@benfinlay74
MA Cultural History, BA (hons) History. Former history and politics lecturer at University of Chichester. Historian, writer, reader, musician, talker, blues and jazz obsessive. https://bsky.app/profile/lionunicorn.bsky.social
#OTD 1959, Ornette Coleman (on his 29th birthday) was at Contemporary's Studio, Los Angeles, recording the first of four sessions for 'Tomorrow Is the Question!, The New Music of Ornette Coleman!'
#jazzsky #musicsky
One for the great British revivalist jazz man, Ken Colyer, who died this day in 1988.
'Far Away Blues' by Ken Colyer's Jazz Men · Chris Barber · Monty Sunshine · Lonnie Donegan · Acker Bilk, from 'New Orleans to London' (1955)
#jazzsky #musicsky #britishjazz #neworleans #london
Recorded #OTD 1958 at Van Gelder Studio. the classic 'Somethin' Else' by Cannonball Adderley.
#jazzsky #musicsky #classicalbums
Fortunate to have found a good copy of this at the weekend at an affordable price -
John Lee Hooker 'Plays and sings the Blues' (Chess 1961)
#bluessky #blues #musicsky #vinylcommunity
#nowplaying Lonnie Johnson 'Steppin' on the Blues' (1990 CBS compilation)
'No More Women Blues' and 'Deep Blue Sea Blues' recorded OTD 1928 in San Antonio, Texas.
#jazzsky #bluessky #blues #musicsky
"Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality."
Remembering Ornette Coleman (pictured here with Charles Moffett at Jazzland, Paris, November 9, 1965) born OTD in 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas.
#jazzsky #musicsky
Today we shall be remembering trumpeter Ken Colyer, who died 9 March 1988.
George Melly called him a "holy fool", and he was one of the key figures in British revivalist jazz. He's in @benfinlay74.bsky.social's top 10 of trad.
thelionandunicorn.com/2026/03/04/t...
#nowplaying 'The Ringer' by trumpeter Charles Tolliver, who turns 84 today. It was recorded at Polydor Records on June 2, 1969 in London & was produced by Alan Bates, Polydor's record producer and A&R executive. The label released the album in the UK in 1970, but not until 1975 in the US.
#jazzsky
The first Wes Montgomery album I owned, a beautiful vinyl copy bought in Ray's Jazz, Shaftesbury Avenue, sometime in the early 90s. Those were the days.
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity #wesmontgomery #guitar #jazzguitar #recordshops #london
#nowplaying 'Dusty Blue' (1961), a fine album by the great trumpeter Howard McGhee, who was born OTD 1918 in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity
Happy birthday to David Gilmour who turns 80 today.
Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' features in my top ten albums of 1975:
#musicsky #pinkfloyd #davidgilmour #article #topten @lionunicorn.bsky.social
"Regardless of what you play, the biggest thing is keeping the feel going..."
Remembering Wes Montgomery, one of the greatest ever guitarists, born OTD 1923 in Indiana, Indianapolis.
#jazzsky #musicsky #guitar #wes
#nowplaying Late night mood...
#jazzsky #latin #musicsky #sinatra #jobim
I love that record, I have an original. Lush sounding, CTI production, and great Pete Turner sleeve.
Yes, it sounds to me like a soundtrack to some obscure late 60s San Francisco set forgotten film.
"It sold only a few hundred copies at the time, but its legacy has been huge and long lasting..."
Nick Drake's second album 'Bryter Later' was released OTD in 1971. It features in my top ten Folk-Rock albums:
@lionunicorn.bsky.social #folk #musicsky
#nowplaying The superb 'Asphalt Canyon Suite', by Kenny Burrell.
Side one is comprised of the wonderfully slow bluesy suite orchestrated by Johnny Pate, while side two has swingier, shorter tunes, including a great version of Percy Mayfield's 'Please Send Me Someone to Love.' Recommended.
#jazzsky
#nowplaying The beautiful, visionary 'Black Christ of the Andes', by Mary Lou Williams (1964)
'Sacred jazz' at it's best.
#jazzsky #musicsky
"He had a great sense of social justice...he wrote and sang about Vietnam and the protest marches in Alabama... about events that shaped modern history, from the perspective of a bluesman" - Ian Anderson
Remembering J.B. Lenoir, born OTD 1929 in Monticello, Mississippi.
#blues #musicsky
One of the first ECM albums I bought, and still sounds just as great today, The Koln Concert, Keith Jarrett (1975)
#nowplaying #jazzsky #musicsky #classicalbums
It ain't half trad, dad... New out today, here's my guide to the best of British revivalist jazz, click on link to read:
#jazzsky #musicsky @lionunicorn.bsky.social
#nowplaying 'Blue Mosque' by the Rendell/Carr Quintet, from 'Shades of Blue' (1965).
Don Rendell's soprano sax work is a thing of beauty -
#jazzsky #musicsky
Indeed! I was lucky to have seen him several times, including the Ian Carr Memorial Concert at the QEH (I had a front row seat). The Rendell/Carr drummer, Trevor Tomkins, once visited my school for a 4 day jazz workshop and he showed me some invaluable things. An absolute honour for a young drummer
#nowplaying 'Dis' (1977) by Jan Garbarek, who turns 79 years old today.
#jazzsky #ECM #musicsky
"With the contrast of personalities, the contrast in music also came true. And you need that contrast. You don't get fire and vitality if things are too smooth. It's good to have some friction."
Remembering the great Don Rendell, born 100 years ago today in Plymouth, England.
#jazzsky #musicsky
It ain't half trad, dad...
New out today, here's my guide to the best of British revivalist jazz, click on link to read:
#jazzsky #musicsky #article @lionunicorn.bsky.social
Album cover Thelonius Monk, "Monk in Tokyo"
Sometimes you just need some Monk. 1963. Frankie Dunlop particularly 🔥 on this. 🍷
#jazzsky, #nowplaying
Released OTD in 1971, 'Music of My Mind' by Stevie Wonder, the beginning of his imperial run of classic albums.
#steviewonder #musicsky #funk #soul #jazzsky #classicalbum #vinylcommunity
Recorded OTD in 1972 (but not released until 1975) 'Captain Marvel' by Stan Getz (with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Airto & Tony Williams.) One of his best records of the 70s, I remember buying it on CD from Tower Records in Piccadilly, some time in the early 90s.
#jazzsky #musicsky
Listen up hep cats, my article on the top ten British trad jazz albums is out on @lionunicorn.bsky.social tomorrow, dig it daddy-o (etc)
#jazzsky #musicsky