Monthly Archive: January 2011
BACH: Orchestral Suites (complete) – Concerto Koln – Berlin Classics
A superb new release of the ever-inventive suites.
* GUNNAR IDENSTAM: Jukkaslater (Songs for Jukkasjarvi) – Simon Marainen, yoik and vocals/ Brita-Stina Sjaggo, vocals/ Sandra Marteleur, violin/ Thorbjorn Jakobsson, saxophone/ Jonas Sjoblom, percussion/ Gunnar Idenstam, organ and pre-recorded sounds – BIS
********* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ********
A marvelous journey to Europe’s far north through the eyes of a native composer.
Matt Savage – Welcome Home – Savage Records
A child prodigy shows promise.
“Excursions – Orchestral, Chamber and Choral Works by MARIE NELSON BENNETT" – Var. performers/Pro Musica Chorus & Orch./John Marlow Nielson – Ravallo (2 CDs)
Very pleasant “excursions” into the work of a talented but not widely known American composer!
Dances with Wolves, 20th Anniversary 2-disc set, Blu-ray (1990/2011)
Surely the best film Kevin Costner has ever appeared in, and it was the first one he directed himself.
Isaac Stern: Keeping the Doors Open = MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in e; TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Trio in A Minor: Pezzo elegiaco – Isaac Stern, v./ Mstislav Rostropovich, cello/Vladimir Horowitz, p./ Israel Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein – Sony
Whatever Isaac Stern’s flaws as an individual, we honor him his valiant energy in behalf of this cultural landmark.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 4; Ruckert Lieder, Blu-ray (2009)
Abbado’s Fourth is one to be reckoned with, but probably not the only version you will want.
Audio News for January 11, 2010
Complete Star Wars Set on Blu-ray in September; DEG 2010 Home Entertainment Report; DEG Awards at CES; LG Shows New 3D Technology at CES
VIVALDI: Gloria in D Major, RV 589; The Four Seasons, RV 269; 315; 294; 297 – Mimi Coertse/Ina Dressel/Sonja Draxler/ Julian Olevsky, violin/Vienna Opera Orchestra/Hermann Scherchen – Tahra
The old magician Scherchen renders two Vivaldi staples in luxuriant–even eccentric–colors that never cease to engage us.
John Bunch – Do Not Disturb – Arbors Records
Final album captures the talent of an under-appreciated jazz artist.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 2 (“To October”) and 11 (“The Year 1905”) – Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus/ Valery Gergiev – Mariinsky
A fully reasoned Second but disappointing Eleventh.
BARBER: Symphony No. 2, Op. 19; Cello Concerto, Op. 22; Medea–Suite, Op. 23 – Zara Nelsova, cello/New Symphony Orchestra/Samuel Barber – Naxos Historical
Samuel Barber serves as conductor of three works that helped define his status as a lyricist of uncommon dramatic power.
Luther Hughes & The Cannonball-Coltrane Project – Things Are Getting Better – Primrose Lane Music
“Things Are Getting Better” is a great album of straight ahead jazz.
Mac Gollehon – Mac Straight Ahead – American Showplace Music
Multi-instrumentalist Mac Gollehon uses a one-man-brass-band approach on his upbeat, swinging new effort.
Ehud Asherie, solo acoustic piano – Welcome To New York – Arbors Records
Pianist channels New York’s past with dazzling results.
Ella Fitzgerald = Ella Fitzgerald, Newport Jazz Festival Live At Carnegie Hall July 5, 1973 – Columbia Records/ Pure Pleasure (2 LPs)
The re-mastered LPs capture both the intimacy and sonic detail of this concert.
Bob Wilber – Bob Wilber Is Here – Arbors Jazz
An oldie but still golden.
DVORAK: Songs My Great-Grandfather Taught Me = 30 Transcriptions by JOSEF SUK: 7 Gypsy Songs; In Folk Tone: 2 Songs; 8 Love Songs; “Leave Me Alone,”; Lullaby; 10 Biblical Songs; “Captured” from Moravian Duets – Suk/Vladimir Ashkenazy – Toccata Classics
Josef Suk pays homage to his illustrious Great-Grandfather Dvorak’s song legacy through a series of plaintive and melodious transcriptions.
Lynwood Slim And The Igor Prado Band – Brazilian Kicks – Delta Groove Music
West Coast blues artist and Brazilian blues outfit release an exhilarating collaboration.
Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, Vol. 1 – Ella Fitzgerald, vocals with Buddy Bregman and his Orchestra – Verve/ORG
If you are a lover of Ella Fitzgerald, or a lover of good jazz singing or just standards in general – this 2-LP set is an absolute no-brainer for you!
STRAVINSKY: Diversions – Music for Violin and Piano = Suite after Pergolesi; Divertimento; Duo concertante; Chanson russe; Danse russe – Ray Chen, violin/ Timothy Young, piano – Melba
A very attractive recital of Stravinsky’s “on tour” violin and piano music, easy on the ears and very digestible.
Joni Mitchell – Wild Things Run Fast – Joni Mitchell, keyboards and guitar; Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Mike Landau, guitars; Larry Klein, bass; Wayne Shorter, sax; Vinnie Colaiuta, drums; many others – Geffen/ORG
There really is a lot to love about this album, and the good songs are borderline great.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
