Ten Days Wonder

As its album title suggests, Starship's compilation Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979-1991) covers not only the group's popular heyday, 1985-1991, but also the earlier era, 1979-1984, which was actually the latter days of Jefferson Starship, after the departures of co-lead singers Marty Balin and Grace Slick, with former Elvin Bishop Group singer Mickey Thomas replacing Balin, and Slick, eventually, returning. The history that is described by the collection is largely one of attrition, effectively traced by the performer credits listed in the booklet. In 1979, the group is a sextet consisting of Thomas, lead guitarist Craig Chaquico, rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner (the last remaining holdout from the original Jefferson Airplane lineup), keyboardist Pete Sears, bassist David Freiberg, and drummer Aynsley Dunbar.

It starts with the flick of a switch. Then a squeal of feedback. Finally, the mother of all blues-rock riffs rises from the white noise, and Sky Won't Fall races out of the blocks in style. If the prospect of a new solo album from this titan of the British music scene didn't already have your undivided attention, then thirty seconds into Chains Of Hope, Stevie Nimmo has you by the lapels. Released in 2016 on Manhaton, it's a curious realisation that Sky Won't Fall is only the second solo album of Stevie's decorated career. In mitigation, the Glaswegian bandleader has been busy: since the late-'90s, there has been the small matter of helming legendary blues-rock outfit The Nimmo Brothers alongside younger sibling Alan.

William John Evans, known as Bill Evans (pronunciation: /ˈɛvəns/, August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980), was an American jazz pianist and composer who mostly worked in a trio setting. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, and is considered by some to have been the most influential post-World War II jazz pianist. Evans's use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block chords, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines continue to influence jazz pianists today. Unlike many other jazz musicians of his time, Evans never embraced new movements like jazz fusion or free jazz.