David Ayers

Oops, I missed that whole discussion. (Previous post now deleted.) I don't blame you, it has a very unhelpful title. um

The reference to age is a way to approach the question of whether and in what way this constitutes 'late work' on Adorno's (Beethoven) model. Whether people care to work though what that means - or whether indeed the author has - is another matter.

Mods, can you merge this with the other grumpy old men threads?

I need help to get a time machine...that happened in March of this year... Ha ha. I got that (after I posted) but in fairness to myself I think it was the link on their site that was out of date. It really *was* a brave choice for such a company. Strangely, I see on Opera Base that Die Tote Stadt has received quite a few performances recently. While it is of interest as belonging to the whole febrile period which led to Lulu I can't quite understand why there has been so much interest in it....

The Miles set is on sale at Amazon UK for 24 UKP ...

Advice advice advice. Dallas Opera is doing Die Tote Stadt this season. They may need your help. ROH needed mine. But there was nothing I could do for them. Brave. As they say.

The aria which begins and ends the second video above is Cleopatra's Quando Voglio from Sartorio's Julius Caesar in Egypt. I'd never heard it myself before but it is a favourite on what is one of my favourite recital discs. PS the Schaeffer DVD was made at Glyndebourne about ten years ago. I saw it on TV and don't own it but I have a suspicion the quality and aspect ratio may not be what you would wish for - not what I would wish for anyway. I am thinking of ordering the new Barbara Hannigan one myself.

So don't agree. It's a great idea and everyone should do it. I want more. I remember the most famous solo on that record note for note. That said I haven't played it for years even though I have rebought it even recently on CD. I actually don't care for KoB. I'd like a remake of ESP next. How many jazz albums stand scrutiny for every track and solo? They should all be redone. Inept? Who said music was easy?

My last Wozzeck was Keith Warner's production at the ROH last year. Crack cast and deserves a DVD. Wozzeck : Simon Keenlyside Marie: Karita Mattila Captain – Gerhard Siegel Doctor – John Tomlinson

The last Lulu I saw was in English with Lisa Saffer. I'd love to see Petibon do it. There are actually THREE videos of her in the role.

In some ways I'd like something different than even an augmented Snakeoil for the next ECM. The ideas there are already in place. Still, the appearance of the second Snakeoil showed there is an audience so that's all good.

A good choice probably. Only thing for me is, this stuff lures you in. I not even interested in Bill Evans and I've got several boxes, some unopened. I have still- sealed Mosaics. And I have box sets I started work on but, uh... A great box set maybe is one you actually listen to all the way through more than once....

This has to be seen as a human venture, not as product manufacture, although product manufacture is part of its concept. It's an enormous challenge! And people will stare at this like watching Houdini trying to escape from a shark tank!

Iverson is spot on re. conceptual art.

Enough already on ECM aesthetic How about a 5 CD live box from ECM ;) (Including quips, witticisms and Happy Birthday. With a free cupcake.)

Well, maybe the first thing to get hold of is that imitating what musicians have done on record is an integral part of learning to play rock or jazz. It is a way to learn the exact techniques of the greats down to every detail. Every jazz musician has done this. Second, they told me in Nashville of a local band that weekly plays a classic and beloved rock album note for note. Those who have heard them claim that they are better than the originals, though the same, note for note. There may be more than the - evidently super-disciplined - band I was told of that does this, which shows that album imitation is an established practice, and leads to the third point - That as well as the exercise in discipline that is involved in this form of exact imitation, there is an extraordinary effect for the listener, for with KoB, as with the classic albums the rock band in Nashville imitates, the listener may well already know every note. So as audiophiles notice differences between versions of KoB based on the fact they can remember many or all of the details, listeners familiar with KoB - to whatever degree - will have an extraordinarily uncanny experience, because NOTHING WILL ACTUALLY BE THE SAME. But then of course, on repetition, it will be the same as itself. But will it sound the same? and how will it impact on the auditor's memory of the original? for some it may well be the original. This is the chain of considerations that we need to take into account if we want to think about what this is. Really, it is not what it is, and that entrains a series of thoughts about what it means for music to be basically a reproductive art, one in which technological reproduction has supervened on the artisanal. I think it is that experience of non-identity in identity - that is the key really to what and how this album is.

That is what makes the Plugged Nickel LP set an all-time great.

I guess the most recent actually new release from Emanem was the 2012 CD from Haste (feat. the mighty Laubrock ). Looks like Martin has settled back to archival releases since but who knows if that can change.

I'd caution on both MJQ and Threadgill. You'd in a way already know if you had stomach enough for either. Stream some stuff if you're not sure. The Dial you want for sure unless you go for the Parker Dial/Savoy. With Mingus again I think you'd know already if you had to have this. In conclusion, er...

Urge is a piano less quartet with Booker Ervin. I have the Japanese Fontana LP. I'd say the LP is maybe findable but the CD no way. If you google it I'm certain you'll turn up a download...

Add that a set can be great even if it contains some unnecessary and even dreary music.

So true. Who wouldn't want to dedicate their life to generating technically obsolescent products for middle-age guys to hoard in their hobby room. Ars lunga vita brevis.

Gets cold where you live though. Brr.

One thing about Laubrock is she never shouts at you. But she is waiting for you.

Overall the samples on the Mosaic website sound incredibly clear to me.