Monthly Archive: April 2010
Audio News for April 20, 2010
Blu-ray Fuels First Quarter Home Entertainment Sales; No Broadcast vs. Cable Channels War Anymore; Yamaha’s Keyboard Breakthrough; McIntosh Ties In With Neil Young to Launch New Blu-ray Player; Avatar Producer Welcomes the Coming 3D Era
MOZART: Fantasia in c, K. 475; Sonata in F, K. 533; Sonata in B-flat, K. 570; Variations on “Unser dummer Pobel meint” in G, K. 455 – Kristian Bezuidenhout, fortepiano – Harmonia mundi
As good a fortepiano as I have heard, and readings that match.
Pharez Whitted – Transient Journey – Owl Studios
In the spirit of a classic Blue Note release.
One for All – Incorrigible – JLP
Another signing coup for Jazz Legacy Productions.
Lou Donaldson – Blues Walk – Blue Note/ Analogue Productions
Perhaps Sweet Lou’s finest release in pristine SACD sound.
Eric Bibb – Booker’s Guitar – Telarc
On his new album, Booker’s Guitar, Eric Bibbs crafts traditional country and Delta blues both likeable and perceptive.
If Haydn Had Written for Oboe = HAYDN: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Cello, Oboe, and Bassoon; Divertimento in A Major for Harpsichord, Violin, and Cello; Concerto in C Major for Oboe and Orchestra – Alexei Utkin/ Hermitage Orch. – Caro Mitis
I’ve come to appreciate the intriguing concept albums this label puts together, right down to the appealingly minimalist cover designs and maximalist booklets.
NORBERT GLANZBERG: Holocaust Lieder; Suite Yiddish – Roman Trekel, baritone/ Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse / Daniel Klajner – MD&G
I’m more attracted to the Holocaust Lieder based on a poetry collection entitled “Death Is a Master from Germany” – poems written by Jews and resistance fighters incarcerated in the death camps.
CHRISTIAN DICKHUT: Serenade Op. 1 in D Major; Serenade Op. 3 in A Major; Serenade Op. 4 in D Major; Trio Op. 6 in A Major for Flute, Horn, and Guitar – Trio Ulmian – NCA (2 discs)
The combination of horn, flute, and guitar may seem bizarre at first glance, but played on period instruments, this music instantly explains itself.
“Clarinet. Universe” = BRAHMS: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1 (arr. for clarinet and orch. by BERIO; HOLST: The Planets, Op. 32 – Philharmonisches Orchester Lübeck / Reiner Wehle, clarinet / Roman Brogli-Sacher – Musicaphon
This SACD is more like “Clarinet. Planet”—specifically Planet Brahms-Berio.
Bluesland (2010)
A fine DVD covering the full range of American Blues.
Count Basie – Swingin’ the Blues (2010)
The jump king of swing.
The Mannish Boys – Shake for Me – Delta Groove
The Mannish Boys help keep the blues alive and well on Shake for Me.
Vivre Sa Vie, Blu-ray (1962/2010)
A tragic tale from Godard, inspired by a book about prostitution in France.
GABRIELI: Sacrae symphoniae a 8–Sonata pian’ e forte; Canzon septimi toni; GEMINIANI: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 3, No. 2; ROSSINI: Stabat Mater – Soloists/ Berlin Philharmonic/Carlo Maria Giulini – Testament
Italian music led by Carlo Maria Giulini to which the Maestro has lent a sweetly streamlined dignity to the whole.
Audio News for April 16, 2010
Possible Buy Once, Play Anywhere Common Video File Format; XpanD Promoting Its 24-hour 3D Channel Service; Snell Acoustics Speakers Are Forever Muted; iPhones to Control All Home Electronics; Sony Hopes to Achieve Zero Environmental Load by 2050 in Home Electronics; Mitsubishi Offers the Most 3D TVs Thus Far
Joe Pass, solo guitar – Virtuoso [remastered] – Concord
The newly remastered reissue of Joe Pass’ Virtuoso is an excellent introduction or reexamination of Pass’ artistry and musical skills.
Chick Corea – Solo Piano Improvisations 1 & 2; Children’s Songs – ECM (3-CDs)
This boxed set brings together all of Chick’s early solo piano recordings, and is well-timed since the pianist is again playing some solo concerts.
“Polyphonic Dialogues” = SHOSTAKOVICH: From 24 Preludes and Fugues Op. 87: Nos. 2, 4, 7, 12, 15; RODION SHCHEDRIN: Basso Ostinato; From 13 Preludes and Fugues: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 19; Toccatina-Collage – Joachim Kwetzinsky, p. – 2L
The program is arranged in groups of a pair of Preludes and Fugues by one composer, alternating with a pair by the other composer.
* RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Orchestral Suites = Suite from “Snow Maiden;” Suite from “Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya;” Third Act of “Mlada” (“Nuit sur le Mont Griglav”) – Russian National Orchestra/ Mikhail Pletnev – PentaTone
****** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH *********
An impressive showcase of some of the lesser-known examples of the symphonic orchestration skills of one of its masters.
Concertos II – ROSS BAUER: Thin Ice for Cello and Chamber Orchestra; STEVEN BURKE: Over a Moving Landscape for Bass Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra; MARTIN MATALON: Trame I for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra – Soloists/Sequitur/Hostetter – Albany
The concertos for cello, solo bass clarinet and oboe makes this disc an inviting experiment in the contemporary concerto.
Jimmy Cobb Quartet – Jazz in the Key of Blue – Chesky
Ten mostly ballads, played in a super-relaxed fashion and reproduced with a realism in hi-res surround that fulfills the label’s slogan.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
