Casting lots

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Don't agree with you about the interviewer being required not to disagree with the interviewee: that's only permissible under dictatorships! Disagreement offers alternatives and is fine so long as it doesn't turn into an obfusticating, interruptions-dominating John Humphrys/Andrew Neil-style power trip on behalf of the presenter class.



Trad, is she??

Branford was on Cerys's R6 show this morning. Interesting to hear a non jazz interviewer but one keen to let the guy open up. They seemed very taken with each other. And why not. I think she's very good, curious, but not a pushover. A lot better than when she used to bellow and busk outside Debenhams in Cardiff long long ago!

Branford is a big fan of the Impulse Ellington/Trane date which sent me back to it again. He's got a point, it is very good.

BN.

[Old Grumpy]

Just catching up with JRR and JLU. JRR - nice selection but no more Rufus Harley please!!!

JLU - Ian Shaw should know at his age which way round a flat cap is worn!!

OG

[Ian Thumwood]

Branford was on Cerys's R6 show this morning. Interesting to hear a non jazz interviewer but one keen to let the guy open up. They seemed very taken with each other. And why not. I think she's very good, curious, but not a pushover. A lot better than when she used to bellow and busk outside Debenhams in Cardiff long long ago!

Branford is a big fan of the Impulse Ellington/Trane date which sent me back to it again. He's got a point, it is very good.

BN.

I love this record but I think that it is probably the most fascinating imperfect jazz record ever made. Parts of the disc really work, especially the ballads but there are bits which don't gel. Coltrane is supposed to have had dentistry issues during this session caused by his addiction to sweets but this doesn't excuse Ellington's lack of interest on some tracks, particularly where Elvin Jones is playing. Sometimes the piano drops out entirely , either totally flummoxed by Elvin Jones or not fancying his style of playing. Curiously I dug this disc out before this comment was posted and I was surprised to hear that Branford rates it so much. It is not a classic Coltrane disc and far from being one of Ellington's better offerings too. I didn't realise that there were so many blues on this record , the last of which really gels with Coltrane locking on to Sam Woodyard's excellent drumming. I would say that this record is a qualified success. Coltrane buys more in to Ellington's concept than vice versa although I think this record is very demonstrative of how contemporary Ellington has always been. Ellington is forever .

Curiously I also dug out my copy of the trio record of Bill Frisell / Dave Holland /Elvin Jones which is probably the biggest anti-climax of any jazz release in the last 20 years. Frisell's playing is tasteful but Jones just turned up for the pay cheque and there is no fire or urgency in his playing. Part of the problem rests with Frisell's compositions which dominate and perhaps should have been jettisoned for more traditional numbers. I had always felt that Elvin could do no wrong but Frisell would have been better off with someone like Joey Baron who would have at least come to the party.