T.D.

Mostly impressions here, not going to guess much. My handwriting is so &^%! bad that I'm going to build up a post by editing in stages...this should grow over the next few days. 1. Love this one. Pianist must be leader. Seems to be a classical/"minimalist" flavor in places so more likely Euro-based? 2. Didn't care for the long intro, too gestural/skittering, but it really picked up when the tenor and rhythm section kicked in. The outro was also a bit of a turnoff, but fortunately shorter than the intro. On balance a good track because the excellent tenor outweighed the intro. Probably US musicians but nobody comes to mind. Despite no WP (I peeked above) I wouldn't be surprised if Hamid Drake was the drummer, who was also a highlight. Would like to hear more of the album/group. 3. Like the tenor player (especially) and drummer, but overall drags a little. Sounds like the piece could be a take-off/version of some well-known tune that I can't place...weirdly Brubeck (who I hardly ever listen to) even comes to mind in places. 🥴 Would like to hear more of the group. 4. Seemed like a downer on first hearing, but enjoyed it more on a second listen. Very much like the main brass soloist, though with my crappy computer sound I'm not certain of the instrument. Some of the brass parts had a "composed" feel but there were also playful sections. Thinking a Euro ensemble here, Dutch wouldn't be a surprise. Another group I'd like to hear more of despite the tune not being a 100% hit.

For sure on vanishing CD market. I haven't had a turntable for many years and don't do vinyl. Are labels currently spending on LP cover art? That used to be a big part of the medium, and modern LP buyers seem to have "low price elasticity of demand". 😁

Thanks. Figured that had to be the reason ("Follow the money") but never read anything to that effect.

Yes, there's a lot of less than stellar cover art these days. Could there be financial reasons, such as labels not wanting to pay for outside design? Some indeed on Intakt...I just recalled David Murray's Francesca, for instance, which hadn't come to mind when I posted above. Looked like a summer intern cranked it out in a matter of minutes.

I find the ECM graphics incredibly predictable and bland, but not outright repellent. Bought a lot of their releases in late '70s-early '80s, but hardly ever nowadays. Their classical releases tend to look interesting, but I culled most purchases and rarely consider them any more. Inclined to agree about ECM aesthetics, however...I recall years ago when people here slagged Tim Berne off about recording on the label. He posted on the forum and strongly denied that Eicher had undue influence. [Too lazy to dig up the post, it was in the distant past.]

Checked my cdjapan order just now, and all but one of the items from the "2nd batch" now shows as "In Stock", so I hope it's about to ship.

Black Bag is pretty good. The film is pretty stylized/theatrical/cerebral and visually dark, so I think many might find it slow, but I really enjoyed it because of a vivid portrayal of the profoundly duplicitous world of espionage. Vaguely reminded me of (good) David Mamet work in some respects.

Thanks. That and a $5 ticket price reduce the pecuniary/physical/temporal risk to an acceptable level! 😁

I never paid much attention to the thread (no interest in the release, plus the dialogue went batshit), but I thought it was here. If so, all but the first few posts have been excised.

Considering seeing this in a cinema on half-price day. I like spy stories, and the director/cast should assure a certain level of quality, but there is some bust potential.

I spend a reasonable amount of time here and was unaware of the (latest) Allen thing.

Tomorrow, jazz night at a pizza parlor. Mike Jackson and Kevin McNeal (guitars), Rich Syracuse (bass), Jeff Siegel (drums)...Hey, the snow has melted, travel is easier and I have pent-up live music demand.😉

Excellent! [I'm a Kurosawa fanatic.] I also need to see Rashomon on the big screen. Agreed on need for multiple viewings...a lot has sailed over my head so far. I've been told that cinema showings have an intermission, which is a plus, but still passing. I've seen the trailer twice, and a couple of the scenes therein (particularly with a US patron/employer) seemed too stilted and theatrical for my taste. Granted that's too small a sample - my main beef is the film's length.

I saw "Anora" last October and thought it was not much more than OK. Stunned that it won so many awards, although I'm pleased that an indie film cleaned up rather than big-budget corporate products. My problem was that neither of the 2 main characters (young couple) was simpatico in any way, so much of the film dragged. Going to pass on "The Brutalist" because it's too darn long (around 3 hours 40 min).

paul secor bailed a few years ago, which was a loss. I think MG made a rare post quite recently.

Going to give this a listen. Not sure what to think. I liked their Beethoven SQ (on youtube) but didn't want to purchase the recording because the audio mix was seriously "brickwalled".

Japanese Interplay LP https://www.discogs.com/release/14593271-Larry-Bunker-Quartette-Featuring-Gary-Burton-Live-At-Shellys-Manne-Hole-Vol2 DG has the Waldron/Peacock on LP: https://www.dustygroove.com/item/173264/Mal-Waldron-Gary-Peacock:First-Encounter

Damn, the plot thickens. I've seen (and even bought) buttloads of legit Japanese reissues of Japanese Victors. Something "interesting" indeed must have been going on. 😁

DQ = disqualify or disqualifier But a CD-R from an Andorran label I'd pass on.

Whoa. Thanks for the tip on the Waldron. Anything he or Gary Peacock recorded in Japan is practically an automatic "buy". The Deep Discount listing says "Manufactured on Demand", so I suspect CD-R. Will have to research. That's not necessarily a DQ for me, but I won't pay too much for CD-R.

Slightly off-topic, didn't want to start a new thead, but DG is showing a (circa) April 1 reissue of this CD:

Agreed on both. Nuance and subtlety are really difficult to convey online. And sarcasm...I used to enjoy being sarcastic (it's funny -at least to the speaker- and easy), but over the years I've almost ceased using it in face-to-face conversation because it tends to rub people the wrong way. Even more so online.

With the ignore list available, I don't really understand getting involved with feuds and the like. OTOH, if one starts getting worked up about various forum dynamics, some time off could be a good thing (I do it periodically).