Matthew

Disk four this morning. What a great way to start the day.

Johnny Hodges: Disk three. This is still my all-time favorite Mosaic.

Edwin O'Conner's book The Edge of Sadness. Story about a recovering alcoholic priest set in Boston. Written in 1961, is really is a story of days-gone-by, and the life of the Irish-Americans that were a part of the fabric of the Catholic Church of that era. O'Conner has the whole story and talk based Irish/American culture down, and writes in a traditional style narrative. Enjoyable, though the depiction of the priesthood is a little off -- J.F Powers' book Morte D'Urban is still the most realistic look at the priesthood IMHO, even though it's a comedy/farce, he's dead on about what priests are like. edit: for clarity

Anyone get the Charlap trio album? How is it? This might sound strange coming from someone who loves Bill Evans, but I hope Charlap is doing something other than standards on this one.

I remember when this show was on in prime time (1972 or so). It was mildly entertaining for the time, but with all the animated series that have come since I'm not so sure it has aged well. It might be interesting as a reflection of social/political topics (and stereotypes) of that period, but I really don't remember it being that good. I am interested in some of the other 70s TV shows, not so much this one. I thought I'd seen at least an episode or two of almost every obscure H-B cartoon series in existence, but I'd never even heard of this one before. Like everyone else, I was glued to the tv as a kid, and I must admit, I've never heard of it either.

I think....think ...that I may have stumbled into a good deal over at Amazon Canada yesterday and snagged the Consecration box for a darned nice price -- CDN$ 12.72 ($11 US?? ). With an $8 shipping charge my guess is that it's the 8-disc box. Is this possible??? Have received a confirmation notice so we'll see what happens. Sounds like a great deal if everything holds together. I'm saving money for a big splurge in January to get the Last Waltz/Consecration/Secret Sessions sets. I'm not sure about the Complete Fantasy, I'm wondering if the sound is any good on those cds; whether to go for Japanese K-2 imports for the individual sessions; wait to see if Concord puts the box on sale during another blow-out sale; or wait for whatever else they have in mind regarding the Evans catalog. Decisions, decisions..... Would anyone like to chime in on the sound quality of the Complete Fantasy box? This is the last piece of the Bill Evans box set puzzle for me, and I'm just wondering if the sound is muddy or nice.

Change of Season: The Music of Herbie Nichols. Big thanks to Paul Secor for bringing this to my attention.

Her handlers can make age a selling point; her being only 18 yo and sell her stuff to the younger and "senile" sets. And that worked so well during the "Young Lions" movement in the 80s....

This is just plain dumb, this worship of DCCs has gotten out of hand. Really, beginning bid @ $249.00?

I noticed this one also. How do I order this (sorry I'm so out of the loop on this )?

Just my opinion but I thought it was terrible. No individuality to it, but I guess she's eighteen, so what did I expect. No wonder EMI is going under wasting $1.5 million on her. Whose going to buy her cd? There's so many female vocalist that sound just like her, nothing stands out in her singing. Oh well, she'll be marketed as the jazz saviour, first cd out on Blue Note no doubt...

Chuck: Don't know what the problem is but I couldn't email to the above address out of yahoo. PM sent for the catalog.

I'm thinking about the Bill Evans Complete Fantasy Recordings box. The one thing holding me back is the idea of going the Japan route for better sound quality. I have all the Riverside recordings in high-def format (sacd,k-2, xrcd) and I would like to do that with Evans' Riverside stuff. OTOH, I do like the sound quality of the Coltrane Prestige box, and that came out about the same time as the Evans Fantasy box. There's also the possibility of another Concord sale, and maybe I could pick up this set cheap, though there are some good prices now on Amazon for the set. So, I'm just pondering right now.

Bill Evans: The Secret Sessions.

Bill Evans: Turn Out The Stars. Disk one. I know a lot of ebay prices are bad but this set is being sold off Amazon.com, and the price is $299.00.

Bee Gees 1st is a great album. It sure is; we listened to it twice last night. I was familiar with "New York Mining Disaster" and knew "To Love Somebody" through Nina Simone's version, but the rest was new to me. A lot of blatant Revolver-era Beatles influence, but it's good such influence. And another for Oliver Nelson's AFRO-AMERICAN SKETCHES (75th anniversary of his birthday is coming up, btw.) How Please Read Me didn't become a no. 1 hit, I'll never know.

Bee Gees 1st is a great album.

Bill Evans: ---- Last Waltz: The Final Recordings Live. ---- Consecration.

Got Scrubs season five today, and actually, the episodes are better than season four. For some reason, I can watch the Scrubs DVDs for hours on end. I'm thinking of getting the USA version of The Office for my vacation; just looking at the highlights on YouTube, it seems interesting and funny. Anyone here like it?

Same here! I'm planning on listening to a few this weekend and hopefully backing up a bunch and burning them this weekend. Yeah, my count includes a ridiculous amount still on the hard drive. The fact that the folder is titled "Dime - August 2006" might give you an inkling. Guys, don't remind me. I've been downloading a ton of Porcupine Tree concerts....

You were thinking what I'm thinking. Just looking at the titles for this lp, there's a lot to like, though the Ogerman addition is one I don't like that much. I was thinking: how bad could it be? even If Evans just played the melodies that would be nice. Maybe I should be thankful I haven't heard it yet.

Actual music confuses many fans. Technical discussion of music, yes. In this instance, I would prefer a clear sense of the life of Powell, and a good sense of what his life was really like, then some of the fairy-tales that have accumulated around Powell's life can be corrected. It's rare that a writer can handle both music and biography, though Pullman could do both, and do a great job; however, a book like that could be well over 1,000 pages. Also, sad to say, I do not have the background to understand a lot of technical analysis regarding music. I can't bluff my way through that lacuna in my education.

Mr. Kart: That is good news to hear. Pullman will do a great job on this, and I like the fact there will not be a lot of musical analysis or mind reading of Powell. Just getting the facts in order, and dispelling the myths surrounding Powel, will be a great service to the memory of Powell. PS: My hope is that the publisher is very understanding and doesn't demand a bulldozer be taken to the text.

Gee, not even in Japan? It does have some interesting titles on it, and I would be interested in hearing Hollywood, just to hear what Evans-Ogerman came up with. I demand this gets released.

That's a trick offer, there is no such thing as a good translation of Being and Time, even Germans don't understand the German much less a translation.