sidewinder

Camden in the UK also released a lot of Muse/Xanadu material on very inexpensive 2CD sets. Many of those were gems !

I didn't know about this but thinking about Joe's music, these two sides to his character don't suprise at all. His solos structurally are usually meticulous - with great inner logic. Usually in his solos there comes a point though when he goes left field apeshit before returning to the logic - a very attractive aspect of his playing.

What happens when your drive gets wiped? (as happened to me). Can't beat non-erasable hard copy, IMO. I hear you on that one. And immune to £/$ fluctuations too !

Mr Shifter Mr Tetley Mr T

That must be the one Blue Note album from the classic period that I've never heard !

Another great day down here today. Can't believe my luck in taking this week off as holiday. Who needs to go abroad when it's as good as this?

Diana Dors Van "Piano Man" Walls Frank "Floorshow" Culley Father Crilly Father Jack Bishop Brennan

Did he happen to mention when his Tubby Hayes biography was likely to be in print? I'm looking forward to that one.

Desmond Haynes Vivian Richards Joel Garner

Someone must have just bought the Mosaic set !

John Major Terry Major-Balls Ed Balls

Yeah, I've been to the Athelney spot a few times - now little more than a bump in the ground. At the time of Alfred The Great (who holed up there prior to Battle of Eddington, near Westbury) it would have been reeds and marshland and Athelney itself a small fortified island, very difficult to find and access without local knowledge. A good place therefore for hiding out from Danes (the local history has it that the burning of the cakes legend may well have been based on fact and probably originated from this area). There was also an exquisite jewelled pointer found at Athelney - one of the finest Saxon objects ever found - now in the Ashmolean Museum I believe. The only thing I remember for the tourists at Athelney is some ruins of the Abbey and a few historical exhibits on show (medieval tiles and the like). Anyway, back to the weather. Looks nice out there.

Alf Hall Al Catcher (Old) Arthur Askey (joke) The Joker (s Wild) Sun Ra Crumar Mainman

First one is Knowlton Earthworks near Wimborne. Neolithic henge circa 2500 BC with a Norman church planted smack bang in the middle of it ! Second one is Badbury Rings - to the South of Blandford. The damn travellers/idlers dossing there en route to the so-called 'Great Dorset Steam Fare' have now left, thankfully - having caused the locals quite a bit of grief with their detritus. Badbury Rings (Iron age but neolithic origins) is quite an interesting place. There is speculation that the Arthurian Battle of Mount Badon (circa AD 500) could have been fought there. I don't rule out this theory ! Might well check out Maiden Castle later on today. Or maybe Hambledon.

Oliver Lake Oliver Sain Aladdin Sane Ziggy Stardust Alvin Stardust Alvin Hall

Good week for a hol. Spent a pleasant hour or so yesterday sunning myself reading the paper here. Very atmospheric ! The day before I was here:-

Zippy the Pinhead Dick the Prick Cheney Lon Chaney Jr Boris/Doris Karloff Anne Widdecombe

James Findlayson Stan Ollie

Theresa May HRH The Queen Mother Beryl Reid

Don't tell me about it. The old Tower Records store on Sunset Boulevard also comes to mind. At one time an absolute Aladdin's Cave. And you could park for free right by the door.

He was on form the time I saw him with quartet with Jason Moran a few years ago at Cheltenham. A thoroughly impressive concert !

Yusef Lateef 'The Golden Flute' (Impulse orange/black, stereo)

The Wes Montgomery set is great - I'm sure you will like it. Sound quality pretty good too !

Bob DeVos Barry Devorzon Frank De Vol Count De Money Tony Blair Winston Smith

I suspect that they mean unexpectedly abstract. This DVD has had very good writeups - in particular 'Jazzwise' here in the UK raves about it in this month's edition. I'm sure it will be great - looking forward to seeing it (and hearing the Tanglewood concert).