last links to that golden bygone age has now passed. RIP..

Some suprisingly good jazz playing on the tape in the local Starbucks today. Started off with a Yusef Lateef track (not sure of the title but I recognise it as from one of his Atlantics, from 'Hush 'n' Thunder' I think), followed up by Stan the Man with Parlan/Tucker/Harewood from one of his Blue Notes and then Miles with Barney Wilen from 'Lift to the Scaffold'. Man, with music like this I'll pop in more often.. B-)

Tooter - here's a slanted shot (sorry, I've nothing better) of the Bill LeSage 'Road To Ellingtonia' LP with good Mr Ross..

'True Blue' in the original 47 W 63rd deep groove is becoming something of a 'holy grail'. Funny thing is, there always seems to be a steady stream of them up on ebay so it can't be that rare

Absolutely. Captured to perfection on those Shelly Manne 'At The Blackhawk' LPs.

Followed up with Miles' 'Birth of the Cool' Capitol T762 first 12" issue..