windmill tilter!

[Daniel A]

So when is 'Windmill Tilter' coming out? It's announced on the Qnote website, but the link for the web shop is broken: http://www.qnote.co.uk/

[sidewinder]

I've heard nothing of late regarding an imminent release of this on CD. No mention on AAJ either.

[RogerF]

via our friendly british jazz enthusiasts of the aaj board (does bev even come here anymore?) i discovered that kenny wheeler's "windmill tilter" is being issued on CD on qnote? which i guess is john dankworth's label? i think no master tape of the album exists, so it is going to be mastered from an LP. i wish more people (manfred eicher, cough cough) were OK with doing this so rare (and good) stuff could come out in digital form.

i have never heard this album myself, but as far as i know, it is one of the mysterious holy grails of british jazz. i cannot imagine it is bad and LPs are a zillion dollars and extremely rare. can't wait to hear it.

I would be really, really excited if this genuine 22 carat gold classic were finally reissued this year - as was promised for last year - Ken Wheeler and The John Dankworth Orchestra - 'Windmill Tilter'. This is probably the most important and best recording of any British jazz ensemble and has been shamefully overlooked for reissue for many years (first released in 1969 on the Fontana label). It boasts a galaxy of internationally renowned British jazz stars including John McLaughlin, Tony Coe, Mike Gibbs and Dave Holland, plus the whole score is written and performed by the fantastic Kenny Wheeler and underpinned by the John Dankworth Orchestra. More importantly, the music actually does live up to expectations. I do not accept the long trailed excuse that an acceptable master cannot be found as a reason for not reissuing this album because even a 'needle drop' (and there are enough pristine vinyl copies around) would make for the re-release of the year. If anyone who hasn't heard any of this album simply cannot wait there is a track 'The Cave Of Montesinos' on the excellent 4 CD boxed set retrospective by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine - 'I Hear Music: A Celebration Of The Life & Work Of Cleo Laine & John Dankworth'.

Guys - let's do this one for 2008 please!

[sidewinder]

It's very suprising that the Japanese have not reissued this on limited edition vinyl and CD, as they have done with most of the Tubby Hayes Fontanas, 'Cleopatra's Needle' and the like. Even if it is a needle drop.

[RogerF]

It's very suprising that the Japanese have not reissued this on limited edition vinyl and CD, as they have done with most of the Tubby Hayes Fontanas, 'Cleopatra's Needle' and the like. Even if it is a needle drop.

Sidewinder...how true! Michael Garrick's superb and rare 'Promises' was re-issued several years back in Japan and very nicely done too. So where is WT? I still think this will see the light of day at some point. It is worth climbing over broken glass in bare feet to hear (well maybe not glass, Lego maybe).

[sidewinder]

and I wonder why the Japanese have not also done a mini-LP CD version of 'Hum Dono'?

Just diverting briefly from 'Windmill Tilter' I picked up a very interesting little boox in Oxfam last week. 'Jazz Now - The Jazz Centre Society Guide' edited fby Roger Cotterrel and from 1976 on Quartet Books. A nice companion to 'Music Outside', I remember passing on this at the time of issue (big mistake). It has a preface by Spike Milligan and articles on Phil Seaman (tribute), Michael Garrick, Alan and Jimmy Skidmore plus recollections/thoughts by Charles Fox, Peter Clayton and others. At the back are musician biographies of just about everyone on the scene back in 1976, details of jazz record labels operating in the UK, a section on 'Jazz on Film' and a list of specialist record shops (pretty well all of them now gone). At £2.49 - a gift !

[Alexander Hawkins]

and I wonder why the Japanese have not also done a mini-LP CD version of 'Hum Dono'?

Just diverting briefly from 'Windmill Tilter' I picked up a very interesting little boox in Oxfam last week. 'Jazz Now - The Jazz Centre Society Guide' edited fby Roger Cotterrel and from 1976 on Quartet Books. A nice companion to 'Music Outside', I remember passing on this at the time of issue (big mistake). It has a preface by Spike Milligan and articles on Phil Seaman (tribute), Michael Garrick, Alan and Jimmy Skidmore plus recollections/thoughts by Charles Fox, Peter Clayton and others. At the back are musician biographies of just about everyone on the scene back in 1976, details of jazz record labels operating in the UK, a section on 'Jazz on Film' and a list of specialist record shops (pretty well all of them now gone). At £2.49 - a gift !

