Until yesterday, I hadn’t read this story for almost 3 years, and it prompted a lot of memories about a key time in my life. I’m not quite sure if I am the narrator or not, he/she certainly sounds a lot more authoritative about the expedition than I recall feeling at the time. Although the text was only read once in public at at youth service at St Paul’s Remuera, it strikes me that it could have made a great short voice play for radio… ah, another project for a rainy day.

The story is best read accompanied with a large pinch of salt or some of your favourite music. I suggest the following, the opening track on Trinity Root’s album “True”, which I was discovering for the first time during those short, cold days surrounded by the Southern Alps.

Trinity Roots – True
From True: Independent TR_02 [Buy]

Enjoy, and comments are very welcome.

In the meantime, I’ve sourced some early Kenny Wheeler solos ! In 1966, British drummers Ronnie Stephenson and Kenny Clare recorded the Drum Spectacular album in London. (Rare on vinyl and not yet available on CD). The big band playing behind the drummers is all British guys – among them Kenny Baker (tp), Kenny Wheeler (tp), Tubby Hayes (ts) and Ronnie Scott (ts). And on South Rampart Street Parade and Topsy, the 8 bar trumpet solos are by none other than… Kenny Wheeler !

They’re pretty nice big band charts too, in a Buddy Rich sort of way. Righto, I’m off to clean my goggles and buy sunscreen.

Kenny Clare & Ronnie Stephenson Big Band – South Rampart Street Parade
Kenny Clare & Ronnie Stephenson Big Band – Dual Carriageway
Kenny Clare & Ronnie Stephenson Big Band – Topsy
From Drum Spectacular: Columbia-EMI [OOP]