Monthly Archive: May 2007
Jazz at the Pawnshop, 30th Anniversary Package – 3 4.0-channel SACDs plus bonus video DVD interview with two of the musicians – Prophone/Proprius
This is the legendary audiophile jazz recording which has become one of the most popular audiophile titles ever released.
BIZET-SHCHEDRIN: Carmen Ballet; SHOSTAKOVICH: Incidental Music to “Hamlet;” GLAZUNOV: Carnaval Overture – Boston Pops Orchestra/ Arthur Fiedler – RCA High Performance Series
Fiedler rightly felt the transcription would be a crowd-pleaser at his Boston Pops concerts; it involves 47 percussion instruments plus the strings – no woodwinds, brass or harp.
Joe Henderson – Power To The People – Milestone/ Keepnews Collection
More than highly recommended!
Steve Davis, trombone – Alone Together – Mapleshade
Stepping Out On The Town
WAGNER: Der Ring – An Organ Transcription by Hansjörg Albrecht, organ (Cavaille-Coll-Mutin Organ of St. Nikolai Cathedral, Kiel, Germany) – Oehms Classics
The SACD is a sonic treat for any pipe organ aficionado, whether a Wagnerite or not.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36; The Nutcracker–Suite, Op. 71a; Waltz from Eugen Onegin, Op. 24 – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/ Sir Thomas Becham – EMI
Beecham exploits every opportunity to allow his RPO principals to shine in the color blends that ingratiate any reading by his hand-picked ensemble.
Hank Jones – Hanky Panky – East Wind/Test of Time Records
A welcome re-release from the master of jazz piano
Audio News for May 9, 2007
Blu-ray Has Sold One Million Discs; Wal-Mart $299 HD DVD Player Coming; CEO Can’t Understand How RadioShack Stays in Business; New Single-Chip Audio Processor for Hi-Def DVD Formats
Veni Creator Spiritus = Distler, Rachmaninoff, Swanson, Hidas – Philip Swanson, trombone/ Barbara Bruns, organ – MSR Classics
The title piece is the best thing here, probably of most interest to trombonists
CHOPIN: Polonaise in C-sharp Minor; Polonaise in E-flat Minor; Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat Major; Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major; Impromptu No. 3; Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor; Polonaises in C Minor & A-flat Major – Evgeny Kissin, p. – RCA Red Seal
Evgeny Kissin reveals startling growth as a purveyor of Chopin’s music.
Geoff Stradling, piano – Les is Mo’ – Origin Records
A journey of eclecticism
JEAN SIBELIUS: The Complete 7 Symphonies – Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/ Neeme Järvi – DGG set (4 SACDs)
I find the DGG SACD set well worth owning, especially for hi-res surround-sound-for-music fans!
Bill Holman Band – Hommage – Jazzed Media
Still going strong at 80 years young…
Exaudiam Eum = Gregorian Chant for Lent & Holy Week – Consortium Vocale Oslo/ Alexander M. Schweitzer – 2L
A fine introduction or quality addition to any library of chant
A Scanner Darkly, Blu-ray (2006)
This is the second interpolated-Rotoscoped feature animation effort from Linklater, whose first film using the technique was the groundbreaking Waking Life.
Stokowski = KLEMPERER: Merry Waltz; VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; RAVEL: Rapsodie espagnole; BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor; NOVACEK: Perpetuum mobile – London Symphony Orchestra/ Leopold Stokowski – BBC LegendsBBC
In his final three years, Stokowski devoted himself to the recording studio, rather than suffer the indignities increasing frailty imposed on his ability to tour.
“Tic-Toc-Choc” = COUPERIN: 19 Piano Pieces; DUPHLY: La Pothouin – Alexandre Tharaud, piano – Harmonia mundi
Tharaud has organized what he considers the most “pianistic” (on the Steinway D) of Couperin’s pieces, selected from several orders of his collected works for their emphasis “on play.”
A City of Sadness – Produced by Sens (Soundtrack music for the 1989 Taiwan historical film) – Fun House/BMG
Hiromi returns to the soaring melody over dramatic percussion and sounds exactly like Kitaro.
Little Children (2006)
Although there are more than a few plot lines going at the same time, the film manages to weave the characters together.
Total Recall, Blu-ray (1990)
An interesting futuristic storyline, well-designed pre-CGI special effects, and classic Schwarzenegger action and dialogue.
Audio News for May 5, 2007
Home Electronics in Russia Up 15%; Rollout of Home Server Technology
RUED LANGGAARD: Symphonies No. 12, “Helsingeborg;” No. 13 “Undertro;” No. 14 “Morgenen” for chorus and orchestra – Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Choir/ Thomas Dausgaard – DaCapo
The style of his 16 symphonies has many similarities to that of Bruckner and Mahler, including some of grand design.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