Why don't they have stuff like that in my local Oxfam???

[sidewinder]

In fact I nearly missed it. It was on prominent window display - other than waving it in my face couldn't have been more prominent. 99 time out of 100 I would have passed it by !

The other thing they had was a 'Kenton/Wagner' LP. Been looking for a decent copy of that Teutonic curate's egg for a while.

Edited January 26, 2008 by sidewinder

[RogerF]

In fact I nearly missed it. It was on prominent window display - other than waving it in my face couldn't have been more prominent. 99 time out of 100 I would have passed it by !

The other thing they had was a 'Kenton/Wagner' LP. Been looking for a decent copy of that Teutonic curate's egg for a while.

Funnily enough I picked up a copy of this book in a secondhand book shop in Poole a couple of years ago. As you say full of interesting facts and anecdotes. On the subject of books and Oxfam (and I realise we are digressing off the thread) I picked up a review copy of the late Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopaedia in my 'local' Oxfam (Marylebone High St) for half price. However, back to the subject and I can't believe that WT won't be re-issued soon (ever optimistic) as I was always pessimistic about the Harold McNairs and then lo and behold and out of the blue two versions of The Fence arrive at once! But as you say, Hum Dono is very overdue for re-issue. I think there is clearly some log jam in the mechanism between Universal licensing and the record companies who do the actual reissuing (eg Vocalion, etc). Sporadic doesn't even come close. However, when they do do some reissues, there are some real and unexpected stunners.

[sidewinder]

Which issue of McNair's 'The Fence' do you recommend, Roger?

[RogerF]

Which issue of McNair's 'The Fence' do you recommend, Roger?

I bought the one with the bonus tracks from his other (earlier, eponymously titled) album and not the Jazzprint(?) one but only because I found that one first. The label I had never heard of before and they didn't have a website. Can't remember the name.

[sidewinder]

Ah - if it's tracks from 'Harold McNair' on RCA I have the LP so can probably skip. Which one has the Val Wilmer notes and photos - is it the Jazzprint? If so, that sounds like the one to get.

[RogerF]

Ah - if it's tracks from 'Harold McNair' on RCA I have the LP so can probably skip. Which one has the Val Wilmer notes and photos - is it the Jazzprint? If so, that sounds like the one to get.

That would be the Jazzprint one -CORRECTION!!! CORRECTION!!! CORRECTION!!! Not Jazzprint, mea culpa, but Hux !

Catalogue Number: HUX095 - only difference other than the lack of bonus tracks is that the cover is not the original version.

Edited January 28, 2008 by RogerF

[sidewinder]

Thanks !

With 2 issues of 'The Fence' just out, maybe next month we will get 3 'Hum Donos'

[RogerF]

Thanks !

With 2 issues of 'The Fence' just out, maybe next month we will get 3 'Hum Donos'

and at least four Windmill Tilters!!!

[sidewinder]

Ah - if it's tracks from 'Harold McNair' on RCA I have the LP so can probably skip. Which one has the Val Wilmer notes and photos - is it the Jazzprint? If so, that sounds like the one to get.

That would be the Jazzprint one -CORRECTION!!! CORRECTION!!! CORRECTION!!! Not Jazzprint, mea culpa, but Hux !

Catalogue Number: HUX095 - only difference other than the lack of bonus tracks is that the cover is not the original version.

Just picked up the Hux CD today of McNair's 'The Fence'. It has the Val Wilmer sleeve notes and the photos - straight reissue of the original B&C LP (although they didn't include the front cover envelope and red balloon from the LP ). An interesting fusion session with McMair on Varitone and a young Keith Tippett on (straight-ahead) piano. Well worth hearing (I'm always a sucker too for anything with Tony Carr on drums or percussion). Shame though that the sleeve notes don't cover the actual circumstances of the recording session - Val Wilmer does though provide a good potted history of McNair.

I'm informed that the other 'Fence' CD issue has been withdrawn as a result of legal action from Hux. That one will be one of the shortest lived ever British jazz reissues.

Incidentally, reading through this months' issue of Record Collector and the article on British Jazz vinyl pt. 2 there's mention that Kenny Wheeler's 'Windmill Tilter' will be reissued on CD this year. False dawn perhaps? - hopefully not. May be time to get the champagne out, Roger !

