sidewinder

Certainly ties with the Monk and Evans Riversides as my best $25 deal ever..

I was just listening to Volume 1 of the Peterson and it continues to impress (sorry for that..). Interesting line up for Vol2 - the Tracy/Wellins and Westbrook are the only ones I'm familiar with. I assume that the Garrick is from one of his mega-rare Argo albums and that the McNair is from one of his equally rare RCAs (either 'Harold McNair' or 'Flute & Nut' I guess). On paper it doesn't look quite so strong as Vol 1 but I hope I'm proven wrong. Incidentally, I've heard some very negative comments re: the quality of vinyl pressings for Vol 1 (I have it on CD but was thinking of picking up a vinyl copy as it has the Westbrook 'Original Peter' as a bonus track). Any feedback out there concerning the quality?

RIP Barney - really treasure the one time I saw him play, a wonderful, soulfull recital. Will have to spin those 'Poll Winners' Contemporaries this weekend. Amazing to hear also of his work on some of Spector's biggest hits and bringing the Theremin to the attention of the Beach Boys. Great musical legacy.

One of Eddie Gale's cast-offs?

Bev, I caught most of the performances on Saturday and the Taylor International Quartet on the Sunday. Yes, Chris Bowden's set was impressive - a name to watch. Hint of the Joe Harriott's about his playing - also liked the sound of his band, sort of 'Bitches Brew' crossed with early 70s John Surman/Gil Evans. Yes, Ballamy continues to impress. He shone at the John Taylor Big Band gig too - although Julian Arguelles was featured more prominently. Nice to hear Oren Marshall's tuba sound filling out the Taylor Big Band. The real highlight of the big band set though for me was the trio combination of Taylor, Martin France and the rock-solid Chris Marshall. Too bad that this one wasn't a bit more rehearsed but nevertheless - good stuff. As you say, John Taylor played superbly throughout. A most engaging stage presence too - very agreeable ! The Gress Quintet I found hard work at first but it was only when you closed the old eyes that you noticed that these guy's mastery of space and timbre was astonishing. Somewhat 'clinical' music in terms of style but impressive nonetheless. What I saw of the Harry Beckett gig looked like a bit of a missed opportunity. Harry, Chris Biscoe and co. were playing Mingus 'Better get it In Your Soul' to a crowd of mainly clubbers in the Town Hall who were clearly there to see Giles Peterson and his twin decks. Harry played a mighty fine solo, transcending the surroundings but a more intimate venue would have worked much better. Maybe in 2005 Cheltenham can make Harry Beckett the featured artist and put on a big band show for him. perhaps also a recreation of 'Flare Up'? Next year I'll try and stay over at Cheltenham. I had a two hour drive each way on the Saturday and Sunday so was wiped out by the end of it and passed on the Monday. Yes, as you say not long now until the Bath Fest. Time to swot up on accordian stylists ..

Thanks for posting these ! The Hutcherson 'Inner Glow' is a new one for me - I wonder what this one sounds like? (with Harold Land in the lineup I'll bet its a winner..)

It's extremely cool from that late 70s batch of King releases that included 'Pisces' and 'Oblique' - I worship in front of it with votive offerings every day..

Aha - Ignore my first mail, you just beat me to it. That's the cover !

Rooster - my King LP of this one has a quite different cover, brown background with 'arty' array of blocks/squares (sorry - can't post a piccie of it to show what I mean ). I wonder if BN will resurrect this one?

Missed the Pascoal but did get to see some good performances at this fest. Two of the 'John Taylors' (Big Band and International Quartet with Abercrombie and Mark Feldman), the Joe Locke and the Drew Gress Quintet were all memorable. The Gerard Presencer commissioned suite was also hugely enjoyable - nice to see Cheltenham commisioning original work of this ilk. Great acoustics in the Everyman Theatre too ! Too bad that owing to time constraints after the John Taylor Big Band I only caught about 5 or 10 minutes of the Harry Beckett. I would have liked to have heard more of that one - a truly under-rated player on the UK scene.

Hopefully you can see a show at 'Jazz Alley' - recommended. Have very fond memories of the one day I've spent in Seattle and Stanley Turrentine just happened to be on at the Alley. Nice vibe in that place.

My deepest sympathies for you and your family - she sounds like a great mum..

Excellent album - you won't be disappointed. Mid-size brass-heavy group with tuba, not dis-similar in terms of group sound to the band on Hill's 'Passing Ships'. Lee Morgan is in great hot form on this one - I really like the 'Lee Plus 3' closing track which is without the larger group. Good work from Julian Priester on this session too.

Nice find. Is this the US or the original UK pressing?

Quite a few of the Master Jazz sessions have still to come out on CD. The Julian Dash for example.

Yes, sounded to me like a few baby utterances on this track. Definitely live, although I really haven't a clue who it is (early Greg Osby?)

Had another listen earlier on today. #11 is definitely not the 'Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra' disk I was thinking of (track called 'Salz'). Still sounds to me like Benny Bailey though, but maybe it could be Wheeler with Collier ('Deep Dark Blue Centre'? - never heard it). The contrapuntal style of this group sounds very European but the flugel player sounds North American, to my ears anyway ! I've dropped the Tyner angle on #9 and am erring towards Stanley Cowell. Sure sounds like Sonny Fortune on sax, possibly Charles Sullivan on flugel? Not sure if any of these guys recorded with strings.

Kevin - Andrew almost 'wrecked' my Mosaic booklet with his signature. Fortunately I had a spare!

I'm very fond of the flyer signed 'Love & Peace' by Elvin Jones, particularly poignant at the present time. Similarly, Brother Hank was courteous in the extreme when he signed a flyer for me after an LA performance (even hunted out a pen for me back stage and told me to take a seat on his allocated sofa. B) ). A real gent ! Great guys those Jones's..

Oh damn, this has ruined the day completely. I was very much looking forward to the usual UK week at Ronnie Scotts this year..

PM from this sinner will be on its way... B)

Obviously not McCoy then. The mystery continues.. Good excuse to pull out 'Cosmos' tho' !

The '52nd St' material is representative of the quality of the later disks in the set, after Benedetti had followed Parker to NYC. Performances tend to be longer and audio quality not too bad. The earlier material recorded at 'Jack's Basket' in LA (I think that was the name of the place) was from the more primitive recorder and (with recording media at a premium) in the main it was only the alto solos that were captured in full. Quite a few Earl Coleman vocals, for example, are cut out just as he gets started. Having said that, its the early disks/LPs that - for me at least - really communicate the power of Parker's inventiveness and bring home just how fantastically Parker was playing during live dates at this time.

Don't let my comments on the audio quality issue put you off. This is a truly fascinating set and huge kudos to Mosaic for the presentation and attention to detail.

The audio quality of the first few LPs in my set remind me of the output from those baked-bean-can-with-string telephone rigs I used to put together as a youngster..