mikeweil

Yesterday and today:

Saddest thing is, he was about to record a new album with strings - the samples on the first page of his website https://www.wolfgang-schlueter.com/ were very promising (scroll down). Or listen here:

This is the CD reissue with the complete session, part trio, part with big band. Groove was a great fit with a big band.

One of the world'd best vibes players! And one of Germany's best jazz musicians. The news was in the radio today, which tells of his reputation - obituaries of jazz people are rare. R.I.P.

Hubert Hoffmann was the lutenist in yeserday's evening concert - surprisingly this beautiful music seems to be his only solo recording: p.s. just found two more that seem to be long out of print. What's available is a disc of Radolt lute concertos with Ars Antiqua Austria.

Preparing for the performaance of Ars Antiqua Austria tonight: ... better seen in the reissue:

Tonight: ARS ANTIQUA AUSTRIA Gunar Letzbor, Violine & Leitung Magdalena Hasibeder, Cembalo Hubert Hoffmann, Laute/ Barockgitarre Jan Krigovsky, Violone Biber - Spaßvogel, Rebell und Zigeunergeiger Ein Künstler der keinen Respekt vor Traditionen und Regeln kannte. Er war der Erste, der die virtuose Technik der Zigeuner in der Kunstmusik salonfähig machte. Für seinen Dienstherren Karl Liechtenstein Kastelkorn, dem Erzbischof von Olmütz, schrieb er die berühmte «Sonata representativa», in der er tierische Laute auf der Geige imitiert (Hahn, Kuckuck, Wachtel, Frosch ecc...). Wer waren seine Vorbilder? - Mit Sicherheit der Wiener Hofkapellmeister H. Schmelzer, wahrscheinlich auch dessen Vorgänger A. Bertali. Der italienische Geigenvirtuose C.A. Lonati, lange Zeit Vorgesetzter von A. Corelli in Rom, nimmt in seiner großangelegte Sonatensammlung, die ebenfalls Kaiser Leopold I gewidmet ist, deutliche Anleihen bei den geigentechnischen Errungenschaften Bibers. Some great violin chamber music from the 17th century by one of the best historically informed violinist of this time.

Contractual reasons?

I usually avoid this label, but this disc collects some rare broadcast reordings from 1945-46 issued on a number od rare LP issues that are hard to find. Great music throughout. Plus, I got a new copy dirt cheap. https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Lamplighters-Jazz-Sessions/release/2754639 Where else can you hear Stan Kenton with Ray Linn and Zutty Singleton (!) playing like in a Harlem bar impromptu session?

Yesterday: Especially the last one I listened to many times - an excellent sounding recording on a beautiful Ruckers-type harpsichord. This music goes back to 100 years before Bach but laid the foundation that he built on, and I think it should be mandatory listening for every Bach fan. These are not just predecessors but fantastic keyboard virtuosos leaving behind some very demanding music for the composer as well as the isteners. Bach studied these pieces whenever he got hold of some. The Yoann Moulin disc, btw, is the first of a series covering German harpsichord music between 1600 and the early 18th century - looks like some great anthology in the making.

Now that's a theme everybody knows! A few years ago I even heard it played on a harpsichord, when Naoki Kitaya played it as an encore to his great recital on a copy of the "Colmar Ruckers". R.I.P.

Maybe it's just the way the name sounds: Try exchanging "orchestra" and "big band" in the following; Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band The other version sounds not right - and I think it's more than what we are used to.

Just played selections from The Jazz Scene, mostly Carney, Strayhorn, and Hawkins: Now Carney Verve LP (from the twofer with two Ben Webster LPs):

That's a good one! Will pull it out later, too, in memory of Roy Hargrove.

That's sad news. Haven't been listening to much of his music lately, but I always enjoyed the CDs I bought. R.I.P.

Disc 1

.... and the sound is terrific - I have the original Direct-Cut-LP issue.

Wanted to have that one for years after listening to one LP side of Okeh Wild Bill Davis on a sampler double album "Okeh Jazz". Most of the reissues of rare material by Spnaish labels are out of print and some go for very big money. Found an affordable copy only a few days ago. Pulled ist from the mailbox this morning - it cooks.

That's a beautiful disc - but I'd never play it by daylight! Some different oriental music over here - the third Kazazian release I bought, and I begin to like his music better than Rabih Abou-Khalil's ..... https://www.discogs.com/Georges-Kazazian-Sagate/release/3975580

So far I alway found what I was looking for using the forum search function.

Complete audio track of a blindfold test Leonard Feather conducted with Charlie Parker, including the music played to him, and an introductory comment. Rare opportunity to hear Bird (and his wife, who was present) talking.