Monthly Archive: November 2008
Terakaft – Akh Issudar – World Village
Demonstrates that the blues is (almost) a universal language
Gilfema – + 2 – ObliqSound
Sophomore effort features an expanded sound palette and greater musical maturity
Quadro Nuevo – CinéPassion – Justin Time
An album that will appeal primarily to tango enthusiasts and soundtrack fans, but also to other listeners.
BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78; Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major; Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor; Viola Sonata No. 1 in F Minor; Viola Sonata No 2 in E-flat Major – Oscar Shumsky, violin and viola/Leonid Hambro, piano – Nimbus (2 CDs)
From 1991, these classic Brahms inscriptions capture the mature artistry of Oscar Shumsky (1917-2000), a musician of phenomenal finesse and exquisite taste. He collaborates with another musical wonder, the pianist Leonid Hambro.
Christian Scott – Live at Newport – Concord Jazz (CD + DVD)
Christian Scott continues his jazz journey
Larry Willis and Tony Pancella, piano duo – Alter Ego – Mapleshad
The master and his protégé
TARQUINIO MERULA: Su la cetra amorosa – Arie e Capricci a Voce Sola; Montserrat Figueras, soprano; Jean-Pierre Canihac, cornet; Ton Koopman, clavecin; Andrew Lawrence-King, harp; others – Alia Vox
Originally recorded in July 1992 for the Astrée label, the recording has been extremely well remastered for this multi-channel SACD reissue.
Killing Hitler (2008)
The most interesting piece of information that comes out of this film is that there was not just one but a whole series of attempts on Hitler’s life.
Shrek the Halls, 2008
The familiar annoying donkey (voice by Eddie Murphy) bugs Shrek on Christmas Eve to get busy with his Christmas decorating.
Alexander Goldenweiser = TCHAIKOVSKY: Album for the Young, Op. 39; GRIEG: Lyric Pieces, Op. 62, Op. 65, Op. 68 – Alexander Goldenweiser, piano – APR
Goldenweiser appears to have been first to record the complete Grieg’s Lyric Pieces.
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Music for Two Guitars Vol. 1 = Sonatina Canonica; The Well-Tempered Guitars, 24 Preludes & Fugues – Brasil Guitar Duo – Naxos
Inspired by Bach’s WTC, the composer organized his own preludes and fugues using major and minor keys in a cycle of rising fifths.
Randy Sandke – Unconventional Wisdom – Arbors Records
Mastering jazz trumpet idioms
Harvie S with Kenny Barron – Now Was the Time – Savant
A long lost duo session re-appears.
Warren Vache – John Allred Quintet – Live in Berne, Switzerland at Marians Jazzroom: Jubilation – Arbors Records
Two seasoned veterans mix it up
BACH: Cantatas for the Eighth and Tenth Sundays after Trinity – Soloists/Monteverdi Choir/English Baroque soloists/John Eliot Gardinar – Soli Dei Gloria (2 CDs)
This fifth volume of Gardiner’s Bach Cantata Pilgrimage covering only the church cantatas consistently maintains the high standards found in previous releases.
BEACH: Piano Quintet; ALAN LOUIS SMITH: Vignettes: Covered Wagon Woman – Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano/ Warren Jones, piano/ Anne-Marie McDermott, piano/ Ani Kavafian, violin/ Priscilla Lee, Cello/ Escher String Quartet – CMS
Wonderful Beach from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, along with a worthy new composition.
SOLER: Fandango; Sonatas, No. 6, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 48, 84, 88, 90, 117; LIBERO MUREDDU: Soler delirium – Davide Cabassi, piano – Col Legno
Outstanding music played to perfection by this Italian pianist.
OFFENBACH: La vie parisienne – operetta (2007)
The singing is superb from everyone and the clever choreography keeps one’s interest thruout.
Sanderling Conducts = MOZART: Don Giovanni Overture; MAHLER: Symphony No. 4 in G Major – Felicity Lott, soprano/BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra/Kurt Sanderling – BBC Legends
Sanderling led this concert with the BBC Northern Symphony as a study in psychological contrasts, even finding within each selection aspects of emotional conflict.
HANDEL Oratorios: Saul; Messiah – Soloists/Choir/Orch./Rene Jacobs – Harmonia mundi 4 CD box
This time HM tackles the Handel oratorios, and we get two great ones.
SRS Labs iWOW Audio Software for Mac & PC
iWOW is designed to allow users to enjoy improved audio quality from less-than-audiophile-quality computers and components.
Audio News for November 21, 2008
Pirating of Blu-ray; Bluetooth and Alternatives; Mark Levinson’s First SACD Player
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
