RDK

She's six (and three-quarters, as she now insists). Her twin was less enthused - when Sammy was asked if she wanted to go to a jazz concert, she said "no, it's too loud."

So I'm driving the kids to school this morning with some jazz playing on the radio (Chico Freeman's Blackhawk CD). I ask them what they think of the music - not expecting much - and Dinah says that she likes it, adding "it makes my tummy dance." Possibly the best overall review of jazz that I've ever heard!

Hey Mike - you should throw my hat back into the ring. Looks to be over a year away, but I should be ready by then.

Hi Al - count me in for the download version. Thanks!

Or...

Not to sound glib, but one can always donate it to the needy. I'd rather see such monies go back to the people than into the war coffers.

Very glad to hear they were caught, Joe. If nothing else, the closure will be satisfying. Like just about everybody, I've had my share of car break-ins - and once a basement storage unit was broken into in a condo coplex I was in - but I've only really been robbed once... and I was there at the time. I had been in L.A. for only about a year, and my girlfriend (now wife) was in San Diego for the weekend, when there was a knock on my apartment door and I opened it to a couple of friendly faces who said they lived down the hall. Now I hadn't lived in this building long and didn't know many people in town, so I was pleased to meet a couple of guys my age, who lived in my building, and who seemed amiable enough. I forget the reason they gave at the time, but they locked themselves out of their apartment or needed to use the phone or something, so I invited them in, offered them a drink, and we chatted for a while. They eventually left, we shook hands... and a few minutes later I realized something was amiss. It turns out they walked off with a box of CDs and a watch (a knockoff Rolex! ). What they had done (I only realized after) was that one of them slipped out to the hall, presumably to return to his apartment, while I was engaged with the other. That's how they moved the "loot" out, and then casually picked it up when they left for good a few minutes later. It turned out, of course, that they didn't live in my building after all - which was probably fortunate for me 'cause I would have pounded them had I run into them again (and I've never hit anyone in my life). Overall, nothing much was taken, but the feeling of violation and having been taken for such a naive fool really stung. Stuff like this tends to make one cynical and suspicious of people, but I was determined not to let it get to me in that way. I've always believed the vast majority of folks out there are good, and as corny as it sounds I wasn't about to let a couple of petty thieves change that.

Welcome back, Bev!

I thought the answer to the thread question was simply: "yes."

It wasn't said, but I believe the program was essentially "ripped-off" from the book. Very interesting stuff, but I thought, as a documentary, it was pretty slapdash and a bit cheesy-looking. But, yes, humbling it most certainly is. And I'm damned depressed having seen, in the last week, both that and several other shows about how the Earth is inevitably doomed by gamma ray bursts, robotic intelligence, mega-volcanos, asteroid impacts, and global warming.

Good album! He has a couple of very fine OJCs as well.

It is a bit ironic that the digital revolution was initially about expanding dynamic range. Some of the earlier attemtps to do this went too far, just like they went overboard in channel separation when stereo first appeared. I have some symphonic classical CDs that are virtually unlistenable for the opposite reason that is being discussed here: either the soft parts are inaudible or the load parts rattle the walls. Clearly, it is not compression that is an evil in and of itself. It just needs to be used properly. Exactly. Virtually all recordings are compressed in some way during the recording process, especially rock and pop. But there's a big difference between that and the squashing of dynamics for boom box and ipod play.

Well put. I'm in complete agreement with you. My impressions of Music Matters, and Ron Raumbach, is that they are sincere in what they are doing and are doing it for the right reasons. As for Hoffman, well... He was hired to make sure they sound great. End of story. I've no doubt that he will do that job to the best of his abilities...and his abilities are often remarkable, IMO. But, yes - the Hoffman 'cult' does to tend to leave a bad taste in one's mouth... When I read those boards, I'm often left with the impression that many people there will buy a record or CD simply because it was mastered by this guy, regardless of the musical content - a phenomenon that I find very odd. The most recent example, and most relevant to this discussion, are folks that are buying these Blue Note reissues who have never so much as listened to jazz before... Wow. That I just don't get... Agree too. I have no problem with these reissues save jealousy that I can't afford them. Of the LPs that I've heard, nothing else sounded better. The claim about "wear & tear" is ridiculous, as Chris and others have pointed out. Anyone experienced in working with audio tape will confirm that it's hardy stuff if handled correctly. I actually called out someone of the Hoffman board the other day about "getting into" jazz via this series. It is putting sound over music, imo, but on the other hand I suppose it can be a good thing if only because it exposes someone new to the music. Meanwhile, I'm saving up for Basra and maybe a few other favorites.

It's ironic, then, that one of the few places you can hear pop music without overproduction, excessive loudness, compression, and auto-tuned singing is on American Idol.

Sam Rivers' "Sizzle"

Well first you throw him in the water and if he sinks it means he's trustworthy. Seriously, my wife's a lawyer. I'll ask her if there are any "approved lawyer" websites or something you can check.

Well I got mine for $1.26 + shipping from Newbury so I'm not complaining!

That's often the rub for me. And it doesn't just apply to Jarrett, but to Parker and Coltrane and Miles and Ellington and just about every jazz artist out there with an extensive catalog. Sure, they may be the pinnacle of jazz artists, reducing nearly everyone else to second-tier status (reminds me of the recent Peterson debate), but for me half of the fun is exploring the other "more interesting" choices... even when they often aren't artistically "better" than the holy trinity of Mingus, Monk, and Duke (or Coltrane, Shepp, and Ayler if that's more your speed). I mentioned above that I haven't bought/heard this latest trio disc yet despite the fact that I love Jarrett's trio work. I'm sure I'll pick it up at some point, either used or through BMG, but I'm not in a rush to hear it because, frankly, I feel as if it's just more of the same: I've heard it before, I'll no doubt enjoy it, but there won't be anything surprising about it either. I admit to feeling the same way about Ellington, Monk, Parker, and so many others as well. I have dozens of discs by each of them, but in buying new ones I know that (in most cases at least) at this point there won't be much there to surprise me. They might consist of great music, but there won't be that sense of hearing someone/something new. That's why, though I really love the trio, I won't be rushing to listen to this one. I'd rather explore the nooks and crannies, even if means suffering through some lesser shit to find the hidden pearls, than going after a sure thing.

Well not really!

We'll find out. I just placed three orders of three CDs each. Every one of them was free. We'll see if they actually ship them at that price. Worked for me too! I kinda almost sorta feel bad for taking advantage of what surely is a BMG Club programming error.

Not from a kosher deli you won't!

Taken out of context...

Glad to hear from you, Mark. Get settled.

Haven't heard this latest one, but I'm a big fan of Jarrett's "standards trio" work. If you like this one, you can safely check out the others - and there are many. Frankly, as much as i love the trio, I really wish he'd do something different. This and his solo concerts are the only format he's worked since 1982 iirc. (And I'd adjust your dates from 1970-1990 to 1982-Present.) My favorite is still the very first "Standards" album from 1982, with its great versions of "God Bless the Child" and "Stella."

On this part, I strongly disagree. As for the hair: no comment.