T.D.

I see sound samples for the Furtwaengler on the audite.de site: http://www.audite.de/en/product/13CD/21403-edition_wilhelm_furtwaengler_the_complete_rias_recordings/tracks.html For the Beethoven/Konwitschny, I had some success looking through individual CDs at Amazon - a number of .mp3 samples were available: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=beethoven+konwitschny

I actually read that as a sign that Naxos is doing well. Prices seem to have drifted up over the years. I figure that the relative shortage of new classical releases from other labels gives Naxos some pricing power. The active labels I see most, e.g. Harmonia Mundi and Hyperion, have even higher prices for (truly) new releases. [Disclosure: I'm not particularly a fan of Naxos, and buy their recordings only as a last resort, but give Mr. Heymann credit for developing a successful business model.] On the other hand, I don't see how the Naxos catalog of "core repertoire" recordings could not be suffering as a result of the surfeit of cheap re-releases from EMI/DG/Decca/Philips/etc.

Jimmy Choo Chu Berry Coleman Hawkins

Until recently, I was too budget-minded to spring for such boxes, but have become a convert. I bought the above used via the same site about a month ago, about $4 under the used price currently showing. Also have found some good used prices on Half.com (surprisingly) - got the Coltrane Impulse box there.

I heard a radio story on this today, and (as pointed out in the link) the shake doesn't actually include bacon, but rather bacon-flavored syrup. The link claims ...If you’re keeping kosher or vegetarian, you’re in luck: The shake is made with bacon-flavored syrup, rather than the genuine article... I wouldn't try it in any event.

Can't say that this interests me, but it seems a lot more legit than the long-lived "dwarf tossing" thing (weirdly, I just noticed that d.t. has been in the news lately?!).

Have been dipping into this the past 10 days or so:

Cziffra is going to put a high flame under that high calorie music. Extremely dynamic and exciting performances. Thanks. This is a nice set! The 5 Chopin discs were a real surprise: I regarded them as "throw-ins", but I've been listening to them more than the Liszt (which is excellent as stated). Chopin's a composer who I never "got" before, but this box has changed things.

Wild guess: the young Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart.

PM sent on Randy Weston Select $30 Andrew Hill Select 16 $35

A "postwar" composer I've always liked is Bernd Alois Zimmermann. For one CD, I'd recommend Requiem für eine jungen Dichter, a massive and overpowering (though kinda depressing) vocal/tape collage piece covering 20th century history (well, through about 1970). I have a Sony recording with Gielen conducting, but I think there's at least one other. Because the tape is prominent, I wouldn't expect much difference between recordings (I saw a live performance once, and it sounded almost identical to the CD). A Luigi Nono piece I really like (despite his Commie agitprop sensibilities ) is Como una ola de fuerza y luz, which is a totally fiery and intense piano/vocal/orchestral/tape work. I have an old Berlin Classics CD, but I'm sure the DG (and possibly others) are OK. Warning: both of the above employ 12-tone "idiom" in places (and the composers' overall works are generally serial), if that's a no-no for you. Big fan of Morton Feldman, though he's likely too far out for many (sparsity, silences, low volume). The works that usually get recommended to "novices" are Rothko Chapel and Coptic Light for orchestra. I personally prefer solo piano pieces like Triadic Memories, Palais de Mari or For Bunita Marcus.

Anecdote: When I lived near NYC, I went to quite a few (free) concerts at Manhattan School of Music, just north of Columbia University. I noticed that a very high percentage of the student body was Asian, but was not surprised. I see where the article is coming from...Will it be enough to "save" classical music? I doubt it, in the sense that I believe big-city orchestras will continue to shave costs and occasionally close down.

Maia Chiburdanidze June Lockhart Bille August

Tea Leoni?

Sir Thomas Beecham supposedly once said to a female cellist: Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands, and all you can do is scratch it!

Thanks! That looks like a better idea. I went ahead and bought this: 10 discs for under $30 - not exactly sure of the contents ( ) but seems hard to go wrong. I once thought Liszt was bombastic and vacuous, but have come to enjoy his music, though it's definitely "high calorie", so to speak...

I thought this (4 discs, $15+S/H) looked interesting, but then saw this (9 discs, $36+S/H). I'm more interested in the piano music, and the 34-CD DG box is more than I'd ever listen to. And the Leslie Howard mega piano box is just too much...

John Coltrane, The Heavyweight Champion, complete Atlantic recordings (Rhino). Discs 1-6 over the weekend.

Years ago, I occasionally leafed through Stereophile magazine. Then I read a whole bunch of crap about "Shun Mook Resonators" and gave up.

+1 on the Booker Ervin dates. That rhythm section is killer.

Charles Mingus, Passions of a Man box (Atlantic) Recent purchase.

Box arrived Friday(!). Very fast, immaculate condition. Thanks!

I read pretty much all of Michael Lewis's books - met him back when we worked at the same company (think Liar's Poker days). Read Moneyball some years ago, and the film is high up in my Netflix queue.

PM sent on 38. Charles Mingus: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-61. Each disc played once. $45.

Recently got the Art Pepper Complete Village Vanguard Sessions box and have been listening heavily. Before that, Herbie Nichols Complete Blue Note Recordings and Denny Zeitlin Mosaic Select.