Monthly Archive: November 2008
Pete Zimmer Quartet – Chillin’ Live @ Jazz Factory – Tippin’, TIP
Chillin’ Live keeps bop and post-bop alive and kicking, and brings skill and freshness to well-grounded jazz.
Jun Fukamachi At Steinway (Take 2) – Toshiba-EMI Direct Disc!/First Impression Music
The first audiophile CD originated from a direct disc played on a turntable.
Paul Simon: Greatest Hits Live, from Philadelphia (1980/2008)
This release is preferred to viewing the initial videocassette tape, since existing copies are getting aged. Second, the sound has been Dolbyized, which is better quality than found on VHS, though the DVD audio has not been remastered.
Jeff Johnson – Tall Stranger – Origin
Emerald city bassist Jeff Johnson has been producing challenging music that courses from avant-garde to stripped-down European-tinted free jazz.
Ancient and Modern Portraits for Organ = Works of ALAIN, BACH, SIEFERT, NICOLAS, CATO, FRANCK, VIERNE, SURZYNSKI and others – Boguslaw Grabowski, organ – MSR
Unusual and interesting fare showing off a fine reconstructed American instrument.
Benny Powell – Nextep – Origin Records
Steppin’ out with Benny Powell.
Sacred Arias – Katherine Jenkins, soprano – Decca
The striking soprano continuing her amazing walk down the yellow brick road.
HUMMEL: Introduction, Theme & Variations for Oboe and Orchestra; Septet in D minor; Grand Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in F major – Vladislav Borovka (oboe) /Ivan Klansky (piano)/Czech Nonet, Praga Camerata/Pavel Hula – Praga Digitals
Such urbane music is just a delight to listen to, especially when so magnificently played as it is here.
Wall•E, 3-Disc Special Edition, Blu-ray (2008)
The Pixar folks just can’t seem to go wrong in any animated feature or short they produce.
Coral Reef Adventure, Blu-ray (2003)
While the footage of the dying reefs is heart-rending, the colorful images of the abundant sea life on the living coral reels is captivating.
The Polar Express in 3D, Blu-ray (2004/2008)
Great film, breakthru animation, poor 3D
* MAHLER: Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor (1901-1902) – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/Mariss Jansons – RCO Live
******** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *********
Jansons has something very important going for him: high-res sound, and in Mahler great sound is more than important, it’s essential.
BACH-STOKOWSKI Transcriptions = Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor; Chaconne; Ein feste Burg; 3 Chorale-Preludes; 3 Sel. from Book I of WTC; Little Fugue; Adagio, Adagio and Fugue in C – Philadephia Orch. – Naxos Historical
Gorgeous sound thruout adds a special, sonic vigor to these pioneer expressions of a romantic’s appropriation of the Baroque master.
FRED LERDAHL: Cross-Currents; Waltzes; Duo; Quiet Music – Rolf Schulte, violin/ Scott Nickrenz, viola/ Fred Sherry, cello/ Donald Parma, bass/ James Winn, piano/ Odense Symphony Orchestra/ Paul Mann, conductor – Bridge
The second volume in Bridge’s Lerdahl series.
DIMITRIS DRAGATAKIS: Nostalgia; Butterfly; Little Ballad; Piano Sonatinas 1 and 2; Antiques; Anadromes II; Etudes 1 and 2; Inelia; Monologue No. 4 – Lorenda Ramou, piano – Naxos
The complete piano music of a noted Greek composer.
“Fire Island” – Works of PIAZZOLLA, YATES, MCDOWALL, HEATH – Anna Noakes, fl. – Dutton “Scree” – Works of DEBUSSY, AMIROV, MARTIN, ZYMAN, MOWER – Elena Yarritu, fl. – MSR
Flute & Piano x 2
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue – 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition – Columbia/Legacy Set (2 CDs, 1 DVD, 1 audiophile LP, 6 8×10 photos, poster, large bound book)
Dissecting Perfection
David Nadien: The Legendary Violinist, Vol. Four = Works of RAVEL, GLAZOUNOV, TCHAIKOVSKY, SAINT-SAENS – Cembal d’amour CD + interview DVD
Nadien, who plays in the Heifetz style, has a cult-like status among cognescenti who savor marvelous fiddlers.
JUSTIN DELLO JOIO: Blue Mountain (Complete opera) – Marianne Anderson (Nina)/ Torben Grue (Doctor Rossing)/ Njal Sparbo (Grieg)/ Nils Harald Sodal (Grainger)/ Norwegian Wind Ensemble/ Kenneth Jean, conductor – Bridge
An interesting, but very un-Grieg-like opera for the centenary of his death.
DAVID DZUBAY: Antiphonal Fanfare No. 2; Brass Quintet No. 1; Acrostic Variations; Solus 1 for solo horn; St. Vitus’ Dance – Manhattan Brass – Bridge
A new effort from one of the best brass quintets anywhere.
R. STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben; ALAN FLETCHER: Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra and VERDI: Overture to “La Forza del Destino” – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Michael Rusinek, clarinet/Manfred Honeck cond. – Exton
Honeck amply demonstrates his dash and ardor as well as enduring energy and refined sense of color in the execution of these scores.
Audio News for November 18, 2008
Sony Announces a Blu CD; Panasonic Buys Sanyo; Circuit City Bankruptcy
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
