adh1907

Just got the Sam Records reissue, ordered direct from Paris. A lot of love has been put into this. Great music and pressing. Interesting to see Palle Mikkelborg in the trumpet section. Recommended.

Good to see Reggie Workman in the band.

The basement of the Spice of Life seemed larger than I remembered. Last visited in the ‘80s when it was a trendy place to go to find out where the warehouse parties were! Very good venue for acoustic jazz.

Simon Spillett and Pete Long recreating the Jazz Couriers and Tubby Hayes on top form today, at the Spice of Life basement club Soho. Absolutely rammed, which surprised me for a Monday lunchtime gig. I arrived before 12.30 and took possibly the last seat, near the stage. Seems to attract a regular friendly crowd. Simon introduced a roaring hard bop version of Southern Suite part 2, which I had only previously heard in its cheesy version on the Jack Constanza album.

Ugetsu is a classic. Was massive in London in the 80s jazz dance scene, particularly Ping Pong.

Thanks.

Interesting. I don’t recall seeing that compilation in the UK. But if I’d seen it, I may well have thought I have all the albums already and not appreciated the mono master of Sonny’s Crib.

Interesting. I wonder why there has been no UK reissue since the CD years back which disappeared quickly.

Isn’t this Wah Wah reissue a bootleg?

Yes you are right, on Sonny’s trio version of ‘Bebop’, his use of the left hand is minimal, mostly a two or three note trill repeated regularly. I like it, it adds some tension to the tune. Generally though Sonny doesn’t do much with the left hand. I now have the Mosaic box set (which is a thing of beauty) and the stereo on Sonny’s Crib is much better balanced and the volume drop corrected. I also see the sleeve notes mention Coltrane’s mistake on Speak Low. The sound quality generally is excellent. I bought my copy from Jazz Messengers and it arrived promptly and well packed. Better than when I used to buy Mosaics from the States! Oddly as I went through the payment process and entered my Uk address, the price dropped about 20 euros!

OT. The Grove? V posh, used to be JB Priestley, Taylor Coleridge now Kate Moss, Jude Law territory. You must be familiar with the Flask.

Yes! Brian Blain’s droll introductions were worth the price of admission. He is much missed in Highgate. The last few times I have seen Chris Laurence he has been magnificent.

Not heard of him. Chris Laurence (not Lawrence), the bass player is still going strong and usually turns up at a local venue, Lauderdale House, once or twice a year. If I see him, I’ll ask him. Perhaps he went into studio/theatre work or teaching.

I have a copy of this which looks shiny and new but unfortunately plays with a lot of crackle, even after cleaning. Annoying. I haven’t played it for a while but remember being disappointed after Integration and Hum Dono etc. inspired by your post, I will replay and reconsider!

On the box set, has the terrible stereo on Sonny’s Crib been sorted at all? On my 1998 Toshiba CD all the horns are shoved into the left channel, sounding really boxed in. On Speak Low, there is also a noticeable drop in volume in the right channel at about 2.15. As an aside, on the same track, it sounds to me that Coltrane loses his way at about 1.46, and starts heading into the bridge. This is the version I have.

Great shop Decoy. That was Mike Chadwick’s place I recall. Pretty ugly part of town, but much missed.

Interesting label. Appears to have been run from a house on a 60s estate in the Edinburgh suburbs. I think the releases date from the late 70s if Discogs is correct.

I have a copy of this flawed record. The slimmed down tracks work best. Will be interesting to read Tony Higgins’ take on it. I guess someone thought an easy listening record was the best use of Amancio’s talent. Unfortunately.

Barney Wilen - Jazz sur Seine, Sam records reissue. Sounds great. Wilen has such a fluent style. Each solo seems as though it was written. Stanley Turrentine has a similar thing going on. Never heard Milt Jackson play so much piano.

My Liberty copy of that Donaldson LP is entitled ‘Alligator Bogaloo’! One cylinder is the stand out track , must have been sampled at some point?

So it appears that the Decca reissue programme has come to a halt?

Donated. All the best Jim, you’re doing a great job.

I love it, especially the whistle! You don’t get reviews like that anymore (well, not in the UK press), everything’s great where jazz is concerned.

Woody Shaw - Rosewood, Columbia 1978. Such a powerful album, beautifully recorded.

Eh?