sidewinder

The late 70s/early 80s was the golden period for post-bop and free jazz vinyl in this country. Particularly fond of the Honest Jon’s branch which was down the road in Camden Town back then during my student period (echoes of Withnail ). That place had the Strata-Easts and plenty of Sun Ra Saturns in the racks (which they must have got from that elusive secret-society South London store with the bath full of bricks - apparently the only UK source at the time for Saturn) as well as Beehive, India Navigation etc. Being a poor student I was reduced to Blue Note Reissue twofers and the deletions rack, admittedly I wasn’t into free jazz. Sadly, no King Blue Notes for me.. I don’t think that branch survived the early/mid 1980s, by which time I was gone. Last time I was there on Camden Hign Street I think it was just one Reckless store and they were closing shop. The moneyed brigade had long since moved in.

Just checked the Garth Cartwright book and it is mentioned in there - seemed to specialise in Northern Soul and Jarvis Cocker regularly visited. Like quite a few of the places in this quite recent book now closed, as Olie mentions. On my last trip into Sheffield a couple of years ago (admittedly I wasn’t seeking vinyl at the time) the only place I came across was an overpriced hipster boutique with no second hand, or interesting for that matter, platters. Felt very out of place ! Maybe a Bennink doodle? Nice !

I think the chance of them doing re-pressings of those earlier sets are about the same as me setting foot on Mars. Not going to happen IMO..

‘Bull in a china shop’ springs to mind..

LP1 onwards..

Have dug the Kenton/Holman/Russo LP set for a spin as well, along with the Larry Young LP box. Pretty happy withe the mastering on the Elvin set. The combination of my cured ear infection and fairly recent upgrading of CD interconnect (big effect) has brought to light a major increase in perception of detail in the recordings, not to mention dynamics. In fact, I am hearing these recordings in a new light. Some of the later sessions on the Elvin Mosaic are a tad warm and bright. Of their time plus the Sonny Lester effect, I guess.

I picked up a stereo original LP of this one in Disk Union (at good price and in mint nick) but can’t seem to find it !

Montara always seems to get good reviews but personally, it is one of my least favourite Hutcherson Blue Notes. Much prefer the likes of ‘Knucklebean’ and ‘The View From The Inside’.

Disks 3 & 4, ‘Polycurrents’ and ‘Genesis’. A perpetual favourite set. I like this set too - time to dig it out.

Noticed also that their Armstrong Newport Live vinyl had sold out too.

Jazzland DG mono

I remember reading in a gig review in Melody Maker (1976/77?) that there was a major bust up on stage between Woody and Junior Cook during what must have been this tour, during their stint Ronnie Scotts. I recall the gig/tour ended up continuing as a quartet. So what you are sensing was spot on !

UK Fontana, stereo. Stunning !

Can’t go wrong with CBBB.

First time I’ve played it for years and the sound on CD is brilliant. Same with the Julius Watkins. Agree that this is the pick of Sal’s releases (that I have heard).

Yikes !

I always go standard US airmail and - as Clunky says - taxes are usually a bit less than DHL route and it is marginally cheaper than Jazzmessengers based on current £ exchange. Have had a bit more luck with shipping damage with the latter option though (although it has been booklets dinged due to sloppy packing at warehouse I think). I will most likely buy the Savory set from the ‘horse’s mouth’. Also, if any problems just mail Mosaic and they are usually prompt to rectify.

10” Conn series

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/10/sharks-love-jazz-macquarie-university-sydney Monkfish rules !

Same here. On the principle of ‘it will be 30+ years before they will be back’ (as well as being damn good quality releases). Like the Verve Elites, some of them were quite hard to track down here in the UK (outside of the big London Tower store) and I picked up quite a few on trips to the US. Price was $ for £ as well, added bonus. Spun the Julius Watkins this morning. First rate and the mastering holds up very well.