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T.D.

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Posts posted by T.D.

  5. BFT 254 is up!

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    Rainout today so working through the rest of the BFT.

    #5. Interesting but a little arch IMO. Enjoyed, and I have other recordings by/with the leaders, but wouldn't line up to hear a full album of this. Couldn't ID in real time, but Jim basically posted the performers, upon which "...oh yeah!". I sleuthed the tune but won't post since it was teed up.

    #6. Well known tune ID'd above. I don't listen to loads of B-3, can't ID the recording but like it.

    #7. More B-3, no clue at ID. I prefer the guitarist to the other soloists. Prefer #6 to this but it's not bad.

    #8. Familiar tune which I might not have ID'd if I didn't peek at the thread. The pianist didn't become clear until the latter part. Far from my usual listening fare, not the most inspired rendition but plenty enjoyable. Was able to sleuth (like #5).

    #9. Dissed above.

    #10. LP sourced, solo vibes. Tune a standard that I can't place. Nice performance but solo vibes isn't in my wheelhouse. Having peeked, the performer ID should have been obvious, but it didn't jump out in real time.

    #11. Has "jazzy arr. of pop hit" written all over it, but can't ID. Good arrangement but not something I'd seek after. The first section had a certain background/elevator feel. Latter part picked up a lot and salvaged the tune. I hated the opening bit of the guitar solo but enjoyed the rest of it, no idea of ID.

    #12. Live, sounds like a medley. Like the trumpet soloist a lot, plus the pianist in the second and (especially) third sections. The big band arrangement is far from my usual listening, but really well done. Really grew on me after a second listen. No guesses.

     

    Thanks for the BFT. Worked well as a program. Regardless of guessing, there were plenty of hooks (familiar sounding tunes and performers) to give a sense of participation. Only big miss was #9, but that one probably has plenty of backers. 

     

  6. Harman (Samsung) Acquires B&W, Denon, Polk And Marantz for $350 Million

    in Audio Talk

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    There appears to be one plus: the portfolio of brands is now owned by an electronics conglomerate rather than a health care company whose "financial engineering" apparently went awry. 😆

    Beyond that, too early to say.

    Since the brands (presumably) had to be acquired as a portfolio, I wouldn't be surprised if some straggler or underperforming names get de-emphasized or shut down. Just my opinion and I know nothing of the financials of the acquired marques.

     

  7. So, What Are You Listening To NOW?

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted

    MzQtNTU5NC5qcGVn.jpegNDMtNzYwOS5qcGVn.jpeg

    25 minutes ago, rostasi said:

    An electronic music musician sent me a CD-R.
    It sounded too much like Dumitrescu and not the person(s)
    he said was supposed to be on it. A bit of research turned up
    the recording above, so I ended up getting that disc inadvertently.

    Slightly related: I've often wondered how Ana-Maria Avram had died - 
    a talented composer who died way too young.
     

    It's a pretty good album. I really enjoy the first 3 (of 4) pieces, not wild about the fourth. Dumitrescu only wrote the first piece but conducts the others. I haven't heard that much by Dumitrescu, my bad. Discovered his music after seeing some comparisons to Radulescu, but didn't follow up sufficiently (it was ancient pre-bandcamp era when CDs were scarce on the ground). Going to look for more online. Very sad about A-M Avram, haven't heard any details.

  10. So, What Are You Listening To NOW?

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    a0486776234_16.jpg

    Have known about Dumitrescu for a long time but haven't listened recently.

    Surprised to (randomly) find this on bandcamp today. Google indicates hits on the Corbett vs Dempsey website but the C vs D site itself shows no trace of Dumitrescu. Forced Exposure seems to have the CD as a C vs D release, though.

  11. Great Euro-Fusion and Jazz Rock Records

    in Recommendations

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    Volker Kriegel is a name to look for. He founded the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble iirc. [Added: Barbara Thompson was involved with that ensemble at times. I have the BBC Barbara Thompson box, and she led or played with a lot of groups that should work for you.]

    I recently bought VK's Spectrum, which is an excellent album though maybe not quite as electric as you're looking for. Some later recordings, including those by the aforementioned ensemble, should work.

    I like a lot of the Euro "jazz-rock" I've heard, and (surprisingly) overall prefer it to US-based fusion. Although neither sector ranks among my most listened to.

    I'd like to see Yugo recommendations, too. I've heard a couple of pretty good things that are more jazz-funk than -rock.

  12. Harman (Samsung) Acquires B&W, Denon, Polk And Marantz for $350 Million

    in Audio Talk

    Posted

    There's a Stereophile story which is more informative.

    Sound United Finds a New Home with Harman | Stereophile.com

    The acquired brands were already a portfolio of an entity called Sound United, which was a disastrous acquisition by a (healthcare? see below) conglomerate called Masimo Corp. Masimo was urged to divest by shareholder activists. 😁

    Here are the first and last paras of the linked story. Note how many "name" brands Harman now owns!

    Masimo Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Masimo Consumer Audio division, which is made up of the former Sound United hi-fi brands, to Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, for $350 million in cash. Pending regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025. The sale transfers an extensive portfolio—including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, Classé, and Boston Acoustics—to a buyer with business firmly rooted in audio. (The fate of the HEOS multiroom streaming platform remains unclear.) Harman already owns JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Revel, Arcam, and Roon.

    ...

    If regulators approve the transaction, it will close a turbulent three-year chapter that saw Sound United’s valuation tumble from more than a billion dollars to a third of that figure. Masimo exits with a costly but decisive return to its healthcare roots, while Harman and Samsung gain a powerful array of brands poised to strengthen their position in living-room entertainment from big-screen TVs to whole-home audio.

