Monthly Archive: October 2004
Hi-Res Reviews, Part 1 of 3 Jazz
39 & Reviews This Month! October 2004, Pt. 1 of 3 – Jazz [Part 2] [Part 3] Click on any cover to go directly to review ****** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ******* Larry Chernicoff – October – 12-member chamber jazz ensemble – Windy Planet multichannel SACD 4511, 63:44 *****: I had to review this one rather than giving it to the other John because classical/jazz fusion is my thing, and more than that what floats my boat is exactly this sort of swinging chamber ensemble with woodwinds. The sticker on the front calls it a unique conception – that may be true today but it wasn’t back in the 50s and 60s, when there were a number of such creative efforts. The one that sticks in my mind (and I still have in its scratchy presence on a cassette somewhere) was Emil Richard’s Annotations of the Muses. Anyway, the rest of the sticker is true – “you can’t compare this to anything else you might be listening to these days.” All ten compositions here are by composer/pianist/vibist/melodica-player/percussionist Chernicoff, and his ensemble includes harp, violin, cello, tables and various percussion in addition to those woodwinds. No electronics […]
Index to All 123 Discs Reviewed
Index to All 123 Discs Reviewed so far for October 2004: HI-RES REVIEWS, PT. 1 (Jazz) – Larry Chernicoff Ens.- October [Multichannel Disc of the Month]; David Sanchez, tenor sax – Coral; Buster Williams, doublebass – Griot Liberté; Kitaro – Kojiki; Diana Krall – Love Scenes; Sonny Rollins – The Sound of Sonny; Cannonball Adderley with Milt Jackson – Things Are Getting Better; Wes Montgomery Trio; Chet Baker in New York; Seigen Ono Septet 2003 Live; Helen Merrill – Screen Favorites; Prerez Prado Orch. – The Best of Mambo HI-RES REVIEWS, PT. 2 (Classical beg.) – RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloe – BSO/Charles Munch; MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition – Chicago Sym./Fritz Reiner; BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D, MENDELSSOHN: V. Concerto – Heifetz/Munch; SAINT-SAENS: Organ Sym, DEBUSSY: La Mer – Charles Munch; BARTOK: Concerto for Orch., Music for Strings – Fritz Reiner;CHOPIN: Ballades & Scherzos – Rubinstein; Surround Yourself with ELGAR; Surround Yourself with SCHUBERT; Surround Yourself with RACHMANINOFF; RACHMANINOFF: Sym. No. 2 – Budapest Festival Orch./Ivan Fischer; BERLIOZ: Requiem – Atlanta/Robert Spano; LUKAS FOSS: Griffelkin – Gil Rose; VIVALDI: Concertos for the Emperor – Andrew Manze HI-RES REVIEWS, PT. 3 (Classical concl.) – BACH: The Art of the Fugue – […]
Home Page-October 2004
*** The Home Entertainment 2004 West Show which was scheduled for San Francisco’s Westin-St. Francis Hotel Nov. 4 thru 7 has just been cancelled due to the current hotel strike. *** Our fifth Hi-Res Drawing features SACDs from Harmonia mundi. A dozen lucky AUDIOPHILE AUDITION readers who Register Here will receive their choice of one of the above three multichannel SACDs: 32 Variations on La Spagna is a Renaissance compositional tour de force often compared to Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Baltic Voices 2 explores the choral music of the Baltic Sea countries, directed by Paul Hillier. Andrew Manze presents the recording premiere of Vivaldi’s Concertos for the Emperor in electrifying performances. Drawings will be made Nov. 1, we’ll announce the winners in Nov., and we won’t sell or share your information. Check back frequently for new material! October 2004 Contents New Audio News; New Jazz Reviews 39 Hi-Res Reviews (Pt. 1 – Jazz, Pt. 2 – Classical I, Pt. 3 – Classical II) 33 Classical CD Reviews (Pt. 1, Pt. 2) Component Reviews: Thoroughbass Magellan VIII SU Sub & TBI 200 SU Sub Amp; Focus Enhancements CenterStage-2 Video Scaler; Rotel RSX-1067 Surround Sound Receiver 36 DVD-Video Reviews: (Pt. 1 – […]
Sweet Soul Music
