T.D.

Inclined to agree. Plus, there's now a lot of speculation about jobs and even entire career fields being vulnerable to AI-related automation. Trades seem much less susceptible to that IMO.

Mosaic said they'd decide "by early March". I haven't heard anything since the preorder announcement of 20 Feb (which also, in an apparent typo, said the set was "7-CD"). I expect a couple more "we'll need a strong response for preorders" e-mails before any decision is made public. The "early March" may not be carved in stone.

[Jaki Byard Out Front!] +1 [Carmell Jones Select] +1. First Mosaic product I purchased, fond memories.

RIP. Maybe the coolest (IMO) peripheral Sanford character.

Thanks. I'm going to order. I've heard the 6 Monk's Compositions disc with Braxton et al.; maybe not essential Waldron per se but an outstanding recording. If 7 out of 11 CDs are good to excellent (assuming the worst of the Freeman and Rava albums; can't imagine I'll dig the 2 with vocals), the box offers value for money.

Jim, Can't believe I forgot to mention BBC Radio 3! Was reminded after reading posts on the streaming thread. Some of the biggest new music fans I know are habitual listeners. [Added: currently listening to their jazz show "J to Z" and it's not bad at all.] Eclectic programming incl. classical warhorses, opera, modern classical, jazz. For instance: Monday 3/4/19 Afternoon Concert, Ligeti and Libby Larsen.

Can't comment on Witten's announcing (never heard it), but definitely a damn good TE. At age 36 and with a history of injuries (iirc), I'm not optimistic about his future on-field success. But also to Witten's credit, he's played through a number of injuries that would have sidelined many; several of his exploits in that regard amazed me.

Thanks, John. BTW, I (only recently) picked up the Andrew Cyrille box which you recommended above, and it's fantastic.

Any opinions on the Mal Waldron Volume 2 (11 CD) box? I loved Volume 1, am considering Vol. 2 but am always wary of such large boxes. Four of the discs are essential (6 Monk's Compositions, the solo album and the 2 Lacy duets), and I'm sure I'd enjoy the trio album ("Colline"). The 2 discs with Chico Freeman and Enrico Rava respectively seem at least interesting, but I'd probably never listen to the 2 vocal albums (Kim Parker, Judi Silvano), and the 2 discs with David Friesen are complete question marks.

Just got this, will listen to all discs in order.

This somewhat earlier one is also a favorite:

I really enjoy Al Haig's "later" vintage recordings.

In a surprise move, Johnny Manziel released by CFL's Montreal Alouettes, CFL doesn't want him on any team.

Thanks for posting that link, John. I played a lot of rec league hockey in Westchester County in the '90s. Had to wonder if I ever encountered IG's team, but no. I never played in Manhattan (where his team's leagues were located), and I surely would have remembered those jerseys and team name.

!!! I'm almost completely out of touch with popular culture, but today heard a tune on the radio while driving around that really impressed me. St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Got it Bad Soul band of nerdy-looking mostly white guys from Birmingham. Pretty funky IMO. Apparently they're fairly big and have even been on network TV a few times...but I never heard of them before (don't have TV).

Agreed. And the e-mail/website info I've read is really sloppy. For instance, the recent preorder e-mail said it's a 7-CD set, but everything else says 8 CDs.

I read a review of The Man Without Qualities that piqued my interest, flipped through a used copy of Vol. 1 at a bookshop, but the novel's length scared me off.

This had been on the wish list for a while, price has fallen and there was a $5 eBay coupon. I like weird microtonal string music. Had this in cart @ Berkshire but it went out of stock. Broke down and bought from Amazon. I know there's a more recent set (played by Haba Quartet), but that's considerably more expensive.