HutchFan

Very interesting background info. Thanks for sharing, Larry. I'd never heard any of this before.

I was seeing the same.

EDIT: I'd forgotten how wonderfully Eric Dolphy plays on these tracks. Excellent!

Now listening to: Citizen Kane: The Classic Film Scores of Bernard Herrmann (RCA) My birthday is coming up in a few days. Since my son will be off at college (and I'll be out of town) on my actual birthday, he gave me my card tonight. It's so cool and unique that I thought I'd share: The kid knows who I like!

George Mraz - My Foolish Heart (Milestone, 1995) with Richie Beirach & Billy Hart

Roland Hanna & George Mraz - Play for Monk (Artists House; reissued on MHS)

Frank Foster - Leo Rising (Arabesque) with Derrick Gardner (tr), Stephen Scott (p), Christian McBride (b), and Lewis Nash (d) Foster's "Simone" never gets old.

I agree 100%, Clunky! In this listener's opinion, Solal is one of the all-time greats.

Lee Konitz & Martial Solal - Live at the Berlin Jazz Days 1980 (MPS) A special record.

Keith Jarrett / Charlie Haden - Last Dance (ECM, 2014)

Kenny Werner, Hein van de Geyn, Hans van Oosterhout - Collaboration (Challenge, 2013)

Erroll Garner - Contrasts (EmArcy, 1954)

Gerry Mulligan Quartet - Reunion with Chet Baker (Pacific Jazz)

The 5-CD set released on Edel Classics is the same music, recorded in the mid-70s for Eterna. Regardless of label, it's such wonderful music-making! Rösel does a masterful job of balancing the extroverted, Schumann-esque "Romantic" elements with the meditative, inward, and melancholy aspects of Brahms' music. As a result, his readings of the early works in particular are more fully realized -- make "more sense" -- than other versions I've heard. I wonder: Would Rösel would be a more familiar pianist if he'd spent the early part of his career in West Germany rather than East Germany? Did being behind the "Iron Curtain" hamstring his opportunities for recognition in the "West"? Then again, Rösel's strengths aren't flash; it's his interpretive subtlety that's so astounding. And that's not exactly a quality that gets concertizing pianists noticed. Who knows?!?! The East/West thing may not have made any difference.

Bobby Watson & Horizon - Horizon Reassembled (Palmetto) Yes!!! Unbelievable music!

Brahms: Piano Works / Peter Rösel (Edel Classics; originally released on Eterna) Disc 2 - Second Piano Sonata; Variations on an Original Theme; Eight Pieces, Op.76 Katchen & Kempff are probably the biggest "names" associated with this repertoire, but Rösel is my favorite all 'round interpreter of Brahms' solo piano music.

Marcus Printup - Desire (SteepleChase)