Monthly Archive: September 2008
Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin – Amparo – Decca
The idea is provide some new arrangements of various classical works as well as some originals, with the guitar and piano often in the forefront as solo instruments.
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night On Bald Mountain; Prelude to Khovanshchina – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/ Paavo Järvi – Telarc
A most Halloweenish Night On Bald Mt. had me visualizing the Disney images in Fantasia.
Audio News for September 9, 2008
Sony & Oppo New Blu-ray Players; Sony Battles Infringement Suits; JVC Gets DivX Certification for HT System; Portland Jazz Festival Canceled
Christian Howes – Heartfelt – Resonance Records
Christian Howes may shy away from comparisons to Stéphane Grappelli or Joe Venuti, but the young violinist certainly shares those artists’ melodic and lyrical gifts.
Univers Zéro – Univers Zéro (1313) – Cuneiform
Though lumped into the general rock category, the ensemble should be more closely aligned with modern classical and the avant-garde.
Oliver Lake Organ Trio – Makin’ It – Passin’ Thru Records
Oliver puts his unique stamp on the organ jazz trio format.
BELLINI: La Sonnambula – Callas, soprano/ Monti, tenor/ Cossotto, mezzo-soprano/ Zaccaria, bass/ Antonino Votto, conductor / Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala Milan (1957) – Testament
An irreplaceable recording of a great singer at her peak.
Schubert: Lieder – Bernarda Fink, mezzo-soprano/ Gerold Huber, piano – Harmonia mundi
Here we get to enjoy around 15 or so of Schubert’s favorite poets with a generous smattering of the most popular and/or famous.
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15 – Stephen Hough, piano/BBC Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Davis – Virgin Classics
A sleeper maybe, but an impressive document from Stephen Hough and conductor Davis.
FAURE: Requiem, Op. 48 (1893 version); FAURE/MESSAGER: Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville – Agnes Mellon, soprano/Peter Kooy, baritone/La Chapelle Royale/Ensemble Musique Oblique/Philippe Herreweghe – Harmonia mundi Gold
A perfectly ingratiating reissue disc (rec. 1988) in gorgeous sonics.
Reminiscences = MARIAS: Suite in D; 5 Old French Dances; BENDA: Grave; BRAHMS: Scherzo; Berceuse; STRAVINSKY: Chanson Russe; PROKOFIEV: Farewell Scene from Romeo and Juliet; RAVEL: Pavane; SATIE: Gymnopedie no. 1 – Yuri Bashmet, viola – Onyx
An album of favorite recital pieces and encores.
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op.25; Violin Sonata in D minor, Op.108 – Jean-Claude Pennetier, piano/ Regis Pasquier, violin/ Bruno Pasquier, viola/ Roland Pidoux, cello – Harmonia mundi
Sonorous and sensual Brahms from France.
Javon Jackson – Once Upon a Melody – Palmetto
Back to the basics for Javon Jackson with a solid and swinging effort.
Wofert Brederode Quartet – Currents – ECM
Somewhere between Christian Wallumrod and Tord Gustavsen lies the engaging, enigmatic music of Wolfert Brederode.
Mathias Eick – The Door – ECM
Haunting post-Miles trumpet from a rising Nordic star.
STRAVINSKY: Symphony of Psalms; Symphony in C; Symphony in Three Movements – Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Sir Simon Rattle, conductor – EMI Classics
A memorable performance of three Stravinsky symphonies.
RACHMANINOV: All-Night Vigil Op.37 (Vespers) – Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Paul Hillier; Harmonia mundi
Recorded in the Dome Church, Haapsalu, Estonia, Rachmaninov’s music resounds magnificently with a grand sense of space.
Oscar Peterson, Live in ‘63, ‘64 & ‘65 (2008)
One of the best entries in the third series of award-winning Jazz Icons DVDs
George Colligan – Runaway – Sunnyside
A fine recording from one of the very best of the younger jazz pianists.
Coby HDR-650 HD Tuner
I found the HD radio system’s audio quality to be high, sometimes better than the analog FM.
The Forbidden Kingdom, Blu-ray Digital Copy 2-disc set (2008)
Does the kid succeed against all the evil armies, the white-haired witch and the evil Jade King?
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector’s Edition, Blu-ray (1993)
A holiday classic for both fans of Halloween and Christmas.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
