Daniel A

Hi folks! The reason brownie and couw have already received their discs is that they (for reasons unclear to myself) were included in the very first batch of discs I sent away, mostly to remote locations like Israel, Brazil and Russia. I also sent away a package earlier to Jim Dye who is helping me with mailing a few discs further in his area (You're one of them BTW, Dan). I'm mailing the last discs tomorrow (which are going directly to participants); it's a public holiday today here too...

Actually, I remember that very post very well, too! I believe Chuck said that he had used smileys maybe two or three times ever, raising questions if maybe these rare posts by Chuck could even have a commercial value on eBay. I tried to find them by inserting the code level versions of the smileys, but the BNBB "search function" (anyone remember that one, eh?) couldn't handle them...

I've just started to mail out the discs. I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to all of you who offered to help me with shipping. However, I've decided to mail most of the discs directly to the participants, because the savings would be minimal unless I'd include three or more additional packages to each distributor. Besides, this way hopefully the time span between the first and the last receiver won't be too long.

I have similar feelings as Bill's regarding 'The Piano'. In my opinion it's as lightweight Herbie ever got - on an acoustical piano that is...

I think the aforementioned consensus had it that René is Jackie's adoptive son...

Brandon, my concept of an A/B test is pretty much what you're describing too. For just the reason that I've never had access to two identical CD players when doing such a test, I've never been able to compare two CD masterings in that extensive way, but I've been practising it when comparing different media types like MP3s/CDs/LPs etc. It may of course be just my prejudiced idea of an A/B test, but I imagine that subtile differences would be easier to spot when you're given the option of simultaneously switching back and forth between the two sources during playback. Edit: I also agree with Claude that setting the volume equally between the two sources is rather more important.

I had the opportunity to see the "film", and it was not something I'd like to do again. However, the album is one of my Zappa favourites. I have an 80s CD release with some mislocated track indexes. Is the later Rykodisc release fixed in this regard?

Hi everybody! The PMs are arriving in a fast pace - fun to see that so many are interested! And I'd like to thank those of you who have kindly offered to help me with mailing a few discs! As things stand, every saved cent is worthwhile! I'll uppdate the initial post with a list of all participants so far.

OK, thanks! Unless special concerned is voiced, the default package design will be cardboard.

I think I remember that there was some discussion regarding the use of padded envelopes some way back, though I can't seem to find the thread in question right now. As I remember it, there were some demands from some of the participants that the BFT discs should be sent out in padded envelopes, rather than just cardboard, apparently to reduce the risk of smashed discs. My question: Is a rice paper sleeve in a cardboard envelope considered unsatisfactory? Due to the increased weight there is a substantial difference in the international shipping coast from here, comparing a padded and a cardboard envelope. Personally, I've never encountered problems with discs sent in un-padded packages (even from abroad), but of course I will pack my test in a way that will satisfy all participants. It's just a matter of keeping the costs as low as possible, but not lower than possible...

Drop me a PM if you want to participate! And please include your complete mailing address! As always, help in overseas distribution would be greatly appreciated! I'm not sure how it has been handled in the past, but if someone would like to help out just with domestic US mailing, I'm perfectly willing to send a bunch of burned CDRs to that person. Incidentally, this test will be a single-disc one. As of June 10th, the participants marked with * have received the disc: *marcoliv *couw randyhersom *Dan Gould deus62 *mikeweil *Saxophone Vagina *White Lightning *Jim Dye *Big Al *EKE BBB king ubu *Stefan Wood *Nate Dorward *Bright Moments *John B *Jim R *MartyJazz *Noj *Peter Johnson *brownie *catesta billyboy *RDK *tooter *Eloe Omoe *dutchmanx Tom Storer *tjobbe *sidewinder cannonball-addict

#12 will be just fine, thanks! Since RDK may have been prompted to take some action it's fine with me if #11 will be his. However, should he not be ready, I'm ready to continue after Rockefeller Center. RDK, do you want to take #11? So far: very good, thanks! I'm not missing anything from Stockholm yet, and despite the overall slower pace over here you wouldn't believe how much more time there is left for more fruitful things than traffic jams, etc. However, the absence of a broadband Internet connection may have a part in it, too...

