OliverM

Yes, excellent big band music from the early 80s (Hodeir and Monk compositions), with musicians such as Guerin, Chautemps, Di Donato, Ceccarelli among others (very much enjoyed the trombones and need to look into them too, and Solal of course).

A first time encounter for many of them. Great listening and interplay, powerful, lyrical, dreamy. Looking forward to a recording too!

Tonight: Alexandra Grimal « Rewild », with Susana Santos Silva, Fred Frith, Marc Ducret and Gerry Hemingway

An interesting article from a sociological perspective, for those who read French: https://aoc.media/critique/2026/02/24/michel-portal-lomnivore/

The Frémeaux box set of Mary Lou Williams

RIP. Prolific until recently and quite largely known in France beyond the jazz public.

First listen to this Gil Mellé two-disc set in the "connoisseur" series.

Soundohm in Italy has quite a few records from Nimbus West on sale currently. I decided to order the whole 30 CD bundle (at a good price). It's a lot to listen to but I enjoy those deep dives.

Would love to be transported to Venice's Teatro La Fenice on a certain Thursday 24th November 1977...

Thanks!

Just picked up mine from local shop. Great booklet as mentioned. Looking forward to hearing it.

I need to catch up with an order, having not ordered from them in a long time. What would be some recommended records of recent years? I have only 2 of the Sam Rivers series (2 and 3) and could get more of those (or the complete box on LP). Thank you!

Kurtág — Játékok, interpreted by Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Nice! The Neo PSU power supply makes a big difference IMO. I have almost the same deck, the P6 with an Exact cartridge.

They started by reissuing the Complete Plugged Nickel set, both in CD and vinyl, with "new liner notes and track-by-track commentary by Syd Schwartz alongside Bob Blumenthal’s original essay."

They say Mingus calls her, around 1957 apparently, when she and Leonard Feather no longer get along, and they play together briefly then. The excerpt of Mingus comparing her with Toshiko Akiyoshi is also shown. No indication of last gigs. But probably not many by 1958. 1959 with the deaths of Lester Young and Billie Holiday is said to be a turning point, she “decides to live”, quits alcohol and gets her new job.

Sad, RIP. The above video is very interesting on the context of the time and specifically on the relationship with producer Manfred Eicher around Beirach's Hubris.

Thanks for posting this. It was a very interesting watch. The last part of her life (quitting music and leading a simple life) was something I didn't know at all of. Continued by watching excerpts from Berliner Jazztage also on Arte replay, watching Ellington (1979) and Oregon (1980).

CD 2, with Geri Allen and Paul Motian

Super interesting, thanks @Niko!

Central French jazz journalist. Also musician. Disappeared end of December 2025. Sharing an obituary in Le Monde for which he worked for many decades. Not sure if any ressources in English. https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2025/12/27/la-mort-de-francis-marmande-ancien-journaliste-du-monde-chroniqueur-du-jazz-et-de-la-tauromachie_6659558_3382.html?search-type=classic&ise_click_rank=1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marmande

A very good and coherent selection! (Grimal played with and admired this period of Kikuchi) I don't know the first mention though.

I joined in 2015 and have learned and discovered a lot here! I don't post very often for various reasons, some of them due to a job where I cannot really connect to forums and time constraints such as two young kids to raise, others like sometimes not feeling knowledgeable enough. I have met a few members, a while ago at festivals. Good memories!

My box arrived here in Paris. Looking forward to digging in!