Leeway

Ilie Nastase Ilya Ehrenburg Kaci Hickox

Wishing you a marching band birthday!

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL - Esko Linnavalli New Music Orchestra. Finnlevy LP, 1976, Helsinki.

West Wind might have been sketchy, but their Braxton "Coventry" and the Lacy and Potts' "Live in Budapest" capture the immediacy and air of the live performance, whatever their other deficiencies. The Budapest performance strikes me as joyful and relaxed.

Jonathan, any chance for "Sonny's Dream"?

I'm sure my wife has read that. I must ask her about it. I would certainly enjoy having her perspective on it. Want to mention one other aspect of the book, Bagnold's view of the American troops, towards whom she is clearly ambivalent. On the one hand, she admires their energy, their generosity, their good cheer. On the other hand, she criticizes their disregard for the French, and the lack of any effort on their part to get to know the people they have been fighting with and for. Indeed, the seem to get on better with the German, whom they have been fighting against. She also found the Americans' lack introspection and unwillingness to go below the surface a notable deficiency. Bagnold sets several scenes around the Americans; they clearly interested her.

Happy Birthday Paul! Wishing you a year of fine walks, good reading, and good music.

THE HAPPY FOREIGNER - Enid Bagnold - (1920). I've decided to pick up Virago Modern Classic editions when I come across them. Most are O/P I believe. The Happy Foreigner is the story of Fanny, an Englishwoman who has joined the French First Aid Unit (FANY) and becomes a driver for the French Army at the end of the First World War. The descriptions of wartime France and Germany and the conditions under which these FANY drivers lived are truly interesting and memorable. The women drivers are determined to do their job no matter the conditions or obstacles, to do it as well as men, wresting these battered Panhards and Renaults over the destroyed countryside. The novel is also the story of Fanny's love affair with Julien, a French officer. Fanny's philosophy is to live only for the present, to not allow herself to be subservient to any man, or any one, to maintain her independence of thought and action. There are some nice little touches in the story, clues to Fanny's character. When Fanny arrives in France, she brings with her a leather driving coat, field rations, and one pair of silk stockings. When Fanny begins her romance with Julien, she is billeted in a room with a stag's head over the bed. At the end of the affair, Fanny is billeted in the top floor of an old deserted house; when Julien arrives, she must let down the front door key on a string. Fanny also reminded me of the later Beats: on the road, driving endlessly through the country, seeking meaning only in the moment.

I can't find that page on the Clean Feed site, but it does remind me that I should give another listen to Malaby's Cello Trio, "Warblepeck." with Fred Lonberg-Holm (cello), and John Hollenbeck (d). I saw a concert promo that said Dan Peck was now the tuba player, and Chris Hoffman was the cellist (replacing FLH).

A mere guess, but another possibility is that your browser cache needed to be emptied. Clear the cache and see if that helps. Won't do any harm anyway.

NRGE NRBQ NRPS

I'll second that Braxton Moscow disc. I know that's true for me too, and probably for most of us. That's the great thing about this music: it keeps unfolding and we keep chasing.

Sad Life is listed as "Sold Out" on the Leo site. Check out this link: http://www.leorecords.com/?m=catalogue&price=Z I was surprised to find some of these "sold out." Or put another way, surprised how many titles were sold out. I got my Sad Life some years ago; can't recall where I got my copy.

Brice is on Mikolaj Trzaska / Olie Brice / Mark Sanders – Riverloam Trio 2xLP (No Business) 2012--that is a really fine album. Something I didn't know was that he also cut an album with Ingrid Laubrock, Catatumbo, http://babel-label.bandcamp.com/album/catatumbo. Comes in a "luxury edition vinyl Plus CD"! Also download .

Jerry Tarkanian Fran Tarkenton Andrei Tarkovsky

My order of preference (first to last) is 23 -20 -19. Not much to choose between 23 and 20 really. I think there is a bit of drop-off to 19, you could probably live without it if you have one or both of the others, but I'm glad to have it, and all three for that matter.

Kenny Millions Buck Branigan Penny Marshall

Jay and Kai Cain and Abel Mara and Dann

MC Hammer Mike Hammer Niall Ferguson

I bought a few of those Essential Art House boxes some time ago at a steep discount; now at least several of the films are totally out of print, so turned out be a good deal. However, since I've gotten a subscription to Hulu Plus ($7.99 a month), I can see nearly all of the Criterion Collection, including some that have not made it to DVD. Hulu Plus is affiliated with Criterion; check out the Criterion web site. (CC might even own some of Hulu Plus). OTOH, not all the commentary is available on Hulu Plus. Still, I think Hulu Plus is a fantastic deal.

That CD/LP/DVD concept is borrowed from a lot of the "super deluxe" (as they are called) rock reissues (some Miles stuff too I think). Is there really a reason to combine CDs and LPs? not sure. Probably wouldn't please though who gave up their TT. That CD5 jumps out at me; would like to hear that. 75 euros / 94 dollars though, have to think about that.

Lamb Chop Shari Lewis Charlie Horse

Louise Bogan Menachem Begin Ettore Bugatti

Those Umbrella Music Festivals have always been interesting. I wish I lived closer! The Silke Eberhard Quartet really interests me. Tasty stuff. I'd go a long way to see Waclaw Zimpel and Dans Les Arbes both of whom haven't played London to my knowledge. Holmlander solo - after the tuba players thread as well! (I don't know Eberhard though) Enjoy what looks like two great evenings of music Dans Les Arbres played Philly on their way, apparently, to Chicago. A shame they couldn't have come to DC or Baltimore, and I couldn't make it up to Philly. Call it a near thing.

Those Umbrella Music Festivals have always been interesting. I wish I lived closer! The Silke Eberhard Quartet really interests me.