Monthly Archive: March 2011
LISZT: Mazeppa; Les Préludes; Orpheus; Prometheus – Laurent Cabasso, p. / Olivier Vernet, organ – Ligia
Some of the transcriptions work better than others, but kudos for originality of conception, virtuoso performances, and room-filling sound.
Led Bib – Bring Your Own – Cuneiform Records Rune
Decibel-shattering modern jazz-rock.
Umbrellas & Sunshine – The Music of Michel Legrand – Soundbrush
A fine album either for background listening or deeper discovery.
Golovanov Vol. 3 = Works of BALAKIREV; MUSSORGSY; GLINKA; GLAZUNOV; TCHAIKOVSKY – Moscow Radio Sym. Orch./Nicolai Golovanov – Historic-Recordings
I must assume Neal Kurz to be the source for these fine transfers of inscriptions, 1944-1952, from the Soviet conductor Nicolai Golovanov (1891-1953).
Grado GR8 Ear Buds
Rich Grado sound in tiny high quality ear buds, providing your particular ears are compatible.
Toph-E & The Pussycats – No Ordinary Day – M’Bubba Music
Quintet redefines contemporary jazz.
BACH: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin – Pavlo Beznosiuk, violin – Linn
They just keep coming, and this one offers a very strong interpretative statement.
The Original Tron / Tron: Legacy 3D, 5 Disc 2-Movie Collection (1982/2011)
Both astoundingly impressive visually, sure to please gaming and sci-fi fans in spite of a rather silly plot premise.
“Rare Chamber Music Vol. II” = HEINRICH ANTON HOFFMANN: Grands Duos Concertants – Jansa Duo – Ars Produktion
Rare indeed. This seems to be the only recording of Hoffman available, and proves to be worth hearing.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4; The Nutcracker Ballet: Scenes from Act I – Pittsburgh Sym. Orch./William Steinberg/Royal Philharmonic /Artur Rodzinski – HDTT
HDTT restores in vivid sound two Tchaikovsky classics by two fine apostles of the Master, Steinberg and Rodzinski.
Bob Dylan Revealed (2011)
Enlightening documentary delves into the inner sanctum of a reclusive icon.
Nordic Connect – Spirals – ArtistShare
Nordic Connect is a quintet contemporary jazz listeners should take notice of.
Ezra Weiss – The Shirley Horn Suite – Roark Records
Ezra has composed and/or arranged music for Billy Hart, Thara Memory, Rob Scheps Big Band, Leon Lee Dorsey, Stan Bock and Renato Caranto among others.
SCHULHOFF: Violin Sonatas – Suite for violin and piano; Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano; Sonata for solo violin; Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano – Tanja Becker-Bender, violin/ Markus Becker, piano – Hyperion
Late Romantic and early modern violin sonatas by Czech composer Erwin Schulhoff, sumptuously performed and recorded.
BARTOK: Violin Con.; Deux Portraits; Cantata Profana; Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta; 3 Piano Concertos; Tanzsuite; Divertimento – Var. soloists/RIAS Sym. Orch./Ferenc Fricsay – Audite (3 CDs)
A splendid assemblage of conductor Ferenc Fricsay’s homage to Bartok, a project to inscribe an integral Bartok legacy but frustrated by the conductor’s untimely demise.
Audio News for March 29, 2011
Shortage of Japanese Products Expected; Musicians Raise Funds and Awareness for Japan Disaster; Samsung Smart TV Strategy; Chesky Releases Binaural CD
* JOSEF GABRIEL RHEINBERGER: Organ Concerti 1 & 2; Three Pieces – Stefan J. Bleicher, organ/ Cäcilia Chmel, cello/ Musikkollegium Winterthur/ Douglas Boyd – MD&G
****** MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ******
David Lopato, solo piano – Many Moons – Global Coolant
An eclectic solo piano excursion which alternates from bebop to bluegrass.
Goossens in Cincinnati, Volume 2 = VAUGHAN WILIAMS: Symphony No. 2; RESPIGHI: The Fountains of Rome – Cincinnati Sym.Orch. /Eugene Goossens – Historic-Recordings
Perhaps we should recall that Respighi studied orchestration with Rimsky-Korsakov.
GABRIEL PROKOFIEV: “Piano Book No. 1” – GeNIA, piano– Nonclassical
Some quirky but attractive piano music by young composer with a famous heritage.
HAYDN: Piano Trio in E Major; TURINA: Circulo: Fantasy for Piano, Violin, and Cello; SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Trio No. 2 – Icicle Piano Trio – Con Brio
An inspired bit of programming shows off the Icicle Trio’s strengths and sheds special light on three chamber music masterworks.
Johnny Mandel – The Man and His Music – Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra – Arbors
A recording of a live concert occurring at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center, New York City, Spring 2010.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
