mjzee

Very cool...sounds like things are working out for you! Enjoy your family - the music will be here when you find the time.

Happy birthday!

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-08-28/allen-toussaint-new-orelans-hurricane-katrina-mike-nishita

I'm listening now to disc 4, again all solo piano, but this time by Mark Viner. I'm enjoying this disc much more than I did the first 3. Maybe it's the composition (12 Etudes dans tous les tons majeurs Op. 35), maybe it's the pianist, but the performance is a lot more relaxed and melodic. Viner allows the music to breathe.

Disc 9 has Maltempo playing on an Erard 1899 piano; and disc 10 has Costantino Mastroprimiano playing a Pleyel 1865 piano and Stanley Hoogland playing a Pleyel 1858. The box is 10 discs of solo piano music; disc 11 is for trio; disc 12 has piano with orchestra; and disc 13 is for organ (Kevin Bowyer, licensed from Naxos).

Release date August 30:

Release date October 11:

Release date September 13:

Release date September 15: Release date October 15: Release date November 15:

Release date September 13:

Release date October 11:

Release date September 6:

Any thoughts on the composer Charles-Valentin Alkan? I had never heard of him, until I read a piece about him in the March 2019 issue of BBC Music magazine. It painted an intriguing portrait of a composer who "wrote the most demanding piano works in history." "Wide, rapid, switchback leaps up and down the keyboard are a specialty; figuration hurtling along unbroken at full-tilt for demandingly long periods is another, plus use of an unusual lateral stretch between the fingers." Indeed, the article seemed to imply that the reason Alkan's music is not more well-known is because pianists are reluctant to play such technically-difficult music. Intrigued, I bought the 13-disc "Alkan Edition" on Brilliant Classics, to listen for myself. I've finished the first 3 CDs (all performed by the unfortunately-named Vincenzo Maltempo). So far, it sounds to me like the classical version of Oscar Peterson: yes, huge, long, demanding runs, almost like hearing an entire orchestra from one piano, but not a lot of emotional depth. What are your impressions of Alkan's music?

Thanks!

Is the Servais on the Deutsche Harmonia Mundi box that Sony released? Is there overlap between the DHM box and the Seon/Vivarte boxes?

You're just looking at them from too far away. Up close, they're as big as an LP!

Yiddish speakers on this board - cool! It's a great language, especially to curse in.

FYI: https://rodserling.com/serling-fest-2019-schedule/

And yet again, a birthday! Hope it was a happy one.

Just got back from the Houston Record Convention on Southwest Freeway (it's open until 4 PM). Lots of customers, very nice atmosphere. I picked up: Jimmie Lunceford - Blues In The Night 1938-1942 (Jazz Heritage Series Vol. 15) (MCA) Mel Lewis and Friends (Horizon) Earl Bostic Plays Sweet Tunes of the Swinging 30s (King) Paul Horn - Cycle (RCA) Bob Brookmeyer - Trombone Jazz Samba (Verve) Benny Carter - Moonglow (Verve) Johnny Smith (Verve) Johnny Smith - Phase II (Verve) Joe Roland (Bethlehem) New Orleans - The Living Legends (Riverside) Manny Albam & Ernie Wilkins - The Drum Suite (RCA) Blakey/Gillespie/Monk etc. - The Giants Of Jazz (Atlantic) Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars - Volume 4 (Oboe/Flute) (Contemporary) Plus some pop (Jethro Tull - Living In The Past, and 2 Roches albums) Total cost = $75

Someone here should post a review on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Detroit-Mark-Stryker/dp/0472074261/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=stryker&qid=1565300236&s=books&sr=1-3

Chinese digital giant Tencent has entered negotiations with French media conglomerate Vivendi to buy a 10% stake in Universal Music Group. Vivendi announced the talks Tuesday, saying that the negotiations were based on a valuation of UMG of €30 billion ($33.6 billion). Tencent’s potential 10% stake would therefore cost €3 billion ($3.36 billion). The deal would give Tencent a one-year option to purchase another 10% stake on the same terms. Vivendi said the two companies were also exploring other areas of “strategic commercial cooperation” that would help grow UMG, the world’s biggest music company with market share of more than 30% in 2018, through new digital initiatives and territories. In addition, Vivendi is continuing to seek other buyers interested in a stake in its extremely lucrative music unit, which boasts a glittering roster of superstars such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish, as well as divisions dedicated to publishing, merchandise and other sectors. More here: https://variety.com/2019/music/news/tencent-talks-buy-stake-universal-music-group-vivendi-1203293477/

Kudos for solving the mystery!