T.D.

San Antonio 130-108 Detroit. Somebody had to win.

This is a really deep subject which I'm not qualified to answer (not being a big harpsichord listener). Maybe best to visit a classical forum. There you could find threads of scores of pages devoted solely to Bach WTC harpsichord recommendations, for instance.

I really want to go to this, weather permitting. Big storm expected Fri/Sat...if I don't get flooded or have extended power loss, expect to go. I've never heard anything by gabby, but she's recently been praised on the avant-garde new releases thread. Big group (maybe incl. people who rarely play together), improv,...will be interesting to hear the rehearsal and show back to back.

From Michael Bisio: It’s our first show of the year! Creative Improvisers Ensemble at Handbell Studio, Kingston NY Sunday Jan 14 3-5pm In honor of Karl Berger, Peter Apfelbaum leads the Creative Music Studio Improvisers Orchestra featuring vocalist Ingrid Sertso. Audience is invited to the open rehearsal from 3-4pm, performance to follow from 4-5pm. Peter Apfelbaum - conductor, tenor sax, piano Ingrid Sertso - voice and poetry Chuck Ver Straeten - voice Bill Horberg - flutes Steve Gorn - bansuri, clarinet gabby fluke-mogul - violin Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello Chris Pasin - trumpet Kim Brooks - trombone Lee Odom - alto sax, clarinet Jessica Jones - tenor sax Tony Jones - tenor sax Bill Ylitalo - baritone sax, piccolo Julia Haines - harp Stuart Leigh - guitar Mike Gassmann - guitar Brittany Anjou - vibraphone, piano Michael Bisio - bass Ken Filiano - bass Tani Tabbal - drums Joakim Lartey - percussion Billy Martin - percussion Marianne Osiel - oboe, english horn

I don't know the dynamics or economics of Brooklyn concert booking, but I'd think the Sorey event might have considered bigger venues. Roulette, only about a mile away, holds 400. The nearby Brooklyn Academy of Music spaces (whatever they call the main theater, plus whatever they now call the Majestic) are probably too large. In my day (80s-early 90s), the Gowanus neighborhood where Sorey is appearing was far from appetizing. Not really dangerous, but bleak and scary...nervous trip by subway/foot and in those days taxis didn't want to go from Manhattan to Bklyn. Brooklyn has really gentrified since then.

The show in question is sold out, so the authors can argue it's good fluff. I looked up the venue out of curiosity (years ago I lived not far from there in Brooklyn - which has changed a great deal since then 🙂). Quoted capacity of the "Sound Room" is 200. Seems like a pretty good turnout for such a concert. Way more than I'd expect avant-garde classical, for instance, to draw.

I'm 66, so technically they're young to me, but calling 50, 40 and 37 "young" just doesn't sound right. 50 and (sometimes) 40 would be more commonly considered "middle-aged" in my experience. I'll call 37 "young", though. 😄

Their press agent mostly works for classical music-related groups?

Thanks, Rod. I'm hard paywalled from NYT, can't even view pages in incognito windows. Wouldn't have been able to read it without your post.

I'm sticking to my "pass" decision unless the book materializes (presumably at a US vendor) with reasonable US shipping. Dusty Groove (my best hope in that regard) does not show it in their list of upcoming releases.

That [Blue Manhattan] is a very good '70s Al Haig album*, and I'm partial to that vintage Haig (though iirc Allen Lowe would differ) with those sidemen. I managed to acquire the 2006 Japanese reissue (blue cover) just after it was released for a reasonable price. *Invitation is my favorite, but Blue Manhattan is #2 of those I've heard.

I've no problem with mono. If a session was originally recorded in mono, I'd rather hear it that way than in fake stereo. But in practice I wind up going with what's available at reasonable price. Most likely.

Bought a while back, arrived today. Unusual Japanese discs, purchased used from US discogs. Motohiko Hino w. Masahiko Satoh and others Weird Takayanagi with bass and percussion Aketagawa trio w. some alto sax and (add'l) vocals

Thanks. It's showing at a nearby cinema. Marginally considered going but wasn't much interested, think I will now pass.

Thanks, John. Always enjoy your customary December BFTs. Given the hint, I should have spent some time sleuthing #3, and regret not thinking of Allen. But I don't like to sleuth early in the month, and in late Dec. I got busy with other things and forgot about the issue. But I'm glad I didn't waste time investigating #10, because it would surely have gotten nowhere.

3 things picked up on rare visit to brick/mortar shop:

This Motohiko Hino album has a weird selection of tunes, but some outstanding piano by Masahiko Satoh:

In classical music, some seem to think that "total serialism" (e.g. Milton Babbitt) and "New Complexity" (e.g. Brian Ferneyhough) fall into the "overcomposed" category. But there are musicians who enjoy playing that stuff, and the composers named have their fans. [Disclosure: I kind of enjoy Babbitt's music but have little time for New Complexity]

No problem rolling the dice on sound quality, but I hear you on tune selection and lack of audio samples. However, I'm a Ranelin / Tribe fanboy, and a recording of that vintage incl. Tribe material...preordered the moment I saw it on the DG site.

That looks good indeed! In fact, "The Bastards" are already on it and I just preordered from them. 🤩

The hardcover from JIB. But there's now a paperback available from Amazon and presumably elsewhere.

Yes, bit of a misfire on my part...late after a long day at work. Of course the gagaku was from a Japanese collection. 🤣 I've listened to significant chunks of those early Indian recordings on the bandcamp page. Lately I've been into these: