sidewinder

The Sony unit with the 80Gbyte hard drive looks pretty good. I've got my eye on that one..

An eye-opener, for sure..

Shake Keane 'That's The Noise' (mono Ace of Clubs). Recently reissued on the inferior format ( ) this is an undemanding, pretty nice set of covers of 60s pop hits. With Bob Efford, Olaf Vas and Pat Smythe. followed by: Johnny Griffin 'The Congregation' (BN 47W63rd deep groove mono) Kenny Burrell 'Midnight Blue' (BN NY USA mono)

I saw Ra and the Arkestra a couple of times in the late 80s - once in Toronto and then a few months later in Boston (pre-stroke). The Toronto gig was particularly good, seemed to go on for ever. He also broke the concert up into self-containes sets - 'Greatest Hits', 'Disney', 'Tribute to Fletcher Henderson', 'More Greatest Hits'. Lots of good stuff - 'Rocket No. 9', 'Sunset on the River Nile' etc.

Very best birthday wishes !

An RVG of the 'Portrait of Sheila' is long overdue. Backtrack - make mine a mid-price Conn.

In recognition of the email received from Blue Note today announcing his return to 'the fold' Andrew Hill 'Judgement' (BN NY USA mono, DG side 1) and 'Compulsion' (BN NY USA mono)

Gee, do I like that album...? Actually, I'm dying to hear a MONO one... On deck later tonight..

Bertrand - I'm all for it. Sometimes little things like this can make all the difference and I don't think it's tasteless.

Roman Polanski Sharon Tate Grady Tate

These are great ! The ones to check out are the Sal Nistico, the Nick Brignola, the Dizzy Reece and the Curtis Fuller. The Sal Salvadors are good as well. Some of the best hard bop recordings from the 1970s IMO.

'All Love - Grady Tate Sings' (Eighty-Eights). Superb Japanese pressing and good batchelor-pad album..

I was checking a load of them yesterday and it looks like they have now sorted out Herbie's surname on 'Oblique' in the latest production run.

The 41-50 category fits for me. Looks like there are lots of us..

I've picked up several on the Eighty-Eights label and I can vouch that the general quality and sound are magnificent. Lovely covers on these too ! Titles are: Eddie Henderson 'So What' 'All Love' - Grady Tate Sings Joe Chambers 'Urban Grooves' Will & Harmony 'Rainbow' and 'Over Crystal Green' Ravi Coltrane 'Mad 6'

Ah well - it'll be back.

Joe Chambers 'Urban Grooves' (Eighty-Eights)

Thanks Alfred ! I'll hold off for a 'mo but this is another excellent deal. I was expecting to have to wait at least a year before the Amazonian Caiman price kicked in. This rate we'll only have to order from Mosaic HQ for Selects..

I'm very sorry to hear this. RIP and condolences to Sam.

I like it but I have to admit that it's only once in a blue moon that I give it a spin. There again, I am a big Harold Land fan.

'Introducing Kenny Cox and the Contemporary Jazz Quintet' (BN Liberty stereo)

Old King Cole Tsar Nicholas II Rasputin

Last I heard, I'm afraid that the story was that Universal had lost the master tapes of the 'Windmill Tilter' session. It is a fantastic LP and definitely worthy of reissue. A very worthy Johnny Dankworth 'aggregation' play the arrangements with standout solos by Mr Wheeler and also a very young John McLaughlin. Also something of an early 'trial run' in ways for the ideas developed on the ECM 'Music For Large and Small Ensembles'. Some of the same guys (Ian Hamer, for example) also feature on both sessions - Wheeler is very loyal to his sidemen. £200 is about the going rate for a good copy. Pretty rare in this shape.

Dr J - I have one of those British anti-static brushes. Not sure if it is made by Hunt but it has a foldable top handle, if that helps identifying it. I also use a Zerostat (1978 vintage, still going strong !) for LPs where there might be particular concern on the static. I second everything that you said in your post on the VPI and the RRL cleaning fluids. I use both the deep cleanser (2 applications) followed by the regular stuff (2 applications) per side, applied with the VPI brush (no problem). The difference has been astonishing, particular to older pressings such as the heavy vinyl Blue Notes, Contemporaries, Esquires etc. There's a huge opening up of the sound, improved separation of the instruments and general improvement in 'finesse' that is at least the equivalent of a major cartridge upgrade. Worth every penny !

Stan Tracey Quartet 'With Love From Jazz' (UK Columbia mono). I think this one is at least as good as 'Under Milk Wood Suite' - and that is saying something.. Love the Liberty pressing of this one. It 'torches' the CD.