Monthly Archive: June 2005
GRIEG: Peer Gynt–Incidental Music, Op. 23 – Peter Mattei, baritone/Camilla Tilling, soprano/Charlotte Hellenkant, mezzo-soprano/ Paavo Jarvi conducts Ellerhein Girls‚ Choir/Estonian National Male Choir/Estonian National Symphony – Virgin Classics
An hour of spell-binding music with familiar tunes that will stand out
Leila Josefowicz in Recital = BEETHOVEN: Violin sonata No. 10 in G, Op. 96; BRAHMS: Sonata-Movement; RAVEL: Violin Sonata in G; MESSAIEN: Theme and Variations; GREY: San Andreas Suite; SALONEN: Lachen verlent for Violin -John Novacek, p. – Warner Classics
Blend of old and new played with fervor by like-minded professionals
DAVID CHESKY: “Area 31” Area 31 Ensemble, Anthony Aibel, cond; Concerto For Violin and Orchestra, Tom Chiu, violin; The Girl From Guatemala, Wonjung Kim, Soprano; & Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Jeffrey Khaner, flute – Chesky Records
Three important works from the versatile composer/musician/partner in Chesky Records
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: “Le Coq d’Or;” Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture; BORODIN: Polvtsian Dances – London Symphony Orchestra/Antal Dorati: CHABRIER: Espana; Suite Pastorale; Fete Polonaise; Overture to Gwendoline etc.; ROUSSEL: Suite in F – Paray
2 more 3-channel Mercury Living Presence SACD classics played to a fare-thee-well.
MICHAEL DENHOFF: “Credo” = Liturgical works performed by Cologne & Aachen players & choir on Cybele multichannel SACD
Interesting use of full surround sound with spoken parts, solo voices at different locations, etc.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 – Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra/Yuri Temirkanov – Water Lily Acoustics SACD
An unusual project in location, performance, and especially approach to multichannel symphonic recording
Elida – Iva Bittová, violin and vocals (with Bang on a Can); Cantaloupe Records
Highly unusual mezzo voice takes listeners on a zany ride
Titan Hot Seven – Out of the Box – THS Titan Hot Seven – Cruisin’…The River with… – Summit World Jazz
Sophisticated and swinging arrangements of traditional jazz classics
Bill Beach, piano & vocals – Letting Go (with Dave Captein, bass; Reinhardt Melz, drums)
Tasteful pianist in tuneful settings embelished with his laid-back vocals on some bossa nova tunes
Trio of CDs from The Bad Plus (Trio) – These Are the Vistas; Give; Blunt Object – Columbia
Rock-influenced powerhouse jazz trio of great originality
Terence Blanchard – Flow (Blanchard, trumpet and synth.); Brice Winston, tenor & soprano sax, Yamaha WX5; Lionel Loueke, guitar & vocals; Herbie Hancock, piano; Aaron Parks, piano; Derrick Hodge, bass; Kendrick Scott, drums – BlueNote/EMI
Fresh and exciting jazz from one of today’s finest composer-trumpet players
Eldar – piano and synthesizers; John Patitucci, acoustic & electric bass; Todd Strait, drums & percussion; guest artist: Michael Brecker, tenor sax – Sony Classical
Mature-sounding 18-year-old from Kyrgyzstan tears up the ivories
Jamie Baum Septet – Moving Forward, Standing Still (Baum, flute & alto flute; Ralph Alessi, trumpet & Flugelhorn; Doug Yates, alto sax & bass clar.; Tom Varnerk, Fr. Horn; George Colligan, piano & elec. piano; Drew Gress, bass; Jeff Hirschfield, drums; Y
Ensemble led by jazz flute with a bow to modern jazz’s two favorite composers: Stravinsky & Bartok
Charles Lloyd, tenor & alto sax & taragato, with Geri Allen, piano – Jumping the Creek – ECM
Latest and possibly best yet from the veteran saxist
Randy Sandke, trumpet, and the Inside Out Band – Outside In – Evening Star
Versatile composer and trumpet player fronts a swinging nonette
The Richard Leo Johnson Trio – Poetry of Appliance – Cuneiform Records
Uncategorizable mix of acoustic guitars and electronics in a minimalist bag
The Jim Seeley/Arturo O’Farrill Quintet (Seeley, trumpet; O’Farrill, electric & acoustic piano; Jed Levy, tenor sax & flute; Andy Gonzalez, acoustic bass; Phoenix Rivera, drums & percussion)- Zoho
Blend of Latin and the blues strikes a blow for melody
William Paul, solo piano – Horse Dreams – The Gate
Unusual musical tribute to the noble horse
Jaws (1975), 30th Anniversary Edition
Widescreen, DTS surround, second disc of extras, printed booklet, new Spielberg interview. Deja munch!
Josh Workman, guitar – Jumpin’ At The Border (with Larry Vuckovich, piano & arranger; Noel Jewkes, sax & flute; The Hot Club of San Francisco & others) – Tetrachord Music
Acoustic guitarist with an updated Charlie Byrd sort of sound
SURVEY OF THE AUDIO & HT PRINT PRESS
Latest issue summaries of contents and gear reviewed in each publication, including a new one from Australia SOUND & VISION (June) – In the second comparison of big-screen technologies, A Samsung 50-inch DLP HDTV is up against a Hitachi 50-inch LCD HDTV. The conclusion found a slight advantage to the DLP, but not as major a difference as when their first comparison matched a plasma display to an LCD. Daniel Kumin compares three tiny killer subwoofers. The five articles under The Connect House discuss among other things whole-house AV, different approaches to multiroom entertainment, and ways to turn one’s iPod into a music server. Starter-model DVD recorders from Panasonic, Philips and Pioneer are reviewed, and Toshiba’s 52-inch DLP HDTV passes muster. Surround speaker systems from MartinLogan and Definitive Technology are reviewed, and Onkyo’s TX-NR1000 super surround receiver is evaluated. The Entertainment section is divided into Movies, Games and Music. The DVD reviews include Sideways, Kinsey, Finding Neverland & Closer. In an interview actor Woody Harrelson gives his take on movies and music. SOUND & VISION (May) – The featured story is “Is Sony’s 70″ Qualia the Best TV Ever?” and it is of course backed up with a glamorous shot […]
Audio News for June 17, 2005
Big Bird Goes on Endangered Species List; Composer David Diamond Dies; Oregon Scientific Moves into Audio
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
