Livia Records is delighted to announce the release of John Wadham's
DRUMS and FRIENDS remixed, remastered and extended,
on 18th September.

Hugely skilled and much loved, John was the doyen of Irish jazz drumming
from his arrival on the Dublin scene in the 1960s, until the early years
of this century. Although he featured on many recordings,
DRUMS and FRIENDS is his only album as the band leader. Originally
released on LP in 1978, the label's second, one side features a trio
with Brian Dunning on flute and Frank Hess on bass, with the other
featuring Louis Stewart in duet and trio settings, some with
Martin Walsh on bass.

This release adds two previously unreleased tracks, John Coltrane's
Naima, and Miles Davis's Seven Steps to Heaven.

We've retained the style of the original album artwork, and included
the original LP and CD release sleeve notes by Gerald Davis, while
adding new sleeve notes from leading drummer, and jazz archivist,
Conor Guilfoyle.

DRUMS and FRIENDS, is an important milestone in Irish jazz, because of
the musicians involved, and the repertoire chosen. It significantly
contains a rare example of Louis Stewart free improvising in duet with
John. (Louis famously said he felt free improvisation was like playing
tennis without a net).

Invoking John's nickname, The Wad, veteran pianist Jim Doherty describes
this release as "a nod to The Wad".

DRUMS and FRIENDS will appeal to fans of mainstream-modern jazz,
Louis Stewart and/or Brian Dunning, anyone who saw him perform in any
of the thousands of his gigs, and the hundreds of drum students he
taught,
including Larry Mullen.