Monthly Archive: April 2007
Wynton Marsalis Quintet – From the Plantation to the Penitentiary – Blue Note/EMI
This is outspoken jazz star Marsalis’ most political statement yet
Reds, Blu-ray (1981) Special Collectors’ Edition
A perfect choice for the hi-def treatment since the scenes- shot all over the world – are full of fascinating details and the design is ferociously artistic.
LIADOV: 8 Russian Folksongs, Op. 58; TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17 “Little Russian” – London Symphony Orchestra/ Andre Previn – HDTT CD-R
Taken from an RCA 4-track tape, the performance has a sensitively dynamic, polychromatic range that runs from the low strings to the triangle and battery section.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Rococo Variations in A Major; Andante Cantabile, Op. 11; Pezzo Capriccioso; Nocturne; SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor; GINASTERA: Pampeana No. 2–Rhapsody – Sol Gabetta, cello/ Munich Radio Orch./Ari Rasilainen – RCA
A fresh, breezy optimism permeates Gabetta’s playing, all sunshine.
CHORÉGRAPHIE: Music for Louis XIV’s dancing masters – Andrew Lawrence-King, triple harp – Harmonia mundi
The retiring instrument starts to come into its considerable own if you are willing to crank up the volume on Harmonia mundi’s surprisingly sensational recording
Secret Window, Blu-ray (2004)
‘Secret Window’ is a smart horror/suspense movie with an interesting plot twist
Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1 Blu-ray Disc Player
The first player we’ve evaluated for the new hi-def format produces an astonishingly detailed picture
Anat Cohen & The Anzic Orchestra – Noir – Anzic Records 1201, 52:06 *****: Anat Cohen – Poetica – Anzic Records 1301, 65:12 *****:
An amazingly versatile multi-reed instrumentalist who hit New York City in 1999 from Israel
Hermann Abendroth: In Memoriam = TCHAIKOVSKY: Theme and Variations; Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, “Pathetique”; BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 7 in E Major – Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Leipzig Radio Symphony – Hermann Abendroth – Tahra
Abendroth virtually ran the music world in Liszt’s city of Weimar from 1951 until his death.
Audio News for April 18, 2007
Pulitzers for Ornette Coleman & John Coltrane; DVD-Sniffing Dogs; The Pittsburgh Symphony Signs with PentaTone Classics; Samsung Announces Dual-Format Hi-Def Player
GEORGE CRUMB: The River of Life (premiere recording); Unto the Hills (premiere complete version) – Ann Crumb, soprano/ Orchestra 2001/ James Freeman, conductor – Bridge
The performances are first rate, the percussion orchestra and amplified piano caught to perfection in Bridge’s clear recording.
ALVIN SINGLETON: Greed Machine; Argoru III; Apple; Sing to the Sun; Fifty Times Around the Sun – various performers – Albany
An album that falls below expectations
STEFAN WOLPE: Excerpts from Dr. Einstein’s Address; Ten Early Songs; Arrangements of Yiddish Folk Songs; Songs from the Hebrew; The Idle Peasant and His Dogs-Fable by Hans Sachs; Epitaph – Various performers – Bridge
A must-have for admirers of this elusive composer
Aeon Flux, Blu-ray (2005)
A more positive and hopeful take on the original animated series, which was marked by a very nihilistic and morbid tone
MOZART – “Am Stein Vis-a-Vis” – Sonata in B Major; 2 Praeludiums; Praeludium Fragment; 6 Variations; Fantasie and Fugue in C Major; Improvisation; Sonata in D Major; 6 German Dances – Andreas Staier & Christine Schornsheim, vis-a-vis – Harmonia mundi
Amazing sounds from an oddball melding of two keyboard instruments in one
NOCTURNE – Extended Audio Disc – 3 hours + of soothing classical music from the Virgin & EMI catalogs – Virgin Classics DVD
This would be great background music for dinner or while reading before bedtime.
Freedom Writers (2007)
The true story of how the power of one teacher who believed in her students changed their lives
DEBUSSY: Images inédites; Estampes; Pour le piano; Six Epigraphes antiques; Homage to Haydn; Le Petit Négre; La plus que lente; Berceuse héroïque; Pour l’oeuvre du vetement; Elégie; Les Soirs Illuminés; Le Sommeil – Alain Planès, piano – Harmonia mundi
Planès is a superb Debussy interpreter – bringing out the impressionistic side of the music without smearing anything.
Kenny Dorham – Jazz Contrasts – Riverside
Reissue of Kenny Dorham’s first Riverside album
Samson Trinh – Very Strange Night – Giggity Records
Eclectic debut album from Virginia jazz major
Coleman Hawkins – At Ease With Coleman Hawkins – Prestige/Moodsville
RVG remaster of impossibly gorgeous Coleman Hawkins album
The Cannonball Adderley Quintet In San Francisco – Keepnews Collection – Riverside
Reissue of great live album from Adderley brothers
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
