Olie Brice

Rare and racy was a fantastic book and record shop, sadly just closed down in the last few months I once found Derek Bailey and Han Bennink's duo on Incus in a charity shop for a quid! I think its signed too - either that or someone has drawn some surreal sketch on it, showing some socks hanging on a line...

it was one way! There's not a duo recording as far as i know - except for the 1 track Vortex fundraiser here - https://davehollandevanparkerinduo.bandcamp.com/releases but the two of them have recorded in quartet with Craig Taborn and Ches Smith, coming out on DH's own label in May, I believe The interplay was amazing, great to hear Holland in that sort of context and environment. And I got to meet him and chat a bit, which was really nice!

it was an epic journey - 5 and a half hours! and missed the first set - but the 2nd set was magical

Dave Holland and Evan Parker, duo, at the Vortex (assuming my train gets through the snow)

Having a week of lots of live classical music... Monteverdi's Vespers by Hastings Philharmonic Baroque Ensemble - first time I've heard the Hastings Philharmonic in any guise, very impressed, much more than anticipated. Superb instrumentalists and soloists, all gut strings, baroque bows etc, chorus were presumably local but very good. Will definitely be going to more of their productions Then on Monday Aleksander Madzar playing Beethoven's 'Hammerklavier' at Wigmore Hall - solo piano is not really my area but I thought it was astonishing, very intense And tonight, if the train makes through the snow - the Doric Quartet playing Haydn's op.64 4, 5 & 6

Got hold of a copy of this - stunning versions of two of my favourite quartets

those two were on fire that day - the Rollins trio bootleg with them from the same occasion is some of the greatest music ever recorded

I've been getting excited by both CPE and Bylsma recently, so will have to check that one out. Is that the 1989 recording (shown above) with a different cover?

Is the cadenza in the Cafe Zimmermann recording of the A Major cello sonata improvised (or written?) by the cellist Petr Skalka? Other than the opening phrase different recordings have different cadenzas - this one is gorgeous, but harmonically quite surprising in context.

gorgeous

The first CD from the new 60s Juilliard Quartet box-set which arrived this morning. Hadn't come across either composer before, both interesting pieces, fantastically well played. Not as hardcore modernist as some of what the Juillard recorded a few years later (Carter, Schuman), kind of Bartok-esque harmonically. The set is beautifully done, great sound, informative booklet. I like the way they've reproduced the LPs rather than squeezing stuff on to less CDs

I don't know the Janacek Quartet's version, the Smetana Quartet's is the best I've heard... but the Takacs are also wonderful with these, in my book

This is coming out in February https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/products/8389818--juilliard-string-quartet-the-complete-epic-recordings fills in some of the gaps...

I wish their was more 'classic line up' Juilliard Quartet playing Mozart - their take on K421 is magical All the Juilliard stuff Testament have reissued is sublime, that and their Hollywood Quartet reissues are vital stuff

its Song for Che and the whole band plays It is Blackwell on drums, and like Guy said is in the Clifford Jordan Mosaic, along with Wilbur Ware's 'super bass' which also has Cherry and Blackwell (with Jordan on tenor) I wouldn't quite call it 'Ornette without Ornette' though, for sure there's an influence and connection but Brackeen is a true original and Rhythm X is all his own compostions and a vital document in its own right - along with the 2 ECM trios with Motian I would say its the best Brackeen on record

Fascinating 'new' release, O&ND with Motian depping for Blackwell. The sound isn't great and I'm not entirely sure of the legality of the release, but the playing is sublime - https://conditionwestrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/old-and-new-dreams-live-in-saalfelden-1986

'Versimilitude' is amazing, definitely my favorite Sorey as a leader so far. Takes a bit of time to absorb...

Sortie and Disposability are two of my very favourite Lacy albums, both incredible. The unreleased stuff looks vital too, so will probably have to buy them for a 2nd time.. oh well!

I didn't get Chopin at all until Alexander introduced me to the Pollini recordings! amazing stuff

thanks! launch gig was great fun

Definitely sounds like Harry Beckett to me, as someone who heard him live countless times and sort-of played with him (only ever in a large group, don't think he knew my name!) - and that isn't Buster Williams Listening some more - sounds very like Stan Sulzmann too - I think the Collier explanation is accurate

In case anyone is curious to hear the album that came out of the tour above - released tomorrow on the Babel label: https://babel-label.bandcamp.com/album/day-after-day

Barry Guy in duos with Maya Homburger and Evan Parker, and trios with Howard Riley, Jürg Wickihalder and Lucas Niggli - excited!

I love their version of the late quartets, must check this out

The quintets with double bass are lovely, and some of the first serious writing for the instrument