LATEST ADDITIONS
Marceau Speaks
<I>The Christian Science Monitor</I> took the occasion of Marcel Marceau's death to reprint its 1974 interview with the mime.
My Hero
Well, one of 'em anyway. Make that <I>two</I> of 'em. Alex Ross interviews Yo-Yo Ma.
At the Pub with the Inklings
<I>The Lord of the Rings</I> would have ended quite differently if Tolkien's drinking buddies hadn't talked him out of it.
Known Space
Graphic representations of every object in our solar system with a diameter greater than 200 miles: One star, four gas giant planets, four terrestrial planets, three dwarf planets, 21 moons, four asteroids, and 51 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).
Do you eat food while you listen? If so, what is the perfect food/music combination?
Some combinations work and some don't. How about music and food? Do you eat food while you listen? If so, what is the perfect food/music combination?
Scandinavian Audio Research Debuts
There's a new drive-unit manufacturing company on the block, but it's really just the same old guys who brought you VIFA, ScanSpeak, and DST—the original pros from Dover, in other words.
Sonny Meets Roy!
I reviewed Sonny Rollins’ <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/arts/music/20roll.html">Carnegie Hall concert</A> last Tuesday for the <I>New York Times</I>. Short version: The first half, when Rollins played in trio with drummer Roy Haynes and bassist Christian McBride, was wondrous; the second half, with his usual sextet, had its moments but was comparatively a drag. I only hinted at this in the review, but the concert typified the puzzle that is Rollins’ career: why, in the past 40 of its 50-plus years, has this titan of the tenor saxophone—the most inventive living improviser in jazz—chosen to play so often with musicians so clearly beneath him?
Luxman Returns
Philip O'Hanlon, formerly US marketing director for Halcro, has a new project. His distribution company, <A HREF="http://www.onahighernote.com">On a Higher Note</A>, is bringing Japanese high-end company Luxman back to the United States.