HutchFan

Thanks for the heads-up on these, Jim. Haven't heard any of them!

Hooray for Lucky and Konitz! ... And I would definitely say that Motion is "in the canon" these days. At least it is in my book. Not sure whether these qualify as obscure -- but they're some of my favorite (non-piano) trio records: with Tony Malaby & Tom Rainey with Chris Potter & Bill Stewart This isn't what you might expect from these three musicians. EDIT: One more!

Oh man. I'm bummed out to hear this.

Cool story.

Listening to the Rachmaninov works from this Lazar Berman set: - Variations on a Theme by Corelli, Op. 42 - Six moments musicaux, Op. 16 - 6 Preludes

Yes! Excellent! It's too bad that Buddy Tate's two LPs from the Sandy's gig have never been reissued. IMO, the Tate-led music is just as good as the stuff issued under Cobb's name. ... Maybe even better.

DSCH: Syms. Nos. 5 & 6

More Vaughan Williams as performed by Handley & the RLPO: and

Yes!!!

Now listening to Karl Böhm's recording of Beethoven's 9th: with the Wiener Philharmoniker and Konzertvereinigung Weiner Staatsopernchor Gwyneth Jones, Tatiana Troyanos, Jess Thomas, and Karl Riddersbusch Böhm's LvB recordings were some of the first I ever heard. Back then I was listening to vinyl, this box set: I think the cycle has held up very well -- at least when compared to similar "big band," un-HIP sets. Böhm's 6th, 7th, and 9th are still among my favorite versions. Nothing like first impressions.

I've been listening two versions of Vaughan Williams' Fifth Symphony consecutively: Sir John Barbirolli, Philharmonia O (EMI) and Vernon Handley, Royal Liverpool PO (EMI) Barbirolli is one of my favorite conductors, but -- in this particular case -- I think Handley's reading is more persuasive.

A few of my favorites: - Franco D'Andrea - Dialogues with Super-Ego / Es and Quartet Live / My Shuffle - Julius Hemphill & Abdul Wadud - Live in New York - The Jazz Tribe [Ray Mantilla, Bobby Watson, Jack Walrath, et al] - The Next Step - Ray Mantilla's Space Station - Hands of Fire and Dark Powers - Ronnie Mathews - Song for Leslie - Sphere - Live on Tour and Pumpkin's Delight - Cedar Walton - The Trio, Vols. 1-3 and Blues for Myself - Bobby Watson - Love Remains

NP: Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets / Belcea Quartet (Alpha Classics) Disc 1 - String Quartet No. 6, Op. 18/6 and No. 12, Op. 127

I'm not any sort of Bruckner "expert" either. I've just enjoyed what I've heard from Tintner. BTW: Since my original post, I've also heard Tintner's recording of Bruckner's 9th -- and I think it shares the same strengths as his 7th. Bruckner's music can sometimes seem "segmented," with abrupt transitions between musical ideas. With Tintner, I don't get that impression. OTOH, I don't sense he's "smoothing things out." It's more like he's navigating between musical ideas with aplomb, finding connections between here and there. Also, I've got to say that I think the Royal Scottish National Orchestra sounds superb on these two recordings. Of course, they don't have the heftier, darker sonorities that people associate with "Bruckner orchestras" -- like the Staatskapelle Dresden. But the RSNO's sound -- brighter, less heavy -- seems to be a perfect fit for Tintner's interpretive approach.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Plays "No Sun in Venice" (Atlantic) Perfection. Sorry to hear that, sp. At least there's the music.

David "Fathead" Newman - It's Mister Fathead (Atlantic/32 Jazz) Now listening to the music originally released as Straight Ahead. Gotta say that Wynton Kelly sounds SO DAMN GOOD -- and that he makes everyone else sound great too.

Seems like I've been playing this CD at least once a day for the last few weeks. Music as comfortable as an old pair of slippers, a home-cooked meal, and a snifter of your favorite whiskey. Hooray for Mal Waldron!

The next disc from this set: Arnold Bax: The Symphonies / Vernon Handley, BBC Philharmonic (Chandos) Disc 2 - Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 So true!

I'd definitely recommend Michael Garrick's Cold Mountain. On sale for £2.99. For this listener, that's a no-brainer. Unfortunately, my other favorite Garrick records -- The Heart Is a Lotus and Troppo -- are not on sale. But they're superb records! If you've ever considered digging into his discography... I'm not quite as keen on Garrick's Home Stretch Blues and Mr. Smith's Apocalypse. But they are on sale.

Arnold Bax: The Symphonies / Vernon Handley, BBC Philharmonic (Chandos) Disc 1 - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Elgar: Symphony No. 2 / Vernon Handley, London PO (CfP)