The Rep

Always great to hear about Charles McPherson. Cheers

Nice reflections. I had no idea Bobby Orr played drums. Ah ha, spotted the deliberate mistake! , I am very sorry, put it down to my age or trying to do two things at once. Of course it should have read Phil Seamem on drums. If it is any consolation I now feel very silly. Cheers Ray

I have been an ardent fan of Joe Harriott's for about fifty years and I agree with all the tributes that have been given in this column. I truly believe that there could never be too many good things said about Joe's jazz. I use to go and see him every saturday night in the early sixties. , at the Marquee Club. I think this must be where Medjuck ment when he said the Marquis Club. Abstract is an amazeing album and Joe's free form jazz was like no other, it was his own concept. On some nights Joe would hand out sketches for his quintet to work from. The quintet that that seem to bring the best out in Joe and his music were: Joe Harriott - Alto, Shake Keane - Mainly flugal but also trumpet, Pat Smythe - Piano, Coleridge Goode - Bass, Bobby Orr - Drums. The free form stuff did not always work but there were times when it was unbelievably good, beyond disciption. There was a question asked earlier about an album in 1968 "Personal Portrait Joe Harriott" on Columbia, in the main it is pretty ordinary but for a duet track with Joe and Pat Smythe called "Abstract Doodle" which I like alot. Also there is so little of Shake Keane on record. I can recommend, not the album, but a track called "Fidel" from an album called That's The Noise". Writen by Shake, it has Bob Efford on tenor, Olaf Vas plays Flute, Goode on bass, Orr on drums and an incredily good Stan Tracey on piano. I got carried away, sorry, I am doing this post to recommend an album of Joe Harriott's that has recently been issued and has not so far been mentiond"Live At Harry's 1963" the quality is not great as it came from a private recording, from a club on a circuit that Joe was playing, with a house quartet. Released on Rare Music and previously unreleased. What it does show is what a fantastic and individual bop player Joe was. I think if he had not frightend everyone with his radical free form jazz he may have been a an internationally known bop musician. I would just like to say try and get a chance to read Alan Plater's book "Doggin' Around" it gives you a bit of an insight into Joe's later years and it makes me cry. The Rep

UK Jazz Radio has just been launched, plays jazz 24/7 and is certainly worth a look at www.ukjazzradio.com Cheers The Rep.

There is a new show each week. The Rep.

Hi, Here is a little jazz podcast I do, if you would like to listen or comment, its here: http://thejazzrep.podomatic.com/ Cheers Ray.

"Heaven On Earth" a new album by James Carter - Soprano Tenor & Baritone Saxes, John Medeski - Hammond B3, Christian McBride - Basses, Adam Roger - Guitars, Joey Barron - Drums. Tracks are: 1- Diminishing, 2- Slam's Mishap, 3- Street Of Dreams, 4- Infiniment, 5- Blue Leo, 6- Heaven On Earth. The album is what you would expect from such a line up, it certainly brighten my weekend. Good musicians having a lot of fun. Medeski, McBride and Barren are a hell of rhythm section and Rogers adds depth to this. Some really nice solo's from Medeski and Rogers too. Then you have Carter doing what he does best, a swaggering confident sax player with incredible abbility. Carter fans will love this album, probably his best in the last couple of years. Great sound from his screeching baritone on Leo Parkers "Blue Leo" and some fantastic soprano work on Larry Young's "Heaven On Earth". Recorde live at the Blue Note NY, it has a good atmosphere with some audiance whooping and yelling. Not a technical revelation but a straight ahead jazz recording. The Rep.

Thanks for the info Niko.

I just wondered if anyone knows a little more about Joe Van Enkhuizen? I have two albums by him "Joe Meets The Rhythm Section" and "Blues Ahead" are there better albums? Is he still playing or recording? In fact just any info on him. Cheers Ray

Very hard to decide as I have only heard a little of Marlena but one of my favorite recordings of Nancy's made me vote for her. The Cannonball Adderly Quintet live recording called "In Person", where Nancy Wilson gets up out of the audience and sings "Save Your Love For Me", it gets to me every time I hear it. Just got in 1969. Cheers Ray

I have a vinyl copy of a Della Reece album called "Let Me Into Your Life" and wonder if it has ever been issued as a cd? It was recorded in October 1972 and released on the "People" label. The tracks are : 1, Let Me Into Yiur Life, 2, Lay Baby Lay, 3, If Loving You Is Wrong, 4, Being Green, 5,Let's Start All Over Again, 6,Fire And Rain/Bye Bye Love, 7, Never Can Say Goodby/Lets Stay Together, 8, Funny, 9, Who Is She And What Is She To You. I would like to try and get a cd copy but so far have not been able to track one down. Cheers Ray.

