Monthly Archive: June 2016
“Pollini & Abbado: The Complete Deutsche Grammophon Recordings” – 8 CDs
An important bag, if a mixed one, but the pros outweigh the cons. “Pollini & Abbado: The Complete Deutsche Grammophon Recordings” = BEETHOVEN: Complete Piano Concertos; Fantasy for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra, Op. 80; BRAHMS: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (1995); Piano Concerto No. 2 (1976); SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto, Op. 54; SCHOENBERG: Piano Concerto, […]
BACH Selections – Organist Barbara Harbach – MSR
Harbach’s Bach breathes the breath of openness and refined imagery. BACH: Prelude and St. Anne Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 552; Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540; An Wasserflussen Babylon, BWV 653; Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546; Choral Prelude: O Mensch Bewein Dein Sunde Gross, BWV 622; Fantasy and Fugue […]
“Hand Eye” = “Sleeping Giant” – Cedille
Up for a little adventure? Eighth Blackbird provides the roller coaster. B01C5PTUSK “Hand Eye” = SLEEPING GIANT: Checkered Shade; Mine, Mime, Meme; I. Touch; II. Pulse; III. Send; South Catalina; By-by Huey; (Crossfade); Cast – Eighth Blackbird – Cedille CDR 90000 162, 72:21 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Eighth Blackbird is a marvelously innovative ensemble that […]
Dave Miller – Old Door Phantoms – ears & eyes
Multi-genre instrumental album of the year. Dave Miller – Old Door Phantoms [TrackList follows] ears & eyes ee:16-046, 44:59 [4/1/16] ****: (Dave Miller – guitar, Mellotron; Ben Boye – pianet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron; Matt Ulery – Fender bass; Quin Kirchner – drums, percussion) You can’t peg guitarist Dave Miller. He’s juxtaposes jazz, rock and […]
Dave Anderson’s Blue Innuendo – Blue Innuendo – Label 1
Letting the swing and groove go and go and go. Dave Anderson’s Blue Innuendo – Blue Innuendo [TrackList follows] Label 1, L1-2003-2, 57:42 [4/1/16] ****: (Dave Anderson – tenor and soprano saxophone; Tom Guarna – guitar; Pat Bianchi – Hammond organ; Matt Wilson – drums) Saxophonist Dave Anderson loves to swing and groove. That’s one […]
Phronesis – Parallax – Edition EDN
Jazz which covers food to fish, astronomy to harmonization. Phronesis – Parallax [TrackList follows] Edition EDN 1070 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] 56:47 [4/8/16] ****: (Jasper Høiby – doublebass; Ivo Neame – piano; Anton Eger – drums) Pan-European trio Phronesis escalates an atmosphere of adventure, veered jazz and interplayed imagination on sixth album overall—and fourth for […]
BRUCH: String Quartet in c; Swedish Dances for Violin and Piano; Piano Quintet in g – Piers Lane, p./ Goldner String Q. – Hyperion
Piers Lane and the Goldner Quartet add another pearl to their string of gems, Bruch’s Piano Quintet. BRUCH: String Quartet in c, Op. 9; Swedish Dances for Violin and Piano; Piano Quintet in g – Piers Lane, p./ Goldner String Quartet – Hyperion CDA68120, 77:40 (4/1/16) [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****: Recorded 18-20 February 2015, […]
W.H. Squire (cello) in Chamber Music of BRAHMS, DVORAK, TCHAIKOVSKY, HARTY, DUNKLER – Pristine Audio
Cello virtuoso W.H. Squire has potent representation in chamber works from the acoustic and early electric sound era. W.H. Squire in Chamber Music = BRAHMS: Clarinet Trio in a minor, Op. 114 (acoustic recording); TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Trio in a minor, Op. 50; DVORAK (arr. Gruenfeld): Songs my mother taught me; HARTY: Scherzo, Op. 8; HURE: […]
Sonoma Master Series/ One – PS Audio – stereo only
Sonoma Master Series/ One – PS Audio – stereo only- SACD + DSD & PCM Data DVD, 39:04 ****1/2: Multiple artist audiophile showcase hits all the right notes! (Bonnie Paine – washboard, djembe, musical saw, stompbox, vocals; Bridget Law – fiddle, octave fiddle; Charlie Rose – banjo, pedal steel, guitar, horns, cello, double bass; Dango […]
The Frank Sinatra Collection (2016)
The Frank Sinatra Collection – DVD (2016) This is a nostalgic look at an iconic performer! Cast: Frank Sinatra; Nelson Riddle And His Orchestra; Ella Fitzgerald; Antonio Carlos Jobim; Diahann Carroll; The Fifth Dimension; Don Costa & His Orchestra Studio: Eagle Vision EV307649 (5/27/16) Video: 4:3, Color Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 TrackList: (A Man And […]
Zootopia, Blu-ray (2016)
Another wonderful Disney family animation feature from Pixar. Zootopia, Blu-ray (2016) Directors: Bryon Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush Voice-overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba Studio: Walt Disney Studios (6/7/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 widescreen, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, French DD 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish Dubbed: French, […]
