Д.Д.

Well, apparently Oistrach said to Vishnevskaya and Rostropovich that unlike them "he is not a fighter". He lived through great terror of 1937-38 expecting to be arrested any night (most of the tenants in his apartment building eventually were), and this traumatized him deeply (same goes for Shostakovich who was sleeping on a camp cot right next to the entrance to his apartment so that if "they" came to arrest him in the night his pregnant wife and young daughter would not be woken up). Oistrach made a point of continuing playing Weinberg's Moldavian Rhapsody after his friend Weinberg was arrested in 1952. If not an act of active resistance, this was a principled (and potentially dangerous) stand.

Well, Ancerl could not have been a purely political communist party appointee, right? He defected to Canada after 1968 Prague spring after all... Coincidentally, I just listened to Ancerl / CPO Shostakovich Symphony 10 yesterday - the energy and precision (and speed!) are just scary. Is this the greatest recorded version of this work or what?! And I don't even like Shostakovich...

Сome on, please... He was absolutely not known in Russia before he left. He started studying in Kyiv conservatory in 1918 (at the age of 15) and he left Russia (Ukraine Republic, to be exact, it was not absorbed into USSR yet) in 1919 arriving in the US in 1921 at the age of 18.

He was not, he left Russia still a teenager. He was Dyagilev's protege in Paris (where he spent some time already after having settled in the US), if this is what you mean by "Russia". Dyagilev commissioned a ballet to Duke (Vladimir Dukelsky then) in 1920s. It was not successful for whatever reason - it is really good: Prokofiev - who was in Paris at the time as well - was apparently very supportive and complimentary of the music (maybe because it sounded a lot like his own). They considered each other friends and maintained correspondence for many years afterwards when Prokofiev already returned to the USSR (in one letter Prokofiev called Dukelsky a prostitute for writing popular music for money. Jealousy, I guess). Dukelsky met Stravinsky in Paris as well, but I have not read anything specific about their relationship or about Stravinsky's opinion of Dukelsky's music. Dukelsky was a really skilled composer, and what (little) I heard of Gershwin is not anywhere near when it comes to "serious music" (apologies for the unfortunate term). Back to Gershwin - it was apparently he who advised Dukelsky to change his name in the US.

Yeah, van Asperen recorded four CDs of Louis Couperin music for Aeolus. I have Vol. 1, it's excellent (thank to mikeweil's recommendation). All four can be obtained as a bundle direct from the label: https://www.aeolus-music.com/Alle-Tontraeger/Bundles/AE80013-Louis-Couperin-Complete-works-for-harpsichord

I know what you mean (well, after I checked what agogics is). The flow is sometimes disjointed. Also, the tempo choices are somewhat eccentric. I still find it a very satisfying listen. I don't like Staier that much (have not heard his Goldbergs though), seemed a bit bland to me. Haven't listened to him for ages. I love Dantone's expansive Handel: Will check his Bach out. Gugliemi I don't know. I thought he was a piano player.

Oh man, let me check... It's 85 minutes, the instrument is a 1988 Anthony Sidey, copy of the Ruckers-Hemsch Blandine Verlet playing Francois Couperin is excellent as well. A very deep sounding instrument too.

Goldberg Variations by Blandine Rannou:

That Sempe Scarlatti album is scary! Such precision and speed. I love this Francois Couperin recording by Violaine Cochard:

A new Japanese CD (UHQCD, to be exact) series, 40 items so far. I am not into chasing new remasters, so I got Larry Young's "Unity" only - and have to say it sounds just excellent, more neat than the RVG. https://store.universal-music.co.jp/feature/bluenote85th/?perpage=72 https://www.discogs.com/label/3561133-ブルーノート85

Well, life expectancy in Australia has got to be very different if death of 80- and 85-year-old males is unbelievable and shocking. Meanwhile, Vortex in London is organizing a tribute concert: https://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/event/a-tribute-to-martin-davidson/

Very sad news. I saw him live with Cecil, he was fascinating to hear.

Well, physical delivery and VAT payments are different things, no contradiction here. If you google that IBAN you will probably see if it belongs to FedEx, tax authorities or somebody else. Don't know how FedEx does it here, but DHL sends you an email with import declaration and payment link before the package is delivered. For this to work, Mosaic has to provide them with your email, which they probably do not! If Mosaic really gave a fuck had more resources they could actually arrange collecting VAT at the moment of purchase - this can be arranged in cooperation with couriers. This simplifies the process for the customer and there are no rip-off courier "processing" fees upon delivery of the goods. Anyway, I am getting my set from Jazz Messengers, shipped the same day I ordered it (which is today), good service as always.

Did you find a way to avoid paying Spanish VAT?

Extremely sad to hear this. We are in debt to Mr Davidson for his unwavering commitment to documenting British free improvisation. I wonder what will happen with the Emanem (and psi) catalog now. Below is a note from the Emanem website. I wonder who the CD stock would be transferred to. There are not that many outlets who would be willing / able to distribute the stuff. This web site is no longer accepting new orders. We are sorry to inform you that Martin passed away in early December 2023. We are doing our best to contact anyone with outstanding orders and either post or refund them. We hope to transfer the CD stock so it is available again, but this will take time to organise. If you knew Martin, or the records and CDs he helped put out, please celebrate his life and love of music. He will be missed greatly.

This one is great. How did you like it? I thought it was very dour, I missed the lightness. After trying dozens of versions my go-to one is by Ophelie Gaillard:

Just released in Japan. https://www.discogs.com/release/29077600-Pharoah-Sanders-John-Hicks-Duo-Concert-In-Frankfurt-1986-Vol1 Apparently, there will be a Vol. 2 as well.

Coincidentally, I just learned about Weprik this week (here is how one gets to Weprik: we have a modern music festival in Vienna with Sarah Nemtsov as one of the featured composers, I was reading about her and it was mentioned that her husband is Jascha Nemtsov who specializes on Jewish composers of the 20th century. I decided I'd check who these could be, and among familiar names (Schulhoff, Weinberg, Klein) there was a new one for me, Weprik), and listend to his orchestral works yesterday: It's solid stuff. Was listening to Jenő Jandó's excellent performances of Scarlatti sonatas today and decided to check what Jandó is up to these days just to learn than he died a few months ago. Sad to hear this, he was a stupendous piano player. I don't even like Scarlatti on piano, but Jandó's performances sound just right to me (even if the piano itself does not sound great), I have been enjoying them for years. edit: I was writing how unknown Jandó was but then saw that he has more than a million listens per month on Spotify. Not that unknown after all, I guess.

It is streamable indeed: - and I agree, it's not that great.

👍

Too late, I bought it for grand €5 at bandcamp already, and listening to it now. Sounds great! I love Laswell in jazz context.

Will buy it then!

Sorry to hear this. A true original.