sidewinder

I'm really glad I managed to get Humph to sign a copy of his book and have a quick chat during the interval for the show of his I saw (in Taunton, about 5 years ago). Talking to him, you got the impression of a guy who really LOVED jazz - both playing it and also talking about it. Somehow we got chatting about Horace Silver (I might have asked for a request to be played on his show) and I was impressed about his knowledge of the Portugese connection and Horace's father coming from Cape Verde. Great guy, very much missed !

Plus = he used to be the regular musical 'turn' each week with his trio on the Spike Milligan 'Q' shows. Remember seeing that when they were first broadcast by BBC.

It hasn't been the same since Saturday afternoons on Radio 3 were decimated !

Charles Fox remains unsurpassed in my view as a jazz broadcaster. Scholarly whilst also being very accessible and with a real finger on the pulse re: new developments of the time. 'Humph' was also great - excellent for trad and mainstream but with an ear open for more modern sounds. Talking of Humph - there's a new season of "Ken Clarke's Jazzmen" shows on BBC Radio 4 and Humph was the subject of show 1. I heard it this lunchtime - recommended ! Cannonball Adderley next week

That was re-shown by BBC4 as part of the 'Jazz Britannia' season I think (or major parts of it embedded within a more recent documentary).

Apologies - And if you saw a young oik donned in a UCL scarf squeezing to get in, that would be me ! One you got through the door of course there was the even more onerous task of actually squeezing through to the front of one of the sales racks. Worse than Harrods' sale !

And more lunacy. Wayne Shorter 'Adams Apple' Liberty from the Jazz Record Center for over $300! Adams Apple

What?! My NYC mono original with 'ear' cost all of £10. And that was this century too..

Yeah, of course, the vibrations - who can forget that. I see also that someone has sort of 'repaired' the Mole sign - got the feeling that there was some poster for a discount fashion emporium or something equally irrelavant stuck on the sign for many years which some sympathetic soul seems to have repaired out. Shame that they didn't use a uniform logo size though.. Of course to get the full nostalgia effect this time of year would see the launch of the Mole sale, with progressively bigger discounts as the end deadline neared. Stampede of middle aged overweight bearded guys on the sidewalk fighting to get through the door at 9am on day 1.

Congrats ! All of these are on my future wants list but no doubt I'll pounce at some stage. I've got too much stuff still to listen to, not least the HRS Set.

that would work for me! That must be an all-time record. Lowest I've seen is about $350.

I paid nealy $120 Canadian for it 15 years ago and even then it was on sale !

No - the camber/incline on the side of the highway ! I had to literally 'feel' my way along the road. The trouble was, you had to keep going as there was no pull-in and there was the risk of stuff shunting into you from the back. Certainly don't want to encounter that situation again. Driving on black ice to Lake Louise with endless juggernauts coming the other way caused a fair bit of sweat too.. Still well below zero here and snow predicted tonight but - what the heck - my boiler is working.

'Pal Jimmy' Deuchar Donald Dewar Alex Salmond

Photo of the original Kings Cross Mole Jazz Shop (before they moved across the road) - I wonder when re-development will finally see the end to it?

What is this like? Very nice. First side is the 'Latin Laleidoscope' suite by Gary McFarland. Side 2 has charts by Boland. Lots of fiery brass work and hot latin rhythms.

Wow !

Clarke/Boland Big Band 'On Her Majesty's Pleasure' (Polydor/Black Lion, stereo)

Clarke/Boland Big Band 'Latin Kaleidoscope' (French MPS)

Admittedly in good nick they do sound very, very good on a half-way decent turntable, however the prices of late are ridiculous. Anyone wanting the vinyl would get much better bang for buck with something like the Music Matters 2x45rpm sets.

Won the pools?

One or two minor skids but no problem with the drive yesterday. More to come Sunday night - with salt rationing starting to kick in maybe the fun is about to begin? Part of the problem in the UK is with the more minor roads, especially those in the countryside which are problematic for the gritters. The major trunk roads seem to be fine. Certainly no-where near my all time worst. Calgary Trail between Calgary and Edmonton - zero vis out of the front window due to blizzard, had to 'feel' my way along the road using the side camber ! Plenty of sun shining through the patio door today though. Beautiful !

Yeah, that Clarke/Boland Big Band material (I don't know the other German recordings he was involved was) was incredible. Beautifully recorded and presented, comes across as a total labour of love. Thank goodness for people like Gigi Campi.

That's quite a stint he had as Chairman. Didn't he come in arround the time that the Pathe Marconi/Manhattan vinyl reissues started appearing (along with new releases by OOTB, Bennie Wallace etc) and the 'One Night With Blue Note' tribute concert was held in NYC?

Really crazy! That slice on the box spine looks bad! This CD set usually sells in the $600 range. Lots of pigs flying overhead today, methinks..