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Ben Finlay

@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

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17.07.2025
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Latest posts by Ben Finlay @benfinlay74

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#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

06.03.2026 09:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 7 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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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

06.03.2026 08:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#nowplaying 'Dusty Blue' (1961), a fine album by the great trumpeter Howard McGhee, who was born OTD 1918 in
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
#jazzsky #musicsky #vinylcommunity

06.03.2026 08:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Top 10: 1975 BEN FINLAY selects the best British albums of 1975. Expect the unexpected.

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

06.03.2026 08:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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"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

06.03.2026 06:55 ๐Ÿ‘ 15 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#nowplaying Late night mood...
#jazzsky #latin #musicsky #sinatra #jobim

05.03.2026 22:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 8 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I love that record, I have an original. Lush sounding, CTI production, and great Pete Turner sleeve.

05.03.2026 13:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Yes, it sounds to me like a soundtrack to some obscure late 60s San Francisco set forgotten film.

05.03.2026 13:09 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Top 10: British folk-rock BEN FINLAY guides you through the best of British folk rock, from Nick Drake and the Fairports to Comus.

"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

05.03.2026 12:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#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

05.03.2026 11:27 ๐Ÿ‘ 16 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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#nowplaying The beautiful, visionary 'Black Christ of the Andes', by Mary Lou Williams (1964)
'Sacred jazz' at it's best.
#jazzsky #musicsky

05.03.2026 07:40 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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"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

05.03.2026 07:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 12 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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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

04.03.2026 19:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Top 10: Trad Jazz BEN FINLAY puts on his corduroy trousers and sandals to take you through the best of British trad jazz.

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

04.03.2026 18:44 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque YouTube video by The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet - Topic

#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

04.03.2026 15:05 ๐Ÿ‘ 7 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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

04.03.2026 12:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#nowplaying 'Dis' (1977) by Jan Garbarek, who turns 79 years old today.

#jazzsky #ECM #musicsky

04.03.2026 12:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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"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

04.03.2026 12:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Top 10: Trad Jazz BEN FINLAY puts on his corduroy trousers and sandals to take you through the best of British trad jazz.

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

04.03.2026 07:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Album cover Thelonius Monk, "Monk in Tokyo"

Album cover Thelonius Monk, "Monk in Tokyo"

Sometimes you just need some Monk. 1963. Frankie Dunlop particularly ๐Ÿ”ฅ on this. ๐Ÿท

#jazzsky, #nowplaying

03.03.2026 23:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 24 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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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

03.03.2026 19:53 ๐Ÿ‘ 8 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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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

03.03.2026 10:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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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

03.03.2026 08:31 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Recorded OTD 1957 at Van Gelder Studio, underrated hard bop classic 'Blowing In from Chicago' by the American jazz saxophonists Clifford Jordan and John Gilmore.

Clifford Jordan, John Gilmore โ€“ tenor saxophone
Horace Silver โ€“ piano
Curly Russell โ€“ bass
Art Blakey โ€“ drums

#jazzsky #musicsky

03.03.2026 07:38 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Good morning.
"Gather 'round, children, and listen to the message of the blues. The whole story is right here in eight, eloquent preachments by as fine a quintet of wailers as can be assembled." - Downbeat review.
#nowplaying Herb Ellis 'Nothing But the Blues' (1958). Superb.
#jazzsky #musicsky

03.03.2026 07:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Remembering the great double bassist Jimmy Garrison, born on this day 1934 in Miami, Florida. He is immortalised through his work with John Coltrane between 1961 and 1967.
#jazzsky #musicsky

03.03.2026 07:03 ๐Ÿ‘ 10 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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#nowplaying 'Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio' (1954)
Just sublime.
Goodnight all.
#jazzsky #musicsky

02.03.2026 23:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 9 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Released OTD in 1964, the classic 'Getz/Gilberto' by Stan Getz & Joรฃo Gilberto.
#jazzsky #musicsky

02.03.2026 16:46 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Evans played with the Davis band in 57 and 58, leaving in November of that year to be replaced by Wynton Kelly, but Miles wanted Evans for the Kind of of Blue recordings. He gave Kelly the piano stool for 'Freddie Freeloader' as it was the album's most blues-oriented tune.

02.03.2026 16:09 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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OTD 1959, the tracks "So What", "Freddie Freeloader", and "Blue in Green" were recorded for side one of "Kind of Blue" at Columbia Records' 30th Street Studio in New York City.
#jazzsky @milestones-archive.bsky.social #musicsky

02.03.2026 15:34 ๐Ÿ‘ 11 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0