sidewinder

With regard to the B&W set - that is already a BIG set, so where do you stop. They were correct to focus on jazz content and curb the ‘more R&B’ IMO. A pragmatic judgement call - after all, it has to sell. Agree with regard to the Jutta set and the point made about Mosaic ‘policy’ with this type of set.

I’ve got that one on vinyl which I bought in the early 80s. Haven’t played it for years - will dig it out tomorrow. It’s a pleasant listen.

Interesting little article from around the time that they opened in Kings Cross.

I really need to dig that Mingus set out for an overdue relisten. No doubt though it would get ejected next week as the new JATP set and the Tristano should finally arrive in the mail on Tuesday. Barring Acts of God, earthquakes, PO strikes etc.

The great thing is that this Arkestra recording is both accessible and adventurous. For the first time also I can see a very direct link between Tapscott’s work and that of Tadd Dameron - both ‘arranger’s piano’ and memorable arrangements by a band with unusual instrumentation that sounds bigger than it really is. Helped along by the fact that he covers ‘If You Could See Me Now’ on CD2, a really fine trio performance. Noticed that Tapscott is credited as playing ‘spinet piano’. When I saw that I had a vision of an 18th Century plucked instrument a la Mozart, which made no sense. I see now though that in the US, spinet pianos refer to a type of small upright.

With regard to the Holocaust/war crimes, I recommend this book, an outstanding read. Particularly chilling as it is highly probable that the individual concerned will have checked my rail ticket at London Bridge station, based on the timeframe concerned. He effectively hid from sight.

Sad news, RIP. Hugely influential on that ‘CTI sound’.

German Metronome reissue

Blue label stereo

The RSD mono version. Sounds great - the Hoffman Board hype is justified in this case. Isn’t that the one that came out as part of ‘Paul Horn In India’ Blue Note twofer? Will have to dig it out.

Maybe if there is enough demand, Gearbox might put this out on multiple CDs. They have done archival CD issues in the past e.g. the Buddy Rich ‘Just In Time’. Interested parties might want to email them.

Gearbox.

Found 3 new copies from this series for a few pounds last week for some Summer reading. Even Alan at Jazz House Records seems to get mentioned in the stories !

I find this one a bit disappointing. Yusef sounds good and ‘Belle Isle’ grooves very nicely (but not long enough). Too much of the Atlantic ‘chug chug’ guitar for me though.

Repeated plays for this gem.

Totally agree with that. Not studio hi fi sound but quite acceptable. Musically excellent. I was thinking I had heard the (stonking) first track on CD1 before and of course, it is on one of Horace Silver’ Blue Note albums (‘Serenade for a Soul Sister’ I think). The shipping from the US was really fast. Compared to my 3.5 month shipment from Mosaic. Due to arrive today but no - what’s another day to Royal Mail when you can hold it back for another weekend. A travesty all round !

The other two new Left Banks (Walter Bishop Jr, Shirley Scott) are ‘in the mail’.

I think this cost me a bargain £3 from Fopp, back in the day. That one is a really good twofer.

I’ve got a vinyl copy in the mail.

Just the bonus material I think.

I haven’t been for years. Shame - that and the Bath Festival weekend used to be real highlights, with strong jazz content. The Cotswolds ‘gold card brigade’ moving in at Cheltenham put an end to it - hence Spandau etc. (who will no doubt play ‘Gold’). They used to put on some of the best jazz groups in the Town Hall and that historic small theatre too, as well as the arts centre. It was a smaller, lower profile event but it had better jazz.

Not sure - there’s no indication of his presence on any of the bonus tracks. Assuming it is Ramon Morris on tenor on the bonus stuff, he is heavily featured. Andy Bey pretty well sticks to piano on these tracks. Plus, there’s also a great workout for Blakey on the bonus ‘Tunisia’ where he throws the kitchen sink at it - a real highlight track. The club ‘live’ atmosphere is also captured really well. It would have been a good gig to attend in person.

Yeah. It certainly isn’t studio hi-fi a la Blue Note but for a live location recording, sounds pretty good to me. This LP with the bonus tracks seems to me to be a nice RSD ‘offering’.

Updated to add that all bonus tracks now loaded into the streamer. The audio sounds fine to me - any comment of 'no fi' on the Hoffman Board is total BS.