felser

You start a conversation you can't even finish it You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed Say something once, why say it again? Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que c'est Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away oh, oh, oh

Thanks everyone. Consulting looks like a possible winner, I'm sorting it out. I get transition counseling as part of the severance package, and plan to take them up on that. I have a 401K with them (no pension), and will have it rolled over into my IRA to avoid taxation, or may just leave it with them (Fidelity managed) if that is an option. I meet with our financial advisor next Thursday. Yes, very uncool that no one talked through it with me, but I am just callingHR hotline with questions, and will get it sorted out. I have a lot to be thankful for in the situation, luxuries (such as the severance package, etc.) so many lack.

I am, fully on my father's side, but don't really feel much kinship with the community (we were several hundred miles away from where I am now, and my father basically abandoned me following my parent's divorce - my stepfather is the one who has filled the father void for me). Thanks Brad, do have a financial advisor, seeing him next week, also seeing medicare specialist next week. Medicare B and supplemental plans coming up. I have a lot to learn about all of that, and need to learn it very quickly. Company went over nothing with me, just sent me a bunch of papers (well, .pdf files). I have a lot of questions.

Thanks all, brief summaryof thoughts at this point (though please keep them coming!) 1 - consulting is a good idea. I've actually had a half dozen contacts about consulting just today. And that might allow me to pick my work schedule better. I'd love to be able to continue from home if possible. 2 - I don't get bored either. I have so much I want to do, music, books, movies, service projects, etc. Also have a 3-year-old grandson in the house, which clearly changes the chemistry. I love him dearly, but he's very three, if you know what I mean. Looking forward to his fourth birthday. 3 - Relaxing sounds wonderful. but I seriously don't very well know how. Would be nice to learn.

So I got laid off from my job as a System Architect today after 40 years between the three companies (two buyouts). I'm 66 (my wife is also Medicare/Social Security eligible) and got a very good severance package, so we're OK. But not sure what's next (probably still want to work for awhile, but not necessarily in an IT pressure cooker), and it will be strange to not "go to work" after 45 years of full-time work since college. Any advice on how to best approach this new world?

Same with me

I agree that Blue Afternoon is a gem, to me his second best album and last good one. Lorca is half good (literally, one side is really good), Starsailor is unlistenable to me. I think it was Robert Christgau said about that one that it sounded like Buckely was having his liver torn out, slowly. I agree with you on "The Dolphins", hard to do wrong on that song. The live albums discussed are more circa "Happy Sad", "Blue Afternoon", and "Lorca", and are uniformly excellent.

There were 3-4 distinct phases. The late studio albums were horrifyingly bad, yet the live performances from the same era were really good, but those have come to light only in the digital era. Conversely, his second album, "Goodbye and Hello", is one of my desert island discs. But after that, the biggest treasures are the newly released live albums from the late 60's, like the ones discussed here.

That one's also really good.

Sure would make a great Mosaic.

I was relatively disappointed in both, though they are indeed "interesting time capsules".

+1 - just got it Friday and listened to it yesterday. The bass player adds a lot.

Sorry to hear that. I've bought many hundreds of CD's from them and have been fine.

Dan would prefer Gene Harris . That Swiss Radio Days series is wonderful. Audio tends to be stunning, and the musicians tend to give superior performances. I'm borderline just because I have so very much 70's Dex already. I'm sure it'll be really good.

Importcds has it for $38 + $3 shipping (for a 6 CD set!). They are always much better pricewise than Amazon on anything from the Cherry Red family of labels (which this release is). Everything on those labels is usually beautifully executed and incredibly reasonably priced. And they are all fully licensed, no PD worries.

Just finished listening to the Bartz Bremen set. It's wonderful. First off, sound quality is outstanding for a 70's live recording. Musically, it's an extension of what he was doing on the "I've Known Rivers" Montreux set. This is two years later, and Charles Mims and Curtis Robertson have replaced Hubert Eaves and Stafford James. Robertson is outstanding, and very well miked/mixed. It is an active joy to listen to hs bass work here. Mims also does a good job. This set is 50% longer than the Montreux set, equivalent to three LP's, and every cut works ("Rivers" had a couple of throways). Even the Isley Brothers cover is lovely, excellent work by Bartz and Robertson especially. "Rivers" was my previous go-to Bartz album, so this will be my new one, though I love much of his catalog. This is different enough in both content and execution from the Montreux set that if you like that, you'll definitely also want this one. And the success of this release makes me ready to go check out the Airto/Flora release.

Me too. Especially given, for instance, the utter obscurities they re-issued from the Debut catalog.

Fantasy was doing some really nice box sets (Miles 1st Quintet, the three Trane boxes, Evans VV, Stitt, etc.) when they sold to Concord. Was sorry to see those stop. They did manage to get vast majority of their most desirable catalog titles out on CD.

+1

Harvey Mandel, too. Title track of his first album. And on Charlie Musselwhite's first album.

HI Brian, welcome. You a Philly guy? 69th Street Terminal is, of course, one of the big transportation hubs between Philly and the suburbs.

It's my understanding that Universal does own Polygram. So there's a big 3, it seems, Universal, BMG, and Warner, correct?