A Lark Ascending

150 pages in to the bio - never realised he had such severe self-doubt (to the point of suicide attempts at an early age), even before his accident. Weirdest fact so far... After the Soft Machine went home at the end of the US tour with Hendrix, Wyatt stayed on in the States. He was approached to replace Stills and Young in a new Buffalo Springfield!!!! How would that work? Had that happened, somewhere down the line we might have got Crosby, Stills, Nash and Wyatt.

Atlantis escapes me too.

Thanks, Roger. Not Claude Deppa at all!

Standard British crime novel set in nice town. Enjoyed it though rather sad to see the most attractive character felled just before the end. In the early Soft Machine years at present - a little bit of inevitable overlap with the Soft Machine bio of some years back but intriguing. A more fragile character than I imagined.

Jazzmatazz was wonderful! These days I have sources from all over - alerts here, Jazzwise (the only reason I still order it), links on Amazon and an endless flurry of e-mails from various stores. There are certain labels/download sites I use a lot that I check regularly. Probably the most irritating thing over the last 10 years has been the mushrooming of those cheapo labels putting out things available elsewhere. When you look things up on Amazon or E-music you have to wade through endless versions of the same record to find the official release. Without wishing to revisit the 'Andorran' issue yet again, I do wish there was a way to organise this better. I used to scroll through the e-music new releases weekly but it is just tiresome now.

He wasn't playing (as far as I remember), just vocalising. Might be health issues.

Yes, Mark suggested it was Marc Charig. Don't think I've seen him since Isipingo in 1977! Think you were right on the others. Was the chap sitting next to Julie Tippets Claude Deppa? Who were the trombonists who did that great duet early on?

The Dedication Orchestra - Queen Elizabeth Hall. Some of the musicians who have been there for most of my music listening life - Louis Moholo-Moholo, Keith and Julie Tippett, Ray Warleigh, Henry Lowther, Evan Parker and a bunch of Loose Tubers; plus people I've come to admire more recently like John Edwards,Jason Yarde, Maggie Nichols, Steve Beresford - all whipping up a storm playing the music of The Blue Notes. Most of the two CDs they made in the 90s but an excellent new arrangement by Alex Hawkins (who conducted too). Sat almost directly behind Tippett I was again struck by how individual his style of accompaniment was. And I'm sure that was Courtney Pine lapping it up in the audience just in front of me. Really good to meed Mark (mjazzg) again and chew the fat on our ludicrous musical obsessions over an excellent lunch (he's the man to ask if you are in London and want to know where to eat!). ['Guillermo Klein' by the way, Mark!] John Surman and the Bergen Big Band (King's Place) - first half was a bit slow and disjointed. Karin Krog has always been a 'best in small doses' voice for me and it's well past its peak, so the three or so vocal standards were a bit distracting (although I did like the duet she did with hubby playing 'In A Sentimental Mood' on baritone...her wayward pitching wasn't so evident without the chordal accompaniment of the band). Part two was superb - John Warren came on to conduct a marvellous piece he wrote for Surman called 'Windy Kent' and then an excellent sequence of new pieces from a new CD. Surman ebullient throughout - you don't imagine such a jolly fellow from the often moody music he writes. Concert ended with a beautiful version of 'J.J. Johnson's 'Lament' with Krog again, in memory of a recently departed band member.

A different interpretation: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/nov/10/robert-plant-turned-down-500m-led-zeppelin-reformation

Understandable if he'd been put on the spot. Why were they all together? Can't work this out from the article.

No satisfaction of the crash and splinters.

Watched episode 4 last night (Maggie in Uganda) One of the most compelling pieces of TV I've seen in years. The slow drip tension as her tale was unpacked was brilliantly done.

Can understand him not wanting to be involved. But ripping up the contract in public? Seems somewhat petulant.

Thrilling last episode of Series 2 of Peaky Blinders. Nicely set up for a third series sometime in the future.

Really nice record. But don't expect the Dead Sea Scrolls. It puts me in mind of a fair bit of jazz recorded for film. A must for lovers of Brit jazz of that era. Will most likely be enjoyed by those who like orchestral/big band jazz (or film jazz).

You can't let your attention drop for a second or you lose a great chunk of the dialogue - it moves so fast. It can get a bit drippy at times - any mention of 9/11, for example. I can see why it would not go down well with the right. I'll happily just watch it for Emily Mortimer! Will McAvoy needs his head examined!

Series 2 finally out over here. Watched episodes 1-3 over consecutive nights. Once again, brilliant. Have to wait a few days for disc 2 to be sent by the hire company.

Philip Pickett - Everywhere from early music orchestras to the Globe Theatre and then Albion Band and Richard Thompson LPs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pickett

A richly deserved retirement. New bio just out. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Different-Every-Time-Authorised-Biography/dp/1846687594/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415050758&sr=1-1&keywords=Robert+Wyatt

There's some nice AB on a song called 'Full Moon' by Sandy Denny - came out on one of those posthumous sets.

Roger Quilter - a British classical composer of mainly songs. Quatermass - organ trio from early 70s. And on my Brazil list: Quarteto Brazil Quarteto Em Cy Quarteto Jobim Morelenbaum Quarteto Maogani Quarteto Nova

I put off buying this thinking it a step too far, having rather a lot of the DGM downloads. How many Fractured's can you take. I buckled in September and have paced myself through the first 5 discs. Really enjoyed the experience. It will take me well into the spring to get through it. This band were hugely influential in my listening. When I first saw them in late '72 everything was unfamiliar. I still recall the excitement of hearing a band with islands of composition, linked with extraordinary extended improvs. Completely spoilt me for other rock bands - only Henry Cow could match them in the rock world when it came to that composed/improvised balance. Needless to say I've ordered 'Starless' - I'm not a great one for boxed sets but this band mean a great deal to me.

Interesting interview, Jim. Looking forward to hearing this - having recently become interested in some of the contemporary bands in this area, it will fit in nicely. Especially intrigued by your comment about the prog-metal nature of some of the current bands. That's something I have to work past. I'd only disagree on one point - don't put away the mellotrons!

Remember him as a light music entertainer in the 60s/70s. Always had a soft spot for 'Stranger on the Shore'. RIP

That was an excellent programme. Well worth getting hold of this if you missed it.