  13. Harman (Samsung) Acquires B&W, Denon, Polk And Marantz for $350 Million

    in Audio Talk

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    I think Polk and Marantz have changed hands various times previously, and neither is nearly "what they used to be" (a number of onetime prestige names are in that category). B&W is definitely news, the most significant part of the announcement. Maybe Denon is significant, though they seem to have fallen off over the years.

    Very much agreed on the decline of the audiophile market. Though the vinyl craze may prop it up for a while.

  15. BFT 254 is up!

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    Partial post since my attempts at long posts often disappear into hyperspace.

    #1. Like this a lot. Never heard the headliner on tenor before, initially noticed a few Hawkins similarities but drew a blank. After peeking, kicked myself because the tenor should have been an easy ID.

    #2. Don't listen to a lot of B-3 material but dig this. Guitarist sounds relatively "modern" ('70s or later) and impresses, organist either an old-timer or consciously playing in traditional style. No clue on ID. Well done performance.

    #3. Recognized this as being included in a Mosaic I own but couldn't name the tune without consulting the package. Maybe the strongest track on the Mosaic disc devoted to the leader, which admittedly is the one I listen to least often from the set.

    #4. "Well you needn't" played in a stride bag and at rapid tempo. I like this a lot. Pianist gives off some Jaki Byard polystylist vibes but it's surely not him. Don't have the energy to sleuth this early in the month. Sounds like vinyl sourced, so I've never heard it before.

    #9. The one fail of the BFT for me, couldn't make it through the whole thing. I still strongly feel the melody is lifted from a well-known lullaby or other traditional source, can hum it from memory but the source escapes me.

    Having fun so far, will post on others later.

  16. BFT 254 is up!

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    #9 seems to be This.

    My reaction is pretty much the same as Jim's: yuck. I think I have the album but also never listen to it. Even though it's Monk.

    Weirdly, the melody seems (IMO) to be based on some kind of old lullaby or (European?) folk song or Christmas carol that I just can't remember.

  20. April BFT #253 Reveal!

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted

    Thanks. Enjoyed this despite not guessing anything. I always suspect a theme, and "Detroit jazz" would be close to one here. Agreed on Gene Harris CDs, I've picked up some real burners for practically nothing.

  22. BFT253 - April

    in Blindfold Test

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    I can't make any intelligent guesses so will give opinions...

    #1: Spoken voice doesn't always work for me, but I liked this. Enjoyed the bluesiness of the music, especially piano. Not sure how it would hold up to repeated listenings, so maybe not a purchase.

    #2: When this was on Felser's BFT I thought it lacking in the kind of soaring modal energy I expect from Trane covers, but on this go-round I got more into the approach. Would like to see the band live.

    #3: Rahsaan's version imprinted itself on my mind, so I expected to find fault with this performance, but it's good. Had no luck sleuthing the performers: only cover with a horn I found was a John David Simon, but that included organ. Would consider purchase, although I'm cutting down.

    #4: Classical-type piece with strings, sounds like it could be film music. Well done but not my bag.

    #5: Recognized the tune (ID'd above) but not performers. Live, sounds like a (possibly local) all-start ensemble at a festival. Agreed on some Gene Harris similarity with piano, but some other soloists not as strong. Fun listen but not the kind of thing I go for on recordings.

    #6: Obvious Santana influence, maybe even a cover for all I know. Interesting instrumentation that fits together well. Too overtly Santana-like to be a purchase.

    #7: Very much like piano, percussion, soprano. Lyrics OK, but not knocked out by the delivery. Would like to hear more of the group, might purchase a relatively vocal-free recording.

    #8: Nice tune, agree with chillout and GG comments above, but the intro was too bossa-like to be fully in my wheelhouse.

    #9: Overall like this, but not digging the tenor. Surprised it's a fairly big name. Got the Dead quotes, which are funny and unusual in jazz context. Something I'd enjoy in a club but not in purchase territory.

    #10: Love everything about this save some misgivings about the male speaker. Liked the speaker more on 2nd and 3d listens. Disappointed that I had no guess despite owning a couple of recordings with this leader. In the "consider purchase" column.

     

    Thanks for the BFT. Listened straight through last night and enjoyed the program. No time for much sleuthing, but curious about #3. Lots to like and explore, no outright misses.

  23. Bartok String Quartets

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    20 minutes ago, JSngry said:

    Not sure about CDrs at that price?

    Price seems high for CD-R, but IMO it could be something like Presto Music's "Presto CDs", which are pressed on demand and presumably CD-R. That would actually square with the Sony Classical page perpetually showing "today" as release date. OTOH, "Presto CDs" seem to be offered at all kinds of prices, see for instance .

  24. Bartok String Quartets

    in Classical Discussion

    Posted · Edited by T.D.

    22 minutes ago, JSngry said:

    Sony Classical does have the 90s version in print, but....I ain't feeling that at all.

    I went to that site also, and I'm willing to wager that if you go there tomorrow, the release day will be that day.

    Fully agreed (italics added). It seems like that type of programming "feature".

     

    But some detective work:

    Discogs showed a release page for a 2010 CD-R reissue, with a link to ArkivMusic.

    The ArkivMusic link was dead, but a search of ArkivMusic yields a 2-CD set for $29.99 (edit: "3 CD set")

    I leave it to more intrepid searchers to determine whether those are in stock, CD-R or CD, etc.

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