sidewinder

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.

That’s a very welcome reissue of an album that was previously very hard to find - and expensive - on the MPS/BASF label.

Some utter BS on the Hoffman Board about how this is a lesser title to be avoided. Rubbish - it is excellent. Anyone in the US who got one at $5 from Acoustic Sounds has got a steal.

I’m also reminded that Dusko was a prominent member of Woody Herman’s mid 60s Herd and featured on albums such as ‘Jazz Hoot’. What a trumpet section that was ! With Tony Coe’s recent passing, there can’t be many members of the original band lineups left. The only one I can think of is trombonist Erik Van Lier.

I’ll probably pick up the CD version - it would be nice if they issued ‘Prescriptions Filled’ also on LP. With Gearbox doing the mastering the LP version is also tempting. Only ever seen the original LP once in shops but I passed on it at the time. Seeing this reminds me that our good and missed late friend JohnS was a big Billy Bang enthusiast - I wonder if he saw the band on this particular UK visit?

Sad news but he lived a good long life. Another stalwart of the Clarke/Boland Big Band has left us - I’ll dig out his ‘Swinging Macedonia’ album.

They have only done a few of them. There was an earlier ‘Journey Into Jazz’ but that is sold out. Looks like the BBC Transcription CDs they did might also be sold out. For the very early Fontanas, Japanese CD reissues (if they have done them) might be the best bet. Don’t forget ‘Windmill Tilter’ by the Dankworth Band featuring Kenny Wheeler as well. A masterpiece. The Dankworth Band version of ‘African Waltz’ actually preceded Cannonball’s (ripoff) version on Riverside and was a Top 10 hit here in about 1961 I think. The BBC have film of the band playing it at the Royal Variety Performance in front of Her Late Maj. - a great bit of film. Recently rebroadcast by BBC4 on their ‘Dankworth Night’, as was some actual film of the ‘What The Dickens’ recording sessions.

Their online store is here - https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/products.php?cat=377

Dutton Vocalion have reissued a number of his Fontana and Philips albums from the 1960s and early 70s on CD, including ‘Zodiac Variations’.

Need to dig that one out. Those Riverside/Fantasy big boxes by Evans, Pepper, Mingus, Montgomery etc. are fabulous and still hold up well.

Picked up a copy of the Konitz/Mulligan Tone Poet. Some good deals to be had (especially in the US).

No word received here yet.

Several weeks hence my set is now tracking and at the USPS distribution centre so who knows, I might even get it..🙄

Also in the Farmer/Golson Mosaic Box I believe.

Sounds good to me !