Edited February 16, 2008 by sidewinder

[sidewinder]

Here's a pic of the LP with the balloon in-situ:

[RogerF]

Ah - if it's tracks from 'Harold McNair' on RCA I have the LP so can probably skip. Which one has the Val Wilmer notes and photos - is it the Jazzprint? If so, that sounds like the one to get.

That would be the Jazzprint one -CORRECTION!!! CORRECTION!!! CORRECTION!!! Not Jazzprint, mea culpa, but Hux !

Catalogue Number: HUX095 - only difference other than the lack of bonus tracks is that the cover is not the original version.

Just picked up the Hux CD today of McNair's 'The Fence'. It has the Val Wilmer sleeve notes and the photos - straight reissue of the original B&C LP (although they didn't include the front cover envelope and red balloon from the LP ). An interesting fusion session with McMair on Varitone and a young Keith Tippett on (straight-ahead) piano. Well worth hearing (I'm always a sucker too for anything with Tony Carr on drums or percussion). Shame though that the sleeve notes don't cover the actual circumstances of the recording session - Val Wilmer does though provide a good potted history of McNair.

I'm informed that the other 'Fence' CD issue has been withdrawn as a result of legal action from Hux. That one will be one of the shortest lived ever British jazz reissues.

Incidentally, reading through this months' issue of Record Collector and the article on British Jazz vinyl pt. 2 there's mention that Kenny Wheeler's 'Windmill Tilter' will be reissued on CD this year. False dawn perhaps? - hopefully not. May be time to get the champagne out, Roger !

Thanks for this SW as I had completely forgot to by my copy - just rushed out to my local newsagent and picked this (March) issue up. Some amazing albums here. Still quite a few yet to be reissued. Excellent series.

[sidewinder]

Yes, a good article. Pt 2 is significantly better than Pt 1 I think. And some real rarities listed there (Chitinous Ensemble, Phil Seamen Live, Gyroscope). Sadly though, the article (which seems to have had the input of BGO and Dutton-Vocalion as advisers) indicates that a reissue of Hum-Dono is still not on the horizon.

I wonder who will be putting out 'Windmil Tilter'. BGO?

[RogerF]

Yes, a good article. Pt 2 is significantly better than Pt 1 I think. And some real rarities listed there (Chitinous Ensemble, Phil Seamen Live, Gyroscope). Sadly though, the article (which seems to have had the input of BGO and Dutton-Vocalion as advisers) indicates that a reissue of Hum-Dono is still not on the horizon.

I wonder who will be putting out 'Windmil Tilter'. BGO?

Don't know about Windmill Tilter but do know that BGO will be releasing a stereo version of Graham Collier's Deep Dark Blue Circle which was one of the albums featured in the article. Am very keen to hear this because the mono version is excellent so I imagine the stereo will be superb.

[sidewinder]

Am very keen to hear this because the mono version is excellent so I imagine the stereo will be superb.

It should be - it's taken from my LP ! But then again, I'm somewhat biased on this issue.

Edited February 17, 2008 by sidewinder

[RogerF]

Am very keen to hear this because the mono version is excellent so I imagine the stereo will be superb.

It should be - it's taken from my LP ! But then again, I'm somewhat biased on this issue.

Ah, yes I forgot you were I believe the one who informed Mr C of its stereo existence in the first place! I am really looking forward to this because like Tubbs' 100% Proof which the Record Collector article described as perhaps the best ever British big band album, which was also reissued on CD in mono, the 1st Collier album was reissued in mono and I think there is a big difference when you listen to these things in stereo. Certainly with the Tubbs you get a real blast from all areas in the ensemble sections. This naturally also applies to the elusive Windmill Tilter too. But then I'm something of a stereo fanatic.

[sidewinder]

Re-mastering details. Transferred by me in 24bit/48kHz using Linn Sondek/Dynavector XX-2 into external Soundblaster card. Post-processing by the guys at BGO. :rsmile:

[RogerF]

Re-mastering details. Transferred by me in 24bit/48kHz using Linn Sondek/Dynavector XX-2 into external Soundblaster card. Post-processing by the guys at BGO. :rsmile:

Sounds fantastic - do you live in a recording studio perchance? I'm sure a lot of people, me included, will be very grateful to you for this.

[sidewinder]

Took a lot of fiddling about with connecton leads from the lounge and into the PC in the study but hopefully the results will be worth it. Sometimes I wish I did have a recording studio !