Postage Included

Somewhere, before I can remember, I learned that Bach is beyond parallel (and still! — his name does not appear in this browser’s spellchecker). Not only is his music better than anyone else’s, but did you know it takes a 155 CD box set to include his complete works?

Among piano people, Glenn Gould does not inspire tepid opinions. As for me, give me the Glenn Gould and I’ll be happy every time. Maybe it’s not the way Bach heard it, but then, it has such life, or such a multitude of lives, that maybe it is the way he heard it.  I like to think so.

When I was in school, the library notice board had a job posted to organize his papers, effects, radio shows, TV shows, and such.  I still wonder what that would have been like.

And I might just have to get that 155 CD box set.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Podcast: Download

This fabulous track is the first installment of the “16 albums” meme. I’m going to post one track from each album, for the edification and entertainment of you, the reader, in a fashion flauntingly prohibited by law.

A guitarist known more for his noise jazz (at the time), an album cover straight from the 50’s, and the title: “The Prosthetic Cubans”. It was in the “recently arrived” used bin, and I had to have it. On this track he’s accompanied by barely more than claves. The whole album has this deeply sparse feel I’ve never heard in another Cuban album (including his follow-up to this one!).

I just found out that Ribot is on the “Raising Sand” album and tour.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Podcast: Download