Monthly Archive: June 2016

July 2016 Editorial Page

July 2016 Editorial Page

Our free July drawing is for the 51-CD lavish package from DGG entitled The Mono Era 1948-1957. Each CD is in a cardstock sleeve with the original tracks and description on the back. Performers include many of the greats of the 1950s: Kempff, Jochum, Furtwanger, Fricsay, Markevitch, Maazel, Oistrakh, Richter, Haskil, Fischer-Dieskau, Hindemith, Martzy and […]

STEVEN BRYANT: In this Broad Earth – Music for Wind Band; In this Broad Earth; Concerto for Alto Saxophone; Concerto for Wind Ensemble – Michigan State University Wind Sym./ Kevin Sedatole/ Joseph Lulloff, alto sax – Blue Griffin

STEVEN BRYANT: In this Broad Earth – Music for Wind Band; In this Broad Earth; Concerto for Alto Saxophone; Concerto for Wind Ensemble – Michigan State University Wind Sym./ Kevin Sedatole/ Joseph Lulloff, alto sax – Blue Griffin

STEVEN BRYANT: In this Broad Earth – Music for Wind Band; In this Broad Earth; Concerto for Alto Saxophone; Concerto for Wind Ensemble – Michigan State University Wind Symphony cond. by Kevin Sedatole/ Joseph Lulloff Alto Saxophone – Blue Griffin (Distr. by Albany) ****: Contemporary music for wind band that is musically interesting and a […]

BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No. 2; Concerto for Orchestra – Augustin Dumay, violin/Orch. symphonique de Montreal/ Kent Nagano – Onyx Classics (2 CDs bound as book)

BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No. 2; Concerto for Orchestra – Augustin Dumay, violin/Orch. symphonique de Montreal/ Kent Nagano – Onyx Classics (2 CDs bound as book)

BÉLA BARTÓK: Violin Concerto No. 2; Concerto for Orchestra – Augustin Dumay, violin/Orch. symphonique de Montreal/ Kent Nagano – Onyx Classics ONYX4138 (2 CDs), 81:35 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] (5/13/16) ****: Excellent performances that rank with the best. The music of Béla Bartók is, of course, by now standard orchestral fare and he is largely […]

Schillings conducts = SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished”; SCHILLINGS: Mona Lisa: Prelude and Arrigo’s Serenade; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, “Eroica” – Berlin State Opera Orch./ Max von Schillings – Pristine Audio

Schillings conducts = SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished”; SCHILLINGS: Mona Lisa: Prelude and Arrigo’s Serenade; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, “Eroica” – Berlin State Opera Orch./ Max von Schillings – Pristine Audio

More from the historical legacy of an imperfect man but capable musician, Max von Schillings. Schillings conducts = SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in b, D. 759 “Unfinished”; SCHILLINGS: Mona Lisa, Op. 15: Prelude and Arrigo’s Serenade; BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” – Berlin State Opera Orch./ Max von Schillings – […]

Audio News for June 28, 2016

Consider a Home Theater Makeover If: You can’t tell the color orange from the new black on your favorite prison show; there’s motion blur when people are running; the speakers aren’t loud enough to hear Simon Cowell’s insults; there are more remote controls on the coffee table than people in your home. First, two things […]

Hanami – The Only Way to Float Free – ears&eyes

Hanami – The Only Way to Float Free – ears&eyes

Chicago jazz/improvisation with a Japanese cultural connection. Hanami – The Only Way to Float Free [TrackList follows] ears&eyes ee16-042 40:20 [4/22/16] ****: (Mai Sugimoto – alto saxophone, clarinet; Andrew Trim – guitar; Jason Stein – bass clarinet; Charles Rumback – drums) The name of the jazz quartet, Hanami, is the Japanese word for ‘flower viewing,’ […]

Rising Tides (2016)

Rising Tides (2016)

Another most worthwhile documentary on the water crisis coming up. Rising Tides (2016) Actors: Dr. Benjamin Strauss, Orrin H. Piekey, Dr. Stanley R. Riggs, Kate White Directors: Jason Auerbach & Scott Duthie Video: for 16:9 scree Audio: English stereo PCM All regions Studio: Cinema Libre Studio Rating: **** I recently reviewed the 2010 documentary on […]

