Ron S

Mulligan CJB . . . . . . . (drum roll) . . . . . . . GONE.

Too late--I've already taken great personal offense. Actually, their box sets usually are the exact same ones sold in the stores, with NO BMG Direct bar code. I've ordered many box sets from BMG and yourmusic.com, and iirc, only one (Sonny Rollins Prestige) had a BMG Direct bar code, and other than that it's identical to those sold elsewhere.

yourmusic is a separate "club" run by the BMG Music Club. Essentially the same inventory. I think some confusion is caused by the term "club". With both books and records, "clubs" typically sold (still sell?) different editions than those available in stores--e.g., book club editions were typically printed on different/cheaper paper, were not part of the publisher's regular printing run, etc. With virtually all BMG Direct CDs, the CDs themselves are generally identical to the ones sold through regular retail outlets, and the packaging appears to be identical (and in many cases actually IS identical) to that sold through regular retail outlets, except for the different bar code noted above. In fact, BMG specifically avoids the term "club", instead using "BMG Music Service" or "BMG Direct", probably to characterize itself as a distribution service as opposed to a "club". And as one of the largest producers/distributors of CDs in the world, BMG is hardly some inferior alternative, as some might believe. It's just a cheaper alternative.

Some do and some don't. But even with the ones that do, it's generally only a difference in the bar code (where it also says "Mfd. for BMG Direct . . . under license"). Very subtle. Otherwise pretty much identical to the "regular" issue.

Disc 2.

You missed Jackie McLean's "Demon's Dance". Unless someone else picked it up earlier and I overlooked it. But in any case, YOU still missed it.

Moncur Select--disc 1

So Hans, "Todd" is your screen name on that other Board? Wish I had the resources to purchase and the time to listen to so many sets... Really! I wonder if "Todd" ever listens to anything else? As I know nothing about the Yves Nat set, I (quickly) read Todd's review and it's rather mixed. His review of the Stephen (Bishop) Kovacevich set, which I've never heard either, is mainly negative, especially regarding the later recordings in the set - and so is the review of Jan de Kruijff, one of the foremost Dutch classical music journalists. The earliest (i.e. early 1990s) recordings in Kovacevich's set seem to be the best by far. On the other hand, the latest Penguin Guide gives the complete Kovacevich set a rosette and says it's one of the best available, and an earlier edition gave his individual disc of 26 and 29 both a "key" AND a rosette and specifically said his Hammerklavier is one of the best ever recorded. So I guess it's just a matter of taste--or pride in a pianist now living in the UK.

So Hans, "Todd" is your screen name on that other Board? Wish I had the resources to purchase and the time to listen to so many sets... Really! I wonder if "Todd" ever listens to anything else?

So Hans, "Todd" is your screen name on that other Board?

FWIW, Jed Distler of Classics Today.com (and now Gramophone) rated both the Gulda set (here)--warts and all--and the Frank set (here) very highly. Of course, our own local "experts" ("oh my darlin', clementine . . ." ) may have differing views (e.g., Distler uses Arrau, Goode, and Kempff as his "reference" recordings for these reviews) (and yes, clem, I'm looking into both Nat and Brautigam and appreciate your perspective ).

Yep.

Based on the track listing, it looks like it's the recent Blue Note reissue.

And presumably much better sound.

Of course you are--I get the joke. Why would you possibly buy a Bolton comp when you already own every recording he's ever made?

It isn't that bad.

8283 ain't nothin' to sneeze at, either. EDIT: And since I started to post this, it's already up to 8284.

Here's the 1201 Music page again, which includes a link to track samples. Here is the post to which Cliff referred, which includes other Hawes recommendations . Although in a different musical vein, the other lesser known Hamton Hawes trio disc I strongly recommend is "Bird Song". And if you haven't sampled Hawes' '50's and '60's Contemporary recordings, do yourself a favor and do so.

But to stay on his good side, you also should tell him that you like his CTI work even better.

Did I ever tell you that Sarah went to Amanda's school (before going on to Curtis, of course)? I don't know if you've seen her play before, but she's a lot of fun to watch--very "physical".

Hey, you should hear Donna Lee on this bad boy! You gotta have some pretty long arms to work the slide on that MoFo.

'cept these 2 should be in the "Contemporary boxes you'd like to see" thread.

Yes, still a good deal. Total compliance from me. Captain Pedantic in da house... Hey, when the only thing you can do well is spell--and maybe spit through some elongated brass tubing on occasion--you gotta show off whenever you can.

See here. Oh sweet! Thanks for info. Ron. Yes, I'm already a member of yourmusic.com It never occured to me to look on there website. Thanks for the input fellas and keep adding your thoughts if you're inclined. Lots of great classical discs at yourmusic.com from labels like DG, Philips, Hyperion, etc.

I told you months ago how you can easily put together virtually the entire contents of that box with currently in-print CDs. Refresh your memory here, and quit your complainin' already!