sidewinder

The best back bacon I ever ate was organic. The pigs had been hand-reared and allowed to forrage in the wild in some forest. The difference in the taste was just astonishing, compared with the mass-produced crap !

On LP: Sonny Clark 'Sonny's Crib' (Toshiba BN) Buster Williams 'Something More' (In&Out) Don Cherry 'Art Deco' (A&M) Joe Henderson 'In & Out' (BN DMM) Bill Evans Final Village Vanguard Set (Mosaic) Thad Jones Blue Note/UA Set (Mosaic) On CD: Donald Byrd 'Slow Drag' (BN RVG) Joe Henderson 'So Near, So Far' (Verve)

The United Artists LP 'Three Blind Mice Vol 1' is a fave, as is the previously mentioned Prestige 'Childs Dance'. The latter is one of the more unusual Blakey sessions, almost an attempt to update the music with tunes by Stanley Clarke. Woody Shaw, as mentioned, is an absolute ringer on 'Can't Get Started'. 'Ritual' on Pacific Jazz is another one that tends to be overlooked. I've always liked the interplay between Blakey, Hardman and McLean on this one, although the Duke Jordan 'Scotch Blues' does sound a bit of an oddity

There is - a couple of free-range eggs 'sunny side up', a wedge of fresh Northern black pudding, baked beans, freshly squeezed orange juice, a pot of fresh coffee, rack of toast (served with Frank Cooper's 'Oxford' thick orange marmalade) and a copy of the daily paper. Now, back to the muesli and prunes ...

That's true John - I don't think the concept of back bacon ever caught on in the States. All I ever get served up is the stuff we call 'streaky' over here. No contest ! B)

It's great ! Many years ago over here the BBC did a jazz season on TV and broadcast two programmes of (I think) 1 hour each taken from the Town Hall concert. I've certainly still got a copy of the show with Smith (accompanied by Kenny Burrell and Grover W Jr, Grady Tate on drums). The same programme also features Woody Shaw and Jackie McLean. At one time I also had a video of the other half of the show but couldn't find it on my last 'trawl' through the video archive. Time for another search ! Intro on both shows was pretty low key, with Joe Henderson playing an unaccompanied 'Recorda Me' on a staircase ! Don't recall ever seeing any footage of Hank Mobley - reports though were that he was in the audience that night.

'Bye-ya' would be just fine as-is or alternatively 'San Francisco Holiday (Worry Now)' 'Played Indefinitely' 'Bumsha Swing'

I seem to recall hearing of the liquid vitamin B and hypodermics during the filmed house raid in the mid 60s - the needles were found by the cops and nearly got Mingus in jail .. Building on a previous point made, I would agree that there was definitely more of a focus by Mingus on composition in those final years, as distinct from the bass playing and aggressive direction of the band. I still very much like the recordings made during these final years though, although I've not heard 'Let My Children Hear Music' and 'Me, Myself, Eye' in full. Also remember seeing the Mingus Dynasty on one of those early European tours around 1980/81 - they did several seasons at Ronnie Scotts. Recollections are hazy now, wish I could have a recap of the music. Very much dominated by Dannie Richmond (who was superb), George Adams and Sir Roland Hanna. Not sure if John Handy was also in the lineup. It was the only time I ever saw Johnny Coles, who was on trumpet and flugel, Jimmy Knepper was there too. Bass player was Aladar Pege, who I believe was given one of Mingus's basses. Sometime after this engagement, the Adams/Pullen Quartet played the club - I recall them doing the tune 'Don't Lose Control' from the Soul Note album.

On LP so far - probably the Grant Green/Sonny Clark and DeFranco/Clark, of the ones that interest me. These were tough

Scanning through an old copy of Jazz Journal today (circa 1980) I noticed that then-purveyors of Jap vinyl Mole Jazz were listing Pisces 'on special' at £6.25, along with other King goodies like 'Oblique', 'Clubhouse', 'Minor Revelation' and 'Matador' ... Now where's my time machine ?

From your list Michael, didn't Bill Russo and Conte Candoli pass away fairly recently? I have the feeling Idrees Sulieman might have also (maybe it was mentioned on the BNBB).

This is a fantastic set - a delight from beginning to end. $175 for a mint set is a pretty good find too. Most of the boxes for this one seem to have been pre-programmed to self destruct after about 10 years, judging by the usual standard of sets for sale I wonder how many of the Shorty LP sets were pressed in the end?

