sidewinder

Naim did previously have a strong speaker presence but these days they concentrate on the electronics. They are part of a larger group with Focal, with Focal now concentrating on the speaker side. On the CD side, Naim’s policy has been to stockpile laser transports to cover support for their fielded top end CD units. Some of the units from 30 years ago with the earlier Philips units are no longer replaceable but the slightly later vintage definitely are. My older player of vintage circa 2000 had a new transport and firmware upgrade some years ago and is still going strong. Their ‘classic’ kit is actually on the larger size - and also tends to result in quite a lot of separate power supplies after upgrades so you can fill up a couple of racks very easily ! Not ideal for small living spaces. They also offer a more compact range of integrated kit which works well for compact spaces.

UK CBS

I’ve run Naim kit for over 30 years now and been delighted with them. My first system was actually bought in North America, where they are a bit of a niche player. One of the best things about them is that their superb factory over here can support all of their legacy products with repairs - even the older CD transports - and offer a recap service for their amps, which is a must really after 10 years or so for those big electrolytics. As a result, I can still run a power amp of theirs which is about 40 years old ! These days most of their housings are full sized and not the ‘shoe box’ style of their earlier offerings. Those small units and their styling is getting increasingly trendy and in demand though, as a retro look. The latest amps though still continue to offer just volume and balance, no tone controls and definitely no loudnesss switch.

Interesting to see this ancient thread again ! I’m still using the Naim Superline - these days with 453R cryo load and powered by a Naim Supercap. Very happy with it. Input connections from the deck are BNC.

Easily as intelligent as dogs - always enjoyed interacting with them in my diving days.

This must be the interview that get’s quoted in the Collier biography by Duncan Heining. Interesting. He mentions the Cambridge University Press instructional record and its version of ‘Darius’ - that was the first LP I ever heard of Collier’s, owned by a school music department. I also have a copy - and I think I mentioned it at the time in an email to Graham.

In the Reissues/Vintage (some very good ones this year) Neil Swanson ‘49th Parallel’ (Reel to Real) Black Unity Trio ‘Al-Fatiha ’ (Salaam) Monty Alexander ‘Love You Madly’ (Resonance) Sonny Rollins ‘Rollins in Holland’ (Resonance) George Coleman ‘In Baltimore’ (Reel to Real) ..plus Monk ‘Palo Alto’ of course. These two will be in the next JazzMessengers order with the Friends from Barcelona !

Duke P. doing his annual thing. From the Mosaic Select.

Really captures the atmosphere of George in live performance well. Outstanding performance of ‘Body and Soul’ and great work by Albert Dailey. Cory Weeds has put out some good stuff on that Real to Reel label.

I used to tune into that 89.5FM station every time I rented a car in NYC and remember an OTT enthusiastic voice which I assume was Alan Grant as I recognise it on those Uptown releases. Remember him raving about the Freddie Hubbard ‘Fat Tuesdays’ release, which was current at the time. Must say, his programme did feature some good music and it was a blast to drive through Manhattan with that on.

The one to go for on CD is the BGO. It flew off the shelves though and is now difficult to find and expensive. First stereo issue on CD. There was a rumour that Universal were due to put this out on vinyl, CD and digital as part of a new British Jazz reissue series back earlier in the year. Not sure where things are with that but it might be worth hanging fire and seeing if those reissues happen. It will be interesting to see if they find a stereo master.

It’s an annual compilation disk that is put together by Jonny Trunk. This year, everything from the US Air Force Dance Orchestra with vocal harmony group Free Design from 1968 (nice) through to Larry Grayson singing ‘Whose Stuffing Your Turkey This Xmas’ plus what seems to be some oddball German folk stuff in there as well.

MCA 2LP

I thought it was on the BNBB. Seems like an eternity ago. Big excitement on the board when the bid actually won ! I think with the numbers involved, the opposition was blown out of the water. I’ll second that. All the very best !

Well, they are what they are - FM radio broadcasts. I find the intros on the Alan Wakeman to be no problem. I’m more concerned about broadcast quality - which by the 1970s on radios 2 and 3 was very good indeed.

Webster Hall !

Nice. I’ve got an Esquire of this one.

Not forgetting either the ‘group purchase’ of that eBay auction of the Japanese Blue Note ‘One Night at Blue Note’ set with the Hank Mobley speech on it. Dan was Chief Instigator and purchase agent I think. Not sure if that was a BNBB or Organissimo activity.

The recent Alan Wakeman release on Gearbox should give some idea of the spoken content. Personally, I am glad when they leave them in. Barbara’s bands in the 70s and 80s were quite frequently on ‘Sounds of Jazz’ and ‘Jazz In Britain’ and I remember several of these.

The broadcasts will be mainly performances, with short spoken introductions.

I reckon it’s already all over Europe - and probably has been for a while. A bit of an aside. I was down on the South Coast yesterday, watching out on a pier in what is normally a large and empty bay. Three mega cruise ships were anchored out there together in the murk, looking like beached whales. An unprecedented sight for that stretch of the English Channel.

Also mastered at the late Jon Hiseman’s Temple Studios, so you can guarantee that the sound will be the best. I wonder if Jon himself did the work on mastering the recordings as part of the archiving?

There are some fascinating looking things in the box. New Jazz Orchestra with Neil Ardley. A Mike Taylor tribute shortly after Taylor’s passing. Some early string compositions. Plus plenty of broadcasts by the likes of Jubiaba and Paraphanelia. I remember broadcasts by some of these groups back in the day - nice that they are now re-available. I feel an Xmas present coming on !