another take
Once I enter this world I never want to leave.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987; MCOTD Hall of Fame), Piano and String Quartet (1985); Musica Nova Consort, live, Israel (Tel Aviv), 2017
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lagniappe
reading table
Going home,
the horse stumbles
in the winter wind.—Yosa Buson, 1716-1784 (translated from Japanese by Robert Hass)
You can listen, on NPR, CNN, XYZ, to today’s noise (Trump: “This is an American disgrace!”), or you can listen to this—your call.
Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000) playing Mozart (Sonata in F major [K 332], Fantasy in C minor [K 475], Sonata in C minor [K 457]), Germany (Munich), 1990
Last night, like many other nights, this kept me company, on repeat, as I slept.
Morton Feldman (1926-1987; MCOTD Hall of Fame), Piano and String Quartet (1985); Kronos Quartet with Aki Takahashi (piano)
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, Art Institute of Chicago
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), Head of Sorrow, 1882 (Rodin: Sculptor and Storyteller, through March 4th)
more
No one plays ballads more tenderly—or tartly.
Von Freeman (MCOTD Hall of Fame, 1923-2012), “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” (E. Maschwitz & M. Sherwin) with Jodie Christian (piano), Rufus Reid (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), live, Harrisburg, Penn., 1994
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“I Can’t Get Started” (V. Duke, I. Gershwin), live, Belgium, 1992
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“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (R. Rodgers, L. Hart) with Mike Allemena (guitar), Matt Ferguson (bass), Michael Raynor (drums), live, Chicago (Mandel Hall, University of Chicago), 2011
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
voices I miss
Von Freeman (MCOTD Hall of Fame), tenor saxophonist, 1923-2012
“Oleo” (S. Rollins) with Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone), Willie Pickens (piano), Dan Shapera (bass), Robert Shy (drums), Chicago (Chicago Jazz Festival), 1988
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“Take the ‘A’ Train” (B. Strayhorn) with Joanie Pallatto (vocals), Bettye Reynolds (vocals), Fred Anderson (tenor saxophone), Billy Brimfield (trumpet), John Young (piano), George Freeman (guitar), Larry Gray (bass), Michael Adams (drums), live, Chicago, 1999
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lagniappe
my back pages
On a cold, snowy night forty-one years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, Von Freeman and John Young played at our—Suzanne’s and my—wedding. All of what they played that night—”Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More” (before); “In a Sentimental Mood” (as Suzanne walked down the aisle); “My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father” (after)—can be heard here (0:15-). Years later, John told me: “When I marry ’em, they stay married.”
How about a trip to the nineteenth century?
Daniil Trifonov, piano (Chopin, Schumann, Grieg), live (studio performance), Washington, D.C., 1/12/18
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lagniappe
reading table
To shut our eyes is Travel.
—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Letter 354
Astonishing performance.
Astonishing piece.
Anton Webern (1883-1945), Variations, op. 27 (1936)
Glenn Gould (1932-1982), piano
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lagniappe
reading table
What Miracles the News is!
Not Bismark but ourselves.—Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Letter 354
never enough
Johann Sebastian Bach, Goldberg Variations; Evgeni Koroliov, piano
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lagniappe
radio
WKCR’s (Columbia University) Bach Festival continues through midnight tomorrow.
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random sights
other day, Sonoma, Calif.
passings
Best minute of music you’ll hear all month?
Willie Pickens, April 18, 1931-December 13, 2017, pianist, educator
“Giant Steps” (J. Coltrane), live, Chicago, 2012
One-word review: Wow!
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), Lachrymae (1950); Yuri Bashmet (viola), Sviatoslav Richter (piano), live
music clip of the day 