HOW SWEET IT WAS (A Connoisseur’s Guide To Sweet Soul) Most long-term music listeners readily identify that period which was their favorite – it was always better back in the day. For me, it was the time-frame of the late 60s/early 70s when sweet soul music ruled the airwaves. Street corner sweet soul was an evolution. It began with the doo-woppers, and then proceeded though Stax/Volt & Motown. The sound was then fully digested & refined before the finished product was unleashed to the world through the portal of Philadelphia. Strings, tympani, oboes & full orchestration were blended with vocal harmony arrangements & falsetto lead vocals to create the most luscious of dishes. It was fit to be served to royalty. Fortunately, discerning AM soul disc jockeys were kind enough to award the finalized platter to the commoner – all one had to do was listen in (free of charge). There are those who consider sweet soul to be relatively synonymous with the Philly Sound. This is simply not accurate. Yes, sweet soul was headquartered in Philly, but Philly acts such as the O’Jays & Spinners were not sweet soul. They had the faster-tempo dance drive that was outside of, […]
Reissue CD Reviews, Part 2 of 2
October 2004, Pt. 2 of 2 [Pt. 1] SCARLATTI: 3 Sonatas/MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, K. 415/RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G Major Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano Mario Rossi conducts RAI Turin (Mozart); Igor Markevitch conducts Orchestra of the National Academy, Santa Cecilia (Ravel) TAHRA TAH 537 65:44 (Distrib. Harmonia Mundi)****: Recently resuscitated documents from the legacy of Arturo Benedetti Michelangelo (1920-1995), perhaps the finest sheer keyboard technician of the last century. Even through the veiled sound afforded us by the Mozart acetates (25 December 1953) with Mario Rossi, we can hear the immaculate, pearly play of Michelangeli’s filigree, the supple strength of his line. Like Clara Haskil, Michelangeli held the C Major Concerto in high regard, where many Mozart specialists pass it by. The quicksilver capacities of Michelangeli colors confound attempts to describe his playing a percussive instrument. The opening Scarlatti group comes from Arezzo’s Petrarch Theatre 12 February 1952. The Sonata in A, L. 483 is brilliant; but no other pianist ever plays the B Minor, L. 449 at such a blinding speed, transforming its haunted atmosphere in a slower tempo into arpeggiated mysteries. The Sonata in D, L. 461 is new to me, a tiny […]
Reissue CD Reviews, Part 1 of 2
October 2004, Pt. 1 of 2 [Pt. 2] BRAHMS: Sextet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 18; Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 101 Regis Pasquier and Raphael Oleg, violins; Bruno Pasquier and Jean Dupouy, violas; Roland Pidoux and Etienne Peclard, cellos; Jean-Claude Pennetier, piano Harmonia Mundi HMA 1951073 61:24****: Beautiful Brahms inscribed 1980-1981 by a gifted ensemble of French musicians, some of whom – the Pasquiers – enjoy a distinguished pedigree. I recall owning some old CBS 78s with the Pasquiers playing the Beethoven two string trios from his Op. 9. The 1860 Sextet possesses a grand line and spatiousness, a balance between its melancholy and sweet, waltz-like impulses in the first movement and richly textured poise in the D Minor theme and variations. The syncopations in the Poco allegretto e grazioso have swagger and a leisurely gait. The first violins and low cellos seem to respond to each other in broad antiphons. The 1886 Piano Trio, the most neglected of the Brahms chamber oeuvre, is an aggressive, dark piece, though it has a kind of quizzical relief in the F Minor section, played pizzicato in the second movement. The last movement compels attention, having been […]
Jazz CD Reviews, Part 2 of 2
October 2004 Part 2 of 2 [Pt. 1] Nancy Wilson – R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs Very Personal) – with George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Phil Woods, Kenny Lattimore, Ivan Lins, Gary Burton, Paquito D’Rivera and many others, featuring the All-Star Big Band – Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild MCGJ1013 – 53 minutes, * * * *: As with any disc you get from the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, you can be assured that these guys take their work to heart, and the results will always be extremely well crafted sonically and performance-wise. This new disc from Nancy Wilson does not disappoint in either arena – the sidemen and guest artists dish out superb accompaniment and remarkable solos throughout, and the recorded sound just absolutely sparkles – this is another one of those CDs that blurs the line between what Redbook and SACD are capable of delivering. I have to admit that I’m not really a huge Nancy Wilson fan – her offerings tend to lean a little too far towards the easy-listening side of the spectrum for my tastes – but I found this disc of mostly standards constantly surprised me with it’s straight-ahead jazziness. There are a few areas where the disc delves a […]
