sidewinder

James Hendricks Cass Elliott Tim Rose ← Pete Rose Conrad Black Edmund Blackadder III

Of peripheral interest - this month's Jazz Journal International has a good interview with Leroy Williams in which he mentions gigging in NYC with Big John (and recording 'Accent On The Blues') prior to the steady gigs with Barry Harris.

Yes, I have only heard his version of 'Ride of the Valkyries' once on the car radio but the effect was such that I nearly crashed the car..

They did a short 'spot' on Jools Holland's 'Later' TV show a couple of months back - unfortunately it was a bit on the short side and they seemed a bit 'fazed' by the big occasion. Their spot at the Bath Fest was good though. Leading lights of the band are Pete Wareham and Seb Rochford - all members are also part of the F-IRE Collective. Definite punk influence to the music and its presentation.

More nuggets: Clarke Boland/Stan Getz 'Change of Scenes' (UK Verve stereo) Freddie Roach 'Mo' Greens Please' (BN NY USA mono DG both sides ) Leo Parker ''Let Me Tell You 'Bout It' (BN NY USA mono)

Thank God for that..

For sure, the 'Innovations Orchestra' doublitime CDs are a keeper.. Maybe you should play the Mrs a bit of 'Kenton/Wagner' at fortissimo..

Duke Pearson 'Sweet Honey Bee' (BN Liberty mono)

Horatio Nelson Horatio Hornblower Horace Silver

Kid Ory disk 4.

A for the Kid Ory set. I was a bit 'on the fence' on this one, New Orleans Jazz being a bit of a peripheral taste for me. I shouldn't have worried though. There is much good music, period, on this set - beautifully recorded and remastered. Indeed the sound quality is quite astonishing. It's a real pleasure to hear the relaxed swing of these guys caught in extended performance, with the infectious Ory tailgate sound prominent but not OTT. Added bonus is a nice booklet with some very cool photography work by Ray Avery - his photos seem to really capture the essence of Ory the person. And again I ask - have Mosaic ever done a 'bum' set?

A session of Hank Liberty: Hank Mobley 'Hi Voltage' (BN Liberty stereo) Hank Mobley 'Reach Out' (BN Liberty stereo)

Thinks... I could set this lot rolling on Xmas eve and it would extend through Boxing Day on autopilot.

Had a bit more time today to digest disk 3 and this one is FANTASTIC. It makes you wonder what else Charles has tucked away in the vaults gathering cobwebs. 'Earls World' and 'Repetition' are outstanding. Yes, let's hope that Mosaic and Strata East link up for more future ventures of this type. Looks promising !

Horace Silver Quintet 'Finger Poppin' With The..' (BN 47W63rd DG). Incredible sound on this ! Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers 'At The Jazz Corner of the World' (BN 47W63rd DG) Grachan Moncur III 'Some Other Stuff' (BN NY USA stereo)

By some incredibly strange (and fortuitous) quirk I didn't have any of the Charles Tolliver Strata East albums so this Select is all new to me. Great stuff - and the material on disk 3 is well up to standard. I see that Charles Tolliver has co-produced this set, along with Mosaic. In fact just listening to disk 3 and I would say that it 'smokes'.

Yes, it's strange that these are on LP only. Maybe that was a condition of the licensing deal - or Art Yard are vinyl freaks? In any event, I'll bet that this 'Disco 3000' sounds better than the original (if you can find one, that is).

For these Art Yard LPs. They seem to be legit releases, with the backing of the Arkestra and the Ra estate. Nice heavy vinyl, good sleeve art and sleeve notes. 'Disco 3000' and 'Media Dreams' are also in the first batch. Must get hold of the 'On Jupiter'. 'Disco 3000' currently on deck. Ra, Gilmore, Michael Ra and Luqman Ali in live performance in Italy, 1978. Ra heavily featured on the super-spacey Crumar Mainman.

Yes, there's mention of the big improvement in sound quality compared with original vinyl in a recent Jazz Journal International, which has a good review by Steve Voce of this set.

Charles Tolliver disk #1. Like it lots ! After this it will be the Kid Ory set.

The 'Jacknife' is a paper bag, the 'Hipnosis' is glossy. There's also a Jazz Crusaders 'Live Sides' glossy. Have you seen those French 'paper bag' single LPs, Brownie? I have a couple of them - there's a Warne Marsh within that batch, I think.

Wow ! I was up on row 3 right in front of Gerald - even up at the front there were a significant number of spaces which were free. Criminal, really.. The guitarist was Phil Robson - I thought he soloed really well but when not soloing he sat down/retreated to the back so I missed the possible bored expression. I think the band did really well, considering the limited rehearsal time and demanding charts. Better than I could have expected, actually. 'Viva Tirado' could have done with a bit more US 'swagger'. Yes, the CD sound is a bit on the 'thin' side after the live show but I think it's a good one. Those orchestrations have to be heard live to be really fully appreciated. Who knows if and when Gerald will be back over here? I truly hope so - apparently I hear his itinery through 2006 is looking pretty full.

A fine show by Gerald Wilson with the BBC Radio Big Band last night at the QEH. Gerald was in great form and he succeeded in getting his trademark sound from the BBC BB with what must have been just a couple of days of rehearsal. The first half featured many of the greatest hits. 'Carlos', 'Jeri', 'Teri' and 'Milestones'. The BBC Radio Big Band rose to the event superbly - particular mention to veteran Vic Ash featured on tenor, Gerard Presencer (mainly on flugel) and some stratospheric high-note work by trumpeter Bruce Adams on 'Carlos'. A particular high point was the extract from 'Theme For Monterey', with its wonderful orchestration. One impression made on me was that - superb though this music is when listened to on the Mosaic set etc. - its only when heard live that you get the full impact of the multi-harmonies, interplay of the sections and truly intricate section dynamics that permeate all of Gerald's orchestral work. In the second half Gerald spotlited his excellent new commision in 3 parts - 'The Diminished Triangle', a rendition of 'Viva Tirado' (with nice reminiscences from Gerald about El Chicano making it a 'hit' - apparently they will be doing a show together in LA as a sort of 'tribute' to this number) and an excellent 'Blues for Yna Yna'. There were a few slight memory lapses towards the end but for an 86 year old his enthusiasm for the music and the band under his direction were truly amazing ! To top it all his wife Josefine and daughter Jeri were also in the audience and introduced from the stage (sounds like they are all off to Baker Street today to buy Gerald a Sherlock Holmes deerstalker to go with his Shelock cape ). The only shame I thought was that the hall was only about 50%-ish full - not easy I guess to sell-out the QEH mid-week but how many more times will Gerald appear over here? As far as I am aware, I think this must have been his first ever UK big band engagement directing his own music.

I have the Fresh Sound reissue LP. Nice session, will dig it out later.

Harold 'Shorty' Baker Jim Bakker Tammy Faye Bakker