Scott Dolan

Mark, didn't Miles talk about Herbie, Ron, and Tony always harassing Coleman about his "too straight" playing in his "autobiography"? I thought that's where I read about them taking Coleman to a club after hours to play a gig with them. He duly ripped the paint off the walls which shocked them all. When they confronted him later they asked him why doesn't he play like that all the time, he responded with something like, "because I don't like to". Does anyone else recall this story, or where I may have heard or read it?

I figure if a pair of speakers are bigger than my car, and probably weigh as much, they likely aren't for me. My Polks aren't all that big, but even I'm getting tired of looking at them. I'm not even sure I'll even do floorstanders when I put my tube system together. Unless they were relatively small like the Decware speakers jazzbo has on his system. 12x12x34

Scott, not sure we're really disagreeing that much. The only thing I am getting at is that these guys played a lot of live gigs and, based on the recorded evidence from 1963 through 1967, did so at an extremely high level pretty much all the time. Within that context, what made the 2/12/64 concert special was not that these guys played a lot better than they usually did on this specific night, but that it was the only opportunity for many listeners to hear them in action. Maybe if Columbia had recorded & released the May 1966 Portland concert or the November 1967 Paris concert to a broad audience, those would be the concerts we'd all be swooning over. Perhaps. But why couldn't we also still swoon over this outstanding date? If it helps, I actually purchased the Plugged Nickel Box at least a year or two before I picked up this date. I've always liked both equally, to be honest.

I had checked out a set of Paradigm Mini Monitors. Excellent reviews, nice looking speaker. I'll look into the Studio 20. Thanks, brother!

Gentlemen, the funny part is how much we all think alike. The sad part is how much all of these comments just throw me right back into the mud... Please keep the comments and recommendations coming. If nothing else, I'm pleased to know that I'm on the right track. I'll be shocked if I have new speakers before Christmas... At least I have my outstanding PSB Speakers headphones in the meantime...

Been many moons since I read Miles' "autobiography", but I also recall that everyone was pissed at Miles. Both because he never even discussed it with them, and the younger guys weren't exactly rolling in dough at the time.

Heh... Just when I thought I had climbed out of the B&W pool you cats drag me back in! FWIW, these were the ones I was initially looking at. The CM1 http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Speakers/Home_Audio/CM_Series/CM1.html Anyone familiar with them?

But Guy, isn't that like saying the Coltrane Quartet wasn't playing as aggressively in 1962 as they were in 1965? That rhythm section was very young in '64, and just starting to get into a groove. Which I feel became a bit easier for them to do, as far as stretching out, once Shorter came on board. Hell, they pushed Coleman to have a career night! I never quite heard him play like he did that night.

...and thier next of kin.

No, they were originally released as two completely separate albums which may have confused some. But songs for both albums came from every set they did, essentially. The faster stuff released on Four & More, the slower tunes and ballads released on My Funny Valentine. All recorded February 12, 1964.

If someone said this, they are incorrect. For what it's worth, while this is an excellent concert, I do wonder whether its reputation is at least in part exaggerated due to the fact that it had almost no competition for listeners' ears from other live recordings with this rhythm section for a decade. Maybe if the Plugged Nickel or later recordings had been released in real time... I don't know, but I personally doubt it. The tension and aggression they played with due to the money situation is quite noticeable. And it is still fascinating to hear how cohesively two rather disparate sources, meaning Coleman vs. Ron/Herbie/Tony played together. Kinda reminds me a lot of the Coltrane Quartet in '65. You just felt as though both bands had reached their apotheosis at those points, and could simply go no further.

I already have a 300watt, 15 inch sub that can take care of the neighbors.

I have absolutely no idea why, but I suddenly had the urge to listen to some Dead last night. Broke out the Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack. Ah, disc 3. Dark Star followed by Morning Dew. Nearly 40 minutes of sheer bliss.

I went with Fletcher Henderson, Lenny Tristano, Elvin Jones, and J.J. Johnson.

Allen, is there no way you can set up a hosting site where folks could purchase digital copies? Seems as though that would help alleviate some of the stress of getting your material out.

While slightly off topic, you just described exactly how I came to appreciate the Dick Van Dyke Show. Saw a lot of it as a child. But it wasn't until a couple of decades later when I revisited it that I found out just how truly funny that show was. Not super familiar with most of Sid Ceaser's work. Pretty sure the first time I even saw him was in Grease. But, there's no question he was a great talent. Losing him as well as Shirley Temple a couple of days ago is kinda surreal. Two huge legends are now gone.

More like non-existent to most people. And David, it's the standard because it's the only mass produced medium that we've had for a couple of decades. Oddly enough, the newer "mastered for iTunes" material may eventually become the new standard as it remains in 24 bit.

Excellent!

Did you do your 256K vs. cd comparo yet?

Needless to say, I'm incredibly interested in your impression of them once they've broken in and you've spent some quality time with them. Looks like they're $1499 here. At least that's the lowest price I've seen so far. Not that I've looked all that hard just yet...

So? That excuses his/her behavior?

J.A.W., I just saw that the KEF's you recommended are listed on Stereophile's top components list as a Class A (restricted)! Holy shit! For $1500?! I think I may have a new front runner!

Regardless, she presents it in a pretty hostile way. "That guy that most everyone enjoys listening to sucks, these other guys are far better". Nobody stated Hamid was some kind of god walking amongst mortals, and nobody had to denigrate other Jazz musicians to make the point that they found his playing enjoyable. She might not be speaking from nothing, but she has a pretty immature and insecure way of delivering the message.

Yeah, I've heard nothing but rave reviews about Dynaudio speakers, which is why the X-16's made my short list. I'll give the Focus 110's a look, though. Thanks for the suggestion!

I'm thinking JSngry should be bringing a lawsuit for IP infringement over the title.