Monthly Archive: May 2017

“Aspects” = Aquarelle Guitar Quartet – Chandos

“Aspects” = Aquarelle Guitar Quartet – Chandos

Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, “Aspects” [Track List follows] – Aquarelle Guitar Quartet – Chandos CHAN 10928 [Distr. by Naxos] 57:21, (11/18/2016)****: Some really nice guitar playing sure to please all tastes! I am certainly not an expert on classical guitar playing but I do like listening to it going back to my father’s collection of vinyl […]

FLECK: Juno Concerto; Quintet – Béla Fleck, banjo/Brooklyn Rider/Colorado Symph./Jose Luis Gomez– Rounder Records

FLECK: Juno Concerto; Quintet – Béla Fleck, banjo/Brooklyn Rider/Colorado Symph./Jose Luis Gomez– Rounder Records

Béla FLECK: Juno Concerto; Griff; Quintet for Banjo and Strings: Movement II – Béla Fleck, banjo/Brooklyn Rider/Colorado Symphony/Jose Luis Gomez– Rounder Records 1166100200 50:51 (3/17/17) ****: A banjo concerto – a very entertaining one at that! I am not at all sure how many works for banjo and orchestra; especially an actual multi-movement concerto there […]

“Between Two Worlds” = Original Works for Saxophone and Organ” – Massimo Giacchetti (sax.) /Manuela Di Marco (org.) – Dynamic Records

“Between Two Worlds” = Original Works for Saxophone and Organ” – Massimo Giacchetti (sax.) /Manuela Di Marco (org.) – Dynamic Records

“Between Two Worlds” = Original Works for Saxophone and Organ” – Massimo Giacchetti, saxophone/Manuela Di Marco, organ – Dynamic Records CDS724 [Distr. by Naxos] 61:51, (6/26/2012) Tracklist follows ***:  Very unusual but mostly quite enjoyable. This Italian recording of music for saxophone and organ has actually been out for a few years but I just […]

We Are X, Blu-ray (2017)

We Are X, Blu-ray (2017)

We Are X, Blu-ray (2017) A stunning documentary about Japan’s greatest metal band! Cast: Yoshiki; Toshi; Pata; Hide; Heath Sugizo; Taiji with interviews by Gene Simmons; Marilyn Manson; and Stan Lee Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment 1156 [4/25/2017] Director: Stephen Kijak Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Video: 1.78:1 for 1080P HD, color Length: 95 minutes Bonus […]

KIDS – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – London/Island Records

KIDS – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – London/Island Records

KIDS – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – London/Island Records (1995)/MVD Audio stereo vinyl, 41:07 (4/7/2017)****: Special vinyl re-issue of a landmark 1995 is quirky, yet powerful. (Featuring music from Folk Implosion/ Lou Barlow; John Davis; Bob Fay and Mark Perretta; Daniel Johnston; Slint; Lo-Down and Sebadoh) MVD Records has released a re-mastered vinyl of the […]

Final Thoughts: The Last Piano Works of BRAHMS and SCHUBERT = BRAHMS: Piano Pieces, Op. 116 through 119; SCHUBERT: Piano Sonatas D. 959, D. 960 – Jorge Federico Osorio (p.) – Cedille

Final Thoughts: The Last Piano Works of BRAHMS and SCHUBERT = BRAHMS: Piano Pieces, Op. 116 through 119; SCHUBERT: Piano Sonatas D. 959, D. 960 – Jorge Federico Osorio (p.) – Cedille

Final Thoughts: The Last Piano Works of BRAHMS and SCHUBERT = BRAHMS: Piano Pieces, Op. 116, 117, 118, 119; SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959; Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960 – Jorge Federico Osorio, piano – Cedille CDR 9000 171 (2 CDs) 77:02; 79:24 (5/12/17) [Distr. by Naxos] **** Jorge Federico […]

Audio News May 19, 2017

Onkyo is boosting its product line with new 7-channel receivers — Next month, Onkyo — the creator of the premier RZ series receivers— will be adding three new network AV Receivers to its product lineup:  TX-RZ820, TX-RZ720, and TX-RXZ620.  Of note is support for a 5Hz to 100 kHz spectral range, six Dolby Vision HDMI […]

PALESTRINA: Missa Papae Marcelli, Motets – Sistine Chapel Choir/ Massimo Palombella – DG

PALESTRINA: Missa Papae Marcelli, Motets – Sistine Chapel Choir/ Massimo Palombella – DG

PALESTRINA: Missa Papae Marcelli; Tu Es Pastor Ovium; O bone Jesu; Confitemi Domino; Ad te Levavi Oculos Meos; Benedixisti Domine; Veritas Mea Et Misericordia Mea; Jubilate Deo; Confirma Hoc Deus; Ave Maria – Sistine Chapel Choir/ Massimo Palombella – DG 00289 479 6131, 60:29 [Distr. by Universal] ****: Round two from the Sistine produces a […]

“sevenfive: The John Corigliano Effect” = Music For Brass:  David SAMPSON; John CORIGLIANO; Jonathon NEWMAN; Steven BRYANT; Jeremy BECK; Conrad WINSLOW – Gaudete Brass – Cedilla

“sevenfive: The John Corigliano Effect” = Music For Brass: David SAMPSON; John CORIGLIANO; Jonathon NEWMAN; Steven BRYANT; Jeremy BECK; Conrad WINSLOW – Gaudete Brass – Cedilla

“sevenfive: The John Corigliano Effect” = Music for Brass – David SAMPSON: Entrance; Still; John CORIGLIANO (arr. Colnot): Gazebo Dances: Overture; Jonathon NEWMAN: Prayers of Steel; Steven BRYANT: Sevenfive; John CORIGLIANO: Antiphon; Fanfares; Jeremy Howard BECK: Roar; Conrad WINSLOW: The Record of a Lost Tribe – Gaudete Brass – Cedille 90000 169, 56:10 [Distr. by […]

“Music for the 100 Years’ War” = The Binchois Consort / Andrew Kirkman (cond.) – Hyperion Records

“Music for the 100 Years’ War” = The Binchois Consort / Andrew Kirkman (cond.) – Hyperion Records

“Music for the 100 Years’ War” = The Binchois Consort, Andrew Kirkman (conductor) – Hyperion Records  CD A68170, 76:25 (3/31/17) **** A lovely disc brings the music of the 15th century alive A fascinating theme for a CD,  with music of predominantly royal association spanning the reign of Henry V, the Battle of Agincourt and its […]

Patrice WILLIAMSON, Jon WHEATLEY – Comes Love: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass – Riverlily Records

Patrice WILLIAMSON, Jon WHEATLEY – Comes Love: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass – Riverlily Records

Patrice WILLIAMSON, Jon WHEATLEY– Comes Love: A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass – Riverlily Records 003 49:43***  [MP3 Download on Amazon] Empathy with the material and the antecedents ( Patrice Williamson – vocals, flute (1&12), shaker (12); Jon Wheatley – guitar) In this Centenary year of Ella Fitzgerald’s birth ( born April 25,1917 in […]

TCHAIKOVSKY: Ballet Suites for Piano Duo = Sleeping Beauty; Nutcracker; Swan Lake; Suite for Piano Duo – Mari and Momo Kodama, piano-duo – Pentatone

TCHAIKOVSKY: Ballet Suites for Piano Duo = Sleeping Beauty; Nutcracker; Swan Lake; Suite for Piano Duo – Mari and Momo Kodama, piano-duo – Pentatone

TCHAIKOVSKY: Ballet Suites for Piano Duo = Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (trans. Rachmaninov); Nutcracker – Suite, Op. 71a (trans. Arensky); Swan Lake, Op. 20 (trans. Langer); Suite for Piano Duo (trans. Debussy) – Mari and Momo Kodama, piano-duo – Pentatone SACD PTC 5186 579, 63:28 (11/18/16) ****: A love-letter to the Tchaikovsky ballets comes in […]

The Salesman, Blu-ray (2017)

The Salesman, Blu-ray (2017)

Cast: Shahab  Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti, Babak Karimi, Mina Sadati Director & producer: Asghar Farhadi Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent. 50651 [5/2/2017] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, color HD Audio: Farsi DTS-HD MA 5.1 & DD-HD 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish Extras: Conversation with Asghar Farhadi Length: 124 min. Rating: ***** After their old flat is in […]

Tunnel (2017)

Tunnel (2017)

Cast: Jung-Woo Ha, Doona Bae, Oh Dal-Su Director: Kim Seong-Hun Studio: Well Go USA (Korean) [5/2/17] Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: Korean DD 5.1 THX\ Subtitles: English Length: 127 min. Rating: **** The loneliness and entrapment for 37 days under the debris and chaos outside is well-illustrated in this thriller of an unthinkable […]

Isolation (2017)

Isolation (2017)

A nice little horror/thriller. Isolation (2017) Cast: Dominic Purcell, Luke Mably, Marie Avgeropoulos, Tricia Helfer, Stephen Lang Director: Shane Dax Taylor Studio:  Lionsgate (6/20/17) Video: 2.35:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English 5.1 DD Subtitles: English, Spanish Length: 94 min. Rating: ****1/2 This is full of highly unexpected twists, and proves that it is not […]

Jean-François Bonnel And His Swinging Jazz Cats  – With Thanks To  Benny Carter – Arbors Records

Jean-François Bonnel And His Swinging Jazz Cats – With Thanks To Benny Carter – Arbors Records

Jean-François Bonnel And His Swinging Jazz Cats  – With Thanks To Benny Carter – Arbors Records ARCD 19452 51:25**** Thoughtful and creative interpreters of Benny Carter’s music ( Jean-François Bonnel – alto sax, clarinet #3,10; Chris Dawson – piano; Charmin Michelle – vocals #1,3,4,5,7,10; François Laudet – drums) Benny Carter was a true jazz original. A […]

Friedrich Wilhelm MARKULL:  Organ Works Vol. 1 – Andrzej Szadejko – MDG

Friedrich Wilhelm MARKULL: Organ Works Vol. 1 – Andrzej Szadejko – MDG

Friedrich Wilhelm MARKULL: Musica Baltica 2 – Organ Works Vol. 1 – Organist: Andrzej Szadejko – MDG Multichannel  (5.1) SACD  cat. # MDG 906 1990-6 TT: 61:34 (2/24/17) **** A fine organ recital richly recorded When Friedrich Wilhelm Markull died at the age of seventy-one in 1887, posthumous tributes honored him as a “most highly […]

Jeffrey JACOB:  “Reawakening” – Jeffrey Jacob (p., comp.) / Enrique Mesa / Daniel Spalding / Lara Turner – Novana Records

Jeffrey JACOB: “Reawakening” – Jeffrey Jacob (p., comp.) / Enrique Mesa / Daniel Spalding / Lara Turner – Novana Records

“Reawakening” = Music of Jeffrey JACOB – various orchestras and ensembles (track details below), Jeffrey Jacob (piano) Navona Records CD NV6087 TT:  62:00 (4/14/17) **** Lush and well recorded contemporary orchestral and ensemble music Composer Jeffrey Jacob has written four symphonies, three piano concertos, and numerous works for piano and chamber ensemble. Raymond Leppard and […]

Nelson – Brothers Under The Sun – High Note

Nelson – Brothers Under The Sun – High Note

Nelson – Brothers Under The Sun – High Note HCD 7294 [4/14/2017], 59:43 ****1/2: Vibraphonist’s tribute to Mulgrew Miller is jazz at its best! (Steve Nelson – vibraphone; Danny Grissett – piano; Peter Washington – double bass; Lewis Nash – drums) Vibraphonist Steve Nelson has been a member of the Dave Holland Quintet for over […]

BALAKIREV: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2 – Phil. Orch. of London/ Herbert von Karajan/ Moscow Radio Symph./ Gennady Rozhdestevensky – Praga Digitals

BALAKIREV: Symphony No. 1 & No. 2 – Phil. Orch. of London/ Herbert von Karajan/ Moscow Radio Symph./ Gennady Rozhdestevensky – Praga Digitals

The two Balakirev symphonies receive intensely colorful treatment in classic readings remastered to good effect. BALAKIREV: Symphony No. 1 in C Major; Symphony No. 2 in d minor – Philharmonia Orchestra of London/ Herbert von Karajan (C Major)/ Moscow Radio Symph./ Gennady Rozhdestevensky (d minor) – Praga Digitals PRD 250 363, 77:59 (5/12/17) [Harmonia mundi/PIAS] […]