sidewinder

‘Paris Reunion Band’, yes that’s right. Never saw them but they did I think do a UK tour including either the Camden or Bracknell Festival. Have one of their LPs - surprisingly lukewarm. Great little box ! Plus the between-solos Tai-Chi demos as well !

I’m glad I didn’t see Woody Shaw in 1987 - prefer to remember him from 1983. Got the feeling that his small group never toured here after that, maybe only an appearance with the ‘Paris All Stars’.

Back on deck with this one. As Simon Spillett’s blog points out, there is considerable track overlap with the ‘Impressed 3’ compilation Tony Higgins compiled in the naughties and which wasn’t officially released at the time. So - it sort of sees the light of day. I am inclined to agree that the large group material is some of the best in this set and is at least a match for anything coming out of the US at the time.

Worth the agro ! Glad I picked this one up, seems to have been a popular RSD issue. Kirk does a reprise of his hosepipe solo on side 2, as featured on Tubby Hayes ‘Return Visit’. A curate’s egg, perhaps?

‘Parkinson’ BBC chat show. Never saw that one. Roy Castle of ‘Dr Terror’s House of Horror’ fame (he was ‘in’ Tubby Hayes’ band) amongst other things.

Audio from the Les Tomkins archive but Gearbox have done a very fine job of the LP mastering. Mike is too near Ronnie Stephenson’s drums but the music is captured very well indeed, with great ‘punch’ and atmosphere. A winner.

Seemed to play OK with my older machine but on the more recently acquired higher spec machine the problem was encountered. Not willing to risk it any further. So far only had this problem with ‘Soho Scene 63’ (I think). The player has had no problems with e.g. Acrobat.

I had trouble with my CD player after playing one of their sets - it sorted itself out after a power off but not willing to risk it again so the ‘Soho Scenes’ are now banned chez mois (at least on the main CD player). Shame really. Wish they had used real CDs.

The Gearbox LP pressings are very good so I will be in for this. Usually not extortionate either (at least from here). They have been on form of late, with their recent 1963 Roland Kirk Ronnie Scott’s issue.

I still have that twofer (‘Tune Up’ I think), bought at the time. Cover a travesty, music great. The photo in B&W works much better on this release. Some good selections here and in v. good, crisp sound, shame it isn’t a double set like last year’s vinyl release though. Ozzie Cadena had an amazing involvement in so many 50s and 60s settings. In his retirement he was organising jazz for Sunday Brunch at the Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, which is where I got to briefly chat with him in the late 90s. He was very enthusiastic about the music and low profile. Wish I had been more gen’d up and asked him some questions about e.g. how it was like to work for Savoy/Lubinsky and with Teddy Reig !

A strong set !

Haven’t compared with the sonics on the Jack Johnson CD box but this one sounds really good !

The third one kicks off with early 80s pop incursions by Keith Tippett/Larry Stabbins, Working Week, Loose Tubes, Courtney P., Soweto Kinch, Jazz Jamaica, the late 80s Yuppie Jazz boom to bust and then a bit of an overall recap. Can’t keep up with all this new stuff ! That footage of Joe Harriott is the only film footage of him playing which survives, I believe. Part of a ‘Tribute to Duke’ put together by the BBC for Ellington’s 70th which was re-broadcast on BBC4 back in 2005, effectively recreating that Stan Tracey Big Brass album with the Ellington tribute. A Denis Preston production/collaboration. All star lineup with Ian Carr, Tony Coe, Harry Beckett etc. Wish they would repeat it !

Hasn’t pretty well all of those boxes been reissued on various Rearward reissues by now (excluding the still MIA ‘Out Of The Folk Bag’ - what happened to that?)

Superb ! (of course)

From recollection (need to give it another spin) it is not too bad at all. I think it was done using Tony Reeve’s recorder. Comparable to ‘Mandala’ I think. It’s a really nice issue and the booklet is a fantastic Taylor bio.

Never read it but renowned as being up there with the Hampton Hawes autobiography as a brilliant and harrowing read.

No, at NorthSea. He was playing in one of the more low-profile outer enclosures, so it wasn’t crowded. He had the whole lot lined up - tenor, flute, argol.. The Belmondo band had the quintet plus chamber ensemble, very nice. Several familiar tracks including ‘Before Dawn’. That NorthSea also had the last time I saw James Moody. Roy Hargrove too. Roy Haynes was also there, already a sprightly 80+ and still going strong. Another highlight was Jack DeJohnette and his Tony Williams Lifetime project.

No probs. Just rewatched Episode 1 myself and had forgotten just how entertaining it was.

Not heard the Rudolph stuff, will have to check it out. I did see Lateef live with the Belmondo project, very late in life and that was memorable. Even watching him pack his array of instruments away was a treat.

Here’s episode 1 on YouTube. Episode 2 ‘Strange Brew’ (the best of the 3 in my opinion) is also on there. https://youtu.be/vi8fn4KE8AU Ian puts in an early appearance at 1min 35.

Never got into Yusef’s Atlantic material. Too much chug-a-chug guitar riffing from the likes of Cornel Dupree et al for me. The CTIs are even worse. Big fan though of his Savoy/Verve/Riverside/Impulse stuff. His very late recordings e.g. with the Belmondos are enjoyable too. I feel that in that middle period he lost his way somewhat. Of course, he wasn’t the only one around that time.

If you see that bit where Ian Carr quotes ‘Jazz is Dead’ - he recounted that humourous story involving the Flamingo Club to me verbatim in the bar at the Barbican during the interval of the live show in an unexpected and delightful chat. It had been on TV a couple of days before (2005 or 2006 I think).

Back with an early spin of this marvellous double. A reminder of just how good Alan Skidmore’s groups are/is, what a rhythm section with John Taylor, Chris Laurence, Tony Oxley. Time to dig out ‘Once Upon A Time’ again on Deram/Nova.

I have the 3LP version of ‘Understanding’ on order. Unmissable ! Need to dig out my Muse LP of ‘The Free Slave’.