Monthly Archive: June 2012
Eddie Gomez – Per Sempre – BFM Jazz
Introspective jazz from a master bassist…
Mischa Elman, v. = Concerti and other works of VIVALDI, BEETHOVEN, MENDELSSOHN & PAGANINI – Pristine Audio
Russian violin virtuoso Mischa Elman finds colorful representation in these restorations, 1931-1951 from Mark Obert-Thorn, who provides us three novelties in the Elman legacy.
BELLINI La Sonnambula (complete opera) (2011)
A good but not great production that stands on the talents of Eglise Gutierriez.
Hank Mobley – Newark 1953 – Uptown Records (2 CDs)
Historically significant Hank Mobley release marred by very mediocre sound.
Claire Martin & Kenny Barron – Too Much In Love To Care – Linn Records
From the stylistic, “cool” jazz of the quartet to the assured, versatile singing, all of the pieces fit intuitively.
Dexter Gordon – Night Ballads, Montreal 1977 – Uptown Records
Cause for celebration- previously unreleased Dexter Gordon.
TCHAIKOVSKY: Rare Transcriptions and Paraphrases = Anthony Goldstone, piano – Divine Arts
Pianist Goldstone makes music of his Tchaikovsky transcriptions, yes; but whether acolytes beyond the academy will seek out this album remains to be seen.
The Cookers – Believe – Motema
The heat stays hot with The Cookers…
Audio News for June 8, 2012
Rivals Panasonic and Sony May Unite for TV Battle; NetGear Unveils Latest Streaming TV Set-top Device; Classical News; CEA Paves the Way for 4K
“Horizon 4 – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra” = New works by SHCHEDRIN, BERIO, JETHS & others for soloists & Royal Concertgebouw Orch. – RCO Live (2 discs)
A very eclectic and wonderful collection from one of the world’s great orchestras!
The Gold Rush, Blu-ray – The 1925 & 1942 versions (2012)
Chaplin’s biggest money-making film and to many his masterpiece, in both lovingly-restored versions.
Curtis Fuller – Down Home – Capri Records
In a deep groove…
Mindru Katz Plays in Concert = CHOPIN: 24 Preludes; MARCELLO: Adagio from Oboe Concerto in D Minor; KABALEVSKY: 3 Preludes – Cembal d’amour
Mindru Katz again asserts himself as a Chopinist extraordinaire in these Preludes from Jerusalem, 1969.
Great Czech Conductors: Rafael Kubelik = Works of DVORAK, SHOSTAKOVICH, MARTINU & DOBIAS – var. perf. – Supraphone (2 CDs)
A fine 2-CD set immortalizes the Rafael Kubelik of the WWII years and their immediate aftermath, in vital readings of important Czech works.
Mary Black – Speaking With The Angel – 3 U Records/Pure Pleasure Records – vinyl
Irish singer soars on this re-mastered vinyl recording.
Dinu Lipatti: The Solo Recordings = Works of SCARLATTI, MOZART, BRAHMS, CHOPIN, RAVEL & ENESCU – Regis
If this were your first excursion into the art of Dinu Lipatti, it would be a fine start, considering the immaculate mastery Lipatti brought to his deliberately limited repertory.
“Thème russe” – Kuss Quartet – Onyx
An album of Russian delights from the Kuss Quartet.
Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.) – 301 – ACT
The final material from the Esbjörn Svensson Trio escalates from tenderness to distortion and back again.
Harriet Cohen: The Complete Solo Studio Recordings = Bach, Mozart, early English music, Debussy, Chopin, Shostakovich, Bax, Brahms, etc. – solo & with var