Peter Johnson

Here's the fabled "Boathouse Row," where scullers from all over the world come to row on the Schuykill River:

A few Christmas day photographs of Philadelphia. Here's downtown ("Center City" to the locals) from one of the two rivers that borders the downtown area:

What time should I be over?

Couple of highlights: Washington's Crossing (very interesting historical account of 12/25/1776); Larry Kart's Book! Dexter's Keystone sessions (my first Mosaic); these are extraordinary recordings. Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook (already made three things out of it!); Bose noise cancelling headphones (with the impending move to Seattle, I've got lots of flights in my future (Gail is staying here until August). It's been a hell of a good Christmas!

Spent some time at Philadelphia's Italian Market today, shopping for food for Christmas dinner! Got the roast beef here: Bacon for Christmas morning breakfast here: Veggies here: A little scallop chowder for lunch (waiting out the rain) here: And wrapped it up with dessert: Yum!

Oh, god, I'm addicted, I'm addicted... Bought four more of these today. I'm starting to think Naxos are deserving of the "bastards!" moniker. The ability to listen to 25% of each track of each CD for _free_ is really selling stuff to me. You guys don't help either! Plus, Tower has these on sale for six bucks each. What a fucking deal! Anyway, I picked up the Ibert Escales/Divertissement/etc. (I know there are better recordings of these works, but SIX BUCKS), Antheil Ballet Mecanique (not available anywhere else other than my ancient copy on wax from the sixties), Piston Violin Concerti (thanks Epithet and DTMX) and the new Carter Symphony No. 1/Piano Concerto. Sorry Clem, no Bax 4tets--Tower was out of copies. On order. I also have Bolcom's Songs of Innocence and Experience on order. Man oh man is this shit opening my ears up to mid/late 20th century classical. I've always liked compositions from that era, but never known what to grab. I'm pretty well-schooled in the classical repertoire (including lesser-known/recorded artists) up to about 1920, and know my Poulenc, Copland and Stravinsky well, but there's SO much out there and this label (SIX feghing bux!) is doing us addicts a huge service. Listening to the Piston record now--very nicely recorded, very well played, excellent piece which is REALLY reminiscent of early Copland. If you're into that era and haven't got a recording of these, GET THIS CD NOW!

Clem--I'm not Baggie, but your statement is consistent with my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I can dig 80's GD _for what it is_, of a time and of a place, but I think JG was utlizing the JGB at that point in time to "get back to the roots," so to speak--his JGB work then was filled with some of the soul, energy and rawness that got stripped out of the GD studio sessions of the time due to wack production, and a bit later in the decade with Brent on keys (at times good AND bad, depending), etc. etc. etc. Sorry to include so many qualifyers in my assessment, but evaluating this music from this time is MANIFESTLY situational-specific, don't you think? Did that help? If not, I can take it!

Well done! This is in my top five of the CD's I bought this year (more than 5!)

Thanks Claude. The 25% samples really worked on me--I got four this weekend. Frank Bridge, Holst, Naxos quartets (Maxwell Davies) and Music for Saxophone and Orchestra (Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, etc. etc.). I have the new Bolcom (Songs of Innocence and Experience) on order. $6 bucks each at Tower (on sale!).

This is so weird--I was just looking at this thread today, after I bought _my_ first Naxos CD--the Davies "Naxos" quartets nos. 1 and 2. I'm not sure how I feel about them yet--I think they're a bit of an acquired taste. But the production is excellent, and this thread led me to Naxos' amazing website--$19.99 to listen to EVERYTHING they've got in print! Unbelievable! Has anyone signed up yet? I've been listening to the 25% samples (there's a lot of great music on the site) but haven't pulled the trigger to listen to things in their entirety. Can you listen to, say, an entire album with a click of the mouse?

Yippee! The discs arrived in yesterday's mail, Al--thanks!

Sorry, sorry...I know, a week in Pittsburgh can be tough!

Those crazy Yalies!

Oh my god, Alexander, that totally takes me back--the spinning logos and the great sound effects: buh-duh-dee-duh-buh-duh-dee-duh-buh-duh-dee-duh-buh-duh-dee-duh-DEEEEEEEEEEE! Gettin' all misty just thinking about it!

Jim, Joe, Randy, it's the LEAST I can do after you all put this community together. And don't worry--I'm not giving up, I'm just trying to walk that fine line between being a royal pain in the ass and persistent, getting these folks to realize there's something sweet going on with this trio from Michigan. I won't sleep until I know they've listened, dammit!!!

Damn, I think this is about the most depressing thread I've ever read on this site. I think it depends a little on whether the environment is urban, exurban or suburban, though; there's never a shortage of people out and drinking at places in (downtown) Philadelphia--places with live music or just bars. They're always packed--so I'm not willing to stick a fork in the barhopping scene just yet. As to the live music scene, well, I can't speak to that directly, because I don't play gigs. But I know it's tough to break into the scene just from trying to get some ears on Organissimo's CD here in town. I don't know whether bar owners are lazy, or swamped with people trying to get "heard," or what, but on my followups with places I've taken Jim's press kit, I just keep hearing "we haven't gotten to it yet," "we'll listen to it soon," "we get lots of submissions," etc. etc. etc. Aggravating!

Happy birthday, Phil! A littly birdy tells me that "NW Prevailing Winds" will be under my Christmas tree this year--can't wait!

thanks Maren, it's nice to get a cake once in a while. I have no fat cats either and deus isn't visiting, so I will have it all for myself. What's the matter--Rockefeller Center didn't invite you for lunch (and a few smokes ) im Wien?

Glueckliche Geburtstag, John! Wish I could be there having one of these with you!

New York, USA pressing--stereo. DAMN this record kicks ass! One of the best sounding original BN's I've got.

Happy birthday, Ghost!

Jandek?

Well done, Paul--good luck with the new gig!

Happy birthday, Theo! We (heart) your son for creating this amazing community, and you for getting him involved with the B3!

Absolutely! I love Ted Templeman's production. I've had those two on wax for years, and I've completely worn them out. The CD remasters aren't bad. Red Streamliner--awww yeah! Glad I'm not alone!