T.D.

Very local (piano) concert series at a small public library (Marilyn Crispell will be the May feature): Daria Podorozhnova & Terri Ji with Inesa Sinkevych E. Fabregas "Lament" from suite Portraits I (2000) J. Brahms Sonata No.2 in F sharp minor, Op.2 25 min Intermission Sonata in B Minor, S. 178 by Franz Liszt Debussy Ondine from Preludes, Book II Frederic Chopin Two Mazurkas, Op. 50 I. Vivace II Allegretto

Congratulations echoed! Will be there.

Thanks. I used to attend concerts by the (slightly unfortunately named) "S.E.M. Ensemble" when I lived near NYC. Fell out of touch and had been wondering what they're up to these days.

Received this a few days ago. Very nice package, though the booklet has tiny print and the text is difficult to read. Enjoying it a lot. The tracks are all complete AFAICT, and the sound quality is better than expected, indicating that remastering must have occurred on some level.

Lon always prices CDs extremely fairly. My Dead fanship ended in the early '80s so I haven't checked prices on these, but it's safe to assume they're on the cheap side.

At least the photo shown on the product box doesn't have ice cubes. 😁 Maybe the staff at the advertising agency didn't drink the stuff and assumed wrongly about ice cubes. Or more likely, they just figured the photo would look better with them included.

Yes, I'm disappointed there's no streaming. No streaming last year either, iirc. I'd pay for it.

I thought the glass in the center of the pic had ice cubes in it... But that's the versatility of the Blue Note stones: one could warm them in the oven and then add them to brandy.

Trying to imagine that pic with some Blue Note whiskey stones in the glass...😁

Long Play 2025 – Bang on a Can Not as heavily jazz/improv as last year's but still some notable names: Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton (Composition #19 for 100 Tubas !?), Idris Ackamoor and the Pyramids, Mary Halvorsen/Bill Frisell, Tomeka Reid Quartet, ... In classical, there's a Gérard Grisey piece (!), Cage's Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano, a Terry Riley 90th birthday celebration, programs of music by Catherine Lamb, Xenakis, Christian Wolff, ...

They've gotta work just as well for non-alcoholic drinks. Personally, I don't drink soda and don't care if iced tea or lemonade gets diluted. Back to the original topic, I always got the impression that big-time whisky (single malt variety) snobs frowned on using ice cubes. Maybe that's a promising application for these stones.

Stopped drinking alcohol many years ago, so couldn't care less. Apparently the stones are substitutes for ice cubes. Keep them in the freezer, then when added to drinks they won't dilute the booze (like melting ice cubes) as they warm.

Thanks. I don't mind CD-R if the price is right. Not concerned with audio quality (I doubt it differs much from CDs, and if so I likely couldn't perceive it). But in my experience CD-Rs have a nonzero probability (noticeably greater than CDs) of eventually failing to play.

John, is your Waldron/Peacock a CD? The Deep Discount listing says "manufactured on demand", which suggests CD-R and scared me off.

The Bastards were showing a CD on their site but it "Just Sold Out!" https://www.dustygroove.com/item/206504/Michael-Gregory-Jackson:Frequency-Equilibrium-Koan

I noticed this a couple of weeks ago, listened to the available track on bandcamp/youtube. Interesting, but was not sufficiently impressed to buy. I have been cutting down on purchases lately, and probably would have pulled the trigger 6-12 months ago FWIW.

Thanks, enjoyed that. I use AdBlock and saw nary a popup.

Never heard of her, though the John Cage context is the only one I'd have been aware of. Googled and hits are sparse, with many of the NY-related ones seemingly posted by the above-mentioned ex.

No time right now, but will dig out my copy of The Dark Tree and see if anything is said about the PAPA c. 1971. It can't be all youth/students with Butch Morris in the band? Lester Robertson and Linda Hill are names I recognize from later Nimbus recordings (could have been students at the time?). But most of the rest are unfamiliar.

[Can't edit previous post] 5. Didn't think it was my type of thing at first, but grew on me. Nothing to criticize. Interesting, alto played some stuff that sounds slightly Middle Eastern while the rhythm section had occasional traces of bossa nova. Guitar solo a high point. No idea of ID. 6. Like the piano intro. Good tune, sounds vaguely familiar but I don't own it and have no ID guess. Perhaps the flautist is leader. 7. Great brass section, enjoy the piece, curious about reveal. 8. Really like the piano here, big thumbs up! Kind of poly-stylistic a la Jaki Byard (though of course it's not him), which is totally in my wheelhouse. The tune sounds more than vaguely familiar, something I'd purchase, though the bass solo could have been a little shorter. Looking forward to reveal. 9. Like this, solidly in my NY (peeked above) loft free jazz wheelhouse. Don't think I've heard or own it, but would consider acquiring. Looking forward to reveal, suspect it might be some "lesser-known" NY musicians of the era. 10. Familiar tune which felser ID'd. Given the vinyl source, I surely don't own it, though the group sounds familiar and I'll no doubt kick myself on reveal. Another winner, I tend to prefer live recordings. Tenor solo maybe shows a bit of Johnny Griffin influence, though I agree with felser about CJ. Liked the piano solo.

Mostly impressions here, not going to guess much. My handwriting is so &^%! bad that I'm going to build up a post by editing in stages...this should grow over the next few days. 1. Love this one. Pianist must be leader. Seems to be a classical/"minimalist" flavor in places so more likely Euro-based? 2. Didn't care for the long intro, too gestural/skittering, but it really picked up when the tenor and rhythm section kicked in. The outro was also a bit of a turnoff, but fortunately shorter than the intro. On balance a good track because the excellent tenor outweighed the intro. Probably US musicians but nobody comes to mind. Despite no WP (I peeked above) I wouldn't be surprised if Hamid Drake was the drummer, who was also a highlight. Would like to hear more of the album/group. 3. Like the tenor player (especially) and drummer, but overall drags a little. Sounds like the piece could be a take-off/version of some well-known tune that I can't place...weirdly Brubeck (who I hardly ever listen to) even comes to mind in places. 🥴 Would like to hear more of the group. 4. Seemed like a downer on first hearing, but enjoyed it more on a second listen. Very much like the main brass soloist, though with my crappy computer sound I'm not certain of the instrument. Some of the brass parts had a "composed" feel but there were also playful sections. Thinking a Euro ensemble here, Dutch wouldn't be a surprise. Another group I'd like to hear more of despite the tune not being a 100% hit.

For sure on vanishing CD market. I haven't had a turntable for many years and don't do vinyl. Are labels currently spending on LP cover art? That used to be a big part of the medium, and modern LP buyers seem to have "low price elasticity of demand". 😁

Thanks. Figured that had to be the reason ("Follow the money") but never read anything to that effect.