Late

"Of all the musicians, Bechet was to me the very epitome of jazz. He represented and executed everything that had to do with the beauty of it all, and everything he played in his whole was original. I honestly think he was the most unique man ever to be in this music—but don't ever try and compare because when you talk about Bechet you just don't talk about anyone else." —Duke Ellington

"He has the finest orchestra of its size I have ever heard. I have long been an admirer of his work." —Sergei Rachmaninoff, on Paul Whiteman 😮

These two were my introduction to Portal. 👍👍 Still catching up with later work!

I lucked into a Japanese copy (of the physical CD) about four years ago. (Previously, I had the download as well.) Beautiful presentation, excellent remastering—a lovely product overall. More importantly, for those interested, just find a way to listen to the music! 🥰

I've spun this disc THREE times today! I don't know if it's still available (haven't checked), but I'd say it's an excellent entry point into microtonal music. Beautiful, precise playing, amazing sound, and most importantly...very musical. If a person only had "one" album/CD of microtonal music, they'd be well-served with this title. I'm sure there are other more "important" microtonal recordings, but this one is really really good.

I have two of the Ben Johnston discs. Some of the most, if not the most, musical microtonal music I've ever heard. Truly beautiful. The Kepler Quartet dedicated so much time and energy to Johnston's writing. It paid off. Reference recordings.

Quarter-Tone Pieces

👍 & 👍. I streamed the Naughton on Bandcamp recently. It's quite nice. Parts of it made me think of Out To Lunch, but without Dolphy and Hubbard. Naughton's sound reminds me of Hutcherson's. Live At Charlie's Tap 👍! I haven't listened to the Burrell/Woodyard title (yet). Oh—on the Naughton disc, Randy Kaye on drums...he'd just been with Jimmy Giuffre's band of the late 70's. (I think I have that right.)

Any appreciators* of Whiteman on this board? In smallish doses, I like the music quite a bit. * as opposed to admirers 😛

The affair with Nelson Riddle? Invitation "During the course of its 48-bar form, "Invitation" uses all 12 tones as a chord root at least once, and the harmonies are thick with ... higher extensions." And I forgot about that Al Haig version, which I have! 👍

This version? I like it!!!

I've been enjoying this one all over again. Roy Brooks' touch is so light.

Yes, Horwich told me the same thing. I still like the original cover better, but I guess it's good to now have both.

At least we should be able to audition the Tiberi tapes (at some point) on YouTube before pulling the trigger on a box set. Sometimes, when I'm just about to make a CD purchase, I hop over to YouTube for another discretionary listen. I've ended up saving $ (e.g. no purchase) this way.🤨

And, for classical music, Opus Kura. I also really like the Harlequin label, where you can find -->

This one is a lot of fun. McFarland is always a stamp of musicality.

That Rosemary Clooney version is really nice—it sounds like it should be played while credits for a James Bond movie crawl up the screen. Goodness—I have that Lucky Thompson disc...and spaced it contained "Invitation." I need to spin it soon! I dig Joe on that Roy Haynes record!👌 I haven't heard the Konitz or Friedman versions. Need to change that.

I've been spinning this record quite a bit lately. I love the un-pretentiousness of Scott's playing. Ron Carter also sounds great on this record.

Tetragon has to contain one of the best versions of "Invitation." What are some other great versions? I watched a YouTube video the other day of Roy Hargrove, an artist I never really followed, play "Invitation." Faster than Henderson, but really nice. I think Joe's tempo for this song is perfect.

Frog (UK), Oracle, Pearl

I'm still a Kenton neophyte, but I linked Easy Go up above as a solid comp for those who might just want "one" Kenton album. I only have 6 Kenton discs, and that's been plenty so far. The Innovations Orchestra 2-disc set is really nice. I wish, for the compact disc issue, the original cover of City of Glass had been used. It's practically a Sun Ra cover!

I wish Jonathan (Horwich) could've kept International Phonograph going, but I'm very grateful for all the reissues he did gift to the listening community. The 2-disc Joe Daley set was going to be something else.

I don't know why exactly, but this morning the phrase Where were you when the Tiberi tapes were released? popped into my head. 😁 My next thought was: Acquisition Moratorium until September! (Unless Miles Davis's centennial in May brings about an unheard early 70's concert.🤪)

Easy Go

1921-1934 Thoughts on Whiteman's music (as opposed to public persona)?