What better way to begin a new year?
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Suite No. 5 in C minor for Unaccompanied Cello; Steven Isserlis (1958-, cello), live, New York, 2018
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lagniappe
random sights
last night, Oak Park, Illinois
passings
Jack DeJohnette, drummer, pianist, composer, August 9, 1942 – October 26, 2025
Jack DeJohnette (drums) with MCOTD Hall-of-Famer Henry Threadgill (reeds), Roscoe Mitchell (reeds), Muhal Richard Abrams (piano), and Larry Gray (bass), Made in Chicago, 2015
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
like nothing else
Tony Malaby (saxophone), Mat Maneri (viola), Daniel Levin (cello), “New Artifacts,” recorded live (New York), 2015
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Oak Park, Illinois
like nobody else
Terry Riley (June 24, 1935-, composer, musician), 90th birthday celebration, live, New York, 6/24/25: The Holy Liftoff (2024), Claire Chase (flutes); In C (1964), large ensemble
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
what’s new (timeless, too)
In a hurry? Don’t miss the excerpt from Ravel’s lone string quartet (9:15-).
Takács Quartet (Edward Dusinberre, violin; Harumi Rhodes, violin; Richard O’Neill, viola; András Fejér, cello), live (Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 42: IV. Finale; Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Flow: III. Quark Scherzo; Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major: II. Assez vif – très rythmé), Washington, D.C., published 7/7/25
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
sounds of Chicago
Rob Mazurek — Exploding Star Orchestra (RM [1965-], director, trumpets, bells, voice, compositions; Nicole Mitchell, flute, voice, electronics; Damon Locks, voice, words, samplers, electronics; Tomeka Reid, cello, electronics; Craig Taborn, wurlitzer electric piano, moog, electronics; Angelica Sanchez, wurlitzer electric piano, moog; Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, bass; Chad Taylor, drums; Gerald Cleaver, drums), live, Chicago (Adler Planetarium), 2023
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
what’s new
This combination of voices—alto saxophone, cello, accordion—I could listen to all day.
Tim Berne (alto saxophone), Hank Roberts (cello), Aurora Nealand (accordion, etc.), live, Austria (Wels), 11/26/24
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois
sounds of London
Leonkoro Quartet (Jonathan Schwarz, violin; Amelie Wallner, violin; Mayu Konoe, viola; Lukas Schwarz, cello), live, London, 11/21/24: Joseph Haydn (String Quartet in F major, Op. 50, No. 5 [“The Dream”]), 2:00-; Felix Mendelssohn (String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2), 22:30-; Giacomo Puccini (Chrisantemi), 53:00-
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, outside Chicago
like nobody else
Happy (79th) birthday, Anthony!
Anthony Braxton (6/4/1945-, reeds, composition) with Dan Peck (tuba), Taylor Ho Bynum (brass), Tomeka Reid (cello), Jacqui Kerrod (harp), Shelly Burgon (harp), Adam Matlock (accordion, aerophones), “Composition No. 409,” live, New Haven, Conn., 2017
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lagniappe
radio
Today, celebrating his birthday, WKCR (Columbia University) is featuring his music from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (ET).
like nobody else
Jürg Frey (1953-), String Quartet No. 4 (Mvt. I), 2018-20, 22; Quatuor Bozzini, 2024
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, Art Institute of Chicago (Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks“, through 9/22/24)
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), The Shelton with Sunspots, N.Y. (1926), detail
music clip of the day 