sidewinder

An institution and legend (along with John Chilton’s Feetwarmers). They used to do 2 weeks at Xmas/New Year every year without fail. That documentary is great and has been broadcast on TV (BBC4) here. Some great footage and interesting interviews. First time I went to the club I think was about 1979 to see George Coleman, Hilton Ruiz, Herbie Lewis and Billy Higgins. Great start ! Most recent was right before the pandemic with the Mingus Big Band. That was my first time in the ‘new’ club - a pleasant surprise. One of the tracks from the Miles Ronnie Scott’s performance survives and a snippet of it is in the documentary. The only reason it survived is that was included in a ‘series highlights’ program. I think a whole number of major stars were recorded over a week or so around 1969/70 and featured on programmes but only the highlights show escaped the tape wiping. It was some years after ‘Jazz 625’. I think there is a short bit of the CBBB at the club in the doc. Of particular note is Dizzy heading up a UK Big Band at the club sometime in the 70s, playing ‘Manteca’ and doing his ‘I don’t want to go back to Georgia’ thing. Would have loved to have seen that !

CD3 previously unissued session of Music Inc. with NDR Big Band, 1979.

Think I mentioned it before but there were reports in the UK music press (Melody Maker, remember reading it) of on stage bust up situation at Ronnie Scott’s. One of these days I’ll make a trip to the UK Jazz Centre in Essex, where the have a Melody Maker archive and dig out the reviews of that era just to check. Retirement project !

Cult Library LP reissued by Trunk

Nice !

This one arrived with the Jon Hendricks bio. Figured it was about time I got a copy, before it gets more difficult to find. Pleased to see that it is full of Wolff photos, including some of those negative strips recently on sale at Mosaic.

An unlikely title, to say the least. Meanwhile, Glenn Gould Plays Cubano Chant.

47W63rd DG mono

David Murray and the Gwo-Ka Masters, Bath Festival, 2008.

Yes, yes and yes. Boris Rose.

Not sure in the case of Pye/Nixa, although Esquire, who were contemporary to them, did use original stampers. Crucially though the vinyl quality is far, far superior to US Emarcy, which can be very variable at best.

Orange label. It is a Nixa pressing, deep groove. I would hazard that it is sonically superior to US Emarcy of that 50s vintage.

UK Emarcy, lovely review copy. I believe this copy used to belong to Decca producer and critic Ray Horricks.

Just ordered a copy of this -

Yeah, it was a gem of a night. Such a civilised event; Lewis was literally inches away from me and I could have leant on the piano. I think he really enjoyed playing to those of us (not many) in proximity. I think it was Summer 1990, so slightly before that NY recording. At the same venue I remember seeing Jay McShann, Sir Charles Thompson, Joanne Brackeen, Cedar Walton. Just missed Stanley Cowell in solo recital though.

That brings back great memories. Stood right next to Lewis as he was doing a solo rendition of some of that ‘Paris’ material at what was the Cafe des Copains, Toronto. That was 1990 too. Lack of seating sometime has its plusses. Lewis was thoroughly enjoying playing his recital - a memorable night. Yes, almost a private concert.

That is a good find - the original tapes for this one are AWOL I believe so unlikely to be a Tone Poet anytime soon (I would love to be proved wrong !) . The Liberty Mono sounds very good. Don’t think it was issued as an RVG but it did come out as an early McMaster on CD - I have one. I reckon it’s up there with ‘Cape Verdean’ but it’s all personal preference I guess. Horace of that vintage is incredibly consistent and excellent.

That is a start-up by Matt Parker, one of the initiators of Jazz In Britain, I believe. It will be interesting to see if he issues CDs of this stuff.

Miles/Coltrane Columbia Box, CDs 4-6

Interesting selection, with a bit of a European focus I think. 1. European clarinet player - Rolf Kuhn? 2. ‘Air Mail Special’ - would that be Mischa Mengelberg with Han Bennink? 3. Impressionistic alto/piano duet. The alto sounds like Greg Osby. 4. Is that Simin Tander on vocals? At first I thought it was Sidsel Endressen but the Eastern influences come through. Terje Rypdal on guitar? 5. Wolfgang Dauner Trio with Eberhard Weber? 6. One of Manfred Schoof’s groups? 7. Bass clarinet - John Surman? Possibly one of those ECMs with Jack de Johnette? 8. Joe Lovano with Bill Frissel? 9. This sounds a bit Lovano-ish as well and sort of familiar but can’t place it. 10. Is that George Mraz on bass? At first I thought maybe Friedrich Gulda with all those pianistic flourishes but perhaps Paul Kuhn? A mystery all round.... Thanks !

King