Monthly Archive: April 2007
Alvin Queen – I Ain’t Looking at You – Justin Time/Enja
A recipe for success
Stan Bock Ensemble – Your Check’s in the Mail – OA2
The real deal direct from Portland
Jennifer Hall Meets… – Sea Breeze
Swinging West Coast tribute to Gerry Mulligan
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56 “Scotch”; Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 – Igor Oistrakh, violin,/ Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/ Franz Konwitschny – Berlin Classics
“Authentic” Mendelssohn when you think about it, given the orchestra is the composer’s very own ensemble
Jackie McLean – New Wine in Old Bottles – Test of Time Records
Jackie’s back…
Brad Shepik Trio – Places You Go – Songlines
Shepik delivers a nice minimally-electronic guitar sound, and Versace is a master of the B-3
Two Riverside Profiles 2-CD Albums: Bill Evans – (includes bonus disc) Chet Baker – (includes same bonus disc)
A worthwhile series because the selections really are the big hits of most of the artists, you get a second bonus CD, and the price is right.
CARL NIELSEN: Orchestral Music = Maskarade Overture & Handedans; Rhapsody Overture; Snefrid Suite; Helios Overture; Sel. from Hr. Oluf Han Rider; Saul and David; Willemoes; Pan and Syrinx; Cupid and the Poet – Danish Nat. Sym./ Thomas Dausgaard – Da Capo
It is a pleasure to get acquainted with a variety of the program and incidental music of the Danish composer which has not received the attention of his six symphonies and various concertos.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Blu-ray (2004/2006)
How many features do you get today that provide dirigibles and dinosaurs in the same movie?
Audio News for April 14, 2007
Latest on the Hi-Def DVD Format War; Media Room Becomes Unforgettable Room
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in B Flat , Op. 130 & Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 – The Lindsays – ASV Stereo
A complex and rather strange work that repays close study and repeated listening.
King Arthur: Director’s Cut (Blu-ray Disc) (2004)
This film was billed as a more realistic portrayal of the Arthurian legend than has ever been presented before in the movies.
Happy Feet (Blu-ray Disc) (2006)
A wonderful animated film that is as good as any animated film released in the past several years.
Pat Metheny Group – The Way Up, Live (Blu-ray) (2006)
The band felt they had a line of subtle communication with their audiences, no matter the culture or language involved, because their music was entirely instrumental, with no text whatever.
Otto Klemperer = MOZART: Serenata Notturna in D, K. 239; Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201; BACH: Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068; R. STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel, Op. 28 – Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra/ Otto Klemperer – Golden Melodram
Performances that lie stylistically between his more lyric, flexible elasticity and his later, monumental, adamantine rigor.
TINARIWEN: Aman Iman (Water is Life) – World Village
You’ve never heard anything like Tinariwen, an Afro rock band from Mali who dress in traditional Berber garb and play electric guitars.
Last Train Home – Last Good Kiss – Red Beet Records
Achingly poignant songs from the intersection of heartbreak and passion.
Milstein: In Portrait (Some Memories of a Quiet Magician)
Shy, loathing publicity and self-aggrandizement, Milstein shares only the surface of his character, the simple, direct expression of music.
Hyunah Yu, soprano, in Bach and Mozart Arias – Prague Philharmonia/ Shuntaro Sato –EMI Classics
The creamiest voice I have heard since Kathleen Battle
My Father The Genius (2005)
His family relationships were clearly secondary to his architectural career, as candidly revealed by his ex-wives and daughters
PHILIP GLASS: Dracula – Musical score for the 1931 classic film, arranged for solo piano & performed by Michael Riesman – Orange Mountain Music
Glass’ score seems to fit it so perfectly to the film that it begins to sound as if it had always been there.
GLAZUNOV: Raymonda (complete ballet) – Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra/ Victor Fedotov – Classical Records
The score is sort of slightly-modernized Tchaikovsky – Glazunov was the arch conservative and leader of his generation of Russian composers.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