Jazz CD Reviews, Part 1 of 2
October 2004 Part 1 of 2 [Pt. 2] Gonzalo Rubalcaba – Paseo (Rubalcaba, piano/keyboards/percussion; Feleipe Lamoglia, soprano/alto/tenor sax; Armando Gola, elec. bass; Ignacio Berroa, drums) – Blue Note 7243 5 81832 21V ****: The Cuban pianist strikes me as one of the most exciting talents at the keyboards today. He’s matured some in the decade or so since he came up from Cuba, and shows off some new personnel in his New Cuban Quartet here, including versatile saxist Lamoglia. He does his versions of a couple traditional Cuban songs, some original tunes he’s done before, and a wonderful solo piano treatment of the classical Prelude in Conga, by Gonzalez. Paseo means “walk,” and Paseo con Fula is inspired by Rubalcaba’s dog, Fula. In some of the wilder excursions Rubalcaba seems to have three or four hands at work. But like many recent jazz albums recently, there are some forays into funk and/or fusion which lose this moldy fig rather quickly. Tracks: El Guerrillero, Prelude in Conga/Homage to Hilario, Bottoms Up, See So Far, Paseo con Fula, Meanwhile, Encantation, Quasar, Los Blueyes. – John Henry Herbie Hancock – The Piano – Columbia Legacy CK 87083 ****: This was a singular album […]
DVD-Video Reviews, Part 3 of 3
Pt. 3 of 3 – October 2004 [Part 1] [Part 2] Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. . .Spring (2004) Directed by: Kim Ki-Duk Studio: Columbia Tri-Star Video: 1.85:1 enhanced for widescreen 16:9 Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Korean Subtitles: English, French Length: 102 minutes Rating: **** Last spring I saw this Korean masterpiece by writer/director Kim Ki-duk twice in the theater and now having seen it on DVD, I plan to keep this film and watch it again from time to time. Its most striking feature is exquisite cinematic beauty. The film consists of beautifully composed shots in five vignettes of both breathtaking scenery and personal relationships. Occasional subtle humor is another element skillfully handled. It is amazing how much of a story can be conveyed and how much character development with so little dialogue. Each season of the title opens on a small lake surrounded by forests in the center of which is a tiny Buddhist monastery floating on a raft. One monk and a small boy, who will become his protégé, go about their daily lives collecting healing herbs and enjoying the simple joys of existence. In one disconcerting scene, the boy does something in a sense playful but inherently cruel […]
DVD-Video Reviews, Part 2 of 3
Pt. 2 of 3 – October 2004 [Part 1], [Part 3] Secret Window (Widescreen Special Features DVD) (2004) Starring: Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton, Charles S. Dutton Directed by: David Koepp Studio: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment Video: 2.40:1 widescreen enhanced Audio: English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, plus English closed captions Extras: Audio commentary by director David Koepp; three featurettes (“From Book to Film”, “A Look Through It” and “Secrets Revealed”); four animated storyboards; four deleted scenes; nine previews Length: 96 minutes Rating: *** Mort Rainey is a successful writer who has spent the last six months in his secluded cabin on the lake. Mort is trying to come to terms with his impending divorce. While Mort is still struggling with why his wife Amy left him for the love of another, he receives a visit from a man named John Shooter. Shooter claims that Mort stole one of his short stories and he now wants Mort to publish the original ending to that story. Mort denies the accusation that he plagiarized the story, thereby causing Shooter to become more violent as the days pass. Secret Window is a good horror/suspense movie. The film […]
DVD-Video Reviews, Part 1 of 3
