sidewinder

Yeah, I saw that Miles band with Kei Akagi and Foley back in early 1990. Some of that concert came out on that ‘Heard Round The World CD’ - Massey Hall, Toronto. Managed to get a front row seat so saw Miles pretty close. The best of the Miles concerts I have attended, the band and Miles was on form. MPS/ BASF

Another spin for the excellent freebie MPS sampler included with this month’s ‘Jazzwise’. Outstanding !

Yes, I saw him in 1982, one of couple of nights of comeback performances (first in the UK for over 10 years) which was filmed and televised - Hammersmith Odeon. The atmosphere was incredible and as I recall it the band included Stern ( in Van Halen mode), Bill Evans, Minu Cenelu, Marcus Miller and Al Foster. They kicked off one of the sets with ‘Ife’ - a nice link with the 1970s band. Miles hobbled on in 82 with the aid of a walking stick I recall but he was in stronger shape in ‘85.

I caught that Eastern Rebellion group with Berg on several occasions - he was great in that context.

Two things I recall from that 1985 RFH concert are that they played Irvine’s ‘Ms Morrisine’ as well as Jacko’s ‘Human Nature’ and that Miles spent quite a lot of time playing organ. Oh - and mustn’t forget that I parked for free right outside the RFH building on a meter spot. Wish we could go back to that !

Liberty

UK CBS 2LP

UK CBS. Saw him play this material in ‘85. Same band I think but Scofield in for McLaughlin.

Need to dig that 45 out !

Not quite as strong overall as the Tone Poet which also drew on these Jazz Standard recordings but very enjoyable nevertheless and glad to have it. The studio tracks with Iggy Pop work better than I thought they would. Lonnie also bows out on side 4 with a reprise of the title track from ‘Move Your Hand’. Pressing quality is fine to my ears.

I find the Atlantic New Orleans box to be very enjoyable - with the rationed doses. Good set of music which I otherwise would have missed on.

My Hodges Mosaic cover has a faint tinge but is fairly white. 2LP version.

Glad I hung on to mine !

Stores are, I guess, sticking their old DMMs in the rack to cash in on the Tone Poet madness/demand.

Probably give it a spin tomorrow ! Good to dig this set out again. It doesn’t deserve to be stuck in a cupboard.

Disk 3 on the Mosaic Select

Yeah, definite shortfalls in the dynamics noticeable here. Having said that, I can live with this version I think - better than expected given the vintage.

Giving ‘Om’ a spin now. I see what you mean about the piano - sounds beat up and out of tune. Probably related to the circumstances - this one was recorded at Jan Kurtis’s Lynwood home studio I think. Other than that, I don’t think it is too bad. Maybe sonically a bit muddy but that is probably a limitation of the recording facilities, perhaps. Crazy stuff ! A noticeable bit of top-end roll-off on these GRPs which is impacting the drums and percussion I think. Difficult to know if it is a remastering issue or a limitation of these recordings.

Yeah, they do sound brilliant.

From the other thread.

After some rooting through cupboards I found the set. ‘Ascension - Edition 1’ spinning now. Sounds OK so far, I remember buying this set in the early 90s and at the time these GRP Coltranes were just the job for me as most of my Coltrane vinyl was either UK 70s reissue or Jasmine pressings so it was a step up and I didn’t have Om or Kulu. My CD player these days is far better than the old kit so it may be ‘flattering’ the sound but so far so good. Perhaps a bit 2-dimensional in soundstage but that may be the recording - the detail is all there. Some shortfalls noted in the dynamics and transients for ‘Ascension’ though, especially Elvin’s drums. CDs were to improve considerably in this respect in later years.

The discogs prices for those Disk Union LPs are indeed beyond lunatic !

By way of contrast..

Yeah, they weren’t cheap at the time but I recall paying about equivalent of £20 or so for Toshiba and £35-40 for Kings with shipping on top. The pound was healthy at the time so that took some of the sting away. Only ever bought Toshiba and King LPs, never bothered with the CDs. The LP lists were enough of a challenge for me. I used to look at his fantastic lists of US originals and salivate - beyond my pay grade !