What are you listening to? January 2024

[Ojai Sam]

John Coltrane - Living Space (rec. 1965, comp. 1998)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Sonny Clark - My Conception (Blue Note rec. 1959, rel. 1979)

No clue why Blue Note held this superb session in the vault for 20 years. Even then they released it only in Japan, not allowing a domestic issue until 2000.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Miklos Rozsa - Spellbound Concerto (1953)

Vinyl Spin of the Day. And an excellent candidate for the MG Album Cover Art Gallery.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Emerson String Quartet & Mstislav Rostropovich - Schubert: String Quintet (1992)

The Emersons recorded a brilliant set of the Schubert string quartets. If you are going to add an extra cello for the Quintet, there's nobody better than Rostropovich.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Connie Haines - The Chronogical Connie Haines 1946-1947 (Warped comp. 2023)

I had a small hand in producing this revelatory project. Connie Haines (1921-2008) was a fine vocalist who achieved fame with the Harry James orchestra. She survived the end of the big band era but her solo records have been unjustly neglected, perhaps in part because they are so hard to find today.

 

[axolotl]

I had a small hand in producing this revelatory project.

You deserve a big hand for that. Bravo.

 

[axolotl]

This , here (2006):

Spoiler

 

[Ojai Sam]

Emaho Duo - Opera Emoi (2021)

The Emaho ("Wonder" in Tibetan) Duo consists of Maud Renier and Primor Sluchin, playing the instruments worn proudly on their shoulders. In this album, they recreate for us the experience of spending an evening in a Parisian salon of the 18th and 19th centuries. Operatic works from Bizet, Verdi, Rossini and Bellini are presented in sprightly fashion, with the finale an 11 minute suite from "Porgy and Bess" by "Georges" Gershwin (spelled thusly on the album ).

Highest recommendation for this unique project.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Dead Meadow - Feathers (2005)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Lucy's Drive - Different Way (2023)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Peuk - Escape Somehow (2023)



I wish an American band would do something like this. We need a new Sonic Youth (without exactly sounding like Sonic Youth).

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

Been awhile
Despite being a fan of album ranking lists, I remember one of the (many) reasons for immediately dismissing the most recent Rolling Stone Top 500 list is that they put this album way down at #500

 

[axolotl]

Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

Been awhile
Despite being a fan of album ranking lists, I remember one of the (many) reasons for immediately dismissing the most recent Rolling Stone Top 500 list is that they put this album way down at #500

I remember the arguments over this and Neon Bible.

Does anyone remember which one won?

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

I remember the arguments over this and Neon Bible.

Does anyone remember which one won?

Only the farmers won...we lose...we always lose

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield Again (1967)

 

[axolotl]

Wadada Leo Smith ~ Golden Quartet (2000)




For those who cannot read what's on the cover, it also says:

Anthony Davis
Malachi Favors Magoustous
Jack DeJohnette

Some believe that these are the names of the other performers on the disc with Wadada Leo Smith and that make up his Golden Quartet.

It was produced by John Zorn.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Andras Schiff - Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 2, Songs Without Words (1999)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Jakob - Sines (2014)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Blossom Dearie - "Jazz-Sweet" (1955)

 

[axolotl]

^ What's up with "The Body Next Door"?