sidewinder

I grew up with his late night radio 1 show back in the 1970s with its lineup of obscure punk bands and regular interludes of 'dub'. On occasions the music on the Peel show could really suprise - such as the time I heard him play a great Miles/Coltrane Prestige track (from 'Cookin', or one of the other albums in that sequence) after something like the Smiths...

Very true. I recommend Harrison's 'A Jazz Retrospect', issued back in the mid 70s (long out of print but worth scanning the second-hand books stores). Some very perceptive essays in this one on the likes of David Mack and Serial Jazz, Hal McKusick, Tad Dameron's 'Fontainebleau', Gil Evans and Lennie Niehaus. Much of Harrison's best work can be found in the pages of the old Jazz Monthly mag from the 1960s. Also big thumbs up for the Vol 2 of that 'Essential Jazz Records' book. If anything I prefer the earlier 'Modern Jazz - the Essential Records 1945-70' which for me was a revelation when it came out and has Harrison, Alun Morgan and Michael James in the author lineup. The most frustrating thing about that one at the time it was issued was that so few of the LPs could be obtained in mid-70s UK (other than as difficult to obtain US imports). We live in more bountiful jazz times now and much of the content is now in print.

For me this was an easy one. I'm a huge fan of JJ - a class act all round as bone player, arranger and major modern jazz role figure. Time to dig out that lovely Mosaic set.. Melba Liston always struck me as very under-rated. A very fine arranger for the Gillespie big band and a most consistent soloist. She was at a Gillespie Reunion Big Band gig some years ago but by then was already wheel-chair bound; she was able to sit through the gig with the trombone section as a non-player. Sadly she passed away not too long afterwards..

I've been playing a vinyl of this one with great enjoyment over the past week. I agree that it's long overdue for reissue on CD.

Big thumbs up for 'Jazz Impressions of Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Shades of Love', a wonderfully recorded (direct master) solo set that was put out for Steeplechase.

Cannonball Adderley 'African Waltz', blue label Riverside

Some early morning Walt Dickerson with Sun Ra 'Impressions of a Patch of Blue' on MGM. Followed by Wayne Shorter 'Oddesey of Iska' (Liberty).

That's the first time I've ever seen a mono 'Maiden Voyage' fetch over $300. Didn't see that copy of Gigi Gryce's album on Signal listed. Any idea how much that one fetched?

It would be nice to see Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland 'Golden Eight' out on CD but I guess that would be more likely as a Conn. 'Leapin and Lopin' is certainly absolute prime material for the next RVG batch. Can't believe it's been overlooked so far. When the French DMM LPs came out back in the mid-80s, this was one of the first that was issued. Kenny Drew 'Undercurrent' would also get my big thumbs up. An maybe Johnny Coles 'Little Johnny C' is due for resurrection as an RVG?

The biggest revelation was on the one occasion I saw him live, with his young band of the time (which had Charles McPherson Jr on drums). He was still playing very much in the style demonstrated on 'Total Eclipse', complex modal compositions of his own with that instantly recognisable, somewhat sour-ish sound on tenor. I think there is quite a lot of reverb on the 'Total Eclipse' date, in fact the whole sound of that session, very spacey, is very much of its late-60s time. I like the sound of this session very much indeed (even my first DMM LP of this one sounded pretty good.. ).

I thoroughly agree with you re: 'Cirrus'. Yet another good reason to get a turntable, as vinyl copies of this one are not too rare. For some really laid-back Harold Land, his 'A Lazy Afternoon' CD is recommended (one of his last dates, put out on the Postcards label). This is a great one to spin on lazy Sunday afternoons to unwind, with nice orchestral arrangements by Ray Ellis. Another Land/Hutcherson session to look out for is 'A New Shade of Blue' on Mainstream, released on LP around 1971/72 I think.

Benny Golson Orchestra 'Stockholm Sojourn'. UK mono pressing on Stateside . Interesting to see that Grachan Moncur III is in the lineup. Same arrangements were played by a UK band conducted by Golson and recorded for BBCTV on the same tour (great lineup on that one with Tubby Hayes, Ronnie Ross, Jimmy Deuchar etc.). Also just listening to Don Wilkerson 'Elder Don' NY mono. Nothing earth-shaterring but throughly enjoyable stuff !

Yes, that's probably the case. In terms of roll-off I was using the CD as reference so my comments are just indicative of a difference. In addition, the roll-off on the Blue Label LP is noticeably more pronounced than the Mosaic (Blakey's cymbals are very indistinct).

Always a good idea to place a reference copy of the 'Cover Art of Blue Note' records paperback next to your stack of BN Mosaics. Works for me !

I did a quick comparison for Vol 1 of this title. The LP is a blue lable 70s Liberty - 'rechanneled for stereo' (yuck). No contest - the LP is murky, has excessive top-end roll-off and is lacking in definition. Very one-dimensional. In contrast the RVG CD is just bursting with detail - a bit excessive in treble terms perhaps but Blakey's drumming is much clearer. The separation between the instruments is much more definitive on the CD too. Impressive ! I got the Brown Mosaic LP set out just to check out that mastering as well. A big improvement on the blue label, much less murky and Brown's trumpet sound comes through very nicely. Again, much more roll-off than the RVG CD and less instrumental separation. Both the Mosaic LP and the RVG CD though pass my test. With the LP you get the nice tonal reproduction, with the CD you get the dynamics. The blue label Libertys are destined for the skip !

Just noticed this announcement on the Ronnie Scotts website of an impending UK visit by Curtis Fuller. Fuller at Ronnie Scotts Anyone have any idea as to who is likely to be in the sextet lineup?

Last night, an excellent young UK post-bop band led by talented multi-instrumentalist Julian Siegel, with Liam Noble on piano, Jeremy Brown on bass and Asaf Sirkis (very much in the Joe Chambers mold) on drums. Lots of material from Siegel's fine debut CD 'Close Up' was featured.

A great set - some excellent Dameron sides, wonderful Wardell Gray, Howard McGhee. Can't go wrong with this one. This was one of a group of fine doubletime sets which included the Ken McIntyre 'Complete UA Sessions' and the Kenton 'Innovations Orchestra' set. Almost like mini-Mosaic Selects, with excellent liner notes.

As long as your stylus is in good shape and your deck is balanced properly with tracking set up OK, there shouldn't be any worries whatsoever about vinyl wear. I've got LPs which have been played for the best part of 30 years now from new and which still sound near mint. In fact, I'm often amazed at the resilience of some of the older pressings to general abuse and mishandling (BN originals are particularly good in this respect).

Amazing list - looks like 'Riverside heaven'.

??????????????? First and last !

'Maiden Voyage' was on yesterday's playlist too. One of my desert island disks, the NY mastering has a wonderful depth and clarity. Currently spinning Sam Rivers 'A New Conception', Liberty pressing. Admiring the cover artwork - Sam R. mentioned that it had actually won design awards.

I found original Pacific Jazz deepgrooves of these in a shop a few years ago. Great compilations, with some cool period cover art too (frogmen with tridents etc.) The shop even had mint copies of most of these on the Toshiba facsimile vinyl also - spoilt for choice !

Delicious !