Crossed Combs - retro stuff, rhythm and blues, tiki and all that jazz.

Blue Note 75th Anniversary Vinyl Reissues

Back in the spring of 2014, Blue Note - along with Universal Music Enterprises - launched a major 75th Anniversary Vinyl Initiative that is dedicated to the proposition that their catalog should be readily available at a low cost - featuring high quality pressings and authentic reproductions of Blue Note's iconic packaging.

This is still going and on January the 27th 2015 these titles will be available:

Herbie Hancock	Empyrean Isles
Wayne Shorter	Adam's Apple
Art Blakey	Mosaic
Jason Moran	Soundtrack To Human Motion
Cecil Taylor	Unit Structures

Mike Barbwire - El Sótano Calling

Mike Barbwire from the excellent Barbwires made this 45 a while back (ok, quite a while back). But we don't shy away from older things now do we?

 

Mod Jazz Forever

The excellent compilation series of "mod jazz" continues, with another volume released by Kent/Ace. This one is called Mod Jazz Forever and contains two dozens of finger-snappin', dancefloor-friendly tunes by the likes of Jack McDuff, Reuben Wilson and Billy Larkin. 

1. The Real Thing - Troy Dodds
2. Finders Keepers - Floyd White
3. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf Pt 2 - The Nightbeats
4. Rod Run - The Reuben Wilson Quartet
5. Night Bloomin' Jasmin' - Jesse Davis
6. The Return Of The Prodigal Son - Byrdie Green
7. Look Out, Heartaches - Little Bob
8. Talking 'bout Love - Tobi Lark
9. D H Boogaloo - The Dave Hamilton Set
10. Screamin' - Jack Mcduff
11. Because I Love You - The Dave Hamilton Voices
12. Looking - Billy Larkin & His Orchestra
13. Double Love - The Cals
14. Sunshine Superman - Bocking, Robinson, Morais
15. A Message To Regina - Hank Jacobs
16. Tricky Too - Gus Jenkins
17. Fever - Buddy Guy
18. John Henry - Bobby Jenkins & His Quartet
19. Work Song - Clint Stacy
20. My Beat - George Stone
21. The In Crowd - Johnny Hammond Smith
22. Burgher's Beat - John Hart With Lil' Bob & The Lollipops
23. The Village Caller - Johnny Lytle Trio
24. It's Like Love - Mark Murphy

 

 

Mod Jazz Forever

Coast to Coast Album Covers: Classic Record Art from New York to Los Angeles

Soon to be released, Coast to Coast Album Covers: Classic Record Art from New York to Los Angeles, is yet another coffee table book about record covers. And we're not complaining, au contraire. Along with Blue Note records, the Prestige, Atlantic, Contemporary and Pacific and Riverside Labels were the chief providers of America's East and West Coast sounds on vinyl. The hard-edged, straight ahead playing of New York's jazz musicians was perfectly reflected in the moody, monochromatic photography, quirky graphics and bold typography of the record covers: the look, like the sound, was intelligent, disciplined and sophisticated. On the West, the bright colours and playful themes expressed the funky sounds of the US's cool, california cool. For the first time ever, Coast to Coast Album Covers brings the two together under one very cool roof.

Pre-order Coast to Coast Album Covers: Classic Record Art from New York to Los Angeles

Bing Crosby and his Levi's denim tuxedo

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) should already be known to you, dear reader. But did you know that Bing Crosby was a denim lover? And that he was given a denim tuxedo by Levi's? It all happened back in 1951, after Bing having problems getting a hotel room because he was dressed in denim.  Read the whole story over at One Trip Pass!

 

 

Guitar Wolf at The O2 Islington Academy tonight 8 July 2011

The mighty Guitar Wolf crash back into London this Friday to play their first show in four years at The O2 Islington Academy. Being at a Guitar Wolf show is a complete energy overload that is akin to being in the blast zone of a sonic atom bomb explosion. Taking their initial influence from 50's rock’n’roll, The Ramones, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Thunders, Joan Jett and Link Wray, the ‘Wolf liquidate these influences into a maelstrom of noise.

Guitar Wolf’s show is at O2 Islington Academy on Friday 8 July with Bo Ningen and The Cool Kleps in support and DJ sets from PJ (Dirty Water Records) and Greg Sick (Stay Sick). Its an early start with doors at 6 pm and Guitar Wolf on stage at 8.30 pm, so make sure you arrive in time for the carnage!

 

Big Boy Bloater UK tour July 2011

Thurs 7th July
BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS
Roll & Tumble, The Blues Kitchen
Camden, London
www.theblueskitchen.com

Fri 8th July
BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS
Odd Socks at The Soul Cellar
78 West Marlands Rd, Southampton
www.soulcellar.com

Mon 11th July
BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS
SUPPORTING IMELDA MAY
Somerset House, The Strand, London
www.somersethouse.org

Thurs 14th July
BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS
Boisdale at Canary Wharf, London
www.boisdale-cw.co.uk

Saturday 16th July
BIG BOY BLOATER'S R&B ALL STARS
backing BARRENCE WHITFIELD
Mark Lamarr's God's Jukebox Stage
Latitude Festival, Suffolk
www.latitudefestival.co.uk
 
Thurs 21st July
BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS
War & Peace Show, Blues & Soul night
Victory Marquee, Beltring, Kent

Sunday 31st July
BIG BOY BLOATER & THE LIMITS
Vintage Festival at the Southbank
Lady Luck Stage
www.vintagebyhemingway.co.uk

 

Yma Sumac - Miracles on extended reissue cd

In 1972 Les Baxter teamed up with Yma Sumac and the result, the album Miracles has been very hard to get. According to Don Pierson at sunvirgin.com, "It was NOT produced by Les Baxter nor did he ever produce an album of Yma Sumac's.  On Miracles, he was the band leader only but he sweet-talked London Records into changing the approved credits to make himself seem responsible for her career and ended up getting himself and London Records sued, and the record pulled almost as soon as it hit the shelves which is what makes it hard to find today. Actually, it was produced and fully funded by Robert Covais and gang at KBC International, not produced FOR them as the liner notes claimed."

This record can now be bought from the good people at Bear Family. We advise you to take use of the sound clips before buying as this album can be regarded as aquired taste.

Get Yma Sumac - Miracles from Bear Family

 

Mike Barbwire & The Blue Ocean Six - Camel Rock

Mike Barbwire & The Blue Ocean Six - Camel Rock (M.Barbwire)

Recorded May 2011 with The Blue Ocean Six:
Rhythm Guitar - Vigilante Carlstroem
Bass - Tobias Einestad
Drums - Johan Svensson
Piano - Micke Lindevall
Saxophone - Gustav "Thereminator" Bendt
Saxophone - Jakob Norgren

The Blue Ocean Five feat. members from The Domestic Bumblebees, The Hives, The Dragtones, Big Band Splash. Mike Barbwire is from The Barbwires.

 

Pat Williams - Shades

Patrick Williams has scored more than 200 films, including Breaking Away, which received a 1978 Oscar nomination; All of Me, Swing Shift, Cuba, Casey's Shadow, and The Grass Harp. For television, his music has accompanied shows such as Columbo, Lou Grant, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, The Streets of San Francisco, and The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. His jazz-funk arrangement of The Beatles' "Get Back" was used as the original theme music for Sale of the Century from 1969 to 1971, as well as the longtime theme for the 1970s sports quiz show Sports Challenge, emceed by Dick Enberg.

Here, from his Verve album "Shades Of Today", please enjoy the tune "Shades".