mikeymad

RIP Shelly Duvall, 75

Ott? Yup.. And the Waltzes from 2008 Brendel? yup. But mostly vinyl, so it has been a while. Also I don't remember him recording Chopin that much (Polonaises). I remember a pile of Beethoven and Schubert though. Argerich? Other stuff - but not Chopin. I will look for it. I know her DG stuff is respected. If I had a go-to, to use your term. It would probably be Artur: I really liked the 11 CD set and listened to it a lot. Also there are others as you said - Kissin, Perahia, Horowitz, etc That said, I don't listen to Chopin that often. I think he was great, and the dedication to piano was incredible. Just sometimes it is a bit 'too many notes' for me. But if you have album recommendations, please post, I would be happy to add them to my queue if they are available.

Based on a recommendation: Telemann: Trumpet Concertos by Håkan Hardenberger (1988) https://album.link/i/1452218846 Example: Very enjoyable, I do enjoy alternative Concertos (not always violin and piano), and this fits that bill. I was a little thrown because I am so use to Sir Neville Marriner being the conductor. I know Iona as a violin player, but good conducting chops on display.

Dire Straits by Dire Straits (1978) https://album.link/i/307029087 Example:

Yeah it was!! off of this lovely album with a totally normal album cover....

Dance With Me: The Best Of Orleans by Orleans (1997) https://album.link/i/77821265 Example: I usually stay away from Best of's or Greatest hits. I listen to albums for the most part. But fuck it. I wanted to, it's a fun set of tunes.... Heck, I will even post the song they are most known for. What do you want? It is a hot day....

Chopin by Ivo Pogorelich (2022) https://album.link/i/1600880082 Example: Very good Sony recording. Ivo is not my fav for Chopin interpretations, but he sure gets a lot of things right for me.

I assume that there is a single street size tortilla under the mound of meat on a plate. mmm taco...

Cheers Birgir - happy birthday. Let us know how the natural lava bake oven is coming along. {quickly checks google to see if iceland is still there}

Lindsay, who ran off to Nebula to continue creating content, after many haters tried to cancel her, just released her Yoko doc to youTube. I am not sure she will return to YouTube, but I was happy to see it. Oh, and it is good.

Aerosmith by Aerosmith (1973) https://album.link/i/1658644936 Example: I have to admit that I didn't have 1973 in mind when I thought of their first album, and I also have to admit that I didn't know that 'Dream on' was from their first album as well. Growing up they were just always here, so I never really thought about their origins, and how long they had been around. When I started buying albums in the 80s, I thought of them as a classic rock band in the 80s. I didn't say I was very smart, then or now. Great Album? no, good album with a few great songs. Also Get Your Wings by Aerosmith (1974) https://album.link/i/1658645027 Example: Again 1974 just seems crazy to me for this album and tunes. Also not a great album for me, but good with some great songs, and better than their first album. I think that listening to the radio growing up gave me a distorted sense of time, and I don't think MTV helped. Permanent Vacation seemed like a new Album from a newish band. Again, not so bright.

"A decade ago, she practically introduced Diet Coke," Um... prior IP Grahame?

RIP Baby Bull. And Very sad RIP for Martin Mull. Martin was that special type of funny that was so subtle sometimes that the joke was for very few people, probably mostly himself and maybe the late Fred Willard. I also don't think of the shows listed, I think of the movie Clue, and of course old TV specials like, The History of White People in America. And he seemed to be a staple on Johnny and Letterman. RIP Martin, thanks for the yucks, guffaws and chuckles.

Chabrier: Le roi malgré lui; España; Gwendoline Overture; Suite pastorale by Detroit Symphony Orchestra (1961) https://album.link/i/1629542940 Example: I really could be happy with just '50s and '60s recordings of classical music. I know that there are good modern recordings, but still.

Here's To Life by Shirley Horn (1992) https://album.link/i/1443164309 Example: This is a perfect example of how to use your talents and limitations as one ages. Such a pretty album. Her ability to play with the microdynamics in her voice is just amazing to me.

Had to see if this still held up after my personal hype of it being released - Almost two years ago. Yup - I still like it a lot and really enjoy the grooves.

Your posts are becoming self aware....

Phantoma by Unleash The Archers (2024) https://album.link/i/1721629378 Example: It took me a bit to get to - like most things these days - but first listen to the new UTA album. Not as much diversity as in the last few album as far as the overall sound. I think that they went hard on the storyline so I need to spend some time with the words and listen again soon. But new Archers album - happy times.

Happy belated birthday Kerry! - cheers

I do and I don't want to google SCATpack...

Reminiscence by Hélène Vogelsinger (2021) https://album.link/i/1682653342 Example: not on this album the the inspiration to listen to the album. If you like live looping - like I do - some good stuff here. Can get intense, but I really liked the album. There are a few more for me to check out.

Thanks for the thread Steve. I finally had a chance to read through it, and I appreciate the sharing. I wanted to share some thoughts from an event tonight. Every Tuesday night Communities of Belonging hosts a community meeting. Tonight was my night to host, and I wanted Pride Month as my topic. Last year when I hosted, I chose, How you were touched by Pride. Anyway: After the grounding, I led a discussion with the check-in question - What does Pride Month mean to you? (inspiration acknowledged) As host, I kicked it off. The main thing I think about, when I presented the topic was, freedom. I don't think of anything as boastful or other negative connotations with pride. I really see it as something deeper, more about a celebration of self. Being on a journey over the last three years or so in a search for self, I can appreciate and connect with it. Who doesn't want to be able to say, here I am, and be seen and heard? Others shared their personal experiences, from different orientations. I really liked one of our older members talking about it being like 'our' Christmas. I found one persons thoughts interesting, having a pretty strict religious upbringing, that it was drilled into him from an early age that 'pride' was bad/evil, in all its forms. He has had to unlearn that - and let it go, because it didn't align with his personal beliefs once he was grown. My second discussion topic was, how can we be better allies to the queer (I prefer this term) individuals throughout the year? With the concept of expanding the concentrated awareness during June to the everyday. I had not thought about this question until I posed it. My main thoughts are around acceptance and also calling people to task. I always think of the phrase 'Be careful who you hate, it could be someone you love'. This comes up in context of my extended family, in both directions, some are haters and some are members of a community that they hate. Also the sobering thought of 'Right now, someone is willing to take their life rather than come out'. All of this is just unacceptable. I work on the basic premise of acceptance. Oh that is who you are? Cool. But other discussions opened up the topic of Dignity. And the one that really stuck with me was being Affirming. To not just be accepting, but to let people know that you are an ally. Being accepting can be passive, the other person takes all the risk in trusting that there is acceptance on the other side. So that is something that I can take into my future, not to just be accepting and calling people out, but to be affirming. Cheers

Just checking out the up-and-coming talent these days. Loved the interplay with the audience.

Naturally by Sharon Jones & The Dap-kings (2005) https://album.link/i/1485055629 Example: It is sad that we didn't get more Sharon when she was here, but we can at least enjoy what we have.

And for Sunday afternoon.... New Conversations by Bill Evans (1978) https://album.link/i/1576791761 Example: Living in the PNW, I don't have to really remember the rain, because it is mostly imminent. This later Bill album is just Pretty. I tend to focus too much on the early work.