Head Man

I came to Paul Auster after reading that he was married to Siri Hustvedt, who is probably my favourite contemporary author. Although I gave up on his New York Trilogy this one has really got me hooked. Well written, with a good plot I really need to revisit his other work when I finish it.

I know...I bought it on your recommendation.

Service was excellent but I must confess that I wasn't too keen on this album by The Freestyle Band I bought from them.

Well, I guess that answers my initial question. I won't be paying that price for a set to 'test the water'. I've decided to start with his recording - 'Live in Montreux' and depending on what I think of that I may decide to move on to some of your other recommendations. Thanks to everyone for your comments & recommendations on Sun Ra's intimidating (to me) discography.

Yep.......that's another good 'un!

Both "A Short Life..." and his album with Jeanne Lee are beautiful recordings and contain some of his most accessible music. However I've found that everything I've heard by him is worthwhile. His album of Horace Silver tunes(-ish) on HatArt - "Horace is Blue: A Silver Noir" is a great listen, as is "Wende" on Owl. A very underrated musician, IMO.

I've seen them on three or four occasions spread over a number of years during various UK tours and they have always put on a good show. One thing I have noticed about them though, is that live they play and sound very much like they do on their recordings and the fourth show was very much like the first...apart from the tune selection, obviously. So I guess if you're looking for surprises when you see them live you could be disappointed.

I've just seen this going for a very reasonable price at Amazon and wondered what people's views were on the nine albums included in the boxset: Disco 3000 Sleeping Beauty On Jupiter Beyond the Purple Star Zone Oblique Parallax Horizon Nidhamu Dark Myth Equation Visitation The Antique Blacks I'm sorry to say that Sun Ra is one of the few jazz artists I've never really taken to. Would this be a good place to start?

Mine arrived this morning and I'm currently listening CD1. First impressions are very favourable but I wonder whether four CDs and over four hours of music might be a bit OTT. ....we shall see.

Oh dear....mea culpa

I see that AMG has had a complete facelift. What do people think of the new format? My first thoughts are that it's a great improvement. BTW the short 'listen-to' track previews seem to have been replaced by what I presume are streaming services. Has anyone had any experience of these? I have a natural disinclination to sign-up to even more ways of listening to music!

Is it just the new sets that are available at a reasonable price through Amazon? I see that the Woody Shaw set is available for just under £30 from Pop Market and over £57 from Amazon...what's all that about?

Thanks for the heads-up...I've just ordered mine too.

This is a GREAT series!

Looking?.....where?

Yes, this is the label that sets the standard for how re-issues SHOULD be done. If there's an artist or genre that you like AND it's available on Ace, then you should get it there.

Only if you like that sort of thing

Yep, all of those above. Not a dud one in there!

Believe it or not, I've almost finished! Rather strange, but very good. I can't outright recommend the series for general consumption due to length (over 1,900 pp.!). That was televised in a classic series back in the 80s by the Beeb. I know of the series, but never saw any episodes. Now, having read the whole quartet, I'm amazed it was TV-serialized! Doesn't seem like very telegenic material, and I don't know how they managed to cut it down to a manageable size. Maybe I should check out a DVD or two. It's brilliant and not that expensive here: Jewel In The Crown

For most of the 2000s - at least from when they were located at Foyles (they were located in the same area as the Cafe at that time and not on the 3rd floor where they are now). Not sure before that. I think he may have worked at The Shaftesbury Avenue shop just before it shut. But yes, he worked regularly at Foyles when Ray's transferred there. I don't get to London much now - is he still working there?

Ah.......THAT Chuck

You...LUCKY, LUCKY people! New York, North Yorkshire, it's a flight away for either of us! Perhaps a tad further for me. But you're right....it's all in the mind!

You...LUCKY, LUCKY people!

Yes, you're right. That would have made a far better "two-fer". Ah....such is life

Yep, that's the one to get. Unfortunately the first CD is a copy of the previously issued Savoy compilation "Modern Windows Suite" but the other CD contains enough good music to make this an essential purchase.