T.D.

I'm sticking to my "pass" decision unless the book materializes (presumably at a US vendor) with reasonable US shipping. Dusty Groove (my best hope in that regard) does not show it in their list of upcoming releases.

That [Blue Manhattan] is a very good '70s Al Haig album*, and I'm partial to that vintage Haig (though iirc Allen Lowe would differ) with those sidemen. I managed to acquire the 2006 Japanese reissue (blue cover) just after it was released for a reasonable price. *Invitation is my favorite, but Blue Manhattan is #2 of those I've heard.

I've no problem with mono. If a session was originally recorded in mono, I'd rather hear it that way than in fake stereo. But in practice I wind up going with what's available at reasonable price. Most likely.

Bought a while back, arrived today. Unusual Japanese discs, purchased used from US discogs. Motohiko Hino w. Masahiko Satoh and others Weird Takayanagi with bass and percussion Aketagawa trio w. some alto sax and (add'l) vocals

Thanks. It's showing at a nearby cinema. Marginally considered going but wasn't much interested, think I will now pass.

Thanks, John. Always enjoy your customary December BFTs. Given the hint, I should have spent some time sleuthing #3, and regret not thinking of Allen. But I don't like to sleuth early in the month, and in late Dec. I got busy with other things and forgot about the issue. But I'm glad I didn't waste time investigating #10, because it would surely have gotten nowhere.

3 things picked up on rare visit to brick/mortar shop:

This Motohiko Hino album has a weird selection of tunes, but some outstanding piano by Masahiko Satoh:

In classical music, some seem to think that "total serialism" (e.g. Milton Babbitt) and "New Complexity" (e.g. Brian Ferneyhough) fall into the "overcomposed" category. But there are musicians who enjoy playing that stuff, and the composers named have their fans. [Disclosure: I kind of enjoy Babbitt's music but have little time for New Complexity]

No problem rolling the dice on sound quality, but I hear you on tune selection and lack of audio samples. However, I'm a Ranelin / Tribe fanboy, and a recording of that vintage incl. Tribe material...preordered the moment I saw it on the DG site.

That looks good indeed! In fact, "The Bastards" are already on it and I just preordered from them. 🤩

The hardcover from JIB. But there's now a paperback available from Amazon and presumably elsewhere.

Yes, bit of a misfire on my part...late after a long day at work. Of course the gagaku was from a Japanese collection. 🤣 I've listened to significant chunks of those early Indian recordings on the bandcamp page. Lately I've been into these:

I remember you put a gagaku selection from that on a BFT, which is the first I heard of the site. I often browse the Sublime Frequencies bandcamp page. It's fascinating, but I thus far have just listened online, afraid of winding up down another rabbit hole of recording purchases. 🙄

I read that long ago. Balliett's a very good writer (for instance, I recall an excellent passage about Mingus), but I didn't agree with some of his opinions. I found his extreme dislike of hard bop kind of amusing...in that vein I also recall a brief rant about JR Montrose's ugly playing. No longer own the book, donated it to a library as part of downsizing.

Finally acquired a copy of this after a long time on the wish list.

That looks good! I like Koller, and recently picked up an 1800 yen Zoller Japanese reissue threefer (orig. on Enja). Can't keep up with everything...

I think the original release was the first LP I (b. 1957) ever bought. That, Allman Bros. Live at Fillmore East and Grateful Dead "skull and roses" within a short interval.

Any Tapscott connection (some degrees of separation allowed) for the obscure LA tenor player in #10? With a single 1996 release as leader, nothing is immediately apparent. If it's too much of a spoiler, feel free to disregard the question. 😉

New reissue. Discogs doesn't yet have it listed.

Despite the holes, I'm still psyched about this one. The previous (Far Horizons) box was really exemplary: sound quality, packaging, booklet (the latter must have been great in the LP format).

I finally went for this via Amazon, combining it with another (non-music) purchase. Had been bummed by the disappearance of an illusory ultra-cheap importcds "preorder" price.