Sadly he’s gone now. But a wonderful career.
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Pretty much all the old jazz masters are gone. From my brief exposure to jazz, it seems like the first big boom of current jazz was 1955 to 1965. And they were not young then.
Shane D
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I do like me some JLH … was the first “audiophile” targeted LP I ever bought, back when the Linn LP12 was the state-of-the-turntable art … and thinking back to that makes me thing the rest of today is going to be a blues-fest!
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Last night was spent at Seattle Opera for Carmen.
Those that know me, know that Carmen is my favorite opera, by far - so I was very excited for this. I bought my subscription the minute I could (over a year ago now) to make sure I retained my favorite seats (I like to dress up for the opera, so it’s the front and center of the dress circle for me, “DCP” as opera-lovers would say).
Zanda Švēde, this being her debut with Seattle Opera, was last night’s Carmen (Ginger Costa-Jackson not doubt enjoying the fanfare of having both opening and closing night performances). I enjoy her work, and she can be magnificent (and I think is a rising star).
Those that know me also know that I prefer opera (and ballet and theatre now that I think about it) in its classic form. Not that I don’t appreciate modernizations and adaptations … they can be wonderful. But I tend to do those on a drop-in basis and not the big-ticket stuff - night-out stuff.
Last nights performance was definitely a modernization … albeit retaining the original libretto and music.
Switching the classic settings for something rolled forward a hundred years or so and plunged into a 1950s setting. The sets and costumes were effective and the presentation was gorgeous, but it felt more like Cuba than Seville (all those billboards …), and it was a rough adjustment, and a shock to the senses, to have Escamillo ride-in, Fonzie-like, on a motorcycle, and then get up and do a near-Elvis-stylized physical delivery of his first scenes …
It lost its sense of romance and drama for me, and even Zanda was not able to convey the level of passion or emotion (she’s supposed to be a hot-blooded gypsy after all) I expect from the titular role.
So … clever, and ultimately it all worked out if taken on its own merits as a piece of entertainment … but it made it into something “not Carmen” for me.
If I’d realized in advance it was an adaptation I’d probably have enjoyed it more. But, on the upside, the music WAS what was expected, and the performance there was wonderful.
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Modernisations and remakes of most classical things don’t tend to work too well. It’s a classic for a reason and needs leaving well alone. I am generalising here of course and aren’t just encompassing opera of which I know nothing. With me being an uncultured northerner and all. I mean let’s go low brow for a minute. The war of the worlds movie from back in the day was great and then they stick Tom Cruise in the remake to make a total arse of it. HOLLYWOOD, NO. 
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yeah more adventures into blues and N’awlins music.
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Hey thanks, this album has been great so far! Very interesting and unexpected.
It is an excellent album. They ( Aphridite Child), have other two albums before 666, but more light . “It’s five o’clock “ & “End of the world”.
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(This track isn’t on YouTube, else I’d link that.)
I like Dr. John. I think I saw him at Penn State’s summer 1972 Festival of Life. Outdoors. Before Exuma came on. Lots of N’awlins and darker voodoo music.
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After getting various versions of “Carmen” out of my system (I had to get back to something that carried the real passion and emotion of Bizet’s masterpiece) I have spent the day on an retro kick.
ABBA, to be specific.
That was the group that was constantly “Top of the Pops” (it’s an English thing, look it up), and a big favorite of my parents, when I was growing up … and is still something of a guilty pleasure.
Listening through their entire works, via the Cayin N8, tia Fourté and ZMF Vérité has been delightful … as well as suitably nostalgic.
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They are also on Spotify and Qobuz =)
Really been digging on them past couple days!
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Ooo I love a bit of ABBA. I know they’re a bit cheesy but in the history of pop music they are iconic. Masters of the pop song and catchy tune. Definitely a guilty pleasure.
Moreso because it’s just what happens to be next in the "listen to everything I’ve ripped queue, but it’s been good for setting the morning mood:
Alien soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith is IMO one of the best soundtracks of the last 50 years. There is a special edition album with more themes than the first editions, if you are going to listen to this look for that long one.
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This album always reminds me of driving to nowhere in particular while I was stationed in South Carolina. Best paired with opened windows, smooth acceleration, and ocean air.
Decided to grab UAPP for my OnePlus 6 and, since Tidal is being a giant PITA to get set back up with my military discount, I just re-did my headphone demo playlist on Google Play instead. It’s basically two of my standard Spotify testing playlists back-to-back. Hope you enjoy 
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I’m being self-indulgent today …
I bought the entire “Pet Shop Boys” catalog (well, the parts of it I didn’t already own on CD … and yes there’s some vinyl in there as well, but those are either originals or duplicates).
Listening my way through that, chronologically (something I like to do from time to time with any artist) is proving to be very rewarding. Haven’t moved in a couple of hours. Doubt I will for a couple more.
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