martini

Let us know if anyone gets a response. I've sent a few emails to this place regarding Impetus titles, with no response. I'd love to hear that the vinyl might still be available.

I haven't spun mine in awhile, but I recall thinking that it must have been sourced from an audience tape--the recording sounds a little distant and the hall "boomy," though the performance is great. I think Impetus is/was legit. They also made a nice LP with Lol Coxhill called Frogdance for which I have been searching. I think that label might be out of business.

The pressing on this one is great (heh heh)! However, the copy I picked up (from an Italian seller) advertised it as a VG+ when it is clearly a VG by Goldmine standards. That's okay. It is still a fine spin and great music.

Bennink/Mengelberg/Rutherford/Schiano - A European Proposal (Horo HDP 35-36) Han Bennink, drums, various percussion, cymbals, bass clarinet, fiddle, whistle, toys; Misha Mengelberg, piano; Paul Rutherford, trombone, euphonium; Mario Schiano, alto saxophone. Finally scooped this one up. . . .

I bought a copy of Push/Pull a few years ago for over $100, but recently saw one on eBay sell for well under that. It is an absolute keeper. I imagine that Hat Hut made enough of them that you will find one eventually. It is a great spin.

Can anyone chime in on the sound quality of the Bix portions of the Mosaic set versus the Bix Restored CDs? I have the latter, but now I'm stressing over the Mosaic set, as it is running low. I love this music, so if it is a definite upgrade, it would make the Mosaic set essential as well. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Yeah, I understand. Rexroth comes across as a bit academic on this LP, but I'm a fan of his writing, so the jazz infusion makes me biased in my appreciation of the record. He even recites a nice piece to the tune of Ellington's "Things Ain't What They Used to Be." He was a moderately big jazz fan, and even wrote a nice piece about Ornette Coleman back in the day.

I learn a lot of useful information from that forum. I appreciate that passionate audiophiles talk about how the music sounds, even if it is not music that I'm personally into. Some of those cats have far better gear than I will ever own, but I find their insights helpful, whether as mere information or opinion. It is a nice place.

I feel fortunate to have seen Black Sabbath at a couple of the Ozzfests in recent years. There are not many bands from that era that can still boast original lineups, and when I saw them for the first time in '04, I recall thinking that some of those guys, especially Ozzy and Bill, probably should have been dead long ago. They were still fantastic. I'll be the first to admit that I bought Ozzy's new book (i.e., the book someone transcribed for him--that in itself must be work!), but I haven't gotten into it deeply. It will be one of those "read in one day and give to a friend" books, but I hope that he can recall a few good Black Sabbath stories.

Kenneth Rexroth: Poetry and Jazz at the Blackhawk (Fantasy 7008; red vinyl) Some of it sounds a little old-fashioned, but most of it is straight up beat "hip."

Cecil/Jimmy were also broadcast on television in 1983 in Germany and in 1984 in France. The German tape features his sextet along with several dancers. The Paris '84 broadcast is with the Winged Serpent era orchestra (great lineup!). I have grainy tapes of both, and would love to buy better copies, if they would be released.

Anthony Braxton's Solo (Skopje) 1995: Not a great pressing, but well-recorded and a dynamite performance. And I'm hoping for the 15 LP box of yesterday's "Genome" on 180g vinyl.

Which Mengelberg/Bennink duo do you have? I have a few ICPs at this point (002, 003, 007/008, 009, 011, 020, 022). With my crappy income, I've had to prioritize on what I spend money, but eventually I'd like a set of all of the early ICP LPs. An original (handmade cover) of New Acoustic Swing Duo and the low-fi flexi discs (ICP 013) are likely out of my financial reach, but the former was reissued a couple of times. Those will be the ones I can afford. Yeah, I love those ICPs. Great music. I still need a copy of Groupcomposing too. Even if the music does not live up to the hype of the lineup, it is still a great cover:

ICP Tentet: Tetterettet (ICP 020) Misha Mengelberg, piano; John Tchicai, alto and soprano saxophones; Gilius Van Bergeyk, alto saxophone, oboe; Peter Bennink, alto and sopranino saxophones; Peter Brötzmann, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones; Bert Koppelaar, trombone; Tristan Honsinger, cello; Michel Waisvisz, crackle box; Alan Silva, bass; Han Bennink, drums, bass clarinet.

Joe Henderson: The Milestone Years (Disc 1) It is the best $11 I've ever spent.

I've enjoyed this thread, and I'm listening to Marsh's Ne Plus Ultra (the reissue on Hat), and I have to say that it is some of the most dynamite music I've ever heard.

Harry Miller Quintet: Down South (Vara Jazz 4213) Harry Miller, bass; Marc Charig, cornet, alphorn; Wolter Wierbos, trombone; Sean Bergin, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones; Han Bennink, drums.

That is truly a great find. I found that album at the Music Exchange in Kansas City in the late 1980s, for about $35. That is the only copy I have ever seen. These might be the "sickest" finds ever. Period. Congrats, you two.

I cannot recall if it was in the Lock, Radano, or Heffley book(s), but I remember reading that Braxton did not like this cover. I'm almost certain that he had no control over the "artwork." Side 1 is a nice solo piece; Side 2 is the first recorded piano composition (Comp. 16, I recall). Enjoy the music. Braxton gives you his all here, as always. Let me know if you want to trade that new copy for a VG/VG+ copy (he he) .

That is a great deal. I bought a copy of that LP about 15 years ago. This record features one of the strangest covers of any Braxton LP. I'm not sure if it is disrespectful or honorific. I choose not to form an opinion either way. It is a good listen. My copy:

Thanks for the heads up on Continent. I'll look into that LP. I just finished spinning the entirety of the Tchicai/Geerken on Qbico, and the pressing is more of a "miss" than a "hit" (especially my side 4). It is still a good listen, and I'm grateful for the release.

Peter Brotzmann/Han Bennink: Still Quite Popular After All Those Years (#756; BRO 4 on Eremite) Ah, kindred spirits reunite. Lovely.

There is an interesting article by a Professor named R.G Tobin about this topic (home runs and 'roids). I just came across it this week. It is available as a .pdf here. I think some might find it interesting reading. I was a big McGwire fan from day one (I was an A's fan back in the '80s). I would have liked to have heard him say, "I cheated myself and the game. Although my swing got better over the years, we will never know if it was improved technique, or the drugs coupled with better technique, that allowed me to hit 70 HRs. Maybe without the steroids I would have hit 50. My greatest achievement could have been a performance-enhanced sham." But McGwire clearly cannot confront this likely truth, as it would destroy the guy's psyche. He has to live with himself, so it is reasonable that he has to convince himself that his statistics are "legit." I think the same is probably true for the other suspects from the '90s.

I've been searching for this one for some time. I'd like to find a copy under $70, but so far most have been in the $100 range. I have heard it via a blog, and it is a great listen. It will definitely be in my collection some day.

It is too bad that Qbico has folded. They made some nice records, with a touch of care. I don't have the Tchicai/Geerken/Moye Praxis LPs, but are there any on Praxis that have not been reissued by Leo Records? I'm just getting a taste of the Qbico LPs today (they arrived on the doorstep this morning), but will be giving them a deep listen this weekend. I can already feel that it jives with the bloodstream. That alone makes this a very good day. Records like this are the best.