HutchFan

It's a very different approach than, say, Lazar Berman's or Richter's. Bronfman is more ruminative and inward, less "motor," less flash. I think his approach works best with the early sonatas. Maybe not a ringing endorsement. But I've enjoyed the disc; it's the only Prokofiev/Bronfman recording I've heard.

LOL So... exactly how do you feel about it, Jim. NP: On this CD, the ever-prolific Liebman teams up with Canadian saxophonist Samuel Blais, whose primary ax is the baritone. Two-sax front-lines are almost always interesting -- and the soprano-baritone combo here works very well. I dig.

I like Janson's Rachmaninov VERY much. Earlier: Prokofiev: Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 3, 5 & 9 / Yefim Bronfman (Sony)

Now: Earlier:

String Quartets by Franck & Fauré as performed by the Quatuor Parisii:

One of the many high points in the MJQ discography.

Last night and again today:

Superbe!

Lovely Mozart from Gulda, Abbado & the VPO.

More Stokowski...

Another recording of Bizet's Symphony in C: Stokowski, National PO (Columbia/Sony) I love Stoki, but I think the nod goes to Martinon for this particular work.

I'd go, Jim! Have you ever heard "The Bells"?!?! Check out Kondrashin's recording with Moscow PO. (I think it's on YT.) And Bronfman is no slouch. I bet his Liszt will be well worth hearing. Sure, Tchaik will be a little cheesy -- but so what? I'd go for the Rach and the Liszt!

Billy Hart Quartet - "Charvez" from Billy Hart Quartet (HighNote)

Billy Hart Quartet (HighNote, 2006) with Mark Turner, Ethan Iverson & Ben Street One of my favorite bands on the scene today. ... Hard to believe that this came out in 2006 (!). Seems like I was just buying it as a new release a few months ago. Yeah!

Yes, it's a solid LP. I'm jealous that you got to see Joe Newman perform live. He's one of my all-time favorite trumpeters -- and I never had that opportunity.

Lionel Hampton & His Giants - Live in Emmen/Holland (Timeless Muse, 1979)

Much better. Thanks.

Now listening to a new-to-me CD that arrived a few days ago, BERLIOZ's Requiem as performed by Leonard Bernstein, Stuart Burrows (tenor), Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeurs de Radio France & the Orchestre National de France: Bernstein's interpretation of this music has the overwhelming force of a tidal wave sweeping away all before it. It's SCARY. And I mean that in the best possible sense. Turn it up to ELEVEN and be transported!!!

Brad, I would respectfully ask that you don't do that. Keep sharing your thoughts and ideas on this board. Re: giving to the Jazz Video Guy: If people want to give, they'll give. If they don't, they won't. Don't take anything personally beyond that.

Sir Roland Hanna. Oh yes.

Martinon's Debussy goes to my desert island. Discs 1 & 2 Ashkenazy sometimes gets criticized for bland, right-down-the-middle interpretations -- and not just with Rach. Sometimes I can hear that, sometimes not at all! . . . I happen to love Ashkenazy's recordings of Rach's Preludes, Op. 23 and Op. 32. But I've not heard much else of his Rach solo-piano recs. I have Ashkenazy's Rach PCs with Previn & the LSO -- I think they're OK, but not among my favorites. (I've never heard the Ashkenazy's PCs with Haitink & the RCOA that are in the this set.) Actually, my favorite Ashkenazy Rachmaninov PC recording is the 3rd with Ormandy, originally released on RCA in the mid-70s: