mjazzg

Old and New Dreams - Old and New Dreams [ECM} the version of 'Lonely Woman' is one of the best with a bass solo that says it all so eloquently

I've listened just three times and as yet it hasn't knocked TT&F off its pedestal yet. TT&F and the live experience of the Octtet playing it has been one of the musical highlights of the last few years. My first impressions of Mise are that it sounds somewhat too similar to TT&F except, and it's a big except, for the tracks with significant electronics - these are just the sort of development I was hoping Lehman would make to his 'signature' sound. Having said this, the playing and composing on Mise are top notch. I still hear a slice of Steve Coleman in the compositions and don't quite get the 'originality' tag that was so heavily applied to TT&F' sound (and by inference to thie release) - this is in no way a criticism of Lehman who I believe has developed a very interesting sound and compositional approach I just don't think it came out of nowhere (not something I've ever heard Lehman claim but many critics seemed to) I'm hoping that as I spend more time with Mise (starting right now) it will reveal to me what it's revealed to you Xybert

All geared up to see them headline Reading Festival in 1979 and they cancelled (replaced by Nils Lofgren of all people). Never saw them live and the records faded pretty quickly from my attention but for a while they soundtracked some teenage angst

It's good to hear these personal tributes, from those that met him, today. They reinforce what I'd hoped was the case from the distance of a fan

Rickie Lee Jones - Pop Pop [Geffen] Charlie putting his stamp on yet another album

Marion Brown - Recollections: Ballads and Blues for Alto saxophone [Creative Works]

Liberation Music Orchestra - Ballad of the Fallen [ECM] playing this for Charlie. So sad he's now amongst 'the Fallen' but he left just beautiful and heartfelt music like this as his legacy

Such a great shame. A phenonemal musician. He played in so many contexts and was always immediately identifiable. I always admired how he seemingly wore his heart on his sleeve either as a player of great romantic themes, his love of LA and most definitely his political stance without losing any integrity. I'll be playing 'Ballad of the Fallen' today because it was hearing that album that was my first exposure to his music but also my first real exposure to Jazz - thanks Charlie for that introduction. It's nice to read tributes like Clifford's that mention he was "super nice" to be with at a time like this. I'd always hoped he was. Silence....

To be fair to FIFA (not a phrase I thought I'd ever write) they have tightened the rules considerably in recent years so that the most common causes of concussion are seen as foul play and often can lead to yellow (or even red) cards. A high foot and flailing/leading arms/elbows in aerial challenges are dealt with much more regularly and severely these days. The third most likely reason for a concussion, the accidental clash of heads Like Mascherano in the Holland game, is something you can't really legislate against without outlawing aerial challenges altogether. Certainly in the last 10/15 years football's become a lot less of a contact sport and without sounding like an old timer (which I guess I am when it comes to years watching it) if the trend continues it will change the game beyond recognition. I think they do have to look at automatic substitutions for concussed players with no return to that match and independent medical advice dictating the length of the lay-off

Marshall Allen and Kash Killon - Two stars in The Universe [Little Rocket Records] beautifully recorded, very intimate

the result or the performance? The result foremost, but I suspect the game wasn't very enjoyable for a neutral. I actually enjoyed the 90 minutes. I was more like a chess match and tactically intriguing with both teams set up to blunt the opponents goal threat. I thought Argentina were better at shaking off the shackles than the Dutch who seemed to present very little threat.After 90 minutes I took the neutral's prerogative and turned off as I thought it might end up where it did

A great run of albums That sounds an interesting book....can you tell us more?

Yep, totally bonkers Another thumbs up for 'Girl from Ipanema'. As mad as David Luiz's defending and just as entertaining. One of the very first Jazz albums that connected with me and I suspect that track had a lot to do with it

Thanks for the alert David and also for the reasoned response to Mr Nessa's post. I'm certainly going to be digging into this music - music I only knew by reputation and 'scarcity value'. I'd never have bought the box not only because of the price but because of the poor production values that a number of purchasers commented on. Good to see some CDs are still about. If I like what I hear I may well purchase. Really looking forward to diving into the Pool (sorry...). Still kicking myself for missing the Vortex residency.

the result or the performance?

Certainly Argentina looking most comfortable. They're successfully thwarting any threat from Robben and RVP

May the best team win!

An impressive ride....maybe it's a sign for tonight....hopefully the waether will be better in Brazil

Jemeel Moondoc Muntu - The Intrepid Live in Poland [PolJazz}

I hope you get to see some of it as Germany are playing some great football even if Brazil are helping them to

How many will Germany score? Astonishing Germany, embarrasing Brazil and now 5! This isn't only about Neymar not being there. They're missing Tiago Silva the most

When I catalogued for public libraries years back I recall we took the title on the disc as the 'master' and referenced the others. Whether it's the same for discographies I don't know

The Paul Horn Quintet - Something Blue [hifi jazz]

I have to disagree. Costa Rica set out to blunt the, until then, very potent Dutch attacking force. By doing this they recognised the strength of their opponents and played to their own strengths which was very strong organisation and teamwork. Up to this match CR had played a high pressing, counter-attacking progressive style of football but it takes no tactical genius to know that continuation of that would have left them wide open to Robben and RVP. Their defensive play was top class, showing a well drilled and cohesive team ethic. I don't think they set out at the beginning to play for penalties but to prevent the Dutch from scoring and if the opportunity came to grab a goal from somewhere, be that within the 90 or 120 minutes. In fact towards the end of extra time somewhat surprisingly CR threw their hitherto caution to the wind and started too open out in attack, trying to win within the 120 minutes. If they had been playing exclusively for penalties they wouldn't have done this. The game was a great watch and CR's tactics added to that as did the Dutch attempts to break down the defence. There is a history of teams setting up defensively and trying to stifle more potent attacking opponents (Inter Milan won the Champions Leaggue a few seasons ago by doing similarly). Defensive doesn't necessarily mean boring or negative and is a valid tactic in itself. The comparison of CR to Greece in 2004 I think is unfair. In 2004 Greece played cleverly recognising their weaknesses and strengths and used teamwork to over come stronger teams - in itself a great achievement. However the difference between them and Costa Rica the other evening is that Greece used the same tactic for every game. CR used this defenseive tactic only for that one game and had previously played an open and attacking style (ask Uruguay etc) I agree with Clunky that Costa Rica were a credit to the WC not depite but because of how they played in all their matches Now this is the view of a neutral. I can imagine that watching from a Dutch perspective it may have looked different. As for Krul? I didn't like it at the time, it seemd too aggresive but I'm coming to believe that as it was within the rules of the game then it was a masterstroke (I just don't have to like it)

During the 2012 Olympic in London the Dutch fan centre was a few hundred metres from my front door. It felt like the whole area had turned orange for the duration. Great crowds, mad dress sense and everyone very friendly even after seemingly heavy consumption of the sponsor's beer. I always think the sawthes of orange at major sporting tournaments is a great testament to the Dutch. Long may it continue. Hey, we even borrowed "an Orange" for our royal family a while back - maybe that's why we appreciate the display