T.D.

I'm a big fan of Kikuchi, but no way am I in on 6 CDs worth of electronics. If samples are available and impress, I could see going for one or two.

Already have it! The CD version regularly shows up in Dusty's "CD Deals" department.

I just acquired A New Shade of Blue (recent Japanese CD reissue). It is most excellent!

A good one and my favorite of their collaborations (all of which I enjoy).

Good album, although I could do without the one number with vocals by Hod's wife.

RIP. Sad news. I used to be a big fan, but my Dead interest falls off sharply after 1972 or so and I lost track over the years.

One of my best acquisitions of 2025. (I'm a few decades behind the times 🤪) As stated somewhere else on the forum, I never connected with the Bartok SQs until I heard this set.

That is a really neat interview. Pity it ended so early (in his life) / abruptly.

Is that the original release? I have the original (on 2 CD). It's excellent, but I couldn't bring myself to pay for the expanded (7 CD worth) reissue.

Japanese CD twofer (UCCD-9687/8) of Grumiaux and Haskil playing Mozart violin sonatas K.378, K.304, K.376, K.301, K.454 and K.526 I can't find an image. It seems to be a combination of 2 previously released single discs. I bought this because (at the time) it was the easiest way to get the K.454 and K.526. I already had (still do) this recording of the other 4:

My CD copy lacks the "VOL. 8" on the cover art (just black space), which is a funny blooper.

Good list. I'll definitely try to hear more Kissin. I've listened to his Bach-Busoni Chaconne on youtube a few times and think it's the best I've heard. When I lived in/near NYC and attended a lot of concerts, Kissin was one of the biggest star soloists at Carnegie Hall.

Peter, I also prefer Bach on piano. I do own a handful of harpsichord recordings, incl. Hantai's Goldberg Variations and Suzuki's Kunst der Fuge (the latter of which I really enjoy). Don't have any Bach by Kempff, but his Beethoven sonata cycle is my favorite. I have a bunch of Bach piano recordings. Listen to Sergey Schepkin the most. Other pianists include Feltsman, Schiff, Feinberg, Gould, Tipo and Martins, the latter two of whom are known for idiosyncratic interpretations (maybe Gould is in that category too, but he's much more respected 🙂).

Indicative of my bad taste (Bach purists would recoil in horror - for instance https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-11709/ )

I guess I can deal with the 1 track with Hod's wife on vocals.

One of my best recording buys of 2025

I am a fan of Grumiaux, and he's especially good in Mozart.

Thanks, that's good to know. I saw him live once in a relatively small club (circa 2017 iirc) and he seemed like an extremely nice guy.

The Takayanagi trio/duo disc on No Business (w. Kikuchi on the trios and Ino throughout) is something I've considered buying, but so far have just listened on the bandcamp site. Hoping that Lonely Woman turns out to be one of those recordings that belatedly clicks.

Looking at the album art on discogs, it seems to be a pendant on a necklace.

DG recently had a few including that one, but they sold out. I have several Takayanagi recordings on my DG watch list, but I held off on the recent batch. I've bought several of his recordings and experience has been mixed. Favorite so far by far is the Angry Waves 850113 on Aketa's Disk. Like the Tristano-ish Cool Jojo, most of Ginparis Session and one tune on Axis/Another Revolvable Thing. Free Form Suite and Lonely Woman were misfires that I may sell. I've been cutting down on purchases and the most likely would include Kaoru Abe, but I'm sceptical about adding more in the "noise" genre. BTW, "coming soon" (Jan. 21 ETA) to DG are a whole boatload of Japanese import J-jazz reissues, straight-ahead through avant-garde. Including a bunch of Aketa's Disk and even one Johnny's Disk. Good chance to pick up some you might have missed.

Yes. To be honest, I'd never heard of her until noticing the upcoming listing. There's a definite physical resemblance.

Carla Bley's daughter has a show in this area next month. https://dice.fm/event/3o38g8-karen-mantler-trio-13th-feb-the-local-saugerties-tickets