sidewinder

Duke Pearson 'The Right Touch' (BN Liberty mono)

Miles Davis 'Bitches Brew' (CBS Quadraphonic edition)

Happy birthday to Herb and Templejazz.

Now why don't these guys do coupons which are valid outside of the US too !

It may seem a mundane explanation but maybe the reason all these guys stayed so long in the Sun Ra house was solely because of the strong sense of meaningful 'mission' in an unforgiving, generally hostile world that Sun Ra was able to instill. Anyone who has spent any time in the armed services will be able to understand that one.

Looking at the labels I would say that these originate from 1977-78. I have a few UK issues from around that time (part of the first reissue batch after something of a haitus). BN issued a load of well known issues - 'Sidewinder', 'Bud Powell Vols 1 and 2' etc., as well as some relative obscurities such as Don Cherry 'Where Is Brooklyn' and 'Roots and Herbs'. Still have these pressings.

Yes, they are amazingly good and most seem to have the 'Van Gelder' in the runout. I suspect that the 'Happenings' is at least as good as the stereo/ear original (the mono of that one seems to be a duffer). Some of the Blue/Black Liberties are amazingly good too. Particular mention for Freddie Roach's 'Down To Earth' on that pressing.

Just a quick note to add a recommendation for the 9 Euro 'West Coast Jazz' box. 4 CDs of prime West Coast (some real nuggets in there - gems from the Contemporary, Pacific Jazz, Nocturne, HiFi Jazz archives etc) and a very nice booklet with Ray Avery photos and pictures of various memorabilia (lighthouse posters etc). A nice one to put alongside the equally good Contemporary box. My Monk and Rollins Freelance boxes, purchased at a previous 2001 sale, both have the US boxes and booklets.

Timely reminder of the 'Bedazzled' film - it was repeated on UK late night TV the other night. The soundtrack caught my ear, with its groovy 60s big band charts in the background, apparently the work of Moore himself ( ). A certain baritone solo caught my ear and It sounded suspiciously like Ronnie Ross. I wonder if Tooter has heard that one?

When you come to think of it, that album shouldn't have been a cutout. Definitely signifies some trouble. Is it United Artists Music and Records Group, or UA (Transamerica)? In other words, was it made before or after the management buy-out? MG I bought a bundle of those blue label cutouts myself, back in the day. I have 'Royal Flush', 'Evolution' and 'Happenings' in these versions.

Yes, I'm reading it at the moment. So far its - very well presented and I particularly like the features on about 40 selected Impulse sessions. Good coverage also on some of the label's more obscure titles (e.g. 'Cosmic Music'). Would have liked to have seen a bit more coverage on Yusef Lateef's leader sessions (the book should have included a feature on 'Live At Peps' IMO).

Sigh... Makes me long for that one time when they were offering 20% off all vinyl sets. Shame that the other Miles LP sets are not offered with this 'stock clearing' 10%. I thought the original 'Bitches Brew' was supposed to be a big seller !

What "miscellaneous" instrument did he win this award for? Soprano Sax? He wouldn't have qualified in this category for his normal horns, right? Yes, I think it must have been for the Soprano. I believe that they had a separate category for tenor. Didn't one of the other board members win one of these Coltrane plaques at the original Guernseys auction? Looked pretty nice, as I recall..

For the limitless gold card fraternity the other auction item from these guys looks pretty cool though.. Plaque

I saw him earlier this year (or was it late last year?) on one of his UK gigs then just a few weeks ago at North Sea. In both cases he looked a bit drawn and certainly a lot thinner than on previous times I've seen him. On both occasions though he played very well indeed - with great sense of purpose. Hope everything is OK with him !

Me wants !

Got the Atlantic 2LP 'Inner Space' set when it first came out and it has been a big favourite. The tune by Kurt Weil - 'This Is New' is a superb interpretation. Corea sets the scene perfectly in his intro. Some fantastic Woody Shaw and equally good Joe Farrell on the quintet session too. Joe Chambers on drums is the icing on the cake. Didn't the original 'Tones' LP come out on Vortex?

My Mingus Debut box has arrived, along with about half a dozen 2.99 Fantasy CDs and the great little West Coast Jazz box. I'm done for CDs for the rest of the year !

Holy Bejeebers ! I was in the Bath Fopp store yesterday and they had none of this stuff. Thanks for the advisory !

Blimey, track 2 is Duke Pearson's 'Sudel'. Maybe things aren't quite so bad. I agree also that the list of backing musicians looks pretty good. Jack DeJohnette can't be wrong (can he?).

The spiky haired 'fiddler extra-ordinaire' has apparently made his Blue Note debut. Sound samples here... Kennedy Plays Blue Note It isn't 1st April is it?

I just greedily studied the booklet at the shop, so I can give you a rough idea of the Mingus sideman stuff: the trios of John Dennis / Paul Bley / Hazel Scott with Mingus and Roach; a session by Shafi Hadi with Clarence Shaw; a session by Jimmy Knepper with Joe Maini and Bill Triglia; two Thad Jones sessions one with Frank Wess, one quartet; Oscar Pettiford with Julian Watkins and Phil Urso; the Quintet concert with Dizzy, Bird, Bud Powell, Mingus and Roach (and the trio tracks with the latter three); and there is more... Also the 'Four Trombones' session recorded in Brooklyn and some very off-beat 'thirdstream' sessions featuring Thad Jones and vocalist Don Senay, arranged by Alonzo Levister. The material in this set is truly fascinating.

Give it a shot ! Flight Simulator 2004 is the place to start (you get quite a few aircraft to play around with, from Wright Flyer to 747-400 ). They even include a starter flying course which will get you to 'solo'. Or alternatively wait 'till Thanksgiving to pick up 'Flight Sim X' with what looks to be spectacular new graphics and easier 'usability' (apparently).

He was absolutely kickin' ass at the North Sea Fest recently. One of the loudest shows I've ever been to !

My Ming is on its way !