Another solo show from Derek as Neil is at the London Jazz Festival being tutored in the art of writing jazz reviews.  The task last night was to pen a review of Gary Burton at the QEH and deliver it first thing this morning…  Job done by 2am.

His impressions and reflections on six very creative days will appear on CJ in coming weeks and a slightly recrafted Burton review now appears elsewhere on the site.

This week had more live recordings than usual – Sonny Rollins at Montreux, Teruo Nakamura and Sadao Watanabe in Japan as well as  live material from Miles Davis and Yusef Lateef. The Independent newspaper for the last two Fridays has featured some of the favourite live albums of both musicians and readers. The choices, particularly of readers, included some horrendous rock anachronisms.

CJ thinks they should listen to some live jazz recordings to find out how music can stand the test of time…

1. Andrew Hill – Smoke Stack
2. The Bennie Maupin Ensemble – Walter Bishop
3. Teruo Nakamura – Unicorn Lady
4. Sadao Watanabe – Paysages
5. Miles Davis – It’s About That Time
6. Bahama Social Club – King’s Wig
7. JFR Quintet – Nairoo
8. Mario Bondi – This is What You Are
9. Archie Shepp – Syeeda’s Song Flute
10. Yusef Lateef – Oscaralypso
11. Sonny Rollins – The Cutting Edge
12. Horace Parlan – The Book’s Beat
13. Tabu Ley Rochereau – Na Nono

This week’s video is from Archie Shepp and Horace Parlan live at Montreux performing Shepp’s Mama Rose. Parlan’s right hand was crippled by polio as a child, but he used this apparent disadvantage to create a unique style. Watch out for the very sudden ending to this clip.

For more of the same, try the great duet album Goin’ Home.