<B>BUCKY PIZZARELLI: <I>Swing Live</I></B><BR> Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar; Allen Vach&#233;, clarinet; Peter Appleyard, vibes; Michael Moore, bass; Bernard Purdie, drums<BR>Chesky JD218 (CD), SACD223 (hybrid multichannel SACD), CHDVD222 (DVD-A, not reviewed). 2001. David Chesky, prod.; Barry Wolifson, Nicholas Prout, engs. DDD. TT: 60:00<BR> Performance <B>****</B><BR> CD Sonics <B>***?</B><BR> SACD Sonics ****?</B> (two-channel), <B>*****</B> (multichannel)

Leisure duds on? Bathrobe 'n' pipe, Ol' Yaller at yer feet and slobberin' all over your ankles? All's well with the world? Then it's time for "Fine Tunes"! May audio mayhem ensue...

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Not since Sonus Faber's <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/139/">Amati Homage</A> loudspeakers took up residence in my listening room has a piece of audio gear elicited so many "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Wows" from friends as Hovland Company's dramatic-looking, EL34-driven Sapphire power amplifier&mdash;especially when it was switched on and glowing orange and blue. It drew unsolicited attention and admiration even when turned off. Not that, on or off, its unusual looks didn't also have their share of detractors. As with Hovland's chrome-fa&#231;aded, blue-backlit <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//amplificationreviews/291/">HP-100 preamplifier</A>, some found the Sapphire too shiny, too gaudy, and generally just too much. Me, I'm thumbs-up on the Sapphire's looks&mdash;I found myself staring at it incessantly. But anything that draws such intensity of response, whether love or hate, must be doing <I>something</I> right. B&O shouldn't have a monopoly on striking-looking audio gear.

Teresa of &#193;vila (1515-1582) is acknowledged as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. She is additionally accorded the rare (especially for a mystic) distinction of recognition as a "Doctor" of the Faith. On a somewhat less exalted level, but perhaps resonating even more clearly with the truth of common human experience, Teresa (who had Jewish ancestry; why is that not surprising?) is credited with coining the phrase "Be careful what you pray for, you might get it."