Valeria Victrix

It's good stuff, but with so much live Evans in better sound I rarely listen to it. What can I say? I like it all! To my mind he's a bit more 'unfettered' on these sides. It shows a different side to his playing, and as I have a fair bit of time to listen to music fortunately I don't have to 'triage'.

Thanks for a deep and well considered post. I would say the answer is 'mood music' if I can use the vulgar term. If a piece of music succeeds in conjuring up the desired mood and sustaining it, and indeed deepening and extending then it has succeeded as a piece of music. Would one be so willing to be critical on the same grounds about an abstract film - 'Oh man, it was just a downer - it went on and on, and nothing happened'. Some people like to wallow, even if it's in negative emotions - it's cathartic I suppose. Same reason people go to see 'weepies' like Titanic and whatnot. Oh, and btw - don't call me 'my little chickadee'. Why do you think it's okay to be grotesquely patronising like that?

Angelina Jolie (from Girl Interrupted) Dom Joly (dressed up as...) Tintin

So this guy (and you) don't like Woody Allen - all right we get it! Christ, but that's the most subjective, mean spirited review I've seen in a long time. TPROC is a charming wonderful film, with a dark heart - it swoops and glides, full of unexpected riffs (I particularly like the champagne when she's 'in the film'). As for the line about the gags in the early movies being typically verbal - that is total nonsense. Take The Money And Run, Bananas and Sleeper are crammed to bursting with some of the funniest sight gags ever - IMO of course. Playing cello in the marching band, using the glass cutter to steal from the jewellery shop window. Whoever wrote that review had it in for Woody, and resorted to outright untruth to boot. I have zero respect for someone who misrepresents the case like that.

To answer the thread title - Yes, me for one! I very much enjoyed The Pilgrim and the Stars, The Plot, and Tati. I think his early stuff had more edge, whilst his more recent stuff is smooth, suave and makes for a lovely listen.

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Indeed! After a self made hold on buying Bill Evans product after many years of "catching up" I have found myself binging on his output released after his passing. In just the last three months I bought the above box, the Keystone Korner set (The Last Waltz) and most recently the Top Of The Gate recording which I bought on vinyl. It's amazing how strong his playing was on those two from his last summer. I agree wholeheartedly. I also very much enjoy The Secret Sessions box set. Just found this link here.

Kevin Norton Anthony Braxton Toni Braxton

Bill Maher Bill Bailey Bill Wymann

We take a lot of liberties here... No worries! I get that. Just to satisfy my outrageous curiosity though - what is the connection between Dennis Rodman and the Beat Generation? Is it that between 'Rod' and 'Beat'? Derek (& the Dominoes) Layla Lola Flores Vladimir Nabakov Vlad the Impaler The Pale Rider

I do beg your pardon! Thanks for the heads up. I take it that you're a fan yourself? Any particular favourites?

I heartily second that emotion! That was a wonderful group, and the brutally edited chunks we have from each of the four nights of that engagement show that they were in top notch form. Corea's and Jarrett's playing always suggests 'Dueling Banjos' to me!

Probably jumping the gun here but does anyone have any ideas about what material might be contained on a putative Vol. 3? I have conjectured that it might be material from 1970, as there were a number of concerts recorded for Radio and TV during this time. Also the group(s) were incredible - you had the 'duelling keyboards' of Corea and Jarrett, and then the funky Jarrett/Henderson centred group that gave us the sublime Cellar Door performances. Further volumes could include the '71, '73 and '75 tours. So much to look forward to!

I would second all the recommendations for the incomparable 'Solstice'. Solstice was also the name of this group and they recorded a very strong follow up 'Sound and Shadows'. I'd also include the two beautiful releases with Charlie Haden and Egberto Gismonti - Folk Songs and Magico. Incidentally, I believe there will be some archival live material from that group being released soon. Btw, I think Sleeper is a wonderful album. Great to have more material by this group. I'd rate it ahead of Personal Mountains and Nude Ants even, but that's just on first blush - after a few years I may reevaluate!

Nine Inch Nails: Closer. One of the greatest grooves ever! If your toes don't tap wildly and your shoulders start moving involuntarily, the doctor will recommend a Jaegerbomber and a turn or two on the dancefloor!

OK Bill, you're going to have to explain a couple of things here - 1) what is the connection between Dennis Rodman and the Beat Generation, and 2) this is 'name three people' i.e. singular, not plural. To respond to your foregoing play in the same spirit: Bloody Mary Margherita Dominoes

Adam Sandler Sandy Dennis Dennis Rodman

I believe there were three box sets released eventually - 2 4-disc sets, and a 6-disc one. That's a whole lot of standards! I enjoy them all immensely though, and I rate Kevin O'Neill very highly as a guitarist. Some of Braxton's horn choices don't quite come off in my book as the intonation is a little off pitch - most noticeable in the heads.

I'm an enormous fan of both long running Trios he's been involved in - the Alex von Schlippenbach Trio and the one under his own name with Barry Guy and Paul Lytton. Amongst my faves would be 'Swinging the Bim','Elf Bagatellen' and the towering 'Pakistani Pomade' with the former. With his eponymous Trio I very much favour 'At the Vortex', 'Les Instants Chavires' and the beautiful collaborations with Marilyn Crispell 'After Appleby' and 'Natives and Aliens'.

Miroslav Vitous. Got a hold of Purple recently which is an incredible album, right up there with the immortal Infinite Search. Inspired me to go back and listen to all his appearances with Weather Report where he held his own with Wayne and Joe - now that ladies and gentleman is quite an achievement! I believe he had a very brief stint with Miles once. Would love to have heard that, although I understand it was only a live gig.

There's a couple of great gigs to be found from that period. To think of all the incredible stuff lying in various Radio and Television Archives around Europe. I know of some great Keith Jarrett European Quartet stuff for example. Getting back to WR though - at this period they were really cooking - more free form and inventive than in their later incarnations (although they were incredible live too, as they really stretched out. For my money Live and Unreleased contains some absolutely brilliant stuff) There's some tantalising glimpses of new material - such as SunFish.

Rolf Harris Harrison Ford Ford Prefect

Again, with respect, but how on earth could anything I have said on this subject so far be considered 'trash talk'? I shall go back and edit my original post if you wish - to the extent of changing the word 's**t' to 'crap', but I honestly feel that advocating a thrashing is not beyond the pale - as I say it is not meant to be intended as a serious exhortation to violence, more an expression of extreme umbrage on my part.

@scamwb - I totally agree. It's beautiful album, and an inspired choice of instrumentation - using one of the most beautiful sounds to interpret some of the most beautiful compositions in jazz. My choice for AOTW (which is to say last week, for this one is but a day and change old) Wayne Krantz: Greenwich Mean This is extraordinarily exciting music at times. It offered a new way forward for the jazz guitar trio, and most importantly displayed the empathy that Krantz and his boys had developed over repeat performances. One of the many gigs I wish I'd caught would include a set of theirs at the 55 Club during this period.

Doctor Faustus William Shakespeare William The Conqueror