Monthly Archive: August 2008
U-571, Blu-ray (2008, Original release 2000)
I had high hopes for U-571, an Americanized version of a true story. Unfortunately…
Miami Vice, Blu-ray (2008, Original release 2006)
After watching Colin Farrell’s job in this film, Don Johnson’s stock went way up with me!
Franz Schreker’s Master Classes at Vienna and Berlin, Vol. 3 = GROSZ: Symphonic Variations; GOLDSCHMIDT: Capriccio for Klavier; TICHARICH: Suite for Piano; JAKUBENAS: Two Tone-Pictures for Piano; Rhapsody; FIEBIG & ECKLEBE works – Kolja Lessing, p. – EDA
An intriguing, musically adventurous tour of an era too often consigned to the darkness, but here brought into a most compassionate light by a gifted pianist.
RAVEL: Sonata for Violin and Piano (1897); Sonata for Violin and Piano (1927); Kaddish; Tzigane; Habanera; Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Faure – Regis Pasquier, violin/Brigitte Engerer, piano – Harmonia mundi
A familiar collection of Ravel’s violin music is hereby augmented by the addition of his early Violin Sonata.
WAGNER: A Siegfried Idyll; BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor – New York Philharmonic/Bruno Walter – Music & Arts
The Ninth’s strange allegiances to Schubert’s early symphonies make it unique in its own amalgam of militant and morbid energies.
Geza Anda Edition Vol. IV = BARTOK: Piano Concerto No. 1; Piano Concerto No. 2; Contrasts for Clarinet, Violin and Piano; Suite for Piano; Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion – Ferenc Fricsay, cond. – Audite (2 CDs)
Perfect synchronicity of parts makes this seamless experience an especially rewarding moment by which to celebrate the troubadour’s art of Geza Anda.
CHOPIN: Complete Nocturnes – Gergely Boganyi, piano – Stockfisch
Not quite up to the best interpretative prowess already available
LOUIS FERDINAND: Piano Quartet, Op. 5; MENDELSSOHN: Piano Quartet, Op. 2 – Valentin Piano Quartet – Musicaphon
Sparkling early Mendelssohn and a surprise piece of Royal issue
Audio News for August 22, 2008
Hyperion Ceases SACD Releases; Reference Records Begins SACD Series; Free TV on Your Phone?; Impressive Blu-ray Sales for 2008; Microsoft Building Blu-ray Into Windows
John Pizzarelli – With a Song in my Heart – Telarc Jazz CD-83676, 43:12 ****: Aaron Weinstein, violin & John Pizzarelli, guitar – Blue Too – Arbors Jazz ARCD 19355, 55:12 **** [Distr. by Allegro]:
John Pizzarelli’s vocal and instrumental side
Bill Frisell – History, Mystery – Nonesuch
Many of the short tracks feature his guitar – which is not spotlit as the main instrument – in combination with violin and other strings – a style harking back to Django’s Hot Club of Paris with Thelonious Monk.
Cal Tjader – The Best of Cal Tjader, Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-1980 Monterey Jazz Festival Records
Cal Tjader gets his due
“Romanza” = HUMMEL: Trumpet Concerto; Bassoon Concerto; LACHNER: Horn and Bassoon Concertino; WEBER: Andante and Hungarian Rondo – Guy Few, trumpet and corno da caccia/ Nadina Mackie Jackson, bassoon/ Toronto Chamber Orchestra/ Nicholas McGegan – MSR
An encore recording from two terrific soloists in some really gripping repertory.
Dave Brubeck – 50 Years of Dave Brubeck at the Monterey Jazz Festival, 1958-2007 – MJF Records
50 years of a Monterey Jazz Festival fixture!
Art Blakey and The Giants of Jazz – Live at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival – Monterey Jazz Festival Records
A Giant among giants
Nixon, Election Year Edition, Blu-ray (1995/2008)
A highly dramatic portrayal of the man’s struggles in his public and private lives, with his misdeeds and bad decisions finally closing down on him and forcing his resignation.
VINCENZO MANFREDINI: Six Harpsichord Sonatas – E Flat Major, G Major, D minor, C Major, A Major & F Major – Vladimir Radchenkov, harpsichord – IM Lab
Italian music written at the Russian court and lost for nearly 150 years.
Dick Hyman, piano solo – Thinking About Bix – Reference Recordings
Bix used his performing experience in pop music, but there is also a fascinating overlay of harmonic structure in his four piano pieces that clearly comes from Ravel, Debussy and even Scriabin.
Shota Osabe Piano Trio – Happy Coat – First Impression Music
A Ray Brown Tribute employing the K2HD mastering technology, which packs 192K/24-bit information onto the standard CD format.
Dr. John and the Lower 911 – City That Care Forgot – 429records.com
Congrats to the Dr. for a great album that tells it like it is.
Jimmy Witherspoon, featuring Robben Ford, guitar – Live at the 1972 Monterey Jazz Festival – MJF Records
Robben Ford is heard on both guitar and alto sax and some of his solos really burn.
Dallas and Houston Symphonies Horn Sections/Paul Phillips – Texas Horns – Crystal Records
Yawl can enjoy this delightful disc even if you’re one ‘o them Yankee folk.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
