HutchFan

So far today, it's been Charlie Haden duo recordings with two different pianists:

About a decade ago, I finally got around to reading my first Roth novel -- American Pastoral. It blew me away, and I immediately went on a Roth bender, reading a dozen or so of his books. What a voyage! Mention Roth's name, and people inevitably bring up his focus on sex, his enormous scabrous streak. But the scope of Roth's writing was so much broader than that! He was a heavyweight, a GIANT. I'm sorry that he's gone, but I'm thankful for the legacy he's left behind. R.I.P.

Now this:

Brahms: Piano Works / Peter Rösel (Edel Classics) Disc 5: - Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 - 7 Fantasies, Op. 116 - 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79

Listening to this now via Spotify. Wow. I'm going to have to get this CD!

Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 / New Budapest String Quartet Lovely.

I'm now listening to Hermann Scherchen & the London SO perform Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique:

Yes. I agree. It's a desert-island disc for me as well.

Now spinning this LP, prompted by soulpope's Géza Anda records earlier in this thread: I love the absolute directness of Anda's Chopin playing. No perfume, no fussiness. "Manly" Chopin. Not that other approaches to this music are off-track. It's just that Anda draws out aspects of this music that others sometimes overlook -- a sort of pithy strength.

That looks interesting! NP: Brahms: Lieder / Margaret Price, James Lockhart (Orfeo) Exquisite in every way.

NP: with a Cadillac rhythm section -- Jimmy Rowles, George Mraz & Billy Hart

Prompted by the David Murray-talk:

Thanks for the heads-up on Izlaz, mjazzg! I wasn't familiar with that one. I do have several of Texier's other recordings on Label Bleu with his European bands. . . . I'm probably in the minority here, but I gotta admit that I prefer Colonel Skopje to some of Texier's more well-known records like Mosaic Man. NP: We all hear things differently. Often one person's dross is another person's gold -- and vice versa.

Henri Texier - Colonel Skopje (Evidence/Label Bleu) I discovered this CD, recorded in 1988, just last year. It's wonderful. Joe Lovano & John Abercrombie fans take note!

Enrico Pieranunzi - The Day After the Silence (Alfa Music) Richie Beirach - Common Heart (Owl) Yeah!

Bush league mistake.

Quest - Re-Dial: Live in Hamburg (OutNote) Four masters laying down some heavy music. Interesting to hear this today after listening to the Billy Hart's Quartet yesterday. I hear Billy's influence jumping out much more as I'm listening to Quest now. That said, the two bands have very different vibes. Hart's group is much more elliptical and Monk-like. It's music with a subtle smile, not exactly jokey -- but playful in an oblique sort of way. On the other hand, Quest makes no bones about their intention throw down some heavy shit at all times -- even when the music is lyrical. They're serious, and they don't care if it's obvious that they're serious.

Interesting. I'll have to look into those. I wasn't aware that Baker had made recordings with Michel Graillier. (I've tended to focus more on the recs from the 70s.) Incidentally, I also prefer late-period Baker to the earlier recordings. I'd count Peace and Broken Wing (with Phil Markowitz and J-F Jenny-Clark) as my favorites.

Piano Sonata No. 15 in D, Op. 28 "Pastorale"

Both CDs from this Stan Getz set reissued on Concord. Last night, it was The Dolphin. This morning, it was Spring is Here.

It's a five-star record in my book.