sidewinder

The 32Jazz 2CD set with this one combined with the 'Iron Men' session is one of my favourites of Shaw with a very well balanced mid-sized group. Read somewhere that they didn't have much time to rehearse the arrangements at the Berlin performance and - if that is the case - it's an outstanding achievement. The 'Iron Men' session is pretty great too, with Muhal Richard Abrams.

Love the way these two worked in tandem. Clare generating the fire, giving Klook loads of space to add the subtle fills and swing. Unbeatable !

Woops - indeed you did get it. Missed this. What a great tribute this programme is. 'arte' did him proud with this broadcast.

There's a great Boland DVD on 'the other site' (but you probably know about that I guess).

What a travesty to the original ! I wonder if it's 'electronically re-channelled' too?

Harry Beckett 'Warm Smiles' (RCA Victor)

Just listening to the 'Warm Smiles' LP. I would say that anyone who liked 'Flare Up' will probably enjoy this one too. It has a typical early 70s vibe with John Taylor featured quite a bit on electric piano. Not the greatest of recordings though by RCA - a bit mushy. Beckett is his typically lyrical self throughout. More 'mellow' though than on 'Flare Up'.

Good move !

Rearward has a whole bookshelf of CBBB tapes (and scores, and tons of assorted memorabilia). I saw 'em, it was like being in a candy store That's GREAT news ! I've been looking forward to more CBBB gems on the Rearward website. The last new one they listed was 'Off Limits' I think. And they do vinyl !

Have a great day !

Art Blakey LP 3. Working my way steadily through this excellent set.

It's very much in print and available either from Mosaic direct or as a Universal 'Euro-Mosaic'. I got my copy from Zweitausendeins when they were doing those incredible 35 Euro deals some months ago. It's an excellent set - consistently good material and I think Benny Golson's soloing was particularly fine during this period with a rich, warm sound. Not to mention the consistently excellent work by Farmer. Nice features too for trombonists Curtis Fuller and Grachan Moncur III (in some of his earliest recordings). I always enjoyed the Argo/Cadet LPs of this material so this set was a shoe-in for me. Added bonus are the very nice solo albums by both Farmer and Golson, which are also included on this set. An un-reserved !

'The Complete Prince Lasha Birdseye Sessions' ? Unlikely I guess, if Lasha continues to own the rights. But maybe they could do a 'Select' licensing deal a la Tolliver?

An understatement !

It's titled Mindscape, and it's what an antique collector would call a bric-a-brac; nothing special, nothing spectacular, nothing specifically memorable. I have the CD of it. Quite like it - sort of an electronic music-scape. Not much jazz content though.

Total lunacy.

Have a great birthday !

John Coltrane 'Live In Seattle' (Impulse red/black 2LP stereo).

I got exactly the same 3CD package of the McLean with box and booklet from Mosaic just after it went OOP. Scott was very helpful sorting me out with this. Since then I've got hold of the LP set but the CD set did me proud (and still does). A great set !

Still available on the 'Impressed Repressed' CD reissue (Universal). A gem !

I've never heard 'Home Stretch Blues' but I've heard great things about it - and the lineup with Don Rendell etc. looks really good. Will definitely pick that one up. 'Heart Is A Lotus' was a bit of a disappointment for me too, I'm afraid. Didn't really grab me (must have another listen). I believe that 'Heart Is a Lotus' sold the most LP copies of all the Garrick Argos and that was no more than about 800 I've heard - so that gives you an idea of how scarce these are in good condition. Must pick up the CD of 'Troppo' before it disappears off the face of the Earth.. I have the Harry Beckett 'Warm Smiles' LP on RCA and really like it (quite spacy in parts). Haven't heard 'Themes For Fega' (Mongezi?) so will pick up the CD too to check that one out. Maybe Clifford can pipe in re: thoughts on the 'Fega'?

'Subtle' is exactly the phrase that comes to my mind when thinking of Cyrille. Have just seen him the once - with Jeanne Lee - but was hugely impressed.

I've only heard snippets of this LP but the early Hiseman is very much jazz-grounded. He did some great work around this time, with Mike Taylor ('Trio' on Columbia Lansdowne) and Dick Heckstall -Smith. Amazing to see Barbara Thompson also in the lineup back in 1965. She must have been pretty young (still a sudent, perhaps?). Of all the Dutton Vocalion reissues, this is the one that is firing me up the most..

THE NEW JAZZ ORCHESTRA WESTERN REUNION LONDON 1965 ORIGINAL DECCA LP LK 4690 (1965) FIRST TIME IN STEREO Big P (Heath) Shades of Blue (Ardley) So What (Davis arr Carter; Rutherford) If You Could See Me Now* Tiny’s Blues (T & A Kahn arr Gelly) Milestones (Davis arr Carter) Django (Lewis arr Ardley) Maria (Bernstein arr Carter; Sondheim) Western Reunion (Mulligan arr Ardley) Full personnel: Neil Ardley (leader) Bob Leaper, Mike Phillipson, Tony Dudley (trumpets) Ian Carr (trumpet, flügelhorn) Mick Palmer (French horn) John Mumford, Paul Rutherford (trombones) Peter Harvey (bass trombone) Dick Hart (tuba) Les Carter (flute, alto flute) Trevor Watts (alto sax, flute) Barbara Thompson (alto sax) Dave Gelly, Tom Harris (tenor saxes) Sebastian Freudenberg (baritone sax) Mike Barrett (piano) Tony Reeves (bass) John Hiseman (drums) *Lionel Grigson (piano) replaces Mike Barrett CDSML 8427 Looking forward to getting this one - and having it in stereo is a huge bonus, as the Decca vinyl original was only in mono.

Cedar Walton 'Spectrum' (Prestige Blue Label, stereo) Kenny Dorham 'Matador' (King)