Chet Baker - At Capolinea, Red Records (2021)
Recorded in October '83 at Cap Studio, Italy with a line up of Nicola Stilo, Ricardo Del Fra, Michel Grallier and also Chet Baker’s then girlfriend Diane Varvra. Released first in 1984 on Italian label Jii5 and then from '87 onwards by Red Records.
Not Chet’s finest performance by any stretch but the backing band play very well and as always Chet has his moments.
Kneecap - Fine Art, Heavenly Records (2024)
Political controversies aside what this band are doing singing/rapping in the native Irish language should be applauded and I bought this record in support of that having said that there is some very good and very clever music on this record.
Their are only 20 - 40,000 people in Ireland who speak Gaelic regularly and in the North only 2.5% of the population do so and in a world where a native language is disappearing every few weeks any young band using music to promote a native tongue should be applauded imo.
Love this.
Don’t think I’ve seen Demdike Stare (or Pendle Coven) mentioned on here during my time reading. Burnley’s finest.
Aye, lovely pair of lads too. Still putting interesting records out, this one is the latest.
Dexter Gordon - Landslide, BN/Tone Poet (2025)
Recorded over several dates between May, 1961 & June, 1962 with an excellent group of musicians including Kenny Drew, Sonny Clark, Ron Carter & Willie Bobo.
Another later release shelved until the 1980’s that Joe Harley & KG have worked their magic on.
Nathan Davies - Happy Girl, MPS AAA Series (2025)
A special treat from 1965 recorded at SABA’s TonstudioGermany in the Black Forest, featuring Woody Shaw, Jimmy Woode, Billy Brooks and on piano Larry Young.
Woody Shaw the young trumpet player had travelled to Europe to play with Eric Dolphy who had suddenly passed away. Tragically Dolphy a clean living man had lapsed into a Diabetic coma an undiagnosed condition the German doctors thought that this was just another American Jazz musician overdosed on drugs and left him to ‘sleep’ it off, he never woke up.
Only just 20 Woody Shaw is already displaying impressive talent best of all though is Larry Young playing piano rather than the organ for which he would always be associated with.
I’ve been looking for a first pressing of this in excellent condition for a while now. No small task for a record that is 49 years old. This is lovely, the cover and booklet is almost like new, the vinyl only lightly scuffed and pretty quiet after a wash. The pressing is just great, really dynamic and punchy, the first pressings of these are considered reference quality and it doesn’t disappoint. All for £9, so I’m stocked with it - a bit of a barn find really. I’ve treated myself to another four first pressings of old rock reference classics which should arrive next week.
Picked up these 3 exemplary albums from a country ‘vintage’ shop in Castlemaine VIC. 70s pressings. Not a scratch on each. $60 all up. I am very looking forward to a spin.
The Contemporary Jazz Quintet
Action A B C E
2025, Formalibera Records
Previously unreleased recordings of intense European free jazz eruptions made in 1967, the lineup featuring a musical saw of all things…
Mike, if you enjoy that, have a listen to Peter Hammil’s take on EAP’s The Fall of The House of Usher. It’s a double album and quite enjoyable.
Looks intriguing, do you prefer the original or the “deconstructed and rebuilt” version? Vinyl or CD? I haven’t found any new copies on the web yet or streaming versions.
Update: Discogs shows there was only one limited edition release on vinyl, the original in 1991 and there are four copies listed for sale there. All other releases including the 1999 deconstruction and rebuild are CD only, and have only ever been released in the UK but there are few used CDs around the place.
To tell the truth, I didn’t know there was a deconstructed and rebuilt version on CD but from what I read it sounds very interesting as he has recorded the whole album from scratch. There is also the fact that I haven’t played a CD in a long time having ripped most of my CDs to a NAS and I do not intend to going back to buying them ever again.
I only have the original on vinyl from 1991 so I don’t have anything else to compare and, as you said, not available for streaming.
Enjoy yours.
