Monthly Archive: March 2017
Mary Halvorson Octet – Away With You – Firehouse
Guitarist Mary Halvorson expands her band and her compositional strengths. Mary Halvorson Octet – Away With You [TrackList follows] – Firehouse 12 FH12-04-01-024, 55:53 [10/28/16] ****: (Jonathan Finlayson – trumpet; Jon Irabagon – alto saxophone; Ingrid Laubrock – tenor saxophone; Jacob Garchik – trombone; Mary Halvorson – guitar; Susan Alcorn – pedal steel guitar; John […]
Erik APPLEGATE: – Two’s Company – Artist Alliance
Erik APPLEGATE: – Two’s Company – Artist Alliance, 57:17 (2/1/17) ****: (Erik Applegate; bass/Dana Landry; piano/ Steve Kovalcheck; guitar/ Paul McKee; trombone/ Kenyon Brenner; tenor saxophone/ Tom Amend; piano) A fine bassist collaborates with five faculty members of the University of Northern Colorado on a set of duos. Sometimes I grow a little tired of […]
LISZT: The Transcendentals: Twelve Etudes; Funerailles, October 1849; Valse Oubliee No. 1 in f-sharp minor – Barbara Nissman, p. – Three Oranges
Barbara Nissman gives us a dynamic and emotionally aggressive Liszt, virtuosic and poetic. LISZT: The Transcendentals: Twelve Etudes; Funerailles, October 1849; Valse Oubliee No. 1 in f-sharp minor – Barbara Nissman, piano – Three Oranges Recordings 3OR-22, 75:18 (1/31/17) [www.threeorangesrecordings.com] ****: Barbara Nissman,long associated with the music of Franz Liszt, turns (rec. 1-3 August 2013) […]
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies No. 4 & No. 7 – Beethoven Orchester Bonn – MDG
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies No. 4 & No. 7 – Beethoven Orchester Bonn – MDG multichannel SACD 937-1995-6, 73:35 (1/5/17) ****1/2: It is interesting to consider the position of the the Fourth Symphony Op. 60 in Beethoven’s oeuvre. First, consider the adjacent opus numbers, all products of that brief period of happiness and inspiration around 1806. There […]
Doctor Strange, Blu-ray & 3D (2017)
Dr. Strange is the latest in Marvel Studios’ characters, who becomes a powerful sorcerer. Doctor Strange, Blu-ray & 3D (2017) Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton Director: Scott Derrickson Studio: Marvel Studios/ Buena Vista Home Ent. 1433039 (2/28/17) Video: 2.39:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p HD color 3D Audio: […]
JAN GUNNAR HOFF : Stories – Jan Gunnar Hoff, p. – 2L Blu-ray & SACD
JAN GUNNAR HOFF : Stories – Jan Gunnar Hoff, piano [Tracklist follows] – Pure Audio Blu-ray – 11.1 Dolby Atmos + 9.1 Auro-3D + 5.1 surround + stereo + mShuttle /SACD multichannel and stereo; 2L-131 TT: 57:03 ea. (2 discs) [Distr. by Naxos] *****: A terrific recital on both audio-only Blu-ray & multichannel SACD. Recorded […]
CHOPIN: Works – David Fray, p. – Erato
CHOPIN: Works [TrackList follows] – David Fray, p. – Erato LC 02822, 68:32 (2/3/17) *****: A carefully-designed Chopin recital weighted towards crepuscular reverie. As midnight approached and the crowd sorted itself into the right kind of people receptive to genius, Chopin, (according to the famous account by Berlioz), would make his way to the piano. […]
Baron Tymas (guitar) – Montréal
Baron Tymas (guitar) – Montréal [TrackList follows] – Self, 50:30 (Avail. as MP-3 from Amazon) ***: They should be encouraged to continue on their creative journey. (Baron Tymas – guitar; Joshua Rager – piano; Sage Reynolds – acoustic bass & bass guitar; Jim Doxas – drums; Guests: Jeri Brown – vocal on track 5; Charles […]
Audio News for February 3, 2017
Amazon Tap for Alexa – brings a hands-free option and works even if you take your Alexa on the road, it is now $130. You have to literally tape the Tap to give it a command. But it doesn’t sound as good as other Bluetooth speakers in its price range (and not as good as […]
Wadada Leo Smith – America’s National Parks – Cuneiform
A tribute to America’s shared legacies. Wadada Leo Smith – America’s National Parks [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform Rune 430/431 (2 CDs), 43:13, 53:20 [10/14/16] *****: (Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet, director of ensemble; Anthony Davis – piano; Ashley Walters – cello; John Lindberg – bass; Pheeroan akLaff – drums; Jesse Gilbert – video artist) Trumpeter […]
Jonathan Finlayson and Sicilian Defense – Moving Still – PI
Strategy and movement from a jazz master. Jonathan Finlayson and Sicilian Defense – Moving Still [TrackList follows] – PI Recordings PI67, 52:15 [10/15/16] ****: (Jonathan Finlayson – trumpet, producer; Miles Okazaki – guitar; Matt Mitchell – piano; John Hébert – bass; Craig Weinrib – drums) Trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson is like an expert chess player. He […]
The Wonderful World of Jazz – John Lewis – mono Atlantic 1375 (1961)/ Pure Pleasure
A fine John Lewis vinyl with Eric Dolphy, Gunther Schuller and Jim Hall! The Wonderful World of Jazz – John Lewis [TrackList follows] – mono Atlantic 1375 (1961)/ Pure Pleasure Records *****: This wonderful jazz mono vinyl has been reissued numerous times now (including Japanese pressings), but perhaps this version bests them all – though […]
SHOSTAKOVICH: “The Jazz Album” – Ronald Brautigam, p./ Peter Masseurs, trumpet/ Royal Concertgebouw Orch./ Riccardo Chailly – Decca vinyl
A terrific orchestral version of some of Shostakovich’s jazziest works, on remastered vinyl! SHOSTAKOVICH: “The Jazz Album” – Ronald Brautigam, p./ Peter Masseurs, trumpet/ Royal Concertgebouw Orch./ Riccardo Chailly (TrackList follows) – Decca vinyl 483 0960 (12/23/16): Shostakovich had a constantly changing relationship with jazz during his composing years in the Soviet Union. His famous […]
March 2017 Editorial Page
Our March free drawing is 16 CDs from Harmonia mundi titled Resonances Music and Monuments. It is eight two-CD packages sharing the musical memories of places and monuments of Europe. You will hear the voices of the great abbeys, Paris 1900, Sanssouci, the Alhambra, music of Westminster, Venice and Vienna, and the court of Frederick […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