Hi everybody! I have now at least some kind of access to the Internet through a hassly dial-up. I understand your decision to move me down under the circumstances, but I'll be ready to go when it's my turn! /Daniel

Couw, I agree with just about everything you said in your first post. My dislike is perhaps not of the same degree; it's more like 50-75 percent of the various aspects of your criticism. But with a very few (if any) exceptions, I never put on a Miles album to hear him play.

I was wondering that too. One suspects that it's someone we know under a (obviously) different handle from some of these other forums.

Not too much of a stretch perhaps - I've got the phone number of the manager of Jönköping's only jazz club...

Thanks for your good wishes! Yes, Bev, Jönköping had a big match industry. My uncle worked there for some time and still lives in the city, so I suppose I'll have to pay him a visit to stock up on matches for the next few years...

Here's Svensson's website, unfortunately short on music clips but laden with hype... http://www.est-music.com/

Thanks, Lon! And oh, I forgot to mention: In the very unlikely case any board member happens to pass by Jönköping, I won't let you get away before I've had the chance to offer a dinner, followed by a pile of good records in the music room (we'll have a combined music / guest room...)

On Monday I'm moving from Stockholm to the more modest town of Jönköping, some 350 kilometers south of the capital. Since I've been a resident of Stockholm for all my life, except for half a year in St. Petersburg, I'm quite excited about it. My fiancée has already found a job (that's why we are moving there in the first place), and I'm looking for something where my law school degree will be of any use. Doubtless, there will be much to do during the first time. We won't have any Internet connection from the start, but I hope to be back in time for my take on the Blindfold test, ideally in the beginning of April. To move away from where friends, record stores and just about anything can be found a matter of minutes away is going to change some aspects of the everyday life, but I'm going to try to make the most of it. Time formerly spent on just getting from one point of the city to another may be dedicated to more useful activities, and breaking up from the various bands I'm playing with will perhaps give me enough time and energy to start a new group of my own. One thing I will miss, though, is the view from our apartment. In the late 50s, Stockholm got its first dedicated residence for students, consisting mostly of small rooms without cooking facilities. Students were allowed to rent these rooms at a subsidized cost as long as they were studying at any of the colleges in town. Since then they have been modernized (rents are higher nowadays), and more have been built around the town, but a good slice of the apartments are still located in the original buildings. Stockholm still consists mainly of five or six-storey buildings, and it has been the subject of some speculation as to why a 20-storey building was allowed at this location. It was one of the highest buildings here in the 50s, and still there are not many others of this height in the more central parts of the town. On a clear day it's possible to get a view of more or less the whole town from here. This picture was taken from our living room the day before yesterday. Unfortunately it was rather cloudy, but it'll give you a hint...

Yes. Very pointless.

The link is broken, however displayed correctly in your post, Jim. This, however, will work: The Braith-o-Store There are a lot of sound clips. I recommend anyone remotely interested to check them out. The message "To be released September, 2001" does not look too promising, though. A mail could, as Jim says, perhaps reveal some information. Edit: Now Jim's link is working too!

PMs seem to get through, but how about emails? I'm trying to send an email through the board to a person who does not accept PMs. I'm getting an error message, and - so far - no reply.

I heard the 'Shades of Blue' album for the first time just a few weeks ago. As I enjoyed it very much, I appreciate the heads-up! Except from a few obvious exceptions, I'm not very acquainted with British jazz, but I immediatly thought of the similarities with some of the Swedish jazz of that time when I heard 'Shades of Blue'. The "Scandinavian" sound in jazz, attributed to some ECM:ish albums of the 70s and onwards, perhaps originates from a style which had more in common with British jazz than anything else.

You got it. That's easy to say for the person who got the last word.