Part 1 of 3 All Music Videos [Pt. 2] [Pt. 3] RICHARD WAGNER: Die Walkure (2002-2003) Performed by: Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Lotar Zagrosek. Robert Gambill, Starring: Attila Jun, Janendrik Rootering, Angela Denoke, Renate Behle, Tichina Vaughn Studio: Naxos/TDK DVD 20 5207 9 DVUS-OPRDNW. Video: 16:9 color Enhanced for widescreen TV Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 Length: 229 minutes. Rating: *** The second in the TDK series produced of Wagner’s immortal teratology, this Die Walküre is inventive, intense, well-acted, and superbly sung. Unlike Das Rheingold, it doesn’t have a strong unifying metaphor (Rheingold’s was of gods as gangster capitalists), but it is set in the twentieth century like the others in the series (although a naturalistic, rural European, early twentieth century setting). Hunding still has a hut, but its walls and lighting are sprinkled with expressionist dust. In Scene 3, in which Sieglinde (Angela Denoke) first sings to Siegmund (Robert Gambill) of the sword–“Eine Waffe lass mich dir weisen”–a light image of the sword shines on her nightgown between her breasts. The chemistry between Denoke and Gambill is superb throughout, but particularly notable in Act 2, Scene 3, in which they are fleeing through the forest. Denoke really seems like she is […]
Component Reviews, Part 3 of 3
October 2004, Part 3 [Pt. 1] [Pt. 2] The Rotel RSX-1067 Surround Sound Receiver SRP: $2199 S P E C I F I C A T I O N S Audio Continuous Amplifier Power: 100 watts/ch (20-20k Hz, <0.05% THD, 8 ohms) Number of channels driven: 7 Continuous Amplifier Power: 120 watts/ch (1kHz, <1.0% THD, 8 ohms, DIN) (two channels driven) Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.05 % Intermodulation Distortion: (60 Hz:7 kHz) <0.05% Frequency Responses = Analog Bypass: 10 Hz – 120 KHz, ± 3 dB Digital Input: 10 Hz – 95 KHz, ± 3 dB Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF A-weighted) = Analog Bypass: 95 dB Digital Input 0 dBFs (Dolby Digital, dts): 92 dB Input Sensitivity/Impedance: Line Level: 200 mV/100K ohms Contour (LF / HF): ±6 dB at 50 Hz / 15 KHz Preamp Output Level/Impedance: 1.0 V / 1K ohm Decodable Digital Input Signal : Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS, DTS ES, DTS96/24, LPCM(up to 192K), HDCD, MP3, MPEG Multichannel Video Frequency Response: 3 Hz – 10 MHz, ± 3 dB (Composite, S-Video) 3 Hz – 100 MHz, ± 3 dB (Component Video) Signal to Noise Ratio: 45 dB Input Impedance: 75 ohms Output Impedance: 75 ohms Output Level: 1.0 Volt FM Tuner Usable Sensitivity: 14.2 dBf Signal to […]
Component Reviews, Part 2 of 2
No. 2 [No. 1] [3] • October 2004 Focus Enhancements CenterStage-2 (CS-2) Video Scaler SRP: $2495 Focus Enhancements, Inc. 1370 Dell Ave. Campbell, CA 95008 408 866-8300 (voice) 408 866-4859 (fax) focusinfo.com/products/centerstage/centerstage.htm Basic Description The CS-2 is a variable line rate video processor capable of outputting up to 1080P. Due to its adjustability, this product will work with all types of digital televisions including LCD/CRT/DILA/DLP/plasma. The unit features infrared remote control, on-screen display, downloadable resolutions and/or software upgrades, and RS-232 control. Inputs include: VGA (DB-15) with RGBS support, progressive RGB/YPrPb (BNC) input, DVI, (2x) interlaced RGB/YPrPb (BNC), (2x) composite (BNC), and (2x) s-video (mini DIN). Outputs: DVI and VGA (DB15). IEC detachable line cord, hard power switch, 12V screen trigger on a miniplug jack, and an LCD display (on the front) are standard. The CS series has an ambient light sensor to dim the display and buttons in a dark room. Processing allows for video noise reduction, 3:2/2:2 pulldown detection, picture adjustments (contrast, brightness, color, tint, sharpness), and supports 4:3, 16:9, and letterboxed (in 4:3 or 16:9) aspect ratios. The CS-2 is HDCP compliant on the DVI input, has a TBC (Time Base Corrector), a SDI (Serial Digital Interface) […]
Component Reviews, Part 1 of 3
October 2004, Review 1 of 3 [2] [3] Thorough Bass Inc. Magellan VIII SU Subwoofer & TBI 200 SU Subwoofer Power Amp (Plus Further Listening to Magellan VI ) MAGELLAN VIII SU PASSIVE BASS MODULE SPECIFICATIONS: FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 12 Hz – 160 Hz (–6db) POWER CAPACITY: 175 W RMS (300W IHF) SENSITIVITY: 87 dB 1w/1m @ 25Hz DRIVER COMPLEMENT: 8″ Low Mass Single Piece Convex Aluminum Cone CONNECTION: 5-way binding Post IMPEDANCE: 8 ohms ACCESSORIES: Custom Brass Isolators – Standard Large Rubber feet DIMENSIONS: WIDTH: 17.5 inches (444.5 mm) DEPTH: 17.5 inches (444.5 mm) HEIGHT [With spikes]: 6.8 inches ( 172.72 mm) no feet – [8.5″ (215.9 mm)] WEIGHT:26 lbs. (12kg) SRP:$1200 TBI 200 SU SUBWOOFER POWER AMPLIFIER SPECIFICATIONS: FREQUENCY RESPONSE:10 Hz –150 Hz (-3db x-over @ 150 Hz) POWER OUTPUT: 200W 4? (150W 8?) CONTROLS: Level—Phase–Crossover 50 Hz-150 Hz (18db/oct) CONNECTION: 5-way Binding Posts ACCESSORIES:IEC Power Cord DIMENSIONS: WIDTH: 6.25 inches (158.75mm) DEPTH: 8 inches (203.2mm) HEIGHT: 6.75 inches (171.45mm) WEIGHT: 6 lbs. (2.72kg) AC INPUT REQUIREMENT:120V- 240V 50-60-Hz (Internal Jumper Selectable) 355 VA max SRP: $450 Intro This review should be read in conjunction with my review of the Magellan VI SU in the July –Aug. issue. These subs are the big brothers of the […]
