sidewinder

'Timewind' - Mike Taylor

Good reminder - I need to dig out both of these boxes again !

'Time Is Right' - Judi Singh/Woody Shaw

Tommy Sheridan Tommy Cooper Yvette Balls

Bud Powell on that Columbia live Monk Tribute album ! His rendition of 'It Don't Mean A Thing..' had Elvin on grunt in the front line.

I sneezed a few times in Cheltenham into my tissue (being riddled with a heavy cold) and got some pretty dirty looks from shoppers and jazz attendees.

The Polydor 'Angel Eyes' is a rare (and pricey) item I think - especially sought after in Japan. Don't believe that too copies were pressed.

Belated Happy Birthday - hope it was good !

Ron Stout Roy Porter Alec Guinness Henry Boozier Lyle 'Spud' Murphy Jamie Theakston (says he, after a pint of Ruddles County )

Ted Hughes Andrew Motion Sir John Betjeman

Donald Byrd 'At The half Note Cafe Vol 1' (BN 47W63rd DG stereo) - A few clicks on side 2 during 'Portrait of Jennie' but quite acceptable ! Soft Machine 'Six' (UK CBS stereo, 2LP)

Yeah - without lighting that venue (a small, old Theatre) would be impossible. I believe the problem was a failure in the local sub-station caused by one of the shops up the street. A real shame - especially after the no-show of Hugh Masekela's backing band on Friday (which I've heard he overcame with aplomb).

Donald Byrd/Pepper Adams 'At The Half Note Cafe Vol 1' on Blue Note - deep groove stereo 47W63rd first press. A whopping £9 - lots of scratches but after a clean it sounds fabulous, just the occasional light tick. Lam cover excellent condition.

Yesterday at Cheltenham - Henry Grimes, Paul Dunmall and Andrew Cyrille, 'Profound Sound Trio'. Grimes was incredible, gave it 100%. He was featured a bit to good effect on his 'new' instrument (violin) too ! And a bit of poetry. Andrew Cyrille also predictably good. As was Dunmall. Was due to follow up with David Leibman + BBC Big Band but a power cut in the area of the Everyman Theatre meant that the concert had to be cancelled. This short report I found on a blog sums the gig up quite well: Now this was more like it: from the US the legendary Andrew Cyrille on drums and the equally legendary Henry Grimes on bass, plus a British saxophonist who deserves legendary status by now, surely: Paul Dunmall. It began with lengthy solos from each player in turn, a bit like stall keepers laying out their wares. Then it was all together for an astounding hour of group improvisation without boundaries. In the middle of his violin interlude, Grimes read a poem which referred to things above the atmosphere, out there in the stars and galaxies. This music not only has the elemental sound of human beings, the blood pumping, the synapses snapping, but it has that astronomical scope too, the crackle, shudder of space. All three make sounds that contain multiple layers of timbre, tone and overtone which on the surface might sometimes feel like chaos, but if it is chaos it contains all manner of truths and beauties.

Best wishes ! Now spinning - 'Jazz Explosion' (UK Columbia Lansdowne, stereo). 60s sampler with Rendell/Carr, Harriott/D'Silva, Guy Warren etc.

I'd be over at the Pitville if it didn't clash with Martino but look forward to seeing your band later on in the evening, Alexander. Not looking forward to the drive back home at 1am though. 70 mile drive !

I've a suspicion that a relative of mine might have been at that very gig ! Last time I was in St George's Hall was to see the Halle Orch. well over 30 years ago.

Yuri Gargarin Buzz Aldrin Buzz Lightyear Bruzz Freeman Jim Brass Alan Bold Charles The Bald Charles II Charlemagne

Be sure to check out 'Perceptions' on Verve Elite Editions (if you can find it), with arrangements by JJ Johnson. 'The New Continent' also has some grade A Gillespie with good orchestrations by Lalo Schifrin.

Hmm - Bern has at least one jazz LP place (pricey, I recall) and Vancouver is heavily depleted on the LP front in recent years. Used to be good for CDs though with 'A&B Sound's' 20% off deals on everything on Canada Day. Not sure on Zurich but maybe The King can pipe in..?

Yuri Gargarin Buzz Aldrin Buzz Lightyear

Good start to the festival with the Martino film last night at the University Pittville Campus. It's an excellent 90 minute documentary and covers equally both the jazz and medical aspects. What happened to Pat in the 1970s through to his op in 1980 was pretty harrowing (seizures, electric shock treatment etc due to mis-diagnosis) and it's nothing short of a miracle that he's with us. Just shows the power of the brain to compensate and rework it's wiring in the event of a major trauma such as the operations he had. Pat made it to the Q&A after getting stuck on the M-25 and his comments were definitely worth catching. Bodes well for tonight's gig.

Pat Martino 'Baiyina (The Clear Evidence) (German SABA, stereo)

What do you think, John?

Too much drug gang warfare for my liking to put Vancouver that high in the list. It's prohibitively expensive too. It was better 20+ years ago. That's me. About 20 yards from the porch ! :rsmile: