Alexander Hawkins

Thanks to Chuck, I'm lucky enough now to have the vinyl cover with that Maze photo on, and it's amazing...Just spending ages looking at all that STUFF! The CD is, of course, beautifully recorded - but what it must have been like to be there!

Wow! Sounds great.

Indeed!

Clem - not wishing to be a pedant, but the op. 79 pieces are both Rhapsodies (b minor and g minor) - the Ballades are op. 10 iirc.

Just listening again to Sextet (Victoriaville) 2005. This is truly astonishing stuff!

Can't remember who it was now...a bass player I was on a gig with was talking about how gut was tricky to get, and didn't wear as well, but that he sometimes used it when recording...damn, I just can't remember who!

I couldn't recommend a particular recording, but the piano music is wonderful - esp. (IMHO) the Rhapsodies (op.79) and the Intermezzi (opp.117,118,119).

Jim - to be picky, this is not quite true. On baroque instruments in particular, pedal boards are flat I was speaking of the AGO standard. I should've been more detailed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGO_pedalboard Interesting - thanks for the link! I had no idea of such standardisation! I'm all in favour...those flat ones were nice for 'all toes' phrasing of Bach etc., but otherwise a complete bugger to play... Anyway, trifling digression on my part . More importantly, SS, this discussion is incredibly heartening, and thank you for sharing the photos!

Jim - to be picky, this is not quite true. On baroque instruments in particular, pedal boards are flat

Fantastic news! Well...don't know what the quartet would be...'Foxes Fox' (Moholo, Evan, Steve Beresford, John Edwards) is usually billed as such, so I'm not sure!

He's scheduled to close this year's Vision Fest on Sunday, June 24. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/10482 I AM THERE. Wonder who he's playing with...

I'm really curious about this release. Fascinating line-up. I spoke to a couple of the band about this (in a roundabout sort of way - they mentioned they'd just done a session with Roscoe and Evan - I assume it has to have been this), who seemed to enjoy it an awful lot. I don't know what I imagine it sounds like, but things like that intrigue me more and more! On the subject - very loosely - of US/UK improvisers - it was fascinating to have my first listen to RM's 'SII Examples' a couple of days after hearing John Butcher play solo...

I look forward to the Smith/Sommer duo - didn't realise that was on the horizon!

Something from YouTube with a rather impressive band!

Will do - thanks for the tip!

Braxton with Muhal on Arista is utterly awesome, on a sax/piano tip.

Baby Sommer is the bomb on Pica Pica! I love Baby Sommer - been recently checking out the Berlin album with Cecil and 'Touch the Earth...' with Leo Smith and Kowald. Sommer's fantastic on both IMHO!

Helen Twelvetrees Billy Branch Francis X. Bushman Werner X Uelingher Kenny Werner and [i'm sorry, but] Kenny G

Possibly my favourite is the trio record with Tatum and Red Callender.

Exceedingly LOUD. Seriously, seriously, loud. And apparently erratic, although he was absolutely excellent when I heard him.

Am really enjoying LRG-The Maze-SII Ensembles at the moment, having received it only a couple of days ago from Chuck. The solo is quite stunning - should be compulsory listening for so-called improv 'reductionists'. Unbelievable to sustain that for 17-odd minutes Chuck - any memories of the percussion session? Must have been quite a sight..!

Anthony Braxton with Evan Parker on Leo is pretty mind-bending!

Damn you all !

Very jealous - enjoy!

Damn - you and me both!