Retail Therapy: The Week in Review

[kexodusc]

Robert Shaw/Atlanta Symph~Stravinsky's "The Firebird"
Miles Davis~Dark Magus:Live At Carnegie Hall SACD
Gary Burton~Like Minds Concord Jazz SACD with Metheny and Corea.

Wow, small world - I was eyeballin' these the other day - If you had to settle for just 2 of the 3, which ones would ya get?

[bobsticks]

Hey Kex,

Without reservation I can say you gotta buy the Stravinsky. It is truly fantastic on several levels.

Now for the other choice it comes down to your particular criteria of the day. The "Dark Magus" disc is a good and righteous and, indeed, legendary recording. Recorded directly preceeding one of his many transitions in life and style, "Magus" is a testament to concentration and effort. The sheer length of the material (especially on the first disc) and the interplay between band members tells a well-defined story of musical reaching. That said it sounds like a live recording done in 1974 and engineered by Sony. It lacks sonically.

"Like Minds" is considered significant as well, albeit by a smaller number of folks. The sonics are trademark Concord, which is to say extremely good. I also happen to like the vibraphone and with the inclusion of Metheney and Corea this marks a distinct divergence from a lot of the Lionel Hampton-esque stuff that I frequently spin.

Apples and oranges and all that, but I would choose the Gary Burton. YMMV.

Have fun.