Ubu - I'm inclined to agree. Fine as the 'Changes' and 'Moves' albums are, one listen to the content of the Mosaic Candid does seem to indicate that a degree of fire, commitment and (likely) general all-round fury, was lost after the mid-60s. Mingus seems to have generally operated at his very best when under pressure and pursuing the real and imaginary demons. Incidentally, wasn't Mingus taking Mellaril (liquid cosh) under prescription for a couple of years in the late 60s?

Ah! - I thought there might have been one more track to make it a nice round '6'. This one isn't listed in the Mosaic booklet, of course. I also have the 'Indistructible' LP and not the CD and agree that it is a killer !! 'Ron Van Gelder' - lots of treble with plenty of compression?

George Russell

Several of the tracks from the King GXF 3060 'Pisces' LP are on the domestic CD issue of 'The Freedom Rider' as additional tracks. These are 'Uptight', 'Pisces' and 'Blue Ching'. The Mosaic 'Complete 1960 Messengers Blue Note' set also includes these plus 'United' and 'Ping Pong'. The last two are also on the domestic CD of 'Roots and Herbs' as additional tracks. All great tracks by the way, well up to the standard set throughout the mighty fine Blakey Mosaic .. B)

Not to forget 'Mingus Moves' too, which forms a very nice triumvirate with the two 'Changes' albums for Adams/Pullen's participation. 'For Harry Carney', who had recently passed away, is a personal fave from the 'Changes' sessions. The recent 'Massey Hall' book has a nice visual description of this band with Adams topped in a fez, Walrath with flower shirt and afro and Mingus glaring at the back looking like Moses at his bass. Visually, created quite a hit on the campus/festival circuit and earned Mingus pretty good money at the time.

Did this guy have anything to do with the Chakra label? (I've got one of the LPs called 'Miles Davis Makin' Wax' with Rollins and Coltrane and am curious as to its 'origins')

It does say Tequila Lewis in the booklet for the 'Spectrum' Anthology, so maybe there's an error in the booklet ..

Can't complain at the sound quality of the 6-eye Columbia double. It's pretty good to my ears. The Mosaic will be nice to get for the extra material though.

Tequila Lewis - also did vocals on Tony Williams' final Polydor album 'The Old Bums Rush'. This is the LP with the cover that has him getting thrown out of a night club.

Some good finds in the latest vinyl trawl, each one for £10 or less. - Don Ellis 'Essence' (Dutch Fontana) M- - Yusef Lateef 'Live at Peps' Impulse orange-label original VG+ - Bobby Hutcherson 'Stick Up' Liberty M- - Ted Curson/Bill Barron 'Now Hear This' on AudioFidelity VG+ - Gary Bartz 'Another Earth' original Milestone VG+ - 'Tune In' Karl Berger original Milestone VG+ - Lee Morgan/John Coltrane 'The Best of Birdland' French Vogue deep groove M-

'Search For The New Land' gets my vote . It's rarely been off the turntable since I picked up the DMM all those years ago and the front cover is beyond cool. The title track is outstanding - lots of twists and turns, plenty of moody atmosphere, very fine Hancock/Green harmonic fill-ins, the usual superlative Billy Higgins. Heck, this one would probably get in my top 10 any time ...

I can only assume that the definition of 'VG' in this seller's book is 'veritable garbage' ....

:rsmile: I have to agree. Still, this is a really excellent line up of new Conns from BN. My choice will have to be the Hill, although I'm curious to hear Mobley's 'The Flip' in full. I have several of the tracks on compilations but have never heard the full session. The rest I have in vinyl, which is my preference anyway, in one form or another. 'Fuchsia' is absolutely superb, so good that I've sought out a copy of the original ST-84184 release, although it also sounds pretty damn good too on the Mosaic vinyl. I've just been spinning the Toshiba vinyl of 'Bossa Nova Bacchanal' by Rouse. Nothing earth shattering but a nice session in the style of the Getz/Gilberto collaborations of that time, Kenny Burrell also plays nicely on this one - there's a second guitarist too by name of Chauncey 'Lord' Westbrook. If you want a laid back, groovin' selection, you won't be disappointed. Sort of reminds me of Ike Quebec's 'Soul Samba' in terms of feel but definitely with an eye to commercial sales potential. 'Sonic Boom' and 'Mother Ship' I also have in vinyl and I'm sure that both of these will score highly with the board membership. You can't go wrong IMO with late-BN Larry Young and the Morgan has some very nice interaction with David Newman, plus the usual fireworks from Billy Higgins. Nice stuff.