sidewinder

Hoping to catch a performance by Norma with the above lineup at a local venue (Bradford on Avon) in about a month's time. I was also hoping that she's be in the lineup for Kenny Wheeler's 80th Birthday big band concert at Turner Sims, coming up around the same time. Sadly doesn't look as if she's in that one. Added bonus though - maybe they'll play some of 'Windmill Tilter' to celebrate its reissue?

One Man Went To Mow Spot ! Shane Meadows

I've got that one on the German Bellaphon. Sounds a bit flat though - the Strata East vinyl is better.

Floats my boat though I'll see if I can compare with the mono original this weekend. I like the way the drum dynamics are captured on the Music Matters.

William Savory Chuck Barris J Edgar Hoover

I really must give your 'ex' CD version of the set a spin !

Horace Silver 'Song For My Father' (Music Matters 2x45rpm, stereo). Just arrived !

The mouthpiece looks nice. Is it usable?

Got to be a few Mosaics out of this ! Just heard a bit of the music (snippets of Armstrong, Bobby Hackett, Basie, Goodman, Pres) on a radio article on BBC Radio 4 news on the way home. They interviewed Loren Schoenberg, who confirmed that the Benny Goodman material was particularly good.

I used to buy the NME on occasions - but not as much as MM and the jazz content was distinctly less. I remember NME from that crazy cartoon strip ('The Lone Groover'?) and young upstarts like Julie Burchill writing for it. Some of the articles in Melody Maker I would definitely like to see again. Like Steve Lake (or was it Richard Williams?) on Miles Davis Japanese import releases (Dark Magus/Black Beauaty/Pangaea - then rare in the UK) and a great essay on Basil Kirchin's 'Worlds Within Worlds'.

That would be fascinating! I can still remember reviews that made me experiment with things (Jarrett, Westbrook) - I'd love to read what caught my interest again. Likewise - and not getting your hands pasted in black and red ink as you turned the page would be a bonus too !

Wasn't aware of that ! Good to catch his appearance at Bath earlier this year - still sharp as a tack, with his trio. What a fast mind ! An earlier appearance at the same festival back in 1987/88 was even better I think. Some of the best solo jazz piano I have ever heard. And only 100 or so of us in the audience.

A couple of late gigs by him in Canada and the US were under-attended - but those who were there gave him a generous reception, which hopefully helped. Yes, scandalous that he didn't get more recognition by the masses. A very dignified chap, I thought, appreciative of the audience feedback.

Village People Tubby Hayes Shaft

Yes, 1977 sounds about right (back in the day when the Melody Maker carried good writeups of the key jazz gigs). There was an altercation on stage I believe. If only they would get round to putting MM on-line as is promised, we could check the details !

Nice ! Did the vice squad call in to confiscate the whistles? Would that have been the Junior Cook/Louis Hayes Quintet gig back around 1976 where Cook fell out with the rest of the band (if my memory is right)? I know that Melody Maker had a story on this - slightly before my time at Scotts unfortunately. The Woody Shaw group I saw was a few years later and had Mulgrew Miller on piano, Stafford James on bass and Tony Reedus on drums. Steve Turre on trombone, of course. Just before they recorded 'Lotus Flower' for Enja Records.

Great album. Talking of Beehive, I recommend Nick Brignola's 'Baritone Madness' as well (with Pepper Adams and Ted Curson). That one will lift your roof.

Admission at Ronnies usually got you in for the full night - although as previously mentioned for the 'big names' bookings were for 2 sets only (main act plus support). They then cleared the club out for a second audience. Some famous names could occasionally be seen. Once had Marty Feldman dragged right passed me by a couple of bouncers heading for the exit, pretty well out of it. On another night Oscar Peterson and a companion were at the next table ! The student club member mid-week deals at £1 for the whole night to see Woody Shaw, Gil Evans, Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, Pullen/Adams, George Coleman, Cedar Walton, Mingus Dynasty led by Danny Richmond etc. were the best.

Great little Herman Leonard audio/visual tribute here on the BBC news website. Herman Leonard Tribute I'm pretty sure somewhere I've got some photos which include the man in action at Lincoln Centre, taking photos.

Glad some-one else remembers this ! Food-wise it wasn't the greatest of places back then - and expensive. The chile con carne was quite passable though. The beer was some of the most expensive I ever consumed in London at the time. Damned Watneys as well ! And that night bus escapade went on into the 80s. I remember trundling up and down Edgeware Road on one of those and on one occasion having to get a guy who was on one of these (there were only a couple of us travelling) to casualty, who had OD'd on something. Once I'd got him to the hospital (the Middlesex I think) they knew immediately what to treat him with !

What is being proposed is optional local legislation, depending on the area, for councils to impose a minimum pricing on alcohol units sold by supermarkets etc, targeting those 'loss leader' cheap booze deals. Aimed at those areas where there is currently a delinquency problem caused by 'pre loading' at home on the cheap stuff. Personally like a lot of people over here I stay well away from those areas prone to delinquency issues if I can help it and if that is what it takes to sort out there (local) issues, then so be it.

Well, Connery is the only Bond of seen, so I have no comparison. I'm curious about this new Roger Moore guy, though. 'The Man With The Golden Gun' was on TV in High Def in a restored digital version yesterday. Enjoyed it - and remember seeing it and enjoying it on original release. Added bonuses of Christopher Lee and Brit Eckland in it. :rsmile:

RIP. More sad news - but what a great, great photographer. Remember seeing him 'in action' in front of the stage at Lincoln Center. The loss of his home and many prints in the hurricane was also tragic. Impressive the way he dealt with that (covered in a TV documentary shown over here).

I remember seeing Susanna McCorkle on a couple of occasions at the club. Accompanied by Keith Ingham I think. One of those occasions might have been opening for George Coleman or Cedar Walton. She was living in the UK back in the 70s. Back then, most places were licensed to 10.30pm during the week or 11pm at weekends. Not the case now. I think at Scotts you used to have to buy food (e.g. a basic sandwich) to get a drink after midnight. I used to stick to coffee for the late show (cheaper). You got to know how to make a pint last all night ! Ronnies used to do annual memberships giving discount admission during the week. The student deal was pretty good - I remember buying one from Pete King in his back office. As a young student you also had a good chance of getting a prime seat up front - a deliberate policy of Ronnie Scott apparently (God bless him..)

Some of the performers at Ronnies did command a premium admission price - and you also got only 1 show too (2 sets - both early and late show) instead of the full 4 sets 9pm through to 2am. I can remember making that arrangement to see both Buddy Rich and Woody Herman's orchestras.