Monthly Archive: December 2014
Audio News for December 30, 2014
LG Brings Smartphone-like Thinness to TVs; Toshiba To Show Glasses-free 3D Panels; Grom Audio Adds HD Radio to Factory Vehicle Sound Systems; Global LCD TV Shipments for 2014 Hit 215M Units; More Countries Acknowledge Health Risks of Mobile Technology
Ceora Winds – “Postcards” = works of many composers for flute, clarinet, bassoon & percussion – Ceora Winds
Very pleasant set of little known works for wind trio.
CHOPIN: Polonaise-Fantasie in A-flat Major; Nocturne in E-flat Major; Nocturne in E Major Bolero; Nouvelle Etude No. 1 in F Minor; Ballade No. 1 in G Minor; Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major; Ballade No. 4 in F Minor; Prelude in C-sharp Minor – Andrew Rangell, p. – Steinway & Sons
Andrew Rangell’s incursion into the Chopin late style bears all the hallmarks of intelligent, sensitive piano artistry.
Rise Of A Texas Bluesman – Stevie Ray Vaughan 1954-1983 (2014)
Documentary examines Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ascension into the Texas blues scene.
PETER SCULTHORPE: “The Complete String Quartets with Didjeridu” = String Quartet No. 12 “From Ubirr”; String Quartet No. 14 “Quamby”; String Quartet No. 16; String Quartet No. 18 – Del Sol Quartet/ Stephen Kent, didjeridu – Sono Luminus (Pure Audio Blu-ray+2 CDs)
These moving works become a testimony to this great composer.
Best of the Year Discs for 2014
* = The 12 Multichannel Discs of the Month, all in Classical CLASSICAL (incl. HI-RES), CLASSICAL REISSUES, CLASSICAL VINYL & PURE AUDIO BLU-RAY JOHN ADAMS: The Gospel According to the Other Mary – DGG 479 2243 * The Argentinian Album – Works of PIAZZOLLA, GINASTERA, GOLIJOV – Amsterdam Sinfonietta – Channel Classics CCS SA 33014 […]
SCHUBERT: Moments musicaux; Piano Sonata in A Major; MAZZOLI: Isabelle Eberhardt Dreams of Pianos – Shai Wosner, p. – Onyx
Proven Schubert exponent Shai Wosner extends his credentials in the composer’s intimate and expansive keyboard works.
The Complete Jacques Tati, Blu-ray (7 discs) (2014)
Criterion has done their expert thing on all six Tati films plus many extras.
ULLMANN: The Complete Works for Piano Solo = Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 thru 7; Variations & Double Fugue – Christophe Sirodeau, p. – BIS (2 CDs)
Virtuoso Christophe Sirodeau aids in the “rediscovery” of Holocaust composer Viktor Ullmann, whom Sirodeau celebrates as hero, not victim.
Lennie Tristano – Chicago, April 1951 – Uptown
A thrilling musical dialogue among musicians who are at their improvisational best.
The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 – Bob Dylan And The Band/ The Basement Tapes Raw – Columbia/Legacy (3 vinyls+2 CDs+booklet)
Bob Dylan’s secret masterpiece comes alive in this dazzling box set!
MEDTNER: Skazki; Sonata in B-flat Minor, “Sonata Romantica”; RACHMANINOV: Variations on a Theme by Corelli; Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor – Stephen Osborne, p. – Hyperion
Virtuosic and nostalgically sensitive performances of the Medtner and Rachmaninoff.
Wanda Landowska — The Complete Piano Recordings 1937-1958 = MOZART & HAYDN [TrackList follows] – APR (3 CDs)
A compilation of Wanda Landowska’s piano inscriptions that no serious collector of keyboard documents should be without.
Albare – Two Decades Of Jazz [TrackList follows] – Enja
A diverse collection of jazz from one of Australia’s prominent jazz artists.
Audio News for December 26, 2014
iSimple Bluetooth Upgrades for Vehicles; “4K” Streaming Service Adds Seven Movie Classics; Hi-Res Logo Collaboration of CEA and Japan Audio Society; Neil Young’s Pono Player Coming to a Car Near You
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 29 “Hammerklavier”; Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”; The Ruins of Athens: Chorus of Dervishes; Turkish March – Alessio Bax, p. – Signum
Alessio Bax commands our attentive respect in two Beethoven sonatas, of which his Hammerklavier may rate as a contemporary classic.
XTC – Drums and Wires [The Surround Sound Series] – Ape House (CD+audio-only Blu-ray)
XTC’s second remix and remaster effort emphasizes the band’s late ‘70s era.
Jim Norton – Collective Time Remembered – Compositions of Bill Evans – Origin
The band has built an expressive relationship to the Evans material to deliver a self-assured recording.
Paul Avgerinos – Bhakti – RoundSkyMusicMEMORU FUJIEDA: Patterns of Plants – Sarah Cahill, piano – Pinna
Two most worthwhile and quite different New Age albums.
Paul Avgerinos – Bhakti – RoundSkyMusicMEMORU FUJIEDA: Patterns of Plants – Sarah Cahill, piano – Pinna
Two most worthwhile and quite different New Age albums.
“My Favorite Dowland” = JOHN DOWLAND: 23 selections [TrackList follows] – Paul O’Dette, lute – Harmonia mundi
The five-GRAMMY-winning lutenist.
HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 59; Piano Sonata No. 39; Piano Sonata No. 47; Piano Sonata No. 39 – Denis Kozhukhin, p. – Onyx
Youthful Russian virtuoso Kozhukhin demonstrates his tasteful prowess in the music of Haydn.