Finished your Christmas gift buying? Or have you rejected the scourge of consumerism? Either way, there could be something for you in my jazz fans' gift guide,

Bookish lovers of the sax need look no further than Dave Gelly's Masters of Jazz Saxophone, a richly-illustrated celebration of the diverse musicians who made their instrument the leading voice of jazz. Publisher Backbeat Books has a list which brims with wonderful jazz and blues titles. Call 020 7436 0525 for a copy.

The excellent Dune Records gives prominence and encouragement to young UK black musicians. Saxophonist Denys Baptiste should be far more well-known than he is and proves the point with his recent album, Alternating Currents, together with guitarist Martin Taylor and singer Juliet Roberts.

The same label also offers the latest by the brilliant Jazz Jamaica, purveyors of joyful reggae rhythms. Massive will have you dancing in the street.

The newish Jazzprint has a range of re-issues by a selection of leading virtuosi, among them Jim Mullen, Annie Whitehead, and local contemporary musicians Howard Riley and Mike Westbrook, all of whom feature on a sampler album. Westbrook's musical surrealism is also well displayed on a new release called Platterback.

Dudley Moore, rumoured once to have played piano in Beckenham, has only one recording currently available, a CD reissue of a 1960s' Decca LP by his spritely trio, just out on a little-known independent label. It is amazing nobody capitalised on his Hollywood success by doing it before. On Authentic Dud you'll find Exactly Like You, Samantha, Yesterdays and more. Ironically, Dud is probably the jazz pianist most often unknowingly heard by Radio 4 listeners it is his recording which provides the theme music for Quote Unquote.

As we know, Dud's wonderful spirit can express itself no more due to an utterly debilitating illness. By ordering this hard-to-find CD post-free at £15.99 from Showell's Mail Order (020 8466 0649) you'll also be benefiting medical research funded by the Society for Progressive Supernuclear Palsy.

December 14, 2001 14:07

Chris Howes