sidewinder

How about that Patti Bown Columbia LP? Now there's a rarity... 'Patti Bown Plays Big Piano' Columbia CL1379

Thanks to Chuck for sending set #2499 across the pond (2 working days from Michigan - an all time record) ! Looking forward to digesting the contents.

That decision is now turning out to be somewhat regrettable ! He may have well have brought along a stuffed cat if all he's going to do is leave him on the bench.

I remember seeing Judy Singh in performance at a club in Edmonton, Alberta - part of a lineup that included Julian Priester ! She is/was quite prominent on the Edmonton jazz scene. Wonder how she came to do that record date with Woody? (presumably they teamed up as a result of one of Woody's Western Canada tours).

Well. England played OK in the first half (with a truly great goal from Joe Cole) but once again they totally flunked it in the second half. Crouch and Lampard seemed to lose it completely and the defence against the set pieces was appalling. News of Michael Owen is not good. He gets a scan tomorrow and chances are he will miss the rest of the tournament. Still, they manage to avoid the Germans in the next round..

Outrageous! - they'll be giving Sonny away with packets of cornflakes next. I noticed also that the Dexter Gordon box was now below 30 Euros. Those single Prestige/Milestone CDs at 2.99 are great. Particular mention for the Kloss and Timmons, both very good listening value.

Sorry about the delay. Somehow I got chance over the weekend to listen to the BFT disk 1 whilst sunning myself in the deck chair and sipping a wine. The perfect listening environment? Enjoyed the music but was totally in the dark as to who it was for the most part. Here's my thoughts: 1. Ah, vinyl (well shellac, I guess ). The segue of old vocal into modern arrangement and back again works suprisingly well. Something in the sound reminded me of Piere Dorge's New Jungle Orchestra, also was thinking perhaps Carla Bley... 2. Trombone and bass duet. I was thinking this might be Julian Priester but I know now it isn't ! 3. Prominent bass clarinet with vibes in small group. A very European sound but with hints of Dolphy influence. Michel Portal? 4. Bigger group with more marching band rhythms. Strong tuba-led underpinning to the ensemble (Bob Stewart?). Haven't a clue who the vibes is. Quite like this one. 5. Definitely a Jaco Pastorius tune ('Liberty City') played by electric piano trio. The sound and style sort of reminds me of Larry Goldings. 6. A bit of African drums leading into piano/keyboard overdubs. No idea on this one, didn't do much for me. 7. Fairly freeish alto sax (distinctive sound is definitely Steve Coleman) with drums and bass. Not sure of the group and tune. Again, strong European feel to the music. 8. Solo bluesy guitar intro. Mike Stern? 9. Various synthesised saxes (contrabass?) in a style influenced by latish Weather Report. Joe Zawinul? 10. More bass clarinet - my first instinct was to say this was something by Bennie Maupin and Dr Pat Gleeson (sure sounds like them in places) but not sure. Quite like this one (and if Kenny Wheeler is on this then I'm totally in the dark). 11. Didgeridoo introl - Rolf Harris? Leads into a Miles-ish trumpet feature. Paulo Fresu? 12. Solo guitar (Bach) then into 'Nuages' in duet with an alto player. The sound of the altoist is very much in the style of Phil Woods. 13. Cello lead playing Clifford Brown's 'Joy Spring'. No idea who though - didn't do a lot for me. 14. A very nice orchestral arrangement with a vibes lead that is very much in the style of Melba Liston. The vibist definitely isn't Bags or Bobby Hutcherson. I'd like to know who this one is. 15. That wouldn't be Fats Sadi with Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland would it? Love this track - the sound just reeks of Saba. Me wants ! Definitely a 'broadening' experience Mike, I'm looking forward to seeing the details for these tracks. Thanks again for putting this one together !

Talking of the Jazz Record Center, here's an interesting sale of Billie Hilday test pressings from the estate of Milt Gabler that they are doing: Billie Holiday Commodores

I have this one on a Black Lion vinyl and its Now why did I sell that 2LP 'Live at the Loosedrecht Jazz Festival' ?

Interestingly, that Sonny Simmons DVD I was recently viewing made mention (by Sonny) of Lester Koenig's blacklisting by the film industry and his subsequent move into jazz production. Sonny says many nice, very complementary things about him in the film.

Some really nice playing on flugel by Johnny Coles on Herbie Hancock's 'Fat Albert Rotunda'. Albeit more in an R&B vein. Also had the great pleasure of seeing him live once in a Mingus Dynasty lineup, around 1982/83. Danny Richmond was leading that particular group. As I recall him, Johnny was a short, very low-key guy on stage and was wearing that trademark skull cap and tweedy sports jacket that often appear in photos of him around that time. A wonderful sound he got on the flugel - totally distinctive ! I have the Uptown LP and will giove it a spin later today (after I've sorted out an overdue input for the BFT for Mike Weill ). How about also that 'Childs Play' session he recorded with Donald Byrd and Duke Pearson?

An astonishing final 10 minutes. France should have had it sewn up but Korea persevered !

Pete La Roca 'Basra' (BN NY USA stereo)

This one says 'Director's Cut 05 - Cathode Films. Not For Re-Sale' (so much for that ). Haven't seen (and didn't know about) the Bob Brewster film (thanks for the advisory, HW!) . Have just checked the DVD out on the PC and it boots up straight into video. No sign of any bonus audio files, alas. I was suprised at the antagonism in Sonny's comments towards Prince Lasha. Wonder what happened there? Interesting reminscences about Sonny and Lasha's early years in NYC and the Douglas session with Dolphy, also about his subsequent band with with Barbara Donald.

Freddie Hubbard 'Hub Cap' (NY mono/Liberty era pressing). Hugely under-rated session and great fidelity pressing !

The George Cables trio date is pretty good (also titled 'Why Not') - I have it on LP. Particularly nice sound and production quality with this label.

Anyone mentioned Paul Buckmaster yet? Virtuoso cellist and collaborator with Miles Davis for the 'On The Corner' session. Also arranged the strings for Bowie's 'Space Oddity' and had a major hand in the Chitinous Ensemble's rather way-out disk for Deram.

Miles Davis 'ESP' and 'Miles In The Sky' (Columbia 2-eye stereo originals) Miles Davis 'The Essential Miles Davis' (French CBS 3LP set). Great set put out by Henri Renaud in the early 70s with bonus single 'Great Expectations' and mock Indian restaurant velvet-effect wallpaper cover on the box !

How true !

Disgraceful ! Certainly wasn't obvious from the original TV broadcast. Sadly, many of the teams seem to have stooped to this level.

The one which cost me most in custom duties (they must have done it by weight ) was the vinyl shipment for Miles 'Silent Way', 'Bitches Brew' and 'Complete 60s Quintet' boxes. I think I might have squeezed a Select in as well, can't remember.. Ah - now I remember. I squeezed the Stanley Turrentine box in as a filler !

I've seen this group twice now at a local venue and enjoyed it - they put on a good show. It's a very different McLaughlin to the guy heard on 'Silent Way' etc. but sometimes the sort of bluesy style he used on 'Extrapolation' creeps through. Also of note on their performances is the virtuoso Indian vocalist who usually comes in after 2 or 3 tunes.

Nothing received yet but if I get one of those I'll be less than amused..

Played like a turkey.. Anyone see that comedy docu-drama on TV about Sven's scandals last week? Absolutely bloody hilarious. Sven getting hit on head by plates by his Italian Mrs, getting drunk on yachts with so-called 'Saudi' business-men, combing David Beckham's hair, loading the dishwasher whilst fumbling with Ulrika Wish I'd recorded it.