Monthly Archive: July 2010
Michael Dease – Grace – Jazz Legacy Productions
On Grace, Michael Dease shows why he is quickly becoming one of the most prominent trombonists in the jazz community.
WAGNER: Rienzi Overture; Tristan und Isolde Prelude, Act I and Liebestod; Lohengrin: Prelude to Acts I and III; Wesendonck Lieder; Die Meistersinger: Prelude to Act I; Die Walkuere: Rise of the Valkyries – soprano/ Cleveland Orch./Franz Welser-Moest – DGG
Brilliant but relatively superficial workings of the familiar “butcher’s meat” from Wagner, though the Wesendonck Lieder prove a grandly moving collaboration.
Kandinsky – Art Documentary (1986/2010)
The director uses Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition to accompany the artist’s paintings…
Roy Lichtenstein (Art Documentary) (1990/2010)
In 1964 the NY Times ran an article on Lichtenstein titled “One of the Worst Artists in America.”
Keith DeStefano & Puzzlebox – A Place to Be – self-released
Keith DeStefano brings spontaneity and intricate arranging to his outgoing and wide-ranging music.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOFF: Scheherazade – Moscow State Symphony Orchestra/ Pavel Kogan – Dual Disc – CD + DualDisc of DVD-A/DVD-Video, 2-channel only, Classic Records HDAD
The session producers were Marc Aubert and Joanna Nickrenz of Elite Recording, and Bernie Grundman did the mastering.
Passion (2001)
Bio feature on the life of composer-pianist Percy Grainger.
Nobel Prize Concert – Martha Argerich & Yuri Temirkanov (2009/10)
Argerich tears into the exciting and witty Ravel Piano Concerto with relish and the Swedish orchestra provides perfect support.
Gergiev Conducts BRAHMS: Ein Deutsches Requiem
A true moment of valediction: Gergiev’s farewell concert with the Rotterdam Philharmonic.
Abdullah Ibrahim & WDR Big Band Cologne – Bombella – Sunnyside Records
An inspiring life in music brings an entire culture into focus.
Organ Music from Multi-ethnic Transylvania – SIGISMUND TODUTA: Seven Chorale Preludes for Organ; PAUL RICHTER: Organ Sonata in D minor; MYRIAM LUCIA MARBE: Schäfers Pavane mit Vögeln II – Irina Ungureanu, soprano/ Nicoleta Paraschivescu, orgasn – Audite
Don’t expect to hear the theme from Dracula.
Beat Kaestli – Invitation – Chesky Records
Kaestli, a Swiss native, delivers a fine jazz presentation of songs from the Great American Songbook, in good English.
The David Leonhardt Trio – Bach to the Blues (Improvisations on Classical Themes) – Big Bang Records
Each one is given a relaxed and gentle jazzing-up that on the three Bach selections especially may remind listeners of the work of Jacque Loussier’s Trio.
Johnny Griffin – Live at Ronnie Scott’s – In and Out Records
A fond farewell -Johnny Griffin’s last recording.
The Busch-Serkin Duo: Public Performances and Broadcasts = Works of MOZART, BEETHOVEN, BACH, SCHUBERT, BRAHMS, SCHUMANN, BUSCH – Music & Arts (4 CDs)
The Busch-Serkin duo gleaned honor as the finest ensemble of its kind, and here are historic documents, 1939-1950, of their intensely honed artistry.
NEW CENTURY FLUTE CONCERTOS – HOFMEYR: Double Concerto; COLLA: Romance; GALANTE: I Sospiri de Ariel; AGUIAR: Concertino for Piccolo – Raffaele Trevisani, flute & piccolo/ Piet Koornhof, v. /Moscow Ch. Orch./Roberto Duarte & Constantine Orbelian – Delos
A beguiling and enterprising disc of twentieth century works for flute, piccolo and chamber orchestra.
Rafi Malkiel – Water – Tzadik
On his second effort, Water, Rafi Malkiel creates refreshingly unique, ambitious music that sustains a mainstream, swinging flow.
Audio News for July 23, 2010
Conductor Charles Mackerras Dies at 84; Smyth Headphone Processor Now Available; Less In-Your-Face 3D Effects
Randy Klein/Oleg Kireyev/Chris Washburne – Sunday Morning – Jazzheads
Musician/entrepreneur unveils duo vitality in an impressive collaboration.
“Sprechgesänge” (Speech Songs) = Works of JONATHAN HARVEY, BEAT FURRER, GEORGES APERGHIS, UNSUK CHIN – various perf. – Wergo
Spechgesänge is closely related to the passages in opera where a story is recounted, requiring a parlando style, and so is roughly equivalent to the operatic recitative.
ERLING WOLD: Mordake – John Duykers, tenor/additional vocalists/San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra/Mark Alburger – MinMaxMusic
A new chamber opera based on a bizarre story makes for very interesting, pleasant listening!
Gerald Clayton – Two-Shade – Emarcy
Pleasant Surprises
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
