#^d 2016-03-21
#^h Music Week
<p>Music: Current count 26400 [26384] rated (+16), 411 [411] unrated (-0).</p>

<p>Rated count continues to plummet: after averaging 39 in February,
March's totals are 24, 21, and now 16. Last week I made up for the
shortfall by finding seven A- records, but this week I didn't come up
with any (can't remember when the last time that happened was, other
than weeks I shut down for travel). Best I can do is six high HMs,
with Jeff Williams probably the closest call. Maybe Larry Young's
<i>In Paris</i> should get extra credit for its huge booklet?</p>

<p>Main reason for falling short is that I've been out of the house,
trying to help my sister fix up our late parents old house so she
can move in. That should give me something practical to do over the
next several weeks. Nonetheless, the incoming queue has slowed down
to the point where I'm still keeping pace. I do have some download
links I can tap into, but I don't count them before they hatch, and
I haven't felt much energy for dealing with the hassle.</p>

<p>I'll post a Rhapsody Streamnotes some time before the end of the
month, even though it's likely to be a short one -- only have 85
capsules at present.</p>

<p><hr class="brk"></p>

<p><b>New records rated this week:</b></p>

<ul>
<li><b>Raul Agraz: <i>Between Brothers</i></b> (2013-15 [2016], OA2): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Ehud Asherie: <i>Shuffle Along</i></b> (2015 [2016], Blue Heron): [cd]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Kenny Barron Trio: <i>Book of Intuition</i></b> (2015 [2016], Impulse): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Oguz Buyukberber/Tobias Klein: <i>Reverse Camouflage</i></b> (2015 [2016], TryTone): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Taylor Cook: <i>The Cook Book</i></b> (2015 [2016], self-released): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Hanami: <i>The Only Way to Float Free</i></b> (2015 [2016], Ears &amp; Eyes): [cdr]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Julian Hartwell: <i>The Julian Hartwell Project</i></b> (2015, self-released): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Hendrik Meurkens: <i>Harmonicus Rex</i></b> (2010 [2016], Height Advantage): [cd]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Willie Nelson: <i>Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin</i></b> (2016, Legacy): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>Ratatet: <i>Arctic</i></b> (2015 [2016], Ridgeway): [cd]: <b>B</b></li>
<li><b>Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra: <i>Portraits and Places</i></b> (2015 [2016], Origin): [cd]: <b>B-</b></li>
<li><b>Rihanna: <i>Anti</i></b> (2016, Roc Nation): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Zhenya Strigalev: <i>Never Group</i></b> (2015 [2016], Whirlwind): [cd]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
<li><b>Jeff Williams: <i>Outlier</i></b> (2015 [2016], Whirlwind): [cd]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>La Yegros: <i>Magnetismo</i></b> (2016, Soundway): [r]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
</ul>

<p><b>Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries rated this week:</b></p>

<ul>
<li><b>Larry Young: <i>In Paris: The ORTF Recordings</i></b> (1964-65 [2016], Resonance, 2CD): [cd]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
</ul>

<p><b>Old music rated this week:</b></p>

<ul>
<li><b>Nathan Davis: <i>Happy Girl</i></b> (1965 [2006], MPS): [r]: <b>B+(*)</b></li>
<li><b>The Larry Young Trio: <i>Testifying</i></b> (1960 [1992], New Jazz/OJC): [r]: <b>B+(***)</b></li>
<li><b>Larry Young: <i>Groove Street</i></b> (1962 [1995], Prestige/OJC): [r]: <b>B+(**)</b></li>
</ul>

<p><hr class="brk"></p>

<p><b>Unpacking:</b> Found in the mail last week:</p>

<ul>
<li><b>Ehud Asherie: <i>Shuffle Along</i></b> (Blue Heron): April 8</li>
<li><b>Florian Egli Weird Beard: <i>Everything Moves</i></b> (Intakt): advance, April</li>
<li><b>Marty Elkins: <i>Walkin' by the River</i></b> (Nagel Heyer)</li>
<li><b>Darren English: <i>Imagine Nation</i></b> (Hot Shoe)</li>
<li><b>Piere Favre: <i>Drum Sights</i></b> (Intakt): advance, April</li>
<li><b>Jeff Guthery: <i>Black Paintings</i></b> (self-released): May 6</li>
<li><b>The Hughes-Smith Quintet: <i>Ever Up &amp; Onward</i></b> (self-released)</li>
</ul>