Classical CD Reviews, Part 1 of 2
October 2004 – Part 1 of 2 [Part 2] SHOSTAKOVICH: Adagio Fragment of 1934; Symphony No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 43; Five Fragments for Orchestra, Op. 42; Symphony No. 15 in A major, Op. 141/Rostropovich in Conversation with Jon Tolansky – Mstislav Rostropovich conducts London Symphony Orchestra – Andante AN 4090 72:41; 61:41; 49:04 (Distrib. Naxos) ****: Essentially, the two discs containing music in this fine set derive from the 1998 season of the London Symphony at the Barbican Centre, with guest conductor Mstislav Rostropovich. The interview with Jon Tolansky dates from January 2002, and it covers the breadth of Rostropovich’s career, from his first callings in music – at the keyboard and then the cello – through his studies with Shostakovich, to his intercession in Soviet politics as recently as 1970 to try to ease the grip of the repressive regime on various composers. The recollections of friends and colleagues Vaclav Talich, Benjamin Britten, Dimiti Shostakovich, and Serge PROKOFIEV form only a part of the fascinating and often courageous aspects of the Rostropovich legacy, captured for his 75th birthday. Mstislav Rostropovich has enjoyed a profoundly fruitful relationship with the LSO since 1965, when he and conductor Rozhdestvensky presented […]
Hi-Res Reviews, Part 3 of 3 Classical II
39 SACD & DVD-A Reviews This Month October 2004 – Pt. 3 of 3 (Classical cont.) [Part 1] [Part 2] Click on any cover to go directly to review The Art of the Fugue X 2 on SACD… BACH: The Art of the Fugue – Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Sir Neville Marriner – Pentatone RQR multichannel 4.0 SACD PTC 5186 140, 80:27 ****: BACH: The Art of the Fugue – New Century Saxophone Quartet – Channel Classics multichannel 5.0 SACD CCS SA 20204 ****: The fugue, along with basso continuo, was the musical symbol of the Baroque era. And Bach’s great work on that subject is the culmination of all his talent and thinking; he worked on it throughout his life and was still working on it when he died. Unfortunately or fortunately he never got around to indicating for what instruments the work was intended. Therefore it has been performed and recorded in many different instrumentations ranging from solo keyboards to full orchestra. The first of these two SACDs dates from l973 and employs two violins, two oboes, two harpsichords and one each of a viola, cello, violone, English horn, bassoon and organ. The four-channel […]
Hi-Res Reviews, Part 2 of 3 Classical I
39 SACD & DVD-A Reviews This Month October 2004 – Part 2 of 3 – Classical (beg.) [Part 1] [Part 3] Click on any cover to go directly to review The two big events in hi-res discing this time are the first of the RCA “Golden Age” Living Stereo masters in SACD and the first of the Nimbus Ambisonic masters in DVD-A and DTS. So we’ll start off with some of both and have even more next issue. The original LPs of RCA’s acclaimed Living Stereo series – with such top flight artists are Charles Munch, Fritz Reiner, Van Cliburn, Pierre Monteux and others – are considered such perfect marriages of successful minimalist recording techniques and masterful performances that if in mint condition have claimed collectors’ prices of over $1000 for a single LP. Many titles from the series – usually covering a period from the mid-fifties (when stereo recording began) to about 1964 or so (when the advent of the transistor, multi-tracking and multi-micing, and gimmicks such as DynaGroove impinged on the high quality) – have been reissued in many different forms. Some were available on open-reel tape at one time. The standard CD reissue of most of […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
