sidewinder

Does knitwear that hurts the eyes in her spare time.

Ronnie Mathews 'Doin' The Thang' (Prestige, black label reissue). Very nice session from Ronnie.

Little John Big Bertha Giant Haystacks

Totally agree, Jazzbo. This group were very under-rated. And the music throughout the set is consistently good - from the early sessions through to 'Powerhouse' and 'Uh Huh'.

Ain't that the truth !

Ah - Dobells ! I vaguely remember it but it closed up around the time I started frequenting the London stores. Funnily enough I have a few test pressings from Dobells '77' label which were bought at a gobsmacking £1 each from Mole !

Well - each to his own but I have been to that very Times Square store and found it ridiculously over-priced, as other posters mentioned. That was back in the day when Mr Branson still owned the franchise. Pretty well everywhere else I went to in NYC had better selection and pricing. I would say the same thing about the LA store on Sunset too, where the comparison with Tower (at the time) was laughable. At least in terms of selection of jazz CDs. Virgin were at their peak in the 1970s IMO but lost it thereafter. Afraid I never frequented the place in the 70s and early 80s and if so I might have a better opinion. On the plus side though - at least they did the 'Virgin Venture' label with Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, Ichy Fingers and a few other jazz groups, for which is due.

Yep, I think I would agree. If I hadn't been diving, I think I would have gone mad.

Jackie McLean 'Bluesnik' (BN 47W63rd DG mono)

Two words - Richard Branson.

No-Neck Joe Mike Spike

And both Managers got sent off to the stands. Looks like Angela Merkel had to free up a seat for her chief If Germany lose there will be mayhem ! (but I don't think they will)

JATP (Kilburn, 2 broadcasts) Henry Red Allen Meets The Alex Welsh Band (that one rocks !) Bill Evans Brit Jazz Various - Bill LeSage, Kenny Graham Modernists, Annie Ross etc Tubby Hayes Orchestra Benny Golson Orchestra (with Hayes, Ronnie Ross et al) Picked a few up on video many years back when they were for sale. Wish I'd bought the lot !

Yes, it rained most days when I was there.

"The television marketing of music began in earnest in the early 1970s, with the various-artist grab-bags of such companies as Ronco and Arcade" I remember the selling of those on TV when I was a kid - it was a pretty hard sell. Even bought one of the Ronco pop music compilations (unlikely but true). Can't say I've noticed any particular increase in the older generations buying these compilations but there are companies like Dutton Vocalion which (as well as issuing very good jazz reissues) also caters largely for the boomers-and-older nostalgia reissue market, something they do very well.

I've been. I've even done some scuba diving there off of the West coast (it was pretty good, in terms of visibility in UK waters and there were basking sharks !). The island itself is pretty low-key and quite old fashioned. Not unlike rural Ireland. Douglas is the main settlement and that is much more urbanised and seems to be occupied by a lot of Liverpudlian tax exiles ( ). There's a definite Norwegian Viking legacy to the Isle of Man - it was one of their main settlements in the British Isles 1000+ years ago, along with Dublin. No people with horned helmets visible on my trip there though. The rest of the original settlers were celts. Definitely a good idea to combine in a trip with Ireland - maybe the SW? (Cork area)

Turkey 3-2 full time. What an incredible last 10 minutes !

Turkey 3-2 up against the Czechs and the Turkish goalie has just been sent off !

McCoy Tyner 'Expansions' (BN Liberty, stereo)

Absolutely tragic news - I feel really sorry for the wife and kids. I wonder what the details were for the dive accident. Sounds as if he might have panicked and run out of air on the bottom, possibly got tangled up with something? In those cold Northern waters when something goes wrong things can escalate out of control fast. I saw the trio just the once and really enjoyed their performance. RIP, what a damn shame.

That would be the jazz CD shop in Bath, if you are thinking East of Cornwall. Failing that it's the Jazz Record Centre or Downtown Music Gallery NYC if thinking West. I'm not sure if there are any jazz outlets these days in Exeter (there used to be a great LP shop on Gandy St but long gone now I'm afraid). Too bad that Peter Russell's 'Hot Record Store' in Plymouth is long gone. That was a good place - although a bit 'trad/mainstream' inclined.

Wayne Shorter 'Adam's Apple' (BN Liberty, stereo)

Santa Claus St Nicholaus Nicholaus Pevsner

Sam was excellent in his UK tour 2 or 3 years ago (a few of the UK-based board members caught this tour, I think). He seemed a bit short of breath on occasions but his enthusiasm for the music and imaginative improvising on tenor, flute, spoprano and piano (!) impressed many people, I think. It's just incredible that he's been playing at this level in his 80s. Particularly interesting to watch him cleaning all his instruments on stage after the gig. Great care and time taken - I noticed a similar thing with Yusef Lateef.

Lee Konitz 'Yes, Yes, Nonet' (Steeplechase)