Top 6 for August 28, 2014

Don't know how long I can keep this up, but here goes...

Dvorák's Slavonic Dance Op. 46 No. 1 played by Rafael Kubelik and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

I've often referred to this very vigorous performance of these Romantic Era chestnuts as "the Slavonic Slamdances". A good way to get the blood pumping early in the morning, I tells ya.

Lula - Barney Brigard, Benny Carter and Ben Webster

From BBB, this group of 30's jazz legends recorded in the 60's, playing in the past and present tenses simultaneously, that is, playing old school without nostalgia.

Jodi by The Dodos

A rockin' little tune I downloaded off a free sampler somewhere.

Dart Night at the Willow by the Charlie Kohlhase Quintet

Commemorating the loss of their weekly gig at the Willow Jazz Club to said activity, some furious blowing by the horns in the band - Matt Langley on alto, John Carlson on trumpet and the leader on baritone.

Semi-Simple Variations by the Bad Plus

A knotty piano piece by Milton Babbitt (although far from his knottiest) arranged for jazz piano trio. From the album For All I Care. There's a video, too!

The Rock Concert: Madison WI, April 9, 2005 by the Jazz Passengers

Sponsored by  the University of Wisconsin-Madison Geology Museum to celebrate the Univeristy's possesion of one of the oldest pieces of rock known to exist, this hour long works tells a very shaggy-dog story about the rock's origins in 1950's Brooklyn. A randomly found edition of WFMU's Miniature Minotaurs program. Check it out here.

Top 4 for January 6, 2014

Concerto en sol mineur, BWV 975 - I: Allegro by JS Bach, performed by Alexandre Tharaud from Concertos Italiens

JSB's transcription of concerto No. 6 from Vivaldi's La Stravaganza

Let's call the whole thing off - Fred Astaire w/ Johnny Green and his orchestra from the film Shall We Dance from the LP Starring Fred Astaire (aka the Brunswick Recordings)

A great collection of Astaire's film performances, with a fantastic arrangement (no credit on my copy unfortunately). 

Top 8 for January 2, 2014, plus an aside

I Need to Know Where I Stand by Rhett Miller from Live at Eddie's Attic

Pitchfork describes it as “a decent Meg Ryan movie of a pop song”. I'm not sure if that's a compliment (it wouldn't be, coming from me) but I think it's a darn fine song.

Tombstone Blues by Bob Dylan from Biograph (originally from Highway 61 Revisited)

The sun ain't yellow, it's chicken. Jes' sayin'.