T.D.

Missed the US mainland, but... The Bahamas got devastated, South Carolina is getting almost inconceivable rainfall ("1,000 year flood"), and Bermuda is still in some danger.

Damn. Seriously tempted by the Jamal, Threadgill and the DVDs as well. Can only afford one, so decision time...

I recall back around April 1 (not sure of date) Berkshire shut down website ordering "while closing the retail shop and moving to a new warehouse". (One could fill a cart but not actually order). Time dragged on, and the last e-mail I received was mid-June, with no real progress. I feared Berkshire had completely shut down, so I e-mailed them today. This was the response: ...While the website has been 'open for business' since 8/25, there are somany bugs that need to be squashed, we haven't yet sent out an e-mailannouncement. We hope one will be forthcoming within the next two weeks.Meanwhile, please feel free to order through the website. We're not yetable to accept phone orders. That should happen in about one week. Theretail store is permanently closed [Duh, I knew that]. So there's hope.

Damn. Shocking semifinal loss.

Yes! I like (liked?) the series a lot. Surprisingly, since I'm generally more inclined to the "traditional" approach...I could quibble over a few things, but overall very positive. Don't watch TV, but rented the first three seasons from Netflix. Will there ever be a fourth? (Or maybe there was, but Netflix never got it? Been a couple of years.)

Years ago, I read that Pollini slapped his page-turner at Carnegie Hall during a performance of Stockhausen. I could swear I saw the story in the NY Times, but online could only find this less reliable citation: http://www.concertonet.com/scripts/review.php?ID_review=1079 [Disclosure: I consider the author Kirshnit a crank and long ago stopped reading him, but I trust him on the Pollini assertion. ]

Yes, I'm definitely getting the Hill. Seriously considering the Blake and Mitchell despite some duplication.

Very much agreed. IMO, Alderson spoiled a bunch of otherwise excellent Prestige albums. I've never understood why Schlitten employed him so often.

I have no opinion on whether "Giordano Bruno" = Moms...it's the Internet, so anything is possible, though. I've read a lot of GB's Amazon reviews of Renaissance music, and purchased quite a few CDs based on them. But I've gotten slightly more careful. If you follow the "Comments" following GB's reviews (which occasionally develop into thread-like conversations), it becomes apparent that he tends to issue rave reviews of new releases, but later revise his opinion downward after repeated listening/comparison. (A case in point is the 10-CD Victoria box, which I fortunately did not buy.)

Thanks, Larry. Very useful info, please post more of your impressions. I've also been on the fence regarding this set. Was close to pulling the trigger when it first came out, but dissuaded myself because I felt the material might be a bit of a mess (almost said "dog's breakfast", but that's too strong). Your report is making me reassess...

Don't read so much fiction any more, but just finished Malcolm Mackay's "Glasgow Trilogy" (3 novels about a Glasgow hit man) Recently finished Just in time for US pre-election circus, started

B. A. Zimmermann Jean Barraqué Since this is a jazz forum, Mel Powell (just kidding, nothing against his serial compositions but I've heard very few).

Sorry for the bum suggestion, GA. When I purchased the CD from Amazon, I noticed the mp3 offered at a very low price. But I don't do downloads (poor connection at home), and didn't realize that the Amazon link led to a completely different product.

Charles Tyler, Saga of the Outlaws (Nessa Records), 36:50

All the best!

Funny thing: the cover image of Bird very strongly reminds me of the cover art by "Ionicus" on the old Penguin editions of P.G. Wodehouse's novels...

Happy Birthday and all the best!

Yeah, I was just about to comment on that hilarious blunder, which (IMO) casts considerable doubt on the "legitimacy" of the release.

PM sent on Brignola ,Nick – On A Different Level (Reservoir) K.Barron/ Holland/DeJohnette $7 Melford ,Myra – Alive in the House of Saints (Hat Hut) $8 Evans ,Bill – California, Here I Come (Verve) 2004 remaster $7 and question on Quebec ,Ike – Complete Blue Note/Savoy 40’s mas

Classic lineup in Champions League semis: Barcelona, Bayern, Juventus, Real Madrid. I thought Porto had a chance to KO Bayern, but they got annihilated in 2nd leg.

An excellent book. I found it very informative. I just finished this: and started this:

Pleased about the Evans, but the Monk seems unnecessary since All Monk seems to have dealt with that material I think "All Monk" may not have all the outtakes, though I don't know for sure. I fairly recently purchased "All Monk", and it does not have outtakes (I believe the set is a simple collection of the 16 original OJC CD releases). It also has a minimal booklet, consisting of images of original OJC booklet covers, track listings and personnel.

Very funny! When I lived in the NYC area, I often attended new music concerts at Miller Theater, so many elements of the video really hit home.