sidewinder

If I remember correctly, there was petrol rationing over here late 80/early 81. That was fun !

More ‘Jazz In Britain’

Definitely NOT going there ! Yeah, the Commodore series is indeed a treasure trove. One of my tasks this Xmas break is to explore within..

Might even have an extra copy of DeFranco Clark myself but will have to check ! The Commodore Vol III was the last ‘biggie’ that I wanted/got hold of - managed to get a near mint copy for a good price. Not too many other sets I want/need, although the forthcoming Tristano is on the list. The limiting factor is how many black boxes can you fit in your house.

Got the vinyl just before they sell out. It’s noticeably punchier than the CD, so well worth getting hold of. Important issue !

Very true. You just have to look at what happened to the thickness and quality of Impulse vinyl through the 70s. Strangely though, those thin ones can sound good ! Used to waste whole afternoons navigating backwards and forwards between Sam’s and A&A on Yonge St. Bit later period though, when LPs were on their way out.

Blue Note seemed to be scarce in Europe in the mid 1970s. For a time, just cutout blue label were the norm in the specialist shops plus that UA release around 1977 of selected titles such as ‘The Sidewinder’ and ‘Roots and Herbs’. Shorty Rogers reissues were very popular over here in the late 70s - that ‘Clickin’ with Clax’ topped the jazz sellers list at a time when Spirogyra were all the rage.

Over here, some of them were pretty good sellers - the Miles twofers of unissued stuff put out by Teo Macero, the Dexter Gordons and the Stan Getz releases come to mind. Then there were things like ‘Summit Meeting in Birdland’ and that Miles in Paris release with its lousy audio.

UK CBS

I’ve got some Triang/Hornby stuff boxed up. Haven’t used it for about 50 years. OO scale.

July 21 would have been the first (Monday) night of the gig - August 2 the final night (Sat). Not entirely sure but I think I was there on Tues and Wed, possibly in the first week. Interesting about the Dreyfus recording - a similar thing happened some years earlier at Scott’s with those recordings put out on Resonance.

Yeah, forgot that he/they put out Mike and Kate W’s ‘London Bridge is Broken Down’.

Fascinating, thanks for that - can’t wait to read this book. I can’t recall seeing John Le Mes (who was himself not well at the time I recall) but I was there just 2 nights of 10 (or was it 12?). Marty Feldman I did see on one occasion at the club - in fact it might very well have been on the 1st night of this stint; he got dragged out between the front tables by the staff, blind paralytic drunk with his eyes rolling, I kid you not - can still picture it now. My table at the club on that first evening of the Evans Trio was shared with Art Garfunkel and his guest. Pretty sure it was him, or it was an exact double. Didn’t say a word, didn’t stay for the final set ! I think I recall seeing Brit pianist Pat Smyth sat at the front on at least one of those late post-midnight sets. Ronnie Scott as well.

From that unusual period in time when the Bearded One invested some of his dosh in recording jazz. Didn’t last.. CD version

Same here - hope it arrives across the pond by Xmas. I’m looking forward to hearing his recollections of the gigs during that final period.

Given it a spin - mono, sounds fine, not a sample. Have to say, I prefer the earlier Savoy and Verve material and the later Impulses.

Good, swinging stuff.

and hopefully not so full of dross.. Seriously though, looks like a nice package. I’ll have to spin my copies of this. I think the Fontana is a factory sample but will have to check. I’ve also got an early OJC and from my recollection that sounds pretty good too.

My version is this one -

Is the box lined in ermine?

I saw him on two consecutive nights in the final London gig and can’t say that I found the tempo thing off putting. What was noticeable was a definite Slavic influence at times. On both nights, the last sets (in one case attended by only about 15 people left in the club) were sublime. The earlier sets got the chattering Gold Card business crowd and I felt Evans was a bit more prescribed, perhaps. Will never forget though Evans looking in some pain and being literally supported and carried to the piano stool by a couple of women I think - Helen Keane I think, plus his girlfriend Laurie I suspect. Sobering to see as a youngster. I would like to read this book !

Oxfam find - interesting read, compiling their judgement on key recordings by the decade.

Excellent singer, always a pleasure to hear Claire ‘live’.