sidewinder

Yep, 'Hamish Grimes' of the McNeill Press Ltd is credited in the sleevenotes. Images of tam-o-shanters, haggis and sporrans.. Just given the gatefold LP a spin and it sounds pretty nice Pre-oil crisis (1971) so the vinyl was still good. It has the red 'Polydor' label, whereas my second copy has the Black Lion. I think the switch happened around 1974ish.

Didn't Alan Bates (owner of Black Lion) have an arrangement with Polydor back in the late 60s/early 70s. One of the old Jazz Journal issues has an interview with him where he talks about the licensing of this - I'll have to dig it out. I've got quite a few of the Black Lion UK issues. Actually two copies of 'At Her Majesty's Pleasure', one being gatefold. Both sound pretty good. I would suspect that the German vinyl is even better thanks to the early 70s Teutonic quality control ( ). The CBBB 'November Girl' is not so good though - a lot of surface noise on that one (I suspect Rearward's reissue is much better). Also have a couple of the Monk albums which were issued in the Mosaic. The original versions have pretty 'colourful' sleeves, sound is not bad at all. Also have several of the Charles Tollivers on this imprint, although I sold 'Live at the Loosedrecht Jazz Festival' in a moment of madness..

I'm listening to the wrong stuff..

Poor Stephan is probably now run off his feet 24/7 sorting out orders and queries from Org board members !

An interesting subject. Here in the UK there has been some academic research at UCL to genetically map areas of the UK for evidence of 'Viking' DNA imprint, against present-day samples from Denmark and Sweden. As expected, parts of Yorkshire, East Anglia, Cumbria and Scotland definite correlation, although the results are inconclusive because of similarities between the 'Viking' (Scandinavia) and 'Saxon' (Germany/Holland etc.) DNA signatures and a significant level of 'dilution' over the thousand years or so since the Viking invasions. DNA samples were taken from males in sample areas who could demonstrate at least 5 or so generations of ancestry in the locality. If you are from Yorkshire and your name is Sven then you may have the gene !

I'm happy to run you a copy and post it over, Tooter. Won't arrive before Easter though. Let me know if you need it.

Thanks Tooter - Your reply received. I probably need to empty my inbox..

Hank Jones 'Have You Met Hank Jones' (UK London mono). Nice solo session, released in US on Savoy.

I've had mine for a couple of days now, evan. Many thanks ! Will post thoughts over the next few days on the music. So far I'm completely stumped though..

Hi Tooter - I'd like to partake, many thanks. Like the cover art ! PS - did you get my message about the Ronnie Ross LP finding?

Seemed OK when I called last year in but maybe I caught it on a good day?

'Lee Morgan Sextet' (BN Lexington DG mono) Miles Davis 'Kind of Blue' (Classic Records 2LP reissue)

Bobby Hutcherson 'Total Eclipse' (BN Liberty stereo blue label) Big John Patton 'Let 'Em Roll' (BN Liberty mono). Considering these are fold-downs, these Liberty monos can sound awesome !

Have a great birthday !

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis CD set, disk 4.

Like all of the Rearwards it's very good indeed, with superb sound quality. Is this the CD or LP version (I've got the 2LP set version). Very relaxed music and some enjoyable Jimmy Woode vocals.

Ronnie Ross 'Stompin' With The Ronnie Ross Quintet' (Ember mono)

This one from Jackie McLean.. Swing Swang

Saw Jackie Mac live on just 2 occasions. The first was on a tour through Western Canada back in 1995/96 - by that time I'd given up hope of ever seeing him play (having mist a few high profile UK gigs in the 70s and 80s). Jackie brought his working band with Steve Davis, Rene, Alan Jay Palmer - in fact pretty well the band on the 'Fire and Hope' CD. The second occasion was at the Jazz Bakery in LA about 6 months later when he had a quartet with Cedar Walton, David Williams and Billy Higgins. Jackie kindly signed my flyer, as did the rest of the band. The thing that stands out (in addition to his very dignified presence on stage - wearing suit and bow tie as I recall) is the slightly sharp tone on alto and very incisive attack. True to form, he didn't coast either and was still throwing in curve balls in his solos.

My 'big box' Coltrane also arrived today. Thanks to the German Friends for the heads-up. The big suprise was with the Contemporary 4CD set. Put CD4 on the player and the quality of the sound and remastering leaves me speachless. Fantastic set, great track selection (everything from the Lighthouse All Stars to Woody Shaw) and a fascinating booklet with reminiscences from John Koenig (the set is book format like some of the Miles CBS sets). At 15 Euros highly recommended and a gem of a set! The bargain MJQ box looks real nice too - haven't sampled that yet. Just noticed also on their site that the Debut 4CD set is now on 'special' at an insane 8.99 and the Riverside set is still on for 4.99. Another order methinks Now all we need if for Tjobbe to email us that they have in stock the latest Universal Mosaics, the Art Pepper Complete Village Vanguard, the Bill Evans 'Last Waltz' and Fantasy Box, all in big box format. Can you arrange it?

Absolutely - it's a lovely tribute and with great photos of Herbie too. A set to hang onto IMO (although I would say that of all of them. )

Downstairs in the club is pretty nice. I've seen a few live groups there - Pat Martino, Kenny Garrett, Bill Bruford. Nice atmosphere - and you can order down a pizza if so inclined.

Pizza Express is coming up with some interesting gigs of late. They hosted Sonny Simmons just last year, although I missed that one. Should be a good venue to see Andrew Hill.

'A New Sound...A New Star - Jimmy Smith at the Organ' (BN 47W63rd/Lexington DG mono)

Wow - thanks for this. Time to book some London leave methinks.. Now if Sam Rivers were also playing that venue in May, that would be awesome. If it's Hill, Rivers, Workman and Moran on the 5th and 6th even better.