sidewinder

and in later years - Mosaic..

By odd coincidence there is an interview with him published in this month's Jazz Journal International.

Very sorry to hear this. It has been a truly dreadful couple of weeks with regard to fatalities amongst the jazz greats. I will spin a couple of his fantastic recordings tonight. RIP RVG.

Cozy Cole Nat King Cole Old King Cole

Bought that one when it first came out - its issue over here in the UK just preceded Wynton's first visit over here with Blakey I recall. Liked both groups - will have to dig it out and dust it off..

The great British Tempo label stealth Blue Note..

He was wearing overalls when I saw him. Check out also that cover photo on 'Gypsy Folk Tales'. Ponomarev had left the band the first time I saw the Messengers, replaced by Wynton.

More sad news - it made the main radio news broadcast on BBC tonight, not many jazz musicians get that treatment here. First heard him on those 70s Quincy Jones LPs, always enjoy his work on those. I will spin his Riverside LP tonight - RIP.

Bobby Hutcherson Mosaic Select, CDs 2 and 3

Yes, Irwin on bass it was.

Same here - that would be around 1992/93. Bill Stewart on drums I think. EXcellent group !

Billbo Gimli Smeagle

Sad news - saw mention of his passing too in JazzWax. Remember seeing him several times with Ronnie Scott's Quintet at the Scott club, also with his own trio at the club. The Scott quintet was the lineup which immediately preceded the one with Dick Pearce in the front line I think. Always thought that, like Scott, he was hugely under-rated. Tubby Hayes certainly knew his worth - will dig out the 'Rumpus' CD on Savage Solveig in recognition. RIP. Here's 'Inner Splurge' with the Hayes Orchestra - Stewart solos superbly at around 4.5 minutes in. Inner Splurge

That's it - It would be the Stuttgart and Munich stations and I've got the feeling that JEB was presenting at least one of those programmes and as I already had his book (in English) I was aware of his background. The thing that stood out was that the music was not at all 'smooth jazz' but usually of the adventurous type such as Jackie Mac and quite a bit of it was of sessions done especially for the stations by the likes of e.g Benny Bailey. Great stuff indeed - that late Cold War era had a lot going for it..

Interesting. Back in the early to mid 80s I made quite a few visits to Southern Germany and my reaction was that the local airwaves were full of jazz every night. If the German stations weren't broadcasting hard bop then you could rely on the Swiss stations. This was around the time that a lot of British musicians such as Ian Carr were doing lots of tours on the continent. The roster of Wolfgang Dauner's 'Mood Records' were also on the airwaves quite a bit too. The UK of course was rubbish - apart from a couple of outstanding shows per week by the likes of Charles Fox and Peter Clayton.

One of my very favourite artists - gutted to hear this. I think the first record of his I bought was a DMM of 'Total Eclipse' and over the years I've picked up and enjoyed many more. The one thing that stands out is just how consistently good his playing has been over the years. Caught him just the once live (with Herbie Hancock in London I think), wish I could have caught him live more. RIP..

The Berwick St shops always were a bit of an overpriced joke for second hand jazz vinyl, although I did pick up a Freddie Roach 'Mo Greens' deep groove copy at one of those places on one occasion that was half way affordable. Since totally upgrading the CD player and its supply I have to say that I've been spinning about 95% CD, although the vinyl quality still has the edge for good pressings so is the preference when I have a bit of time. Less 'faff' factor with CDs though. Some of the most interesting and unique titles were at 'Intoxica' in Portobello back in the day but - no bargains..

Yep, did the same. To say it looked pretty glib would be an understatement !

Happy Birthday !

Just spun my copy - hardly Blue Note I agree and a bit of a thin recording but lovely music which I wouldn't want to be without. A time capsule of London mid-1967 really, right in the middle of a seriously bad dock strike period. The sleeve is full of spelling balls-ups - 'Dennis Pressland' , 'Joe Harriot' on the front, Doug Dobell's sleeve notes getting it wrong on the false starts. Not sure on the studio but the back room of an opium den in Limehouse wouldn't surprise me..

No kidding ! That must have been around the time of that 'Live at Fat Tuesday's' 2CD set, which is pretty unhinged in places well.

Good album - I have a copy in similar condition, pristine sleeve. Rare front line feature for Stu Hamer. If I remember correctly it was recorded at some less than salubrious East End studio by Dobells.

Interesting - Ralph Laing used to do a regular column in Jazz Journal (UK) covering specialist label listings so I assume that much of the content is from those columns. Lots of good information about the likes of Chiaroscuro, Master Jazz etc.

Sounds like I will give it a miss then..

Nice !