On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 22:38:37 +0000, Harry Lavo wrote:

"lcw999" wrote in message
...
Harry Lavo...

Many thanks for these little "tidbits" of info on interesting
recordings. I've always felt that this forum is ideal for
this type of information. I treasure these bits of info
regarding other people and their "finds" of recordings.
Generally, the recordings are a "cut" above if someone
takes the time to note it here on this forum.

I think there is a lot of good information about excellent
recordings out here with the participants of this forum...
Perhaps, more notes of this type here on this group
would be of great interest to all. We dwell a bit too
much on hardware anyway!

It would be of interest also to get some input from
Pinkerton, Nousaine and others, of a different
philosophical persuation toward this Audio Domain
than I, regarding their ideas on some recordings
that are a "cut above". Their varied experiences
in this business should enable them to run into
some interesting recordings. I have an extremely
varied interest in "all"..and I do mean "all" types
of music. So, nothing critical about the music
type will come from these quarters!

Dr. Kalman Rubinson might throw in some of his
favorite recordings that he uses to test various
gear. Strangely, over the years, I've caught
myself purchasing a piece of gear and bingo
the next release of Stereophile Kalman would
have a review on it. I've learned he has an
unerring tendency to isolate the essence of a
piece of gear that I had already lived with for awhile.
Therefore, I tend to respect his "calls"
on various types of equipment.

Again, many thanks Harry...

Leonard...
_______________________________________________

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 03:07:08 +0000, Harry Lavo wrote:

Silverline has just released two Jane Monheit albums on DVD-A...her
Never
Never Land album recorded in 2000, and her Come Dream With Me album from
2001. If you like jazz, jazz singing, or jazz-influenced singing, I
can't
recommend highly enough that you listen to these albums (they are also
on
CD).

Jane Monheit is IMO (and many other's as well) the best young jazz
singer of
the last 20 years. She dusts off Diane Krell, Patricia Barber, and
Susanne
McCorkle. There is spectacular singing on these two albums. If you
have
to start with just one, buy Come Dream With Me and listen to tracks 1,
4,
and 9 (Over the Rainbow, Waters of March, and If, respectively). You'll
never look back.

I can't vouch for the CD sound(although my brother-in-law has one of
them
and it sounded good on his system) but the sound on the DVD-A's is
really
exceptional. 24/96 six channel sound (5.1).

The backing on both these CD's/DVD-A's is of all-star caliber: Kenny
Barron
on Piano, Ron Carter or Christian McBride on bass, etc. It is like
sitting
in the second row of a nightclub and having Jane sing to you with a
superb
jazz quartet backing her. She sings mostly jazz standards, but with
some
deviations (the three aforementioned plus Never Never Land and Twisted
on
the other album. Whatever she tackles, she sings superbly well.

I just had to share my enthusiasm with the group. This is exceptional
stuff.

And a quick aside: if you have DVD-A surround, and like the early '70's
Chicago, get yourself the Chicago and Chicago V DVD-A albums put out by
Rhino. I was always frustrated that this loud, brassy group was so
hemmed
in by LP, then CD, through two speakers. With DVD-A surround (24/96)
the
sound just floats up and up in volume without any strain...it is the
next
best thing to being in the studio.

The very best thing about this new technology is that I am excited about
music once again. The technology is the enabler...but the music is the
payoff.

Thanks. I share your view that it would be wonderful if we spent more time
sharing our enjoyment of the hobby rather than focusing on differences that
separate us. I'm in a particularly busy time for the next four weeks but I
will take your words to heart and post more when I stumble across something
extraordinary in my collection.

For now, I'll mention the most perfect "pop" collection I own (in my
opinion, of course) and that is the 2 CD collection of 50 songs (all but a
few originals) called "The Harry Nilsson Anthology". The songs were culled
from his recordings by Harry personally in the year before he died and then
lovingly restored/remastered by RCA/BMG. The sound is as good as CD's get;
the songs remarkable in their scope and variety; the production values and
orchestration superb. Harry was a buddy of the Beatles, who considered him
the best American singer-songwriter of his era.

You will recognize many of his songs...probably the best know a cover of
"Everybody's Talkin' " from Midnight Cowboy. Or perhaps, "Coconut", or
perhaps "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City", and on and on.

I hope it is still in print. If you run across it, grab it. No other pop
CD (even Dylan's stuff or the Beatles) fills me with as much pleasure on a
continuing basis.

I may have mentioned this here before, but this is one album that can stand
a repeat recommendation.
________________________________________________

Harry...

The very mention of Nillson causes a "sinking feeling" inside...
His music is all wrapped up in a lot of deeply emotional
experiences for me. The "Everybody's Talkin' " had some
kind of quality that always caught my attention. Again,
thanks for the notes on your CD findings..a positive
contribution to this newsgroup.

Leonard...