J.A.W.

Excellent news. I have some of this stuff on 2 John R.T. Davies-mastered Hep CDs.

The Coleman Hawkins set will be available in time for Xmas this year - see David's post on the Night Lights site.

BBC obit

According to the discographies in the booklets of my Sequel/Atco CDs The Coasters, One by One and Coast Along with the Coasters Carl Gardner sang lead on most songs.

NY Times obit

Carl Gardner, co-founder and lead singer of the Coasters, has died at 83. He was their last surviving member. link

Not the last ones: Richard Williams also played on the 1961 Gigi Gryce album Reminiscin', while the three you mentioned date from 1960. As far as I know it's never been reissued on CD.

Slightly off-topic, but I wish Universal or a licensee would reissue the Reminiscin' LP on CD.

Thanks Jeff. J&R don't ship outside the United States, so it wouldn't have made any difference anyway. Found a copy - visited my friend Sem van Gelder's record & CD store today and he had one. [edited to correct a stupid error]

Any news on that one?

I've tried recordings with fortepiano of works by composers like Mozart and Beethoven, and I can't stand the sound of the instruments that were used. Thin, some sounded like a "tinkle box" as Larry so aptly described it, and they all fell away in forte passages, especially in the higher octaves. Not for me.

Why don't both of you contact them yourselves: info@mosaicrecords.com.

All three sets can now be pre-ordered, here. Audio clips and discographical info are also available, just click on the titles of the sets and go the right-hand column.

And are they legit or is it a "grey market" label?

I am still looking for the OJC CD of Ray Bryant's Alone with the Blues in excellent or better condition. PayPal is my only payment option. Please PM me if you're selling one or know where I can get one. Thanks.

Sad news.

Well, I got "Bijlsma II" in the meantime and love it, both the interpretation and his tone. I hasten to add that I still haven't heard "Bijlsma I", though.

I find it strange that denigrating performers who are clearly at the top of the tree (whatever your feelings about their particular interpretation) is seen as perfectly acceptable by those who want to cosy up to the 'Great Minds' of this board. Question the Great Minds themselves and the acolytes come pouring in. How dare you express a contrary interpretation to our heroes? I'm all for wide open discussion, but rendered with some degree of humility, a very clear awareness that all we do is express things from our own restricted perspective. It's the Olympian 'I'm bring the truth down from Arafat' line that I won't buy (apologies for the Classical/Biblical clash!). Sorry if that does not fit with the requirement to ooze sycophancy towards the Great Minds. I can only speak for myself, but I don't give a **** what those "Great Minds" think about performances and interpretations I love or hate or am indifferent about. I'm only interested in what some people here whose opinions I trust (not necessarily the "Great Minds") think about recordings I haven't heard (yet).

Clara Haskil is one of my favourite pianists from a past era, but you'd better be careful and picky when you're considering her piano concerto recordings; on some of them she was accompanied by - to my ears - truly horrendous orchestras, which spoil the whole thing for me.

Anyone?

The LP and CD covers were designed by his last record company, the now defunct Philips label, not by Brendel himself

The name of the Swiss city is Montreux.

I've used them a few times with positive results. They're based in Switzerland and as far as I know they're legit. Grooves, Inc.

Isn't that what this board is all about?

"Characterful" sloppy, that's a new one. Yuck. I don't understand how anyone can enjoy a performance that is marred by poor playing, no matter how "characterful" it is. To each their own, I guess. By the way, it's "J.A.W." - judging by the number of names you have misspelt you seem to be typing too fast