David Ayers

Thanks guys. Actually I was set at Standard and switched to Clear Type which I think is slightly better... I also changed to a better resolution. Again that has made a difference. It still isn't great though. I'm told the quality should be OK so maybe I just don't get on well with this kind of screen. (I wear contacts which I don't think helps).

My work just bought me a new PC - great. But the flat screen monitor is fuzzy as hell and the colors are terrible. Do I get the idea that the supplier is palming us off with junk or are these flat screens often like this? Should I keep it or kick up a fuss to get it replaced?

What if it's in the middle of your vacation, and you have to come back rom Barbados to buy it?

You joke, but until the promised Volume II is released my upstairs paint will continue to flake off the walls.

Careless talk costs lives...

"Show me the Way to Amarillo" Fellow UK-ers will know why.

Too true. Or maybe we should see those solos as the still point in an all-too-rapidly turning world?

If it's worth that much I might sell one of my spare copies...

Jazz from the Shamrock Shore

Irish Jazz Scene

Some Parker not to miss are the solo records he cut for Incus (Saxophone Solos/Monoceros/Six of One/The Snake Decides - first two currently on Chronoscope, other two on psi). By the way, do all you guys know Peter Stubley's site? Good source on European Free Improv.

I noticed this a few days ago and even started a thread about it. It is a peculiar disfunction. At the monet of writing there are only a few sets missing from the site - this is exactly what happened a few days ago when I last looked. Edit: uhh, monet of writing... is that like the james joyce of oil paint?

I've always thought of Mahler as being on steroids. I must be getting old...

Or maybe you were thinking of me. I accept paypal. Although I'm not selling anything.

Two contrasting suggestions: A recital of modern sonatas for flute: MARTINU Sonata No.1 PROKOFIEV Sonata No.2 HINDEMITH Sonata played by Mathieu Dufour with Aleksandar Madzar (p) on Harmonia Mundi (budget price, all worthwhile music) BOULEZ ...explosante-fixe... (effectively an amazing modernist flute concerto, c/w works for piano(s) Notations I-XII, Structures II played by Pierre-Laurent Aimard) Ensemble Intercontemporain/Boulez. Newly reissued on DG at mid-ish price. Amazing.

Oh come ON! That was too easy. Now ask me a hard one!

My feeling is that it was right to follow the migration of musical elements with the result that European harmonic/melodic elements were given a viable looking genealogy, their convergence with West African and Arab melodic and rhythmic elements was mapped, and features some detialed investigation of the emergence of the 12 bar form in the late 19thC. I felt the account added some complexity to the easily overstated formulation that Blues=Black and African. It also gives increased material to your question about what is 'folk' in the context of commercial publishing and urbanisation.

A useful source on this issue is Peter van der Merwe, Origins of the Popular Style: The Antecedents of Twentieth Century Popular Music. It is a well thought-out argument which proceeds from musicological rather than sociological grounds, and makes important suggestions about the route by which European and specifically Scots/Irish folk music (in turn influenced by Arab music) had a formative influence on the Blues. I can't summarize the argument from memory but anyone with a scholarly interest is recommended to pursue it. (I reviewed it in the Journal of American Studies, some years back, if you have access to that journal).

...and now they're all back how weird

I just accessed the Mosaic site and got about a quarter of the existing Mosaic sets displayed. After a couple of refreshes a few minutes later it seemed to go back to normal... but then I noticed that some sets were still missing... hmmm

I've also discovered that spittle rarely works well. Especially if you happen to be chewing gum when you apply it.

In case anyone on the board hasn't picked this up (I know that Michael F. has, obviously), the Live Trane controversy is also documented on David Wild's site, here.

Same here - and I'd never ever let down Wes or John...

Leaving on shrinkwrap can also cause split seams, usually at the top in the middle. I think this is because the card expands due to slow absorption of moisture through the shrinkwrap. Not the same issue as warping the record, which I have also seen, usually in cheaper vinyl which maybe hasn't been stored properly.