sidewinder

It got a fair bit of flack at the time it was issued but I like it too. Maybe expectations were ridiculously high. ’Ursula’ was dedicated to Miles’ German-born muse of the time; she attended some of the studio sessions I believe.

The Rex when I was there was more of a neighbourhood pub with weekend local music such as organist John T. Davis. Things went up a few notches with the Cafe des Copains, Bermuda Onion and Top o’ the Senator but the early 90s recession put paid to the latter two I think. While it lasted it was pretty damn good ! The Festival also used to run free open-air headline shows Downtown, by major artists. Rare good use of Toronto city taxes !

Pretty low key so far over here - work is as normal but I’m stepping up the amount of home working where I can. Avoiding big crowds and gatherings.

Shabaka and co. at the Horseshoe Tavern might be interesting. My first impression looking at this list is ‘a bit jazz-lite’. The glory days of the 80s and early 90s it ain’t.

Still got that Italian LP - must dig out.

The latest Woody Herman set, CD7. Very enjoyable !

This documentary due to be broadcast this Saturday night in the UK on BBC2. Recorder set !

It was the music from ‘Horizon’ that featured in the band with John Blake that I heard. His presence at the time was a surprise for me too, resplendent on the bandstand at Scotts in flash white suit. Almost like someone from ‘Saturday Night Fever’ ! Gheorghe - Maybe the drummer you saw was Wilby Fletcher? Before that it was ‘Sonship’ Theuss I think.

Graham Bond, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and John McLaughlin in ‘Gonks Go Beat’.

RIP McCoy

Good idea ! Will dig that one out, a fitting tribute.

My ‘Jankowskinetic’ cost £2.50. In good nick too !

Several weeks ago I bought a copy of his ‘Jankowskinetic’ LP on MPS/BASF, UK pressing, from 1970. That one definitely counts as a jazz album, a very enjoyable one too in a sort of Euro-Gene Harris style. Back in that era his ‘Walk in the Black Forest’ single seemed to be in the radio constantly, I recall. That hit probably floated a lot of projects on the SABA label.

Late 70s/early 80s McCoy was phenomenal. It was either 81 or 82 I caught the group with Ford. Excellent as the Quintet was, McCoy was the standout - jaw dropping stuff.

Thinking about it, I also saw McCoy’s trio with Gravatt a year or two earlier at NorthSea. He looked pretty frail on that occasion, less so at the Bath Forum. Very grateful to have caught both appearances. Before that it was 2 or 3 appearances at Ronnie Scotts with the trio. Tootie Heath on drums the first time, then Aaron Scott. Prior to that was the great Quintet with John Blake and Joe Ford. Wilby Fletcher and John Lee completed that group.

First spin for the vinyl version of the set after playing the CDs for several months now. Wow - spacious and crisp sound. Great as the CD version is, this sounds even better to me. Lovely !

Further to this, did a check - it was 2008 and Joe Lovano was in McCoy’s group. Bath Forum. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/28/jazz.festivals

Yes, Eric Gravatt was on drums in the last Tyner trio I saw too.

That would be the last UK tour I guess, around 2006/2007. I saw him then too and yes - very frail looking when walking across the stage. I think it was part of a double bill with Joshua Redman.

Looking forward here to picking up that Bill Evans on vinyl. The 5LP Strut Sun Ra ‘Egypt 71’ sounds intriguing too. Might be an expensive day. ‘Stonebone’ on vinyl looks tempting too. Also on the list - Don Shinn ‘Departures’ and ‘Temples With Prophets’ first official reissues on Sunbeam.

What a shame, may he rest in peace..but what a lasting impact he has made. I was really hoping to see/hear him play at least once more. To this day, the gig of his I saw at Ronnie Scotts around 1982 counts as the finest performance I ever witnessed. In more recent years he has appeared quite frail in performances. There will be much of his wonderful music spinning here this weekend.

Don’t forget the Neil Swainson ‘49th Parallel’ - first time on vinyl I think.