Peter Friedman

I admit to a bias against lengthy bass solos where the bass player stays primarily in the upper register and seems to want to be a guitar player. My preference is for a big bottom sound for the bass with full round notes that provide a swinging accompaniment. So this means that Eddie Gomez is not one of my favorite bass players. While I understand that Bill Evans wanted a bass player to engage in a dialog with him, I would have preferred he play far more often with Sam Jones or other bass players in that vein. In the 1970's, when I was living in Rochester, New York, the Bill Evans Trio with Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell came to town for a week long gig. I spent 2 nights at the club sitting right in front of the band stand. Bill was wonderful, but , for the most part, the long bass solos by Gomez quickly became tedious, and I kept wishing he would play less. Marty Morell was a decent drummer, but generally added little of interest to the trio. I also liked Philly Joe with Evans, and also thought Larry Bunker and Joe LaBarbera were better than Morell.

Schumann - Piano Quintet Op.44 and Saint-Saens - Symphony No.2, Op.55

I believe I read that Sean Levitt is the son of drummer Al Levitt. He is guitar player who reminds me slightly of Jimmy Raney or Doug Raney. This is the first time I heard him. I like his playing.

Schubert - String Quartet D.703 "Quartettsatz" & Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3

Soren Kristiansen - solo piano

Great lineup of musicians on this very good album. Herb Geller, Kenny Dorham, Harold Land, Lou Levy, Ray Brown, Lawrence Marable

Gheorghe, I like "Homecoming", but it is not among my favorite Dexter Gordon albums. My opinion on the rhythm section is very different that what you wrote. Ronnie Mathews was a fine jazz player, but to my ears Cedar Walton, George Cables and Kirk Lightsey were far more interesting. I also much prefer Rufus Reid to Stafford James. Reid's sound and solo playing are top level in my view. Stafford, like Ronnie Mathews was a good player, but never did anything that stood out for me. Different strokes ...

Brahms - Piano Trio No.1, Op.8 and Rheinberger - String Quartet Op.89

Here are a couple I can recommend. And there are many more well worth hearing.

Ruby Braff did a long list of recordings on Arbors. They are all good, and some outstanding.

I agree!

Goldmark - String Quintet, Op.9 and Mozart - Piano Concerto No.24, K.491

Beethoven - Violin Sonata No.8, Op.30/3 and Goetz - Piano Quintet, Op.16

New name to me. Stephenson sings well, and plays some fine tenor sax on a few tracks. The piano player is also a very good"new" player - Julius Rodriguez.

Haydn - Op.76/6 and Burgmuller - No.4, Op.14