Mary Lou Williams album "Live At Keystone Korner" with Larry Gales on bass, and drums by Eddie Marshall. Recorded 1977. I was playing this album yesterday and thought I had never seen this up as AOTW, checked and no Mary Lou Williams at all. The variations in piano style and jazz categories are all there. This is a live performance and it shows, the atmosphere just seeps through the speakers. For powerful swinging just listen to "Stormy Weather" or to "St Louis Blues". There are complex harmonies that are so easy on the ear. "Mary Lou Blues" is another favourite of mine and "Roll Em" just puts a smile all over my face. So what do you think ladies and gentlemen?

There use to be a programme on british TV , bbc 2, I think in the sixties with Georgie Fame, Billy Preston and Alan Price. All on the organ, they would play separately and as an Organ trio. Some great stuff.

Pat Bianchi is another one and the guy who plays on Billy Wootens album The Wooden Glass - Emmanuel Riggins, does any one know any other recordings of his, and are they worth hunting out ?

Chris Foreman of Deep Blue Organ Trio, One of my favorites, Barbara Dennerlein, Gerard Gibbs, I always like Basie when I can find it. cheers Ray

I heard today another sad piece of news, that the bass playing heart of The Buena Vista Social Club " Orlando Cachaito Lopez has died. The Rep.

Perhaps they are going to make some heavenly music together. We will remember fondly. The Rep

Sorry to tell you but I just heard Hank Crawford died on thursday 29th January at the age of 74. Thank you for the music Hank. In great sadness, The Rep.

Jonathan Voltzok, "More ToCome," on Kol Yo records. It was on an album by the Stein Brothers Quintet that I first heard the beautiful full tone of Jonathan Voltzok's trombone. Jotting down his name for future investigation and to see what other work he had done. Then I read he was releasing an album of his own "More To Come", after listening to it, oh I do hope so. He was born in Israel in 1983 but has been living and working in New York for the last four years. Sharing his musical talents around with the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, Slide Hampton Trombone All Stars, Jimmy Heaths Big Band and Anat Cohen's Anzic Orchestra. Slide Hampton has been promoting Jonathan very highly and is quoted as saying "he's light years ahead of the pack". On this his debut album he has an extremely good rhythm section with Aaron Golberg on piano, Barak Mori on bass and Ali Jackson playing drums. Slide Hampton guests on two tracks Con Alma and Shawnuff. On two other tracks Antonoi Hart on alto is the guest. A Moment Of Sunshine which has a latin feel and The Fire Dance in 3/4 timing, are his tracks and Antonio's playing sounds as good as the playing which won him such acclaim at Ronnie Scotts recently. There are good solo's and Voltzok shows himself to be multi talented some fine arrangements. His composition skill are also on show to good affect here with A Moment Of Sunshine, Shadows, The Fire Dance, and Duv. This is a good value for money album, having a running time of 64.34min. The Rep

Thanks, I have just order Live At The Celler, while I am listening to McPherson and Barry Harris "Live In Tokyo" on Xanadu 1976.

Yes it does say that this is a fictional club and like you I thought it was Ronnies.

Hi Everybody, I am looking for some help, I have an old vinyl that has seen better days and I would like to replace it with a cd if possible. The album is by Jon Hendricks and is called "Live". My version is on the Fontana label and called a Fontana Special issued 1970 so I guess it was an earlier recording. Some of the musicians are Pete King, Reebop Kwakubaah, Harod McNair, Reg Powell, Ronnie Scott and Hank Shaw. It was recorded live at Club Franz, Stanhope Place, London, this is a fictious venue. Most of the tracks are Hendricks compositions but there is a version of Duke Ellingtons "Come Sunday" on this album and that is the one I would like to get a copy of. Hope someone can help. Cheers Ray

This is the name of the new album from The New Jazz Composers Octet, and I think it is great. I have been listening most of the morning, it is a big warm sound played by very good musicians. Their sound is of a much bigger band and the composition are good, sa is the arranging. Give it a listen and see what you think.

Yeah, that would be about the right timescale for Harriott & co. at the Marquee. Would have loved to have seen that ! Is it true that the band-room there had a pet rat? only saw it after quite a few bevvies

My recollections were from about 1960