sidewinder

Enjoying working my way through this one. It is well written and Alyn has had some really unique experiences as both a musician and publishing specialist to get to know many musicians over the years, starting with the New Orleans veterans in the 1970s that he got to know as a young bass player. Fascinating and unique experiences ! Interesting to hear of his stories concerning the touring ‘One Mo’ Time’ show in London in 1981. Remember sharing a Ronnies’ table with very young pre-Wynton Herlin Riley back then and him mentioning being in the show, his first overseas touring gig I think.

Yeah, have that one - quite enjoyable. As are the Frankie Capp ‘Juggernaut’ LPs that Concord put out around the same time and with many of the same musicians. Must dig out..

NY mono

Yes, he definitely played London in the 1980s, I remember reading reviews about it. That probably also included UK tour dates. Didn’t catch any of those shows - no doubt involving the Bulls Head in Barnes. Where I did catch Teddy was in California (arm in sling not playing but leading his group) and a later rare NYC gig with John Hicks’ trio. i have photos of the ‘arm in sling’ gig somewhere.

No, not Friesen. This was in the mid 90s. Atillio Sanchi rings a bell - not sure if I got the name right. Stowell’s style holding the guitar is very distinctive. Almost as if he is playing a lute. The intimate style of music worked very well in a restaurant venue. From memory the meal was a fine steak ! Another good guitarist I saw in that period who liked to tour and play solo is Gene Bertoncini. I think he had local friends - a real virtuoso. Further refined my opinion on this Duke Pearson release after a spin on the RCM. It is better than previous issues - more fine detail comes through. Or maybe my deck is behaving itself ! The definitive issue.

I remember seeing him a few times in a restaurant venue accompanied just by bass.

Yeah, I’ve yet to be convinced too that the Japanese pressings are significantly inferior. Most of them sound pretty good to me. The London Jazz Collector site certainly seems to indicate TP significantly better than King. Surface noise and crackles rarely an issue with the Japan pressings. I have a number of TPs and some of these duplicate NY/Liberty originals. Although both are good, I don’t think I’ve heard one yet where I can say the TP is definitely superior in sound. At least, for my preferences. In fact, I generally prefer the sound of the originals, even with RVGs compression. I’ve avoided reported ‘warbling’ titles such Black Fire. Passing Ships played OK on my deck but that might be thanks to the unipivot arm and setup care required.

Lost in translation somewhere mid Atlantic. ‘Ruffled a few feathers’ then.

All Hell breaking loose on the Hoffmann Board due to this ‘Picture of Heath’ issue. I’m curious to get hold of a copy just to see if my deck comes up trumps !

‘Detectorists’ Xmas Special on BBC. Easily the best thing they have broadcast this Xmas - and possibly this year.

A highlight issue from the past year.

Major Minor, mono

Argo 2LP. I think our late good friend board member JohnS mentioned that he was at this concert recording held in 1974-ish at Southwark Cathedral.

In retrospect, not sure that the sound is that much better than the ‘Rare Groove’ LP or the Mosaic for that matter but it is a nice production. The gatefold photo format seems to have been taken forward by the Tone Poet series. Chitinous Ensemble ‘Chitinous (Deram). About time this one had a spin.

Welcome !

Pleased to have a copy of this 2LP set. All of the material is on the fine Mosaic Select but the sound is even better I think. Gatefold with photos is up to Tone Poet standards. In fact, it is almost like a prototype Tone Poet.

First time I saw him was with Blakey circa 1979/80, I think Ponomarev might have been on trumpet first time and next tour I think it was Bill Hardman. Next time was around 1993 for a couple of nights with ‘Horizon’. From my recollections, Blakey was low key here in the 70s until ‘Gypsy Folk Tales’ came out on Pye. Earlier in the decade he had been featured on those Sonet LPs and in the ‘Giants of Jazz’ tour.

This one originally came out around 1976 with the Corky McCoy cover. Miles had entered his quiet period so the issue of 60s material was a surprise, I guess Teo Macero was the driving force in putting it out. Recorded extremely well, Tony Williams’ shimmering drums were rarely captured better. I bought this one at the time on UK CBS. The ‘I Love Jazz’ reissue was from the vinyl nadir period of the 80s/90s. I picked it up for peanuts not expecting much but the (thin) vinyl sounds great. I’ve had similar experience with others in this series. No question about it that this is a good album !

An amazingly good sounding pressing, considering.

Yes - R&B Records did a Morrissey/Witherspoon release on CD some months ago. Don’t yet have a copy. Ah yes - I think you are right. I always think of it as being recorded at the Bull’s Head as the first time I heard a track from it on the radio it was introduced as such. I do have a copy of that Jazzhus recording.

Still got my Atlantic 45rpm of 'Pick up the Pieces' from 1975. One of the first records I ever got !