Monthly Archive: July 2007
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 – The Orchestra of Champs-Elysees/ Philippe Herreweghe, director – Harmonia Mundi
Even for a first exposure to these works of Schumann, you’d be hard pressed to do better than this excellent disc.
Michael Buble: Call Me Irresponsible – Michael Buble, vocals – with David Foster, piano; Vinnie Coliauta, drums; Nathan East, bass; Dean Parks, guitar; featuring the Clayton -Hamilton Jazz Orchestra – 143/Reprise Records
… may very well be the heir apparent to Frank Sinatra’s mantle, so strong is his charisma and appeal
Concert by Ivry Gitlis, violin
He plays with a lean, nasal sound; the video performances are from 1965-1973.
BUSONI: Fantasia Contrappuntistica; Fantasia After J.S. Bach; Toccata – John Ogden, piano – Altarus
The structure can only be likened to some grand Renaissance scheme – a “new” paradigm in the tradition of Leonardo da Vinci.
Shura Cherkassky, piano = HANDEL: Air and Variations, “The Harmonious Blacksmith”; BRAHMS: Handel Variations, Op. 24; BERG: Sonata, Op. 1; SKALKOTTAS: 15 Little Variations; PROKOFIEV: Toccata, Op. 11; CHOPIN: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58 – BBC
…a diverse repertory and a colossal capacity for color and variety in his keyboard palette.
MOZART: Piano Trios – The Newstead Trio – Xun Pan, piano; Michael Jamanis, violin; Sara Male, cello – Prince Productions
This disc represents among the very finest trio recordings I’ve ever heard; their playing of this oft-recorded Mozart repertory is peerless.
CLAUS OGERMANN: Works for Violin and Piano – Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano; Yue Deng, violin – Decca
His compositional style has a very modern bent, and is clearly rooted in the twelve-tone school
Wes Montgomery: Full House – Live At Tsubo, Berkeley, California – Riverside
Many feel this album introduced the real Wes Montgomery to the record-buying public.
Saco Yasuma: Another Rain – Saco Yasuma, alto sax and xaphoon (bamboo sax); Andrew Bemkey, piano and bass clarinet; Ken Filiano, bass; Michael T. A. Thompson, drums and percussion; Roy Campbell Jr., trumpet and flugelhorn; Golda Solomon, voice – Leaf Note
Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Saco breaks the mold by playing the sax, a traditionally male instrument.
Daniel Smith – The Swingin’ Bassoon – Zah Zah/Guild
Bassoonist Smith allows that the classical performer has to get rid of all preconceived notions about how to play the instrument if one wants to make jazz swing with it.
Audio News for July 21, 2007
Rating Objectionable Sounds; Audio Engineer John Eargle Dies; Audio vs. Music Quote; Armour Announces New Hard Drive MusicServer
LALO: Symphonie Espagnole in D Minor, Op. 21; BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 – Isaac Stern, violin/ Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy – Sony Classical Great Performances
The tone remained sweet, the intonation focused, but the phraseology had begun to acquire a syrup the music did not require.
Believe in Love = Rare French and Italian Opera Arias – Elizabeth Whitehouse, soprano/ Orchestra Victoria/ Richard Bonynge, conductor – Melba
Nuggets from the backwaters of Romantic opera—you be the judge!
John Abercrombie & Andy Laverne (guitar & piano) – The Art of the Duo (2006)
It was decided to play only their own compositions, which are divided about half and half between the two performers.
PURCELL: Dido and Aeneas – Nicola Wemyss (Dido)/ Matthew Baker (Aeneas)/ Francine van der Heijden (Belinda)/ Musica ad Rhenum Choir and Orchestra/ Jed Wentz, conductor – Brilliant Classics
A small-sized version of Purcell’s masterpiece comes to SACD
STRAVINSKY: Suite Italienne; SCHUBERT: Fantasia in C Major, D. 934; RAVEL: Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major; C. SCHUMANN: Romanze for Violin and Piano in D-flat Major, Op. 22, No. 1 – Viktoria Mullova, violin/ Katia Labeque, piano – Onyx
In several respects of tone and articulation, Mullova reminds me of Joseph Szigeti.
Tomorrow’s Jazz Classics 2005 – Jazz Sampler – Nagel Heyer Records
Many of these made me want to have the entire CD they were taken from; that’s an indication of the high standards of this German label’s catalog and performers.
Audio News for July 18, 2007
Home Video Networking Grows; New Chipset Supports Video Networking; McIntosh Laboratory Trade-UP Program
David Murray’s Black Saint Quartet featuring Cassandra Wilson – Sacred Ground – Justin Time
The album as a whole and three tracks in particular were inspired by a Sundance-selected film titled Banished
Hamilton de Holanda – Intimo – (10-string mandolin) – Adventure Music
Mandolin virtuoso De Holanda recorded himself whenever he felt like it, using a good mike and his laptop
HANDEL: Arias and Scenes for Tenor (Alceste, Semele, Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, Tamerlano, Samson, Rodelinda, Esther & others) – Mark Padmore, tenor/ Lucy Crowe, soprano/ Robin Blaze, countertenor/ English Concert/Manze – Harmonia mundi
One thing that you can always count on in any Handelian collection is a certain amount of vocal fireworks
SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960; Allegretto in C Minor, D. 915; Six Moments Musicaux, D. 780 – Joshua Pierce, piano – MSR Classics
Two generations ago this all-Schubert recital would have been one by Artur Schnabel.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
