Hometown blues (Dave Brubeck) (LP 2461 - 2463)

The Dave Brubeck Quartet  Back Home (Vinyl, Interfusion Records, 1979) ****  

Andy Pratt  Resolution (Vinyl, Nemperor Records, 1976) ****  

Stairsteps  2nd Resurrection (Vinyl, Dark Horse Records, 1976, 2023 reissue) ***

Genre: Jazz, Nemperor Records, Dark Horse Records, pop, soul.

Places I remember: The Little Red Bookshop

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Pasado (Stairsteps)

Gear costume: Tell Me Why (Stairsteps)

Active compensatory factors: Some purchases from a recent visit to The Little Red Bookshop and an on-line purchase from Real Groovy to run through here.

The Dave Brubeck album was a real find - mint condition and only $5. This particular version of the Quartet has Jerry Bergonzi on tenor, Chris Brubeck doubling on electric bass and trombone, and drummer Butch Miles joining Brubeck senior.

Bergonzi has a Coltrane inspired tenor approach which is very different to the Paul Desmond sound, but the combo sounds great in these new clothes. Standout tracks are Hometown Blues and Yesterdays.

I'd been searching for the Andy Pratt album for a while. Recently, I have embarked on a project to collect albums on the Nemperor label because it was started in 1966 by Brian Epstein and his American associates, and like Apple, Grunt, et al - it's cool.

Like Apple Records, it's an eclectic roster - jazz fusion, rock and folk pop artists. I like that - means listening to new things. Andy Pratt is a case in point. He is someone I wouldn't ordinarily collect but he's a fine singer songwriter and his records are highly regarded.

Similar story with the Stairsteps album on Dark Horse Records. Billy Preston was the conduit to this appearance on George Harrison's label.

They're not a band I'd normally collect but their appearance on Dark Horse makes them a must have. Sure enough, it's a bit too slick for my tastes but their harmonies are spot on. They just needed another mega hit song like Ooh Child to seal the deal.

Where do they all belong? A Keni Burke solo album remains on my Dark Horse list. Dhani has reactivated the label and is releasing a lot of stuff that I might get to but my priority remains the original stuff that George approved. There is a lot more to collect on Nemperor.