D. SCARLATTI: Complete Keyboard Sonatas Vol. IV [Books 9, 10 & 11 – 1754] – Carlo Grante, p. – Music&Arts (5 CDs)

D. SCARLATTI: Complete Keyboard Sonatas Vol. IV [Books 9, 10 & 11 – 1754] – Carlo Grante, p. – Music&Arts (5 CDs)

One of the best of the piano versions of the Domenico Scarlatti Sonatas. DOMENICO SCARLATTI: Complete Keyboard Sonatas Vol. IV [Books 9, 10 & 11 – all 1754] – Carlo Grante, playing a historic Bosendorfer Imperial piano – Music & Arts CD-1293 (5 CDs) [Distr. by Naxos] [7/8/16] ****: This is a continuation of the […]

**********  Multichannel Disc of the Month  *********** For the Beauty of the Earth – Works of WIDOR, VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS and others – Gabriel V Brass Ensemble/ Sharon Rose Pfeiffer, pipe organ, Percussion Ens. – Arte/ Paraclete

********** Multichannel Disc of the Month **********
* For the Beauty of the Earth – Works of WIDOR, VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS and others – Gabriel V Brass Ensemble/ Sharon Rose Pfeiffer, pipe organ, Percussion Ens. – Arte/ Paraclete

A most enjoyable surround concert of brass, percussion and pipe organ. * For the Beauty of the Earth – Celebrating Creation – Works of WIDOR, VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS and others – Gabriel V Brass Ensemble/Sharon Rose Pfeiffer, pipe organ, Percussion Ens. – Arte/ Paraclete multichannel SACD GDCD 061, 53:03 [5/1/16] ****: This is a gorgeous collection, in […]

Leonard Bernstein, Larger Than Life, Blu-ray 2016

Leonard Bernstein, Larger Than Life, Blu-ray 2016

Probably the best documentary on the great conductor and composer. Leonard Bernstein, Larger Than Life, Blu-ray 2016 Directed by: George Wobbly Studio: C Major/Unitel Classica 73004 [5/27/16] Video: For 16:9 screens colof 1080i HD Audio: English PCM stereo Subtitles: English, German, French, Korean, Japanese Extras: Bonus interviews with conductors Dudomel, Nagano, Alsop Length: 76 min. […]

Audio News for June 24, 2016

Portland’s Allegro Distributors Out of Business – Brothers Joe, Vince and Rico Micallef have run Allegro Media Group since 1982, specializing in indie music label CDs and DVDs. But when music streaming caught on, the bottom fell out. There used to be seven major label groups – now there are just two. The same thing […]

Benny Golson – Horizon Ahead – HighNote

Benny Golson – Horizon Ahead – HighNote

Benny Golson – Horizon Ahead – HighNote HCD7288 54:54 ***: Benny Golson is a tenor saxophonist in the hard bop tradition and always worthy of a listen. (Benny Golson – tenor sax; Mike LeDonne – piano; Buster Williams – bass; Carl Allen – drums) There is an old saying which runs along the following lines: […]

Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble – “A Moveable Feast” – Works by VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, RAVEL, FALLA – Channel Classics

Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble – “A Moveable Feast” – Works by VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, RAVEL, FALLA – Channel Classics

Stockholm Syndrome Ensemble – “A Moveable Feast” – Works by VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, RAVEL, FALLA – Simon Crawford-Phillips (p.), Malin Broman (violin and viola), Fredrik Paulsson (violin and viola), Malin William-Olsson (violin and viola), Johannes Rostamo (cello), Rick Stotijn (double bass). Channel Classics CD 36916, TT: 58:00 (4/1/16) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ***1/2: An interesting combination […]

Willem Mengelberg conducts New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra = Works of MOZART, MEYERBEER, BEETHOVEN – Opus Kura

Willem Mengelberg conducts New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra = Works of MOZART, MEYERBEER, BEETHOVEN – Opus Kura

