Monthly Archive: March 2017
Tribute to Charles Munch – A Strasburger in Boston = Works of BERLIOZ, FRANCK, ST.-SAENS, ROUSSEL, DEBUSSY, FAURE, RAVEL – Praga Digitals
A generous sampling of the ‘Munch touch’ in Boston in the French music he championed. Tribute to Charles Munch – A Strasburger in Boston = BERLIOZ: Romeo et Juliette Symphonie – Queen Mab Scherzo; FRANCK: Le Chasseur Maudit; SAINT-SAENS: La Princesse Jaune Overture, Op 30; Le Rouet d’Omphale. Op. 31; DEBUSSY: Fetes fr. Trois Nocturnes; […]
Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O
B-3 trio plus classic Beatles compositions – a winning combination … Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O 2424, 67:51 ****1/2: (Jim Alfredson – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, electric piano/synthesizers; Lawrence Barris – guitar; Randy Marsh – drums, harmonica (#9); Bill Vits – percussion (#1, 3, 5, 9, 12); Mike […]
Audio News for March 31, 2017
Google & Sony Collaborate to Bring Hi-Res to Android – The new Android Nougat has over 30 new features and about 250 bug fixes so every Andriod mobile user will benefit from Google. Bluetooth is reliable but not hi-res yet, so Sony lent its LDAC wireless audio coding tech to Android O. This is the […]
BUXTEHUDE: Trio Sonatas; manuscripts d’Uppsala – La Reveuse – Mirare
BUXTEHUDE: Trio Sonatas; manuscripts d’Uppsala – La Reveuse – Mirare 303, 69:25 (4/14/17) *****: (Stephan Dudermil – violin/ Florence Bolton – viola da gamba/ Benjamin Perrot – theorbo/ Emily Audouin – gamba/ Carsten Lohff – harpsichord/ Sebstien Wonner – organ) Unpublished trio sonatas of Buxtehude played with passion and precision. The legend is familiar. A […]
Audio News for March 28, 2017
Denon S Series AV Receivers for Home Theater – Denon will have a new series of AVRs for from $279 to $579 next month. The idea is to make home theater easier now. The entry level AVR has 4K with HDR compatibility, Bluetooth streaming, and 140 watt per channel. The top of the line includes […]
BRAHMS: Piano Quintet in f; SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 1 – M. Pressler, p./ Pacifica Q. – Cedille
An unusual pairing sets music of Brahms and Schumann together as masters of their respective idiom. BRAHMS: Piano Quintet in f, Op. 34; SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 1 in a, Op. 41 – Menahem Pressler, p./ Pacifica Quartet – Cedille CDR 90000 170, 71:39 (3/10/17) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: The etiology of the Brahms 1865 […]
RACHMANINOV: All-Night Vigil (Vespers and Matins) – soloists/ dir. by Peter Jermilhov – Paraclete
We are invited to lift our spirits through a deeply inspired performance of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil. RACHMANINOV: All-Night Vigil (Vespers and Matins), Op. 37 – Mariya Berezovska, alto/ Dmitry Ivanchenko, tenor/ Gloriae Dei Cantores/ The St. Romanos Cappella/ The Patriarch Tikhon Choir/ The Washington Master Chorale/ Peter Jermihov – Paraclete multichannel SACD GDCD 063, 66:34 […]
CHOPIN: Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise brillante; Rondo a la Krakowiak; Variations on “La ci darem la mano”; Fantasy on Polish Airs; Nocturne. – Jan Lisiecki, p. – DGG
Lisiecki’s realization of “another side of Chopin” enjoys poetic and engaging musicianship from all principals. CHOPIN: Works for Piano and Orchestra = Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise brillante in G Major/E-flat Major, Op. 22; Rondo a la krakowiak in F Major, Op. 14; Variations on “La ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Op. […]
David HARRIS, trombone – Blues I Felt – DLEE
David HARRIS – Blues I Felt – DLEE, 64:02, (3/17/17) ***: (David Harris; trombone and vocals/ Shea Pierre; piano/ Jason Weaver; bass/ Miles Labat; drums) An outstanding trombonist with a blues sensibility and vocal talent. The instrument that achieved the greatest liberation in the first era of 20th century jazz was the trombone. Up until […]
Audio News for March 24, 2017
Chuck Berry Dies – The “Father of Rock & Roll” is gone at age 90. He was one of the first inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He combined beguiling narratives, fusing rhythm and blues with country and western to transfix the U.S. Bill Clinton called Berry “one of the 20th Century’s […]
Ross Hammond – Follow Your Heart – Prescott Recordings
Ross Hammond – Follow Your Heart – Prescott Recordings [2/27/17] stereo vinyl, 39:26 ****: Delta and Appalachian Blues get an acoustic upgrade on vinyl. (Ross Hammond – solo acoustic Resonator guitar & 12-string guitar) As a twelve-year old growing up in Sacramento, Ross Hammond’s life suddenly changed. His mother bought a guitar for him. In […]
Audio News for March 21, 2017
Hi-Res Support Not for Sonos – Sonos says people should listen to lossless CD-quality audio and stop listening to MP3s before talking about hi-res audio. They support lossless CD-quality files but no higher. So we are not likely to see hi-res audio support on Sonos anytime soon; there are more important areas of focus for […]
