sidewinder

You must have been right behind me ! A bit late before the gig to hook up and say hello, too bad... Great acoustics for the big band in particular - I was impressed. I don't think the Tippett Centre does jazz gigs too often, something like once per season is my understanding. Yes, I agree - a nice venue in a spectacular rural location. I had a bit of trouble finding it though, doing endless searches of the hamlet of Newton St. Loe before I had exhausted all of the options off the hedgerow lanes. Didn't realise it was just outside.

I'll take ten !

Another fine performance last night at Turner Sims and great to meet up with fellow board members JohnS and Gary. Sam did pretty well the same set of material as at Bath on Wednesday but with one trio bonus number in the form of 'Beatrice'. Talking briefly to Doug Mathews afterwards it looks like this was the only performance of this tune so far on the tour. Doug also confirmed that the big band had had one full day and two half days of rehearsal prior to first gig. Sam especially fine on tenor last night - I always think that it is a mark of the greats that their instrumental sound is totally distinctive, unlike anyone else in jazz. Tenor, soprano and flute were all heavily featured again, plus the piano feature which started off as a ballad and morphed into an exciting and driving free-form trio 'a la Cecil'. Incredible ! I lucked in afterwards by getting the chance to meet Sam just as he was packing away his various instruments. Smashing guy, he was gracious enough to sign my BN LPs and the Mosaic booklet. It was obvious from what he was saying that he personally holds the BN sessions dear to his heart. Hope he and the band are back in the UK soon (next gigs apparently are at their usual location in Orlando).

A re-run or 10 of 'Contours' by Sam The Man, to be followed by Pat Martino 'El Hombre' blue label Prestige

I go for the vinyl version every time when I can get it, although the CDs do have the 'convenience factor'. Not worth getting back into the CDs vs LPs debate yet again but the Mosaic pressings are generally excellent, low noise and very consistent. A pleasure to use ! Latest case in point the Teddy Wilson, which is real nice on the Q-LP format. I personally lament the day that Mosaic eliminated the vinyl option, even with the better sound of the recent CDs.

I like 'Three For Shepp' in particular. Would love to hear 'Juba Lee'.

It was intriguing to see Rivers' solo feature on piano at Bath. Didn't even know he featured it. The trio kicked off with an amazing driving number ('Intuition'?) which sounded to me almost like something off of 'Dimensions and Extensions'. Absolutely brilliant - gobsmacking even. The big band performance in the second half was also great - the Observer review summed it up I think quite well by comparing it with a fusion of Buddy Rich and Sun Ra plus Rivers' unique concept. Sitting near the front I was fascinated to see how Sam directed the band and cued in the various soloists. I wonder just how many versions of the 'Pulsar' series he has in the book ? Tonight it's more of the same down at Turner Sims in Southampton.

Original Walt Dickerson/Sun Ra 'Impressions of a Patch of Blue' MGM mono for $19. Small cutout hole but sealed and unplayed ..

You are welcome ! Ardley's 'Greek Variations' in the same 'Impressed Repressed' series as 'Troppo' is also highly recommended. A bit of jazz-rock in this but also quite a bit of folk influence. Typical Ardley, covers lots of musical ground. Very nice nevertheless (and pretty rare in the vinyl). There's also a couple of nice albums by Amancio D'Silva (with Harriott I think) and the elusive, eccentric pianist Mike Taylor. Great series !

Have you heard the two Giles Peterson 'Impressed' CDs put out on Universal? Both offer a great selection of 60s/70s British jazz selections. One track from my avatar feature is on Vol 1. Recommended ! I love Beckett's 'Flare Up' by the way and have a vinyl of this one. Check out also the Neil Ardley's. 'Kaleidoscope of Rainbows' is great and can be got hold of reasonably easily on vinyl. 'Dejeuner Sur L'Herbe' is the best one though and is much more elusive. I'd also recommend Harold McNair's RCAs and John Cameron 'Off Centre'. Again this is vinyl only and pretty elusive stuff. Giles Peterson CDs are the cost-effective way to go !

Any good? Phenomenal ! :rsmile:

Sam Rivers 'Contours' mono - just getting in the groove..

Mr Rivers in Bath !

When I was over in the LA area several years ago he was doing regular gigs at a restaurant in the Long Beach area. Glad I caught him featured at length at the Balboa West Coast Fest, he put in lots of hours on the piano at that event. RIP.

Yes, I've got that one. Along with the other live Woody on Electra, 'Night Music'. They are not my favourite Woody Shaw but they do bring back the nostalgia of seeing this particular lineup, which is nice. These must have, in their day, been just about the most available and best distributed Woody Shaw LPs in the UK. Everyone stocked them !

For the London Jazz Fest, here's an overview of some of the main concerts coming up. London Fest

The line-up looks great and the tune selection is out of his world. I will look out for this one when it wings its way across the Atlantic. Still fanatical over Grachan's Blue Notes (and his contributions to the McLeans) so this is a must-have for me. Even if it is a 'belch'.

'Live In Seattle' should do the trick within 2 minutes... Just spinning a Fresh Sound copy of the Barclay 'Bobby Jaspar' session. Very nice vinyl reissue. I have my eye on a whole bundle of second-hand Fresh Sound Jaspars and will probably now take the plunge.

' Incoming........ '

Mal Waldron Prestige double 'One and Two'. This has the 'Mal-1' and 'Mal-2' sessions. Great sound ! And interesting to hear Gigi Gryce on the first session, having just finished Mike F's book.

The 'Stanley Turrentine' in this series absolutely smokes. Great set of Duke Pearson arrangements with Stanley on full bore...

The London date is the final one, Adam, and its on Sat 13th Nov. It's at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is part of the South Bank Royal Festival Hall complex not far from Embankment station. Contact details are www.rfh.org.uk or tel: 08703 800 400. Full itinery Sam Rivers Trio plus Rivbea Orchestra UK: Sat 6 Nov - Birmingham CBSO Centre Sun 7th Nov - Brighton Concert Hall Tues 9th Nov - Leeds, Wardrobe Wed 10th Nov - Bath, Michael Tippett Centre ( ) Thurs 11th Nov - Manchester RNCM Fri 12th Nov - Southampton, Turner Sims Concert Hall ( ) Sat 13th Nov, London QEH

No. 6 is a must-have for sure. It's one of my favourite Verve Elites. Track 4 from..This one

Short snippet of Sam Rivers and trio playing live on the Radio 4 'Loose Ends' programme tonight. Saxophone trio performance with Sam on soprano, not sure what the tune was. Sounded absolutely wonderful ! A good omen for the UK tour, which starts in Birmingham tonight then a load of gigs across the country culminating in London next weekend. I have tickets for Bath (Wednesday) and Southampton (Friday). :rsmile:

I'll bet that 'Bluesnik' sounds good. I came across a mono deepgroove last year. A few traces but the sonics are.. Wonderful Contemporary Records find today. Copy of Shelly Manne & Friends 'Bells are Ringing' mono deepgroove. Brand spanking new, sealed even, with the original Contemporary mailing list flyer. It must have sat in some cupboard for 40-odd years !