Opus Kura extends its formidable Mengelberg legacy with the conductor’s 1929-1930 RCA recordings. Willem Mengelberg conducts New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra = MOZART: Die Zauberfloete Overture; MEYERBEER: Coronation March from Le Prophete; BEETHOVEN: Egmont Overture, Op. 84a; Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” – New York Phiharmonic Sym. Orch./ Willem Mengelberg – […]

Quincy Jones And His Orchestra, Live In Ludwigshafen 1961 – SWR Jazzhaus

Quincy Jones And His Orchestra, Live In Ludwigshafen 1961 – SWR Jazzhaus

Quincy Jones And His Orchestra, Live In Ludwigshafen 1961 – SWR Jazzhaus JAH-455, 75:49 ****: A treasure-trove of superb big-band playing. (Quincy Jones and His Orchestra featuring Benny Bailey; Freddie Hubbard; Melba Liston; Curtis Fuller; Ake Persson; Eric Dixon; Phil Woods; Sahib Shihab; Les Spann; Stu Martin; Carlos ‘Patato’ Valdes) Before Quincy Jones morphed into […]

“Tapestries” = Choral works of DAN LOCKLAIR – soloists/The Choral Art Society/ Robert Russell – MSR Classics

“Tapestries” = Choral works of DAN LOCKLAIR – soloists/The Choral Art Society/ Robert Russell – MSR Classics

A wonderful and generous sampling of some of the finest choral music written today. “Tapestries” = DAN LOCKLAIR: Holy Canticles; Alleluia Dialogues; Instant Culture; On Cats; Break Away!; Dona Nobis Pacem; Proclaim The Lord; A Christmas Carol; Three Christmas Motets; Windswept (The Trees); For Amber Waves; Tapestries; Brief Mass; Changing Perceptions; Epitaph – Ann Doyle, […]

“Horizon 7” – Royal Concertgebouw Orch. with multiple composers and conductors “Horizon 7” – Royal Concertgebouw Orch. with multiple composers and conductors – RCO Live – RCO Live

“Horizon 7” – Royal Concertgebouw Orch. with multiple composers and conductors “Horizon 7” – Royal Concertgebouw Orch. with multiple composers and conductors – RCO Live – RCO Live

“Horizon 7” – Royal Concertgebouw Orch. with multiple composers and conductors. (See TrackList below) RCO Live multichannel SACD RCO 16003 TT: 74:00 (5/6/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Contemporary music superbly played and well-recorded. The seventh release in RCO Live’s Horizon series features world premieres recorded during three concert seasons. Magnus Lindberg’s Era – a birthday […]

Sax to Tango – Julio Botti, sop. & tenor sax – Zoho Desperate Dance – Pablo Ziegler Trio – Enja

Sax to Tango – Julio Botti, sop. & tenor sax – Zoho
Desperate Dance – Pablo Ziegler Trio – Enja

Two terrific CDs taking us into the world of the tango. “Sax to Tango” – Julio Botti, sop. & tenor sax/Pablo Ziegler, producer/U. of S. Denmark Sym. Orch./ Saul Zaks – Zoho ZM 2011607 [6/3/16] ****: “Desperate Dance” – Pablo Ziegler & Quique Sinesi & Walter Castro (piano/guitar/bandoneon) – Enja Yellow Bird YEB 7755 [9/4/15] […]

Triple 9, Blu-ray (2016)

Triple 9, Blu-ray (2016)

An enjoyable action-thriller with a lot of top stars. Triple 9, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie Director: John Hillcoat Studio: Universal Home Ent. 55179078 [5/31/16] Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 1080i HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, DD 2.0 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French Extras: Deleted Scenes, “Under the Gun,” “An […]

SCHULHOFF: Works for Violin & Piano – MSR Classics

SCHULHOFF: Works for Violin & Piano – MSR Classics

ERWIN SCHULHOFF: Works for Violin & Piano – E.Gogichavili, v./K. Hosoda-Ayer, p. –  MSR Classics ****: Another Entartete composer of major importance. Schulhoff (1894-1942) was a Czech composer who ended up a victim of the Nazis, dying in a detention camp in Prague after failing to emigrate in time after receiving his Soviet citizenship. A […]