sidewinder

Rendell/Carr Quintet 'Shades Of Blue' (UK Columbia, mono)

I've got the first 'Matching Mole' on vinyl. It's a good occasional listen - any fan of Soft Machine will appreciate it and the follow-on. The front cover of the follow-on always gives me a chuckle. Recorded at a time when 'Chairman Mao's Little Red Book' was 'de-rigueure' with future politocos, Fred The Shreds etc.

Sort of predictable, but tragic. What a waste - RIP.

Frank Evans was a Bristol-based player with great guitar technique who was occasionally heard on the radio in the 1970s (I remember that Humph used to play him quite often). Very much a mainstream/modern style and nothing like Derek Bailey. Apparently George Benson sought him out when he (Benson) played the Colson Hall back then ! Back in the day, he released LPs on his own 'Blue Bag' imprint and some of these were reissued on CD by him in the 90s (I picked up one of them at the Bath CD shop, a home-made production in which the label ink smudged !)

Pimlico Plumbers Francis Pym John Nott

Shake Keane left England for Germany and the Edelhagen band in the mid-60s (attracted by the money, I think). His best work by far was recorded prior to this though and some of the best of it is on these Garrick Argo/Vocalion reissues. I wonder when they will get round to reissuing David Mack's 'New Directions' - also with Keane? A mixed bag in terms of success - but a unique piece of tonal work for sure and an interesting contrast to the George Russell sessions of that period.

Saw this one for the first time last night - a long overdue viewing. Werner Herzon hits the bulls-eye mark once more, a great and intelligently put together movie. More than an echo of 'Fitzcarraldo' and 'Aguirre' in the jungle madness/obsession it portrays.

Aladdin Sane David Bowie Zowie

Don Ellis 'New Ideas' (Prestige New Jazz DG mono)

Looks like an out-of-focus bear to me !

Romeo Challenger Dave Bartram Showaddywaddy

Very Happy Birthday ! :party:

May I recommend the delights of Swanage? It's a purely Brit fest (with a few foreign visitors such as Greg Abate) and pitched very much 'middle of the road' with separate tents for the trad/mouldy figs and dirty boppers but I've always found it an enjoyable weekend. Any fans of Alan Barnes (BillF?) will be in their element !

At £4.99 plus P&P, how can you not? Don't miss the 'Poetry and Jazz' either. More poetry on it than jazz but you do get Harriott and Keane and the otherwise impossible to get 'Before Night/Day' Argo EP (which has Ian Carr in place of Shake Keane).

Based on the list of artists at the top of this thread (haven't seem the programme) I would put this down to the influence of Jamie Cullum. The same sort of jazz-lite stuff was on his radio show the other night (Paul Macca featured strongly - one of our jazz greats). I thought of the quality of the stuff that Humph used to play around the same time slot and wept.. I appreciate that his pitch is to popularise the 'jazz influenced' stuff that he likes and that it plays well to 'the market' - however it does nothing for jazz per se, when the real stuff is ignored by the media and events promoters. Too bad that the Pillar Room is no longer a main function. I've seen some good stuff there over the years - Claudia Quintet, Vandermark, Henry Grimes, Andrew Cyrille... And I remember that just a few years ago, fellow board member Alex Hawkins was playing there. I'm hoping Bath might be better but not holding my breath.

Jackie McLean 'Swing Swang Swingin'' (BN 47W63rd DG mono)

Zoe Ball Johnnie Ball Mr & Mrs Balls

..and 'Troppo' is a very rare album - it came and went on vinyl back in 1974 with hardly a murmer (Argo). The Dutton Vocalion CD is an excellent opportunity to pick up this fine session (plus Mr Garrick added some sleeve notes too).

The 'History of Britain' series by Simon Schama is probably a good place to start - in 3 volumes. A bit of a personal slant at times but it is well written and covers a lot of turf. Peter Ackroyd has just started a series too - his first volume covering prehistory to the Medieval period came out quite recently and has been well received. Also for the Dominic Sandbrook 50s/60s/70s series. Looking forward to his next one.

BillF Genius Genie In The Lamp

Miss Fine Oliver Nelson Horatio Hornblower RN

I just picked up the Garrick 'Poetry & Jazz' (£4.99 for 2CDs, a great deal) and Garrick 'Troppo' from this sale. Recommended ! I see the John Cameron is also on sale. Didn't take long - a bit of a 'curate's egg' jazz-wise but an enjoyable one.

That Atlantic 'That's Jazz' series was excellent. Around 1977/78 if I remember right - I picked up quite a few of them (including that one).

Johnny Otis Otis Reading Otis Ray Appleton

Mike & Bernie Winters Morcamble & Wise Hale & Pace