Monthly Archive: August 2005
J. S. BACH: Vols. 1 & 2 The Keyboard Concertos/ Angela Hewitt, piano/Australian Chamber Orch. — Hyperion **** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ****
Superbly surrounding piano version of the complete single-keyboard concertos of Bach
The San Francisco ChamberJazz Quartet — SFCJQ (Gini Wilson, piano; Steve Heckman, soprano & tenor sax, clarinet & flute; Pat Klobas, bass; Ron Marabuto, drums; Special Guest vocalist: Jackie Ryan; Badr Karram, dumbek) – Music Wizards
Another welcome chamber jazz effort hailing back to groups of the 50s & 60s
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2 in D Major; Symphony No. 7 in A Major; Mass in C Major; The Ruins of Athens — Jennifer Vyvyan, soprano/ Monica Sinclair, contralto/Richard Lewis, tenor/Marian Nowakowski, bass/ Beecham Choral Society/Royal Phil./Beecham — EMI
High-voltage Beethoven in very good sound for the period
MOZART: String Quartets: K. 575 in D Major; K. 589 in B-flat Major; K. 590 in F Major “King of Prussia” Quartets — Tokyo String Quartet — Biddulph
Rich performances and sound; may be definitive
Billy Childs Ensemble – Lyric (Jazz Chamber Music Vol. 1) – Lunacy Music LM-1001 ****:
Best of a batch of recent chamber jazz efforts
Swing Around the World – Global swing dance party compilation – Putumayo World Music PUT 239-2 *****:
Hear how 30s & 40s swing has infiltrated the Third World as well as this one
BRAHMS by Nissman = Piano Sonata No. 2 in F# Minor, Op. 2; Scherzo in E-flat, Op. 4; 8 Piano Pieces, Op. 76; 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79; 2 Waltzes from Op. 39 — Barbara Nissman, piano – Pierian
Bold treatment in the grand manner of Brahms’ piano music
MOZART: Sonata in C Major, K. 330; Duport Variations, K. 573; Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397; Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475; Sonata in C Minor, K. 457 — Zeynep Ucbasaran, piano — Eroica Classical
Intelligent and convincing Mozart recital by the Turkish virtuoso
Joshua Bell Edition = CHAUSSON: Concerto in D for Piano, Violin and String Quartet; RAVEL: Trio in A Minor for Piano, Violin and Cello; FAURE: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major; DEBUSSY: Violin Sonata in G Minor; FRANCK: Violin Sonata
Another in the Bell retrospective series, this one presents French chamber music recordings of 1989-1990
Barb Jungr — Love Me Tender — Linn SACD
Cabaret singer’s unexpected takes on hits of Elvis and Dylan
Bad Education (2005)
Pedro Almodovar’s latest skillfully tells a compelling story, but the gay/transvestite slant may be over the top for some viewers
Marillion – Marbles on the Road (2005)
Haunting progressive rock from a band formed over two decades ago
Rockers – 25th Anniversary Edition (1979)
Classic raggae film comparable to The Harder They Come
Spaceballs – Collector’s Edition (1987)
Mel Brooks’ antic no-holds-barred parody of Star Wars and sci-fi oaters in general
Star Trek: Enterprise – Season I (2001-2002)
The first season of the fifth incarnation of the Star Trek TV series (and probably the last)
ALEXANDER SCRIABIN: The Ten Piano Sonatas x Two — Robert Taub on HM & Yakov Kasman on Calliope
A unique body of piano works which brought the piano sonata into modern times; comparison of two recent collections
Yo Miles! — Upriver — Cuneiform Records Rune 201/202
The group re-interprets themes from Miles Davis’ electronic fusion jazz period and this double-disc is their third effort
Donny Osmond – Live At Edinburgh Castle (2004)
A fun Donny concert which will appeal especially to his fans
DVORAK: Symphony No. 8 in G Major; FRANCK: Symphony in D Minor — Bamberg Symphony/Fritz Lehmann — DGG
Important but underrated conductor who died in l955
Xavier Rudd — Solace — Universal
Stripped-down acoustic folk-rock with excellent sonics and two QT videos
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
A fortunate demonstration of special effects in a children’s movie too dark and violent for most children
Eagles Farewell I Tour (2005)
160 minutes of the best of the Eagles, with DTS surround sound
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
