SOMETHING NEW. SOMETHING SAFE

Bit of good news today (good news that is other than the fact that it's a long weekend).

Dan Berglund, bass player in the late Esbjörn Svensson Trio, is bringing his new band to the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh next March. Dan and drummer Magnus Öström took the sensible decision after 2008's tragic death of Svensson that it would be impossible to simply bring in another piano player and try to continue - so they are both pursuing separate musical paths (though with luck they will team up again along the way).

I always felt that both Berglund and Öström could easily have "settled" for very successful careers as session musicians for almost anyone - so it's good to see Berglund try to carve out his own niche.

I'm looking forward to it.

Today's normal Friday "coffee, cake and jazz" routine was brought to me by Alan Barnes and his album "Thirsty Work". Ten tracks on this 'un that are made up of various quartets, quintets and sextets all led admirably by Mr Barnes. No real surprises here, a couple of bop numbers, one by Ellington, one by Ben Webster and a few originals.

I really like Alan Barnes and enjoy the fact that he seldom strays beyond the comfort zone of mainstream jazz. That's not a criticism (I hope). I do enjoy listening to jazz that pushes the boundaries at times - but in the same breath it's handy to have certain players who you know will always deliver the goods but without being bland. A bit like Scott Hamilton as well I suppose.

New is good - but so is "safe". It might be nice every now and then, for example, and push the boat out and try one of those fancy new "themed" or "flavoured" whiskys that I see being advertised in an attempt to try and make it hip and groovy with "the young". Most of the time though your happy to sit back with a nice malt and know your going to get exactly what you got the time before - something that's been produced to the highest standards in time honoured fashion. That's what Alan Barnes and Scott Hamilton are - they're the jazz worlds fine malts ... eh.. for people who don't drink.. but you get the idea (told you my descriptive writing needs working on).

Anyway, I got this CD the other day from my favourite second hand CD shop in York - "Rebound Records". I picked up this and an Art Farmer album recorded live in Munich in 1970.

I love going into this shop and really need a good bit of time to browse.

Unfortunately, as is always the case, I left and immediately regretted not buying an album I had looked at, thought about, then put back.

Sadly the chap who runs Rebound doesn't have a web site! Luckily - he does at least have a phone! Double Enrico Rava album winging it's way to me already!