BERG: Lulu (David Robert Coleman completion) – DGG
A production for idiots, and a musical completion that spells disaster. ALBAN BERG: Lulu (complete opera, David Robert Coleman completion) Cast: Mojca Erdmann (Lulu)/ Deborah Polaski (Countess Geschwitz)/ Michael Volle (Jack the Ripper)/ Thomas Piffka (Alwa)/ Stephan Rügamer (Painter/Negro) Orch.: Staatskapelle Berlin/ Daniel Barenboim Director: Andrea Breth Studio: DGG 00440 073 4934 Video: 16:9 widescreen […]
MEDTNER: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c; RACHMANINOV: Piano Con. No. 3 in d – Marc-Andre Hamelin, p./ London Philharmonic Orch./ Vladimir Jurowski – Hyperion
Hamelin exhibits colossal technique and vitality in two Russian concertos that lack the magic of a live concert. MEDTNER: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c, Op. 50; RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 3 in d, Op. 30 – Marc-Andre Hamelin, p./ London Philharmonic Orch./ Vladimir Jurowski – Hyperion CDA68145, 82:09 (3/31/17) [Distr. by HM/PIAS] ****: The […]
“Brubeck” – Dave Brubeck Quartet, Zurich 1964/ Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series 42 – TCB Music
“Brubeck” – Dave Brubeck Quartet, Zurich 1964/ Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series 42 – TCB Music 02422, 72:33 *****: This is a terrific 1964 concert from a legendary jazz quartet! (Dave Brubeck – piano; Paul Desmond – alto saxophone; Eugene Wright – double bass; Joe Morello – drums) There have been many transformative jazz pianists. […]
OLIVIER LATRY: Voyages – (Organ transcriptions) – Olivier Latry, organ – Erato/ Warner Classics
OLIVIER LATRY: Voyages – (Organ transcriptions) – Olivier Latry, organ – Erato/ Rhino Warner Classics 0190295888503, 78:31 (1/20/17) **1/2: Good recording of a rather mundane program. “Voyages” is the first album to be recorded on the new organ of the Paris Philharmonie. Voyages contains 11 famous pieces – ranging from BACH to KHACHATURIAN By way […]
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Job; Symphony No. 9 – Andrew Davis/ Bergen Philharmonic – Chandos
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Job; Symphony No. 9 – Andrew Davis/ Bergen Philharmonic – Chandos multichannel SACD CHSA 5180, 77:29 (2/17/17) ****: Davis returns to Vaughan Williams in a fine performance and recording. This new recording from Chandos couples a stunning performance and recording of two of Vaughan Williams’ great works. This is not the first time […]
John Patitucci, bass – Irmao De Fe – Newvelle vinyl
Taking an audiophile journey to Brazil with John Patitucci… John Patitucci, bass – Irmao De Fe – Newvelle NV007LP – vinyl ****1/2: (John Patitucci – acoustic and electric bass; Yotam Silberstein – acoustic and electric guitars; Rogerio Boccato – drums, percussion) The first-year subscription series of audiophile LPs from Newvelle Records set a standard for […]
Clockwise: The Music Of Cedar Walton – Ben Markley Big Band featuring Terell Stafford – OA2
Clockwise: The Music Of Cedar Walton – Ben Markley Big Band featuring Terell Stafford – OA2 22139, 75:42 ****: A creative outing that is full of intelligence and inquisitiveness. (Ben Markley Big Band = Ben Markley – piano; featuring Terell Stafford – trumpet) Cedar Walton, who died on August 19, 2013, at age seventy-nine, was […]
Fleming – Distant Light = Music by BARBER, HILLBORGS and BJORK – Renee Fleming – sop./ Royal Stockholm Sym. Orch./ Sakari Oramo – Decca
Fleming – Distant Light = Music by BARBER, HILLBORGS and BJORK – Renee Fleming – sop./ Royal Stockholm Sym. Orch./ Sakari Oramo – Decca 4830415, 53:00 (1/6/17) ****: This new release is a long-awaited collection from soprano Renee Fleming, containing Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915. The other tracks are from Scandinavian composers, with works especially […]
Matt Mayhall – Tropes – Skirl
A new perspective on West Coast cool jazz. Matt Mayhall – Tropes [TrackList follows] – Skirl 036, 34:02 [11/4/16] ****: (Matt Mayhall – drums, percussion, acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, Yamaha Portasound VSS-30; Jeff Parker – electric guitar; Paul Bryan – electric bass guitar, producer, engineer, editor, mixer; Chris Speed – tenor saxophone (tracks […]
HOLST: The Planets; R. STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra – National Youth Orch. of Great Britain; CBSO Youth Chor./ Edward Gardner – Chandos
HOLST: The Planets; R. STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra – National Youth Orch. of Great Britain; CBSO Youth Chor./ Edward Gardner – Chandos multichannel SACD Chan 5179, 79:53 (2/17/17) ****: A fresh look at two popular works, in a superb, life-like recording. One is never quite sure what to expect when one hears a ‘youth orchestra’. […]