T.D.

One of my best acquisitions of 2025. (I'm a few decades behind the times 🤪) As stated somewhere else on the forum, I never connected with the Bartok SQs until I heard this set.

That is a really neat interview. Pity it ended so early (in his life) / abruptly.

Is that the original release? I have the original (on 2 CD). It's excellent, but I couldn't bring myself to pay for the expanded (7 CD worth) reissue.

Japanese CD twofer (UCCD-9687/8) of Grumiaux and Haskil playing Mozart violin sonatas K.378, K.304, K.376, K.301, K.454 and K.526 I can't find an image. It seems to be a combination of 2 previously released single discs. I bought this because (at the time) it was the easiest way to get the K.454 and K.526. I already had (still do) this recording of the other 4:

My CD copy lacks the "VOL. 8" on the cover art (just black space), which is a funny blooper.

Good list. I'll definitely try to hear more Kissin. I've listened to his Bach-Busoni Chaconne on youtube a few times and think it's the best I've heard. When I lived in/near NYC and attended a lot of concerts, Kissin was one of the biggest star soloists at Carnegie Hall.

Peter, I also prefer Bach on piano. I do own a handful of harpsichord recordings, incl. Hantai's Goldberg Variations and Suzuki's Kunst der Fuge (the latter of which I really enjoy). Don't have any Bach by Kempff, but his Beethoven sonata cycle is my favorite. I have a bunch of Bach piano recordings. Listen to Sergey Schepkin the most. Other pianists include Feltsman, Schiff, Feinberg, Gould, Tipo and Martins, the latter two of whom are known for idiosyncratic interpretations (maybe Gould is in that category too, but he's much more respected 🙂).

Indicative of my bad taste (Bach purists would recoil in horror - for instance https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-11709/ )

I guess I can deal with the 1 track with Hod's wife on vocals.

One of my best recording buys of 2025

I am a fan of Grumiaux, and he's especially good in Mozart.

Thanks, that's good to know. I saw him live once in a relatively small club (circa 2017 iirc) and he seemed like an extremely nice guy.

The Takayanagi trio/duo disc on No Business (w. Kikuchi on the trios and Ino throughout) is something I've considered buying, but so far have just listened on the bandcamp site. Hoping that Lonely Woman turns out to be one of those recordings that belatedly clicks.

Looking at the album art on discogs, it seems to be a pendant on a necklace.

DG recently had a few including that one, but they sold out. I have several Takayanagi recordings on my DG watch list, but I held off on the recent batch. I've bought several of his recordings and experience has been mixed. Favorite so far by far is the Angry Waves 850113 on Aketa's Disk. Like the Tristano-ish Cool Jojo, most of Ginparis Session and one tune on Axis/Another Revolvable Thing. Free Form Suite and Lonely Woman were misfires that I may sell. I've been cutting down on purchases and the most likely would include Kaoru Abe, but I'm sceptical about adding more in the "noise" genre. BTW, "coming soon" (Jan. 21 ETA) to DG are a whole boatload of Japanese import J-jazz reissues, straight-ahead through avant-garde. Including a bunch of Aketa's Disk and even one Johnny's Disk. Good chance to pick up some you might have missed.

Yes. To be honest, I'd never heard of her until noticing the upcoming listing. There's a definite physical resemblance.

Carla Bley's daughter has a show in this area next month. https://dice.fm/event/3o38g8-karen-mantler-trio-13th-feb-the-local-saugerties-tickets

Intriguing. But all the usual issues: Do tapes still exist? Who owns the rights? Etcetera. Better get "The Jazz Detective" on the case. 🤣

Barnes and Noble shows an e-book for US$14.99 I find that hard to believe, but you could try to order and see what happens. Even if available, I don't know offhand if you can read B&N "Nook" e-books without a special device. [Added: If it's in stock, looks like you can create a B&N account and read it on a computer or phone: https://help.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/5398798012571-Buying-eBooks-and-Other-Digital-Content ]

I got this image from Amazon: Long OOP. But I've read it and posted long ago somewhere: As related in the book, Bley lived in Cherry Valley, NY, which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere (though maybe an hour's drive from Albany) but also not too far from me (under 2 hours drive). I requested the book through interlibrary loan and got filled with the copy from the Cherry Valley Library! I wonder if Bley donated it to them. I googled and found this mini-book with some Bley interviews: Probably NLA, but I got the image from https://philipscalia.com/publications/

I bought that same Harper album in my preorder. It's a really good one! Due to the ongoing demise of the CD medium, most of my CD purchases are now Japanese imports. Pricey, but I'm buying fewer.

I haven't totally gotten into Bley yet, which is surprising. As Peter said, I do perceive a "coldness" in some recordings (Solo in Mondsee (ECM) and 12 (+6) In A Row (Hatology) come to mind), so I haven't collected that many. Ramblin' is my favorite so far.

Thanks, John. Enjoyed your BFT as always: some shared tastes plus interesting less familiar directions. I like Brian Auger. I bought a couple of his Soul Bank Productions (which seems to be his enterprise) box sets. I gradually drifted away from rock in the '70s and '80s, but consistently enjoy his work from that period. He seems like an interesting and simpatico individual, based on interviews I've heard/read. Good to hear Callier, I couldn't ID the track but could have if I'd thought harder. I generally like witty lyricists, though he sometimes is a little *too* clever and arch. IIRC he (with Stepney) was in your last BFT. Well said on Murray and #2. As stated upthread, whiffed on the Santana album, even though I probably owned it once. Caravanserai is my favorite, though. Strangely drew a blank on Cowell despite owning the album. Considered him but rejected it as unlikely. 🤣The Hannibal track is even funnier: I'm a fan, had preordered that album from The Bastards. It arrived shortly before you posted the BFT, but I peeked at the thread (and saw the ID) before I'd had time for careful listening. Rest of the tracks were good, but I was in listening rather than guessing mode. Alicia Keys is the big surprise there.