WYNTON MARSALIS: Blood On The Fields, Blu-ray (1996/2016)
A fine documentary on the making of the 1996 Marsalis album. WYNTON MARSALIS: Blood On The Fields, Blu-ray (1996/2016) Cast: Wynton Marsalis Director: Susan Shaw Studio: Monarda/ Arthaus Musik 109215 [3/25/16] Video: For 16:9 screens, 1080i color & b&w Audio: English PCM Stereo Subtitles: English, German, French All regions Length: 54 min. Rating: **** This […]
Lullaby of Birdland – The Shearing Touch, Blu-ray (1994/2016)
A fine documentary rather than just a concert performance by the artist. Lullaby of Birdland – The Shearing Touch, Blu-ray (1994/2016) Cast: George Shearing, piano & vocals Director: Jill Marshall Studio: Monarda/ ArtHaus Musik [3/25/16] (Distr. by Naxos) Video: 4:3 color, 1080i HD color & b&w Audio: English PCM stereo Subtitles: English, German, French No […]
“Belle Epoque” French music for harp and orchestra – Emmanuel Ceysson, harp/ Orch. Régional Avignon Provence – Naïve
Soothing music for harp and orchestra from French composers, performed by Emmanuel Ceysson. “Belle Epoque” French music for harp and orchestra – Emmanuel Ceysson, harp/ Orchestre Régional Avignon Provence – Naïve V5419, 65:54 [7/31/15] (Distr. by Naxos) *****: The turn of the last century truly was a “beautiful era” for music in France. So this […]
Audio News for June 10, 2016
Over Eight Billion Connected Devices Globally Now – According to a new Business Wire article, number of connected AV devices worldwide is now 8.1 billion. This includes smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs, TV-attached devices and audio hardware. On average this equates to an amazing four devices per household. Smartphones outnumber tablets by five to one and […]
Jeff Lederer & Brooklyn Blowhards – Brooklyn Blowhards – little music
Wailing saxes and whaling songs wend together in this year’s most unique jazz offering. Jeff Lederer & Brooklyn Blowhards – Brooklyn Blowhards [TrackList follows] little music 616892358640 52:20 [4/8/16] ****: (Jeff Lederer – tenor and soprano saxophone; Petr Cancura – tenor saxophone; Kirk Knuffke – clarinet, slide trumpet; Brian Drye – trombone; Art Bailey – […]
Johnny Winter With Dr. John – Live In Sweden 1987 (CD + DVD)
Johnny Winter With Dr. John – Live In Sweden 1987 (CD + DVD) Two musical legends meet at the crossroads in Sweden no less! Cast: Johnny Winter – guitar, vocals; Dr. John – piano, vocals; Jon Paris – bass, harmonica, vocals; Tom Compton – drums Studio: MVD Entertainment MVD 81270 Video: 1.33:1 for 4:3 display, […]
TANEYEV: Chamber Music with Piano = Piano Quartet in E Major, Op. 20; Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 22; Violin Sonata in a; Piano Quintet in g – Solisti dell’Officina Musicale – Aevea (2 CDs)
A survey of Taneyev’s chamber music with piano unearths several mighty treasures of earnest power and learned style. TANEYEV: Chamber Music with Piano = Piano Quartet in E Major, Op. 20; Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 22; Violin Sonata in a; Piano Quintet in g, Op. 30 – Solisti dell’Officina Musicale – Aevea AE15004005 […]
BRAHMS: Clarinet Quintet in b; Hindemith: Clarinet Quintet – Raphael Severe, clar./ Quatour Prazak – Mirare
Two German clarinet quintets from opposed aesthetics find brilliant realization in these performances from Prague. BRAHMS: Clarinet Quintet in b, Op. 115; Hindemith: Clarinet Quintet, Op. 30 – Raphael Severe, clarinet/ Quatour Prazak – Mirare MIR 282, 58:00 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi] ****: Recorded February and May 2015, these two German clarinet quintets in diametrically […]
HAYDN: Symphonies Nos. 78, 79, 80 & 81 – Accademia Bizantina/ Ottavio Dantone – Decca (2 CDs)
Beautifully recorded and rendered, these original instrument realizations of rare Haydn symphonies do everyone honor. HAYDN: Symphony No. 78 in c; Symphony No. 79 in F Major; Symphony No. 80 in d; Symphony No. 81 in G Major – Accademia Bizantina/ Ottavio Dantone – Decca 478 8837 (2 CDs), 54:20, 55:10 (2/12/16) [Distr. by Universal] […]
“Opus 250” – Works by BERG, ULVO, SÖDERLING and PAUS – Bergen Philharmonic Orch. – LAWO
“Opus 250” – Works by BERG, ULVO, SÖDERLING and PAUS – Bergen Philharmonic Orch. /Andrew Litton /James Macmillan/ Edward Gardner – LAWO Classics LC1089, 72:54 (11/27/15) [Dist. by Naxos] ****: Contemporary music from Norway nicely recorded and expertly played. In celebration of its 250th anniversary (!), the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra has undertaken an interesting project […]
Audio News for June 7, 2016
On Panasonic Giving Up On Plasma TVs – The TV set made Panasonic a household name from Singapore to San Francisco. Their TV engineers pointed out that though plasma flat-panel technology gave a better picture, consumers preferred the lighter, durable rival: liquid LCD TVs. When the new president Kazuhiro Tsuga took over in 2012, he […]