Monthly Archive: March 2008
Interview with George Klabin, President of the Rising Jazz Stars Foundation and the new Resonance Records jazz label
Interview with George Klabin, President of the Rising Jazz Stars Foundation and the new Resonance Records jazz label George Klabin has been involved in jazz since the mid 60s, when he was a student at Columbia University, in New York City, and was head of the Jazz department at WKCR-FM. To create original jazz content for his various jazz shows, George contacted the young jazz talents living in the City, and asked to record them for his show, in exchange for giving them copies of the recordings. He purchased pro recording equipment and taught himself how to record direct to 2-track stereo. I: George, What was it like as a young independent jazz engineer and jazz DJ in the mid sixties in New York? G: The mid 60s was perhaps the most vibrant time in the short history of modern jazz. If we agree that modern jazz started with bebop in the 40s, then the period 20 years later was a time when many new ideas were being exposed, new styles evolved, and the seeds of today’s modern jazz were growing and flourishing. Many young jazz musicians appeared during this period, who truly had unique styles. Also, […]
The Jack Jeffers N.Y. Classics Big Band – New York Dances – Mapleshade
The band has a fresh new sound, with brilliant writing for the brass.
FRANCIS POULENC: Gloria; Salve Regina; Quatre motets pour un temps de penitence; Quatre motets pour le temps de Noel; Exultate Deo – Polyphony/Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge/ Britten Sinfonia/ Susan Gritton, sop./ Stephen Layton – Hyperion
If you aren’t familiar with Poulenc’s choral brilliance, this disc is a perfect place to start.
MOZART: Opera Arias; Exsultate jubilate, K. 165; Laudate Dominum – Lucia Popp, soprano/Munchner Rudfunk/ Leonard Slatkin/English Chamber Orchestra/Georg Fischer – EMI Classics “Great Recordings of the Century”
Soprano Lucia Popp was a distinctively light, flexible, and eminently youthful force in lyric repertory.
“Czech Piano Quartets” – JOSEPH SUK: Quartet in A Minor, Op. 1; VITEZSLAV NOVAK: Quartet in C Minor, Op. 7; BOHUSLAV MARTINU: Quartet 1942 – The Ames Piano Quartet – Dorian
One of my favorite chamber music recordings is Dorian’s 1989 recording of the two Dvorak Piano Quartets with the Ames.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”; Symphony No. 4 – Staatskapelle Dresden/Joseph Keilberth (Symphony No. 1)/soloists/NDR Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg/ Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (Sym. 2)/State Op. House Orch./Bruno Walter (4) – Tahra
Strong Mahler, certainly powerful alternatives from the mainstream.
DAVID BENNETT THOMAS: O Magnum Mysterium; Songs of Seasons; The Dawning; Psalms; Warsong – Jared Stamm, baritone/ Eileen Clark, soprano/ Megan Friar, mezzo-soprano/ Thomas Schmidt, piano/ Gregg Smith Singers/ Arthur Krieck, conductor – Capstone
One of my favorite choral groups of the past, but I hear some ragged and unbalanced moments in the pieces.
MANOLIS KALOMIRIS: Triptych; Symphony No. 3, “Palamian”; 3 Greek Dances; The Destruction of Psara – Nikitas Tsakirolou, narrator/ Athens State Orchestra/ Byron Fidetzis, conductor – Naxos
If you like Hindemith, or any number of modern tonal American composers, there is no way you cannot like this music.
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
The vocal approach was similar to that of Kurt Weill’s operettas – avoidance of trained operatic voices in favor of having the actors actually sing their parts in front of the camera.
Ice Age, Blu-ray (2002)
Boasts outstanding audio and video quality plus having the ability to generate repeat viewings.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake highlights – L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande/ Ernest Ansermet – Decca/First Impression Music K2 HD
Another of the classic vinyl Golden Age Decca recordings, reissued by F.I.M. on the highest resolution yet possible using the standard 44.1K/16-bit format.
“Teddy Wilson in 4 Hands” – Two-piano and solo piano solos by Dick Hyman & Chris Hopkins – Victoria Company
This is the most enjoyable two-piano disc I’ve heard in the past year.
KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35; SINDING: Suite in A Minor, Op. 10; GOLDMARK: Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 28 – Itzhak Perlman, violin/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Andre Previn – EMI Classics
For the recording of the Korngold Concerto, Perlman adapted a lean, driving tone and raspier approach than was his wont, perhaps in conscious imitation of the Heifetz model.
There Will Be Blood, 2-Disc Collector’s Edition (2007)
A blistering look at the beginning of the oil industry as seen through the life of an oil man.
“Petite suite maritime” – Estria Woodwind Quintet – MAURICE DELA: Petite Suite Maritime; JAMES M. GAYFER: Suite; WALTER BUCZYNSKI: Suite; JEAN PAPINEAU-COUTRE: Fantasy for Wood Quintet; JACQUES HETU: Four Miniatures; Quintet Op. 13 – Atma Classique
The woodwind quintet is one of my personal favorite chamber ensembles, in fact I prefer it to string quartets.
BRAHMS: Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34b; SCHUMANN: Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44 (arr. Anon. for Two Pianos) – Duo Uriarte-Mrongovius, two pianos – Arts
These exquisitely balanced recordings by the two-piano team testify to a thorough command of their medium and the romantic style they address with shattering authority.
Audio News for March 28, 2008
More Spending on Home Electronics and Remodeling; SACD Playback for Your Car; More New Audio Gadgets from Sony
EDWARD ELGAR: Symphony No. 3 (completed by Anthony Payne); So Many True Princesses Who Have Gone; Pomp and Circumstance March No. 6 (completed by Anthony Payne) – BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Richard Hickox – Chandos
All three of these works are realizations by Anthony Payne and the March is receiving its premiere recording.
MAHLER: Piano Quartet (1876); SCHNITTKEe: Piano Quartet (1988); BRAHMS: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor (1861) – The Avery Ensemble – Zephyr
The Avery Ensemble do a marvelous job on this neglected Mahler work and kudos to them for recording it. They also included Alfred Schnittke’s bizarre pastiche on it.
Eric Alexander Quartet – Prime Time – High Note (CD + DVD)
Eric Alexander reaches new heights…
Hadley Caliman – Gratitude – Origin Records
Welcome back, Hadley….
HORSZOWSKI = CASALS: Prelude; CHOPIN: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor; Mazurka in B-flat Minor; Mazurka in C Major; BACH: Organ Prelude and Fugue in A Minor; VILLA-LOBOS: 3 works; MENDELSSOHN: Song Without Words – Mieczyslaw Morszowski, p. – BBC Legends
If ever a musician could be “venerated,” it would have to be Mieczyslaw Horszowski, the Polish virtuoso who excelled as solo pianist, teacher, and accompanist.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
