T.D.

Thanks for the suggestions. For now I went for the Kovacevich set, just over US$ 17 shipped incl. sales tax (discogs). Have always meant to listen to his Sonatas, and for that matter Concerti, but never got around to it. The earlier Philips recordings of the Sonatas seem slightly better regarded, but are not a complete set and are easily available only within a "Complete Philips" megabox. Funny addendum: I notice that classicstoday.com's piano expert Jed Distler does not love Kovacevich. But my tastes differ strongly from Distler, to the point that I consider him practically a contrarian indicator.

I own 2 complete LvB piano sonata sets: Kempff mono and Yves Nat. Would purchase Eric Heidsieck at a reasonable price (I'm somewhat of a Francophile re. classical performance). Want to add a good modern set which is somehow different, eccentricities welcome if they're well done. The set by Andrea Lucchesini has gotten great reviews, but seems impossible to find. Thinking that the set by Daniel-Ben Pienaar might fit the bill, highly individualistic but overall well-received. Can anyone comment on the Pienaar set? Other recommendations welcome.

My copy "shipped" on 7/10, arrived today! Never made it into the tracking system (which still reads "USPS awaiting shipment"), but that seems to happen a lot these days. Maybe it's the "shipping partner" firms. [Added 7/16] About halfway through, greatly enjoying it. The Curtis Fuller, Louis Hayes and Ron Carter profiles are highlights so far, and the others haven't been chopped liver...

I came close to getting it at a good price once, but missed. I'm sure I'd like a good chunk of it, but at full Mosaic price and with the cumbersome large box format, I can't make such a big investment if a significant portion will be rarely played.

I like the Douglas box. Can't comment on the others. [Added] Independently own a couple of discs from the Lacy solo/duet box and they're excellent, so I expect that set would be good.

When much younger (61 now) I fantasized about running with the bulls. I concluded that it was too risky (surprise ). It's not just down to one's running ability / evasive skills; you could get caught up in a crowd, have someone trip and fall in front of you,..., and wind up getting gored "through no fault of your own" (other than being there in the first place, of course).

Hey, let's mix metaphors and sign the fighting fatties up for the Pamplona bull run!

Agreed on crappy format. If not bootlegs, I would consider the Brown if there are compelling price reasons (don't own the original albums, which I suspect are expensive). Perhaps also the Ayler, but like felser I haven't investigated content. If bootlegs, no interest.

Doesn't this happen every year (or very nearly so)? I always assumed the risk is part of the reason for daring to make the run.

Going back to the original video,

No doubt. But my experience in the Northeast is that fans get tanked up before the game. I went to the first Yankees-Mariners playoff game in 1995. Taking a pregame walk down River Ave., I was terrified by the immense number of obvious drunks walking around. And the game featured constant fan fights popping up, not just in the stands but in the walkways leading to concession stands and restrooms. At a NY football Giants game, when entering the stadium I passed by a monstrous dumpster into which fans were tossing their last pregame beer bottles. Every gate had one. It was a little unnerving to contemplate the number of inebriates at the game.

Whew. Makes me happy that I no longer (a) drink; (b) attend sports events. Off-topic, but I couldn't help noticing a distinct lack of slender people in the video. No doubt a lotta heavy beer drinkers.

PM sent.

Thanks! Will look for download tomorrow. I take it Part II doesn't require the original Stealth Jazz as prerequisite?

Yes, this is outstanding and beautifully produced.

On the subject of "warts and all" portrayals, Donald Maggin's bio of Stan Getz might be of interest. Plenty of warts on view; I didn't know that much about Getz before reading and was quite shocked. Overall probably not at the same high level as other recommendations on this thread, however.

Straight Life by Art Pepper, Raise up off me by Hampton Hawes. Both "warts and all" autobiographies which address addiction issues. Don't know about e-book availability. The Monk biography by Kelley is excellent. Isoardi's bio of Horace Tapscott, The Dark Tree - if you can find it. I enjoyed John Szwed's biography of Sun Ra, Space is the Place. Szwed's work impressed me, and I expect any of his writing on subjects of interest would be worthwhile.

Starting with the early ones, discs 1-3.

Happy Birthday!

Used CDs from a brick/mortar shop yesterday:

I just pre-ordered on Monday, very generous offer via the link.