Д.Д.

Agree with David and Flurin on overabundance of mediocre music, it't too easy to record / release stuff these days, I guess. Creative Sources is another label that is releasing too much stuff, with just a few really outstanding records here and there. I think the most interesting labels in the improvised music realm are Fataka and, in particular, Mikroton. They are pretty far removed from jazz, but well, jazz is a historical genre, you can't expect much innovation there.

Bauder's "Day in Pictures" group is very different from Memorize the Sky, a cooperative trio exploring lower case improv. Dessen is on the recent Mark Dresser disc on Clean Feed. I have both Bauder CDs. I recall now the differences between the discs. "Day in Pictures" has a nice line-up. Just don't recall it having much of an impact on me on first hearing, but 2nd time around might be the charm. I think the best one Bauder has done so far is "Weary Already on the Way" on 482 Music way back when. I thought it was a highly original work. All the rest I've heard from him so far was good, but not that striking.

It's pretty cheap directly from the label too, and if you go above certain limit they give very generous discounts.

Still have not heard these ones, but I like a lot Concerti Grossi Op. 3: Label link with copious samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDH55075&vw=dc

This one is excellent (is this baroque strictly speaking, though?). Will get it.

I just noticed that Silvius Weiss's lute suites were recommended - let me second this, gorgeous music.

Talking about original style - I find that Jan Dismas Zelenka has one. I have only one of his discs, The Lamentations of Jeremiah, and it is fantastic. Deep stuff. Hyperion link with samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDH55106&vw=dc

This Cafe Zimmerman Vivaldi is indeed excellent (with a lot of gusto!), perhaps the best I've heard, but still he is sort of samey, isn't he? The mandolin stuff does not work for me, mainly due to mandolin having too shallow of a sound for a solo instrument in a concerto, IMO. I assume these baroque mandolin shredders had some sort of amplification, didn't they? Regarding Teleman, yes, the poly-stylistic ability was considered his trademark. I seem to remember (lazy to check now), JS Bach sent CPE Bach to study with him.

Another obvious recommendation - Telemann's Tafelmusik. Very clever, inventive and light (if somewhat cheesy sometimes) music, running the whole spectrum from solo to trios to quartet to full orchestra concert. Apparently, publishing Tafelmusic (or Musique de Table, as it was titled), was a substantial commercial success for Telemann, the most popular and respected German composer at the time. There were 206 copies pre-ordered through subscription (with customer names listed in the first published edition), all from continental Europe, with just one order from England, from one Dr. Hendel of London . I can highly recommend the Musica Antique Köln version of Archiv: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Telemann-Tafelmusik-Musica-Antiqua-K%C3%B6ln/dp/B003W16TAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390224932&sr=8-1&keywords=telemann+tafelmusik

Les Indes Galantes is wonderful, although I have only heard the suite version, no singing (Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Brüggen conducting, on Decca). In general, Rameau is an excellent composer, his solo harpsichord works are among my favorites (as played by Blandine Rannou on Zig Zag releases: https://play.spotify.com/album/3XkblzycqTXtAn95DBQr2X). Another somewhat obscure baroque composer is Alessandro Marcello. I enjoy his concertos for oboe (for one and for two), as presented on this Arts Music disc: http://artsmusic.de/Concerto_in_D_minor_-_Unpublished_Concertos_and_Cantatas/topic/redline/shop_art_id/166/tpl/artsmusic_article_detail Marcello's style is similar to Vivaldi's although I prefer Marcello. He sounds less show-offish for me.

This is some wild stuff: ! I can understand why Domenico Scarlatti would cross himself every time Handel was mentioned.

Very true. I will pass on this one, most likely. I am just fine with the standard At Fillmore 2-CD release (the first Miles I heard!). Don't need more Steve Grossman solos.

Thanks, Bev. Will definitely give it a try. I started checking out Daria van den Bercken's recently released piano disc on Spotify (https://play.spotify.com/album/6LqqS3DzmG7EuHPSu3TVxQ). Sounds very nice.

Bev's Baroque thread reminded me I have not heard any of Handel's solo keyboard works, so I would appreciate some recommendations. I would be interested in both harpsichord and modern piano. Are there any organ works too?

Sorry, can't separate the works from performances, if only because the memories of a horrendous performance of Biber's Missa Sancti Henrici by Collegium Aureum I listened to some time ago still haunt me. Johann Fux's Requiem. I plan to get more of Fux's works. I have the performance (together with other works by Fux) by Clemencic Consort on Arte Nova, and I like it a lot. Spotify link: https://play.spotify.com/album/36Aa7ZbKDDNXwDxAcklOsv Dietrich Buxtehude's organ works. Fantastic stuff, at least when performed by Harald Vogel: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vogel-H-Buxtehude/dp/B000MGB0FG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1390039691&sr=1-1&keywords=buxtehude+vogel Heinrich Schütz: Die sieben Worte by Ensemble Clement Janequin on Harmonia Mundi: http://www.harmoniamundi.com/#/albums?view=playlists&id=67 Marin Marais: trio works from this excellent disc on Hyperion: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marais-Folia-other-music-violins/dp/B000TF3TR2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1390039553&sr=1-1&keywords=marais+folia

Giardino Armonico 10-CD Baroque box on Teldec for eur 20 at amazon.de: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B000FQITXE/ref=ox_sc_imb_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF

My mother has Sony PC speakers that must be close to 20 years old. She must have paid all $30 for them back then. They sound excellent. Even look good. When I visit her next time I will check what model it is, just for the sake of it.

Thanks for the advice, might do just that. Still a set of PC speakers would not hurt, I guess.

Very timely thread, I am starting to use Spotify (David Ayers, you can claim your commission from them), so I need a set of PC speakers, something I've never bothered with.

Gianni Gebbia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJV3lozpRXc

I guess there will be a dedicated Lyons set later.

I have two Hantai's records from the set - Goldberg Variations are so-so, together with Leonhard's it's the least favorite harpsichord version I own. His Scarlatti disc (recommended way back when by mikeweil), on the other hand, is excellent.

The price at amazon.de has dropped to euro 64.24. And no, it is still not available.

Their weekly special offer: http://www.camjazz.com/offers.html/

Thanks, gentlemen. Keep them coming. I will be definitely checking out a few of these CDs.