pantonmusic

The opening track is is one of three which start and finish with the standard 32 bar theme, but solos do not necessarily have to follow suit, though here they do - more or less.  It is also one of those tracks which does not acknowledge its personal inspiration. 

The next four tracks start, but don't necessarily end, with short fragmentary riffs which develop into more open-ended improvisations. This one, track 3, was written as a get-well message for Mike Osborne, who sadly continued to suffer ill-health until his death in 2007. 

Track 6 is an extended composition containing several different elements: spoken word, a  32 bar theme, a quasi New Oeleans style funeral dirge, two cornet cadenzas,as well as alto and bass solos. It was written for friend and musician Jef Daw who died suddenly, aged 40, while on holiday, and reflects some of his eclectic musical humour.

At the end of the session John (Stevens) suggested we do a short spontaneous piece in mind of Jef's demise, which had been appended as a coda to Burnt Carrots on the original release.  But here Adieu returms as a final stand-alone tribute For Some Cats who are no longer with us - including John.