sidewinder

I remember really liking them when I first picked these up 'back in the day' when I was in that demographic. 'Very sophisticated' and sort of cryptic. They look a bit of a period piece now but I still quite like them ! The first series at least was issued in the UK too (by UA/Transatlantic I think) and they were available for £2.99 (I paid £1.99 for many of them as deletions). The later issues were US-only, more expensive (£3.99 and up).

Got the flyer too and that was also my reaction to it. Cheltenham seems to have lost it as far as jazz is concerned. Nothing against Mr Cullum but this festival is getting increasingly commoditised into some sort of lifestyle brand that hinges around the Cullum gig. What about all of those smaller, interesting gigs focussed around the Town Hall of years passed. Ben Allison, Henry Grimes, Vandermark, Bennie Maupin? I blame some of the locals e.g. Jeremy Clarkson and his Cotswold lifestyle mafia in their 4x4s and designer wellies I'm sure (hopeful?) that Bath will be better. Well, Cheltenham is that sort of place! Certainly won't be any celebrations at the Wigan Jazz Festival, if the 2,000 Manchester City Council sackings and the rapturous reception of Bruce Adams' George Bush jokes at a previous festival are anything to go by! Incidentally, I'm quite hopeful that wedding day will also be strikes and demos day. Sounds like a festival with heart. Gross. As good an excuse for a Mingusian alternative festival as there is.

Yes, I have read that mayhem is predicted in Egypt over the next year or so. Damn shame.

The Talented Mr Ripley Arnold Ridley Godfrey's Sisters

There's a moving scene in 'The Battle Of Britain' where she encounters a pilot who is very badly facially burned due to crash injuries. The actor playing this, Bill Foxley, was playing this for real and had actually undergone experimental facial plastic surgery and lost an eye in the Battle - a truly heroic figure. Incredibly, he lived a very full life and died only about a week before Susannah York as it turned out - which is a sort of strange coincidence.

Euen Morgan Euen Blair Oliver Reed

Just announced that Susannah York has passed away at the age of 72. Susannah York - BBC Beautiful, down to earth lady - and a very good mother to her kids by all accounts. RIP, a very sad loss.

His playing on the various Quincy Jones Orchestra albums of the early 60s is fabulous (compiled in the Quincy Jones Mosaic box). Also very highly recommended if you get the chance to see it is that NDR Jazz Workshop film from the late 1960s which has him with Gato Barbieri and Jimmy Owens, among others.

Prawn cocktail for starters? And Arctic Log for desert.

Reinier Prince Rainier Windy Miller

Interesting - he's got some UK gigs coming up shortly so good timing.

Best wishes from me too !

Sandy Brown & His 'Gentlemen Friends' 'Hair At Its Hairiest' (Fontana, stereo) Where else can you hear George Chisholm with Kenny Wheeler and John McLaughlin ?!

Just shows that there's no such thing as a 'free lunch'. Same thing goes for retiring to Greece, I guess.

And up until recently the property porn shows on TV were peddling this place as a great place to buy a holiday pad. Jeez !

Teacher Mrs Teacher Smiffy

Ooo - that's one Blue Mitchell original that still eludes me.

TV hard drive set for just about everything on BBC4 tonight. Haven't seen the Brubeck yet !

Bunk Johnson The Japanese Sandman Dreams of My Father Horace Silver Long John Silver Bluebeard

Don Rendell 'Jazz Six/Tenorama Highlights' OOP Vocalion CD for a bargain £4.99

Racquel Welch Jordan Samantha Fox

Keith Jarrett Elvin Jones Slam Stewart

(er... Spanky deBrest....oh, hang on ) Stirling Moss Jeremy Clarkson Alf Garnett

Elaine Page Booker Ervin Booker T

Birthday Greetings !