sidewinder

Jackie McLean 'Action' (BN NY USA, mono)

I have to admit, for once I'm thinking 'stuff vinyl' the CD version of this is 'the biz'. I've had it on constant replay, nice sound and I like the modal Dauner and Ponty breaks. I'm also impressed with the packaging of this CD, which is up to the quality of 'Verve Elite Editions'. Think I'll pick up a few more in this CD series. Hopefully a few more at £4 please?

I think that one was brand new, from a seller who seems to have a lot of low numbered (some single digit), very early, brand new sets. Has "Blue Note" in his moniker and is from Stamford, CT. Wonder if it's the company itself selling some excess stock? (I know, I know, it could be anybody, but who's fortunate to get a single numbered set besides some big wig?) New or mint Buddy De Franco's go for about that much. However, I noticed a brand new LP version went recently for $200 less. Isn't that a certain 'Mr C.' of Stamford, CT?

Nick Kent - ah, yes. Often see him these days as a 'talking head' on TV music programmes. I think he wrote much more about punk though. It's writers of that quality that distinguished it from the NME (sputtering of jazz) and the likes of 'Sounds' (jazz-free zone).

That makes two of us. I'd buy it !

Yep, along with Steve Lake he covered jazz for Melody Maker back in the mid-70s. I used to buy that regularly. I recall long articles about Miles 'Dark Magus' and 'Pangaea' (then rare imports on vinyl to the UK), Basil Kirchin's 'Worlds Within Worlds' recordings, Booker Little's 'Legendary Quartet Session' released on Island plus I vaguelly recall one about Dupree Bolton too. It's a shame that the old Melody Makers are not available on line. Not sure which of these articles was written by Williams and which by Lake but they were very good, nevertheless. He also did a nice tribute book about Miles Davis - 'Man In The Green Shirt'.

The date and lineup with Sweets certainly sounds like the Jazz 625 session. The only copy I've seen of this one has had a less than brilliant video quality, as if it was taken from a back-up tape. The Farmer/Hall sounds like the Jazz 625 - recently televised over here.

Lex Humphries Charles Davis

I have a copy of the 'Bloodfeud' book - not for the squeamish, but very good. Explains a lot about the Yorkshire character !

There are several possible sites for the Battle of Mount Badon (or Mons Badonicus, I think it is called in Latin). Solsbury Hill (yes, the Peter Gabriel place) is one option but probably the favourite is a site nearer to Swindon - Liddington Castle, just off the Ridgeway and therefore logistically ideally placed for two foot armies to intercept. Both are pretty good bets though. "Ethandun" was fought just outside Westbury - near the present day village of Eddington. The site is a hill fort and is open to the public (quite a big site actually and yes, the 'Westbury White Horse' is there). It was indeed a major battle between the West Saxons and Vikings (under Guthrum) and if Alfred had lost that day we'd probably be posting here in Swedish . The Saxon army (a congregation from Wilts, Somerset and Hampshire) actually congregated near the Wilts county boundary at Stourhead ('Egbert's Stone'), marched up the Deverill Valley and then camped near Warminster (the site - Iley Oak - has been identified) and then marched to intercept the Danes at Eddington. As a result of the Saxon victory that day a truce was held, Guthrum retreated to his 'operating base' at Chippenham (and from there back East) and the 'Danelaw' division of England was eventually established. Until quite recently apparently the locals of the Deverill Valley referred to anyone locally with ginger/fair hair as 'Daners' - incredible how this history lingers. Heck - forget jazz. I should get more into Anglo-Saxon history.

Hello, please count me in - download option is fine !

I wonder how many of those were sold in the EU before the mistake was noted. Collector's item? :rsmile:

Mr Crapper Armitage Shanks

Scott La Faro's bass sound is great on the CD. How does it sound on your newie? Rock solid. I'll bet the sound of this one is as good as a Contemporary mono original - if not better. Near mint, not bad for £10 !

I saw Dave Okumu in one of those F-IRE bands. Might have been Jade Fox? It also had Ingrid Laubrock and Tom Arthurs in the lineup so maybe not.

Fascinating ! I occasionally drive round there so know the site. Quite a few historical battles fought in the Bath area. The big hill to the right of the dual carriageway going North to the M4 (Solsbury, near Batheaston) is reputedly the site of the Dark Ages Battle of Mount Badon or 'King Arthur' legend/fame, around AD 480. And then there's the site at Dyrham - again a Dark Ages Saxon/Brits battle, around AD 700. My understanding is that this latter battle resulted in the final takeover of Bath by the 'great unwashed', after they had held out for decades as a Romano-Brit enclave.

Over by the race track?

'The Arrival of Victor Feldman' (UK Vogue DG mono) - just acquired !

Brother Maynard Friar Tuck The Baby-Eating Bishop of Bath and Wells

How did they miss the Alpenhorn?

No problem ! I caught most of the gigs on Sunday and Monday. I was expecting great things from Dave Holland Quintet and wasn't disappointed. They were very much on form - obviously well 'played in' thanks to their European tour and both Mr Holland and Robin Eubanks were exceptional. Chris Potter no slouche either. Great table up front for this one, which helped. Right after the Dave Holland I caught Dave Okumu and 'Crump' over in the excellent little Mission Theatre over by the bus station. Lovely little venue and very, very nice late night gig. Once again I am very impressed with Dave Okumu - a highly original stylist. Sort of Sonny Sharrock meets Les Paul. Which meant a late night car drive back South and early return up the next day for the Bobo Stenson in the Assembly Rooms - where I almost nodded off ! Not 100% my 'cup of tea' but beautifully played. Right after Bobo was the first appearance by Empirical at the 'Little Theatre' which was preceded by Kevin Le Gendre's talk/slides/film snippet about Cannonball Adderley and his politics. Less film than I was expecting (about 10 seconds !) but interesting nevertheless re: the Jesse Jackson connection. Empirical's tribute to Cannonball was IMO even better than their evening Dolphy Tribute. Slightly different lineup with trumpet and piano in place of the vibes for the evening gig. And (after gatecrashing a country pub in Combe Hay, old haunt of mine, that was closed for a private function but somehow I ended up being served a pint) to The Forum and Empirical/Branford Marsalis. 'The Forum' is a 50s art deco cinema that is full of character. I caught the gig from the balcony - less than 'A1' acoustics up there but Yves, who was in the stalls, tells me it sounds much better down below. Branford Marsalis's group were most impressive - superbly paced and varied programme, this concert was a real crowd-winner and justifiably so. And that drummer is apparently only 18 ! A great year for the Bath Fest I think. Certainly, the Holland and Marsalis gigs match pretty well anything I've seen there over the years.

Isn't that one called 'Short Stop'? Think I've got a copy some-where.

Best Wishes !

Picked up a copy of this CD at HMV for £4 yesterday (reduced from £16) !

Aren't the endless additional takes of 'I Know That You Know' also on the Stitt Verve Elite 'Only The Blues' as bonus tracks (along with ear-pounding take announcements from some-one which usually have me cranking the volume right down).