sidewinder

'The Jazz Couriers' (Tempo TAP15 mono)

Judy Garland Hank Garland Hank

Vincent Herring Cannonball Adderley Nat Adderley

Dean Wormer Bluto Blutarsky Flounder Dorfman Michael Fish the late 'Hurricane' Smith Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins

The Johnny Scott Quintet 'Communication' (UK Columbia, mono) Ken McIntyre 'Year Of The Iron Sheep' (UA, mono)

I thought at the time that the compositions and the conception in general on 'Phantom Navigator', 'Joy Ryder' and (less so I guess) 'Atlantis' were great but thought the recording was less than the greatest and that the albums suffered from some dated electronics and rhythms of the period. No doubting the unique compositional vision behind these though. Totally agree that on 'High Life' that it really gelled - maybe he had a band by then that really grasped the nettle - and maybe Verve allowed a bit more preparation time. With time, for sure, the importance of these albums has only been enhanced - and it is interesting that Wayne draws heavily from them (including the likes of 'The Soothsayer' and 'Schizophrenia') in his programmes for his present-day quartet.

Ken McIntyre 'Way, Way Out' (UA mono)

Terry Smith 'Fall Out' (UK Philips stereo). A Scott Walker production.

Stan Tracey Big Brass/Acker Bilk 'Blue Acker' (UK Columbia stereo)

Kenny Drew 'Undercurent' (Music Matters 45rpm 2LP) Getting my morning exercise !

Thanks - I'll give the LP a re-spin a bit later on. It's from the 'Strange Strings' period too I think, around 66/67 so its entirely plausible.

Timothy Evans Quentin Crisp Joseph Merrick

Really? Which track?

Oh no - not again ! Time to play 'hunt the dustbin lid and retrieve it from the ditch' again..

They sound phenomenal. Direct from the Gigi Campi tapes ! Highly recommended.

I sometimes wonder if buying jazz Lps at this price is part of some money-laundering scam. Makes you wonder..

Yes, great double set. Mine's on an MPS twofer from the mid-70s. Have you got hold of those Rearward/Schema Clarke/Boland LPs Clunky? Those are fantastic too.

Really?

Herman Select CD1. A good un'

Must be someone with euros to burn !

That's what I thought - sounds very mid-70s. Thought my ears were deceiving me !

Hi Big Beat Steve - I'll probably hang on to the 2LP set anyway (sounds pretty good as I recall), always nice to have this music on vinul playback medium. Thanks anyway !

Whoah ! No Tonya?

Glad they aren't showing the hairy armpits !

10) Hmm - a clue at the beginning of the track. My CD player lights up with the magic letters 'HDCD' - which hints that it is recent, although the music sounds older. Nice fender plus guitar intro into a mellow-ish big band chart that could almost be by Mel Lewis's Vanguard Orchestra. The tenor soloist sounds uncannily like a very young Joe Lovano. On the whole though - haven't a clue . 11) Audio-verite live club recording of very bluest tenor with rhythm section. Something about the very unpredictable wide interval leaps and the strong blues ability says to me 'James Moody'. Nice one. 12) Chicago style trumpet feature - tune sounds familiar to me but I can't name it. Is this Wild Bill Davidson? Not sure on the bone player. Nicely recorded - sounds like something from the 60s to me. 13) Blues singer with very strong tenor backing. Something from Detroit? (sort of has that feel). Can't place either the singer or the tenor player (although this player is very good). 14) Bird-influenced altoist with rhythm section. Very fluent technician - Charles McPherson? No idea on the tune, although again it sounds very familiar and a standard. 15) Wayne Shorter's 'El Gaucho', great composition. Is that a couple of pianos? One of them sounds like McCoy Tyner (the chap on the left) with the trademark tremolo effect at the end of a phrase. Nice selection. Thanks Stereojack !