HutchFan

More 70s-era Donald Byrd:

I've had an eye out for that album for a while. Still haven't found it at a price I'm willing to pay. As with many Japan-only releases, after-market prices are HIGH (especially when you factor in shipping from JP). But I'm sure that I'll get 'round to it eventually. NP: Lou Rawls with Les McCann Ltd. - Stormy Monday (Capitol/Blue Note, 1962) R.I.P. Les McCann

"Heavy Love" indeed.

Saint-Saëns: Complete Symphonies / Jean Martinon, Orchestre National de l'ORTF (Erato) Disc 2 - Symphony in F Major "Urbs Roma" - Symphony No. 3 in C Minor Op. 78 "Organ"

Thanks for the heads-up on this, sonnymax. Streaming now. That's one helluva band, and I'm really digging it. R.I.P.

Having listened to it all the way through. . . I think there's commanding, magisterial quality in Haendel's performance that's very, very powerful. (At times, her interpretation of the work reminded me of Heifetz's. That said, I'm not a fan of Heifetz's tone. I definitely prefer the sound that Haendel makes with her violin.) . . . It's a stunner. I've added the CD to my "to get" list. Thanks again. I'm now streaming another recording of LvB's Violin Concerto, one of @Peter Friedman's recommendations: A different sound-world compared to Haendel & Ancerl. I suppose Francescatti & Grumiaux both come out of the Franco-Belgian school of violinists. More suave and lyrical. Less drama and fire. Vive la différence.

I'm only halfway through the first movement, but it's easy to understand why you regard this performance so highly. The first word that comes to mind to describe it is impassioned. Thank you for the heads up.

Yep. That's a terrific set. I've never heard Francescatti with Walter. I need to investigate that one too. I bet I'd enjoy it because I love the Francescatti / Walter recording of Brahms Double Concerto with Fournier. Now streaming Ida Haendel's recording of LvB's VC, prompted by the recommendation from @soulpope.

I'm now listening to Lucky Thompson's Illuminations, which pairs two Groove Merchant LPs -- Goodbye Yesterday and I Offer You -- on a single CD. Earlier, I was listening to Charlie Rouse's Unsung Hero (Columbia).

O.K.

Pianist Mickey Tucker plays organ on these:

Still kickin' it with Rush: Rush - Power Windows (Mercury/Anthem, 1985) I'm really enjoying this album, playing it repeatedly. Since the cassette tape from my high schools days is long gone, I recently picked up the remastered CD. The synth-heavy production is extremely 1980s -- and turned off many Rush fans back in the day because it didn't RAWK enough. But, if one is willing to embrace it for what it is, there's some fantastic music here. It's funny: In many ways, the passage of time has made it easier for me to hear this as music qua music rather than this-isn't-what-Rush-used-to-sound-like-but-I-guess-it'll-do music. . . . So the music is still wriggling its way deeper into my noodle, and I'm appreciating it more than I ever have. It's all very fun.

O.K. I'll check it out!

It's very difficult to pick one. Some favorites: Oistrakh/Clyutens, Perlman/Giulini, Szeryng/Haitink . . . I always enjoy hearing Grumiaux's suave, elegant sound, but I'm not sure he has sufficient thrust and heat for it to be a favorite with LvB's Violin Concerto. . . . On the other hand, Grumiaux's strengths mesh well with Davis' interpretation, which emphasizes delicacy and inner detail over drama. It's a Francophile/"low countries" approach to Beethoven, I suppose, instead of the big-"R" Romantic way we typically associate with the German tradition. . . . Or at least that's how I've interpreted their interpretation! So which Beethoven VC recordings are your favorites?

I'm now listening to Beethoven's Violin Concerto performed by Arthur Grumiaux, Colin Davis, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra -- as heard on this set:

Yes, absolutely. I'd even give her the nod over Bradley Cooper for the film's most impressive performance.

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez, Fantasía para un gentilhombre, and other works (DG/Eloquence) Narciso Yepes with Odón Alonso and the Orquesta Sinfónica Española A superb rendition.

with Fathead Newman & Frank Wess

Five stars, for sure. NP: Disc 2 - with the narrative interludes removed

I agree with you, Mark. I think it's a very powerful film, one that's fundamentally about the difficulties of relationships -- especially when they're with someone as charismatic, contradictory, and gifted as Leonard Bernstein.