This is an oldie but a goodie! Ever been frustrated by an audience clapping along on 1 & 3? This is all you have to do…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD3iaURppQw

When I was at college, about 20 years ago, it was hip to be into Kenny Wheeler and his music. I saw Mr Wheeler play on a number of occasions and I was more than delighted to jump on the bandwagon; he’s a magnificent trumpeter and flügelhornist, and many of his tunes are hauntingly beautiful!  However, I never really got into his recordings, until more recently, principally because I’ve never been fond of the recording quality of ECM Records; the label which released so many of his albums.

Back at that time, my fellow students would speak in hushed tones about some of Kenny Wheeler’s earlier, pre-ECM, records. One standout was Windmill Tilter; a project written for, and recorded by, the John Dankworth Orchestra in the late ’60s. It is a beautiful jazz tone-poem based on the story of Don Quixote. Only ever released on vinyl, it had fallen out of print by the time we were interested, a quarter of a century later, and had achieved almost mythical status. Rumours abounded of worn out cassette tapes from the original record. I didn’t get a chance to hear it, at the time.

In the past couple of weeks, I was reminded of Windmill Tilter. I checked online and was delighted to discover that it was finally reissued on CD, a few years ago. It arrived in mail yesterday and has been playing, on repeat, here in my home-office ever since. It’s such a glorious record – great writing, beautiful solos, tremendous ensemble work. I see what all the fuss was about!! If you’re not familiar with it you can, as usual, preview some of the tracks on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLsb46RnEhg

Then, once you’re convinced, head over to Amazon.com and buy a copy of your own!!

I’ve been a big fan of the late, great Benny Bailey for some years now. He was a singular talent as both a lead trumpeter and jazz soloist – a comparatively rare combination! I recently started transcribing from one of my favourite of his records – “Big Brass”. If you’re not familiar with it, you should check it out! Here’s a preview, courtesy of YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS22YGPHhU4&list=PLjByBSCsx3-of0ufA–gRhxGQW14OUTcS&index=4

If you like it (and who wouldn’t?!) please be sure to buy a copy of your own. It’s available on Amazon.com.

This may not be as funny as the Bee Gees Giant Steps rendition, but I promise it’s worth a look!!

Back in December 2013, Thomas Gansch and the DETO played a live broadcast for the Bayerisches Rundfunk in Munich, Germany.  It was a fantastic concert which I thoroughly enjoyed on the online livestream, as it happened. If you missed it, you’re in luck!! The complete concert video has now been posted to the BR YouTube channel. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnocqzBacHg

Somebody seriously has too much time on their hands! Fantastic!! 🙂