sidewinder

Fresh Sounds reissue

Excellent !

‘More Lasting Than Bronze’ 2LP

Not into Dorothy Ashby so will be skipping that one but yes, New Land did a good job on this one. I might be tempted with their Howard McGhee reissue.

I compared the new one with an original 1957 Bethlehem mono vinyl and it was a very significant improvement, surprisingly so. The LPs have been issued by a UK company and I think they have used original masters, adding alternates and a very good extra track (‘Billie’s Bounce’) to the second LP. That ‘Scenes in the City’ alternate is sort of interesting too, put together for US juke box play I believe.

The Tone Poet mono version.

The one significant Impulse cover/label mismatch I can recall are the UK Impulse reissues put out by Anchor Records (I think) here in the mid-70s. These had non-laminated US covers but with UK vinyl and labels. I bought a number of them.

Definitely very under-rated and by one of his best lineups. Was listening to the recent 2LP set the other day. With extra material to the original Bethlehem LP and it sounds way better too, in stereo and with the reverb taken off.

First impressions - outstanding.

I remember when that came out there were reviewers/critics that slated this release due to side 4 ! Mono box version - great !

Japanese Verve - signed on the back by Tal.

Liberty/NY, mono

Have now capitulated with an order (‘Dance With Death’) so hopefully will post some thoughts and compare with the King edition over the next few days. Some great Tone Poet issues coming up. ‘Slow Drag’, ‘Blue Spirits’. ‘Slow Drag’ will be an automatic buy.

Last time I saw Cedar, in 1999, he still had Higgins on drums plus David Williams on bass. Sadly, I think Higgins was already not in the best of health so likely would be unfit for foreign tour in the 2000s. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, it was almost as if his second home was Ronnie Scott’s, with Cedar Walton and George Coleman. Still on my ‘pending’ list but working it’s way up.

Now finally landed in the UK. What a saga !

Mine is from the mid 70s when this series came out in the US but it sounds very good.

I saw them first in Summer ‘89 too. According to the Szwed book, many in the band were incarcerated immediately prior to this gig so it was amazing that they managed to field a full band plus dancers (doubling percussion) on the stage. The show went on for over 4 hours too and Ra and Band gave it everything - incredible. To the list I would add the ‘Singles’ double CD set on Evidence. That was a revelation for me when it came out. Also ‘Nuclear War’ from the early 80s. That one caused a stir when it came out. Plus ‘Discipline 27-11’ from the 70s.

Ain’t that the truth. Plus the way some of the posters constantly refer to the artists by first name e.g. ‘Stanley’, as if they are an old personal friend. Plus the diversions into obscurities such as cycle runs in St Louis. Pure comedy, zero information.

From the mono box.

Fair point. Maybe an option is to focus on ‘Out Of The Blue’ and then cover releases from alumni such as Peterson, Allen etc.

Great bargain. It’s £60 and up over here.

I think it’s been mentioned before but a set compiling the Blue Note ‘Somethin’ Else’ sessions (recorded for the Japanese market I think) by the likes of Ralph Peterson Fo’Tet, Geri Allen etc. might make a nice set - ‘The Complete Blue Note ‘Somethin’ Else’ Sessions’.

Can’t say I’ve ever been tempted with any of these Avid reissues, no matter what the price. It’s a shame that there are no better options for this music but I guess that over here at least, they are ‘legal’. Ironic that they use the name ‘Avid’ as I usually associate it with very high end German turntables costing megabucks.