Monthly Archive: March 2009
Foday Musa Suso – The Two Worlds – Orange Mountain Music
Both a Gambian Mandingo griot (musician/oral historian) and a collaborator with the likes of Herbie Hancock and Phillip Glass, Suso truly does occupy two worlds.
Audio News for March 25, 2009
Sales of CDs Hold Steady in Germany; Dolby Hi-Res Audio Technologies Set for China; Consumer Reports Covers Blu-ray Players; Libraries Offering Blu-ray Discs;
WDTV Connects to Any TV
JOSQUIN: Masses: “Malheur me bat”, “Fortuna desperata” – Tallis Scholars/ Peter Philips, conductor – Gimell
Bewilderingly complex and emotionally resonant—masterpieces both.
GEORGE CRUMB: A Journey Beyond Time (American Songbook 2); The Winds of Destiny (American Songbook 4) – Barbara Ann Martin, soprano/ Orchestra 2001/ James Freeman, conductor – Bridge
The journey continues through Crumb’s American Songbook, destined to be the longest song cycle ever.
STRAVINSKY = Agon; Symphony in Three Movements; Apollo; L’Oiseau de feu: Finale – BBC Symphony Orchestra/Igor Stravinsky – BBC Legends
Stravinsky tosses the familiar finale from The Firebird to an audience that cannot delight enough in the Old Master’s ministrations with this talented London ensemble.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 10 in E minor; VELJO TORMIS: Overture No. 2 – Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra/ Paavo Jarvi, conductor – Telarc
Fine in its own way, but no competition for Telarc’s earlier issue.
ALESSANDRO MELANI: L’Europa; Requiem; Beatus vir; Magnificat – Veronika Winter, soprano/ Cornelia Samuelis, soprano/ Kai Wessel, alto/ Benoit Haller, tenor/ Ekkehard Abele, bass/ Das Kleine Konzert/ Hermann Max, conductor – CPO
Quite a discovery for those with an affection for the period.
Steve Shapiro Pat Bergeson – Backward Compatible -Apria
Bergeson, a student of guitar legend Chet Atkins, sounds like the master with an updated concept and extended technique mapped onto a slyly warped sense of humor.
Mark Rapp – Token Tales – Token Tales – Paved Earth Music
Important debut by new trumpet, composing, and band leading talent, Mark Rapp.
Saltman Knowles – Return of the Composer – Pacific Coast Jazz
One was unaware of his departure, but his return, one supposes, is welcome.
GEORGE ENESCU: Impressions from Childhood, Op. 28 (orch. Grigoriu); Chamber Symphony for 12 Instruments, Op. 33; Piano Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 30 – Sherban Lupu, violin/Sinfonia Da Camera/Ian Hobson, piano and conductor – Albany
GEORGE ENESCU: Impressions from Childhood, Op. 28 (Orch. Grigoriu); Chamber Symphony for 12 Instruments, Op. 33; Piano Quartet No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 30 – Sherban Lupu, violin/Sinfonia Da Camera/Ian Hobson, piano and conductor – Albany TROY1100, 72:29 ****: From the first note of Sherban Lupu’s violin, opening “The Fiddler” in gypsy style–only a hair’s breadth from the swarthy-folk violin that begins Peer Gynt–the Impressions of Childhood (1940) of George Enescu (1881-1955) for violin and small orchestra, we revel in the virtuoso syntax that rivals Ravel’s solo work in Tzigane. The Old Beggar plays an anagram (E-E-flat-C) based on the name “Enescu,” since “es” is a common conceit utilized by Bach. Its harmonies neither traditional nor raucously avantgarde, the piece–as in the eerie Springwell in the Garden–communicates a modal sensuality that careens between Debussy, Berg, and Bartok. High harmonics reign with flute for The Caged Bird and The Cuckoo Clock. Lullaby conveys its own idyll of childhood. Cricket lasts a mere 30 seconds of pure transcendentalism. Moon Across the Window might be an interlude from a Berg opera or Enescu’s own Oedipe. An ephemeral Wind in the Chimney moves to a Storm Outside in the Night, quite ominous with […]
SCRIABIN: Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 in F minor, 6, 7 “White Mass,” 10 – Boris Bekhterev, p. – Camerata
Camerata’s crystalline sonics are apparent on this disc vs. the set of all ten sonatas on Harmonia mundi by Robert Taub.
The Frank Hailey-Eric Zukoski Trio – An Old Sweet Song – Sea Breeze Jazz
Not really jazz—more like decorated instrumental lounge music; what Floyd Cramer might have played had he had jazz aspirations.
David Binney – Third Occasion – Mythology
David Binney expands his focus
Hugh Masekela – Phola – Four Quarters
Mixes his warm-toned flugelhorn with contemporary pop jazz, smooth Afropop, socially conscious lyrics, and an always amiable nature.
Chansons d’Amour = Music by Michel MAGNE, Louis CAIX D’HERVELOIS, Jean FERRAT, Marin MARAIS, Louis GUGLIELMI, Emile STERN, Hubert GIRAUD, LEGRAND, BACH, BREL, Antoine FORQUERAY and Roland VINCENT – Ralph Rousseau, gamba/ Matangi Q. – Challenge Classics
Not for any but the most daring purist, but perfect for the end of a gamboling gambist’s night out on the town.
MOZART: Piano Concertos No. 10 in E-flat (two pianos); No. 14 in E-flat; No. 23 in A – Carlo Grante, Barbara Panzarella, piano/ Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecelia, Rome/ Bernhard Sieberer, conductor – Music & Arts
Truly fine performances marred by the recurring Godowsky cadenzas.
“Jesu, Deine Passion” = BACH: Cantatas No. 22; No. 23; No. 127; No. 159 – Soloists/Collegium Vocale Gent/Philippe Herreweghe – Harmonia mundi
Let’s hope for a complete series from Herreweghe and company.
BALAKIREV: Piano Concerto No. 1 in F Sharp minor, Op. 1; Piano Concerto No. 2 in E Flat Major; Grande Fantaisie on Russian Folk songs, Op. 4 – Anatasia Seifetdinova, piano/ Russian Philharmonic Orchestra/Dmitry Yablonsky – Naxos
Balakirev was not only a pianist and composer but also a conductor, teacher and mentor to many of the Russian composers.
SCHUMANN: Piano Sonata in F-sharp Minor, Op. 11; Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 14; Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22 – Carlo Grante, piano – Music & Arts
Grante continues to attract acolytes through his often daring programming and the breadth of his repertory, which embraces diverse musical personalities like Chopin, Busoni, Schmidt, and Godowsky.
Too Blue Lou and the Groove – The Birth of Hip Bop – Jazzheads
Not earthshaking but pleasant enough, and it wears well.
Theo Croker – In the Tradition – Arbors
Honoring the jazz tradition
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
