HutchFan

I dunno. Often, it's the detours where the really interesting stuff seems to happen. Sometimes, it's the "rabbit hole" conversations where I learn the most from the knowledgeable people 'round these parts.

Yeah, I've noticed this too, John. And I bet many of those same people think that jazz ended sometime around 1970.

Great post, Mark!

Yes, much of his music is very powerful. Love those MTT recordings!

Sorry to hear this news. Along with her work in Hollywood, Nixon made a terrific LP of Charles Ives' songs for Nonesuch. Here's a sample, a beautiful setting of a Matthew Arnold poem:

Looks interesting. . . A couple more that I've enjoyed: Heinz Sauer & Bob Degen - Ellingtonia Revisited! (L+R) Marcus Roberts Trio - In Honor of Duke (Columbia) No actual Ellington compositions; instead, it's music inspired by Ellington. One of Roberts' best records, imho.

ubu, I got my order a day or two ago. One would think that it'd make it to you in Switzerland sooner than it would to me here in the U.S.

Williamson made three trio records with Sam Jones and Roy Haynes for Interplay Records. Quite the rhythm team! I know and can recommend one of them: La Fiesta (1979). This LP was also reissued on Discovery. I haven't heard the others -- New Departure (1978) and Blues in Front (1978) -- but I bet they're good too. I plan to get 'round to them eventually.

Dan, I've heard of people heating records in an oven to flatten them out. But it's always struck me as a bit of a black art -- with lots of potential for things to go wrong. I've never tried it, but I bet there's info out there about it. By the way, John's probably right about it being warped from the factory. I recently purchased a new reissue of Roy Brooks' The Free Slave. It was warped. It's still playable, so I didn't bother returning it. But it still sorta bugs me.

"Lennie - Bird" from this:

Such a great LP!!!

I've never heard Anderson's music. I've only heard of him. He's someone that I've always wanted to check out. Let us know what you think of it, fasstrack. The write-up on the Fresh Sounds site mentions that Anderson had some sort of brittle bone disease. I wasn't aware. Was it the same thing that afflicted Michel Petrucciani?

Happy Birthday!

I agree with you, John.

Yep. Same record. Are you familiar with it, soulpope?

Sorry to hear this news. RIP

I've been thinking about getting that record, Dan. When you've had an opportunity to give it a listen, I'd love to hear what you think of it.

I like it. Here's another Monk tribute that I really enjoy: Roland Hanna / George Mraz - Play for Monk (Artists House; reissued on MHS)

Hmm. I guess I should track that one down too. Will do. I'm sure I'll get 'round to it eventually.

I've read that too. But I still like those records Vitous & Surman made together -- at least the first two: First Meeting and Mirslav Vitous Group. (I've never heard the third.) On First Meeting, Surman plays mostly soprano (and a bit of bass clarinet; no bari sax); it's that record that's always made me think, "This is Vitous' attempt at re-doing Weather Report." And I've gotta say that it really works for me in an alternate universe-ish sort of way. I should say that Vitous never comes out and says, "This is what we could have sounded like." It's just my own conjecture, imaginings. I haven't heard the new ECM, by the way.

Good to know -- especially from a "trusted advisor"!

I've seen it a few times for $25 -- but I've never gone for it. I guess I should have. I wonder who owns the rights to Musica Records now? I wish some of their catalog would be reissued. Along with that Solal Ellington LP, I've always wanted to hear the Solal & Joachim Kühn duo LP, as well as others by Mal Waldron, Jimmy Rowles, Al Haig, Michel Graillier. . . None of them are easy to find over on this side of the pond. Oh well. Don't mean to digress from the topic of the thread.

I want that!!!

Thanks for sharing that story, jeff.

Eugene Ormandy conducts 20th Century Classics (RCA Red Seal) Disc 1 - Debussy: La Mer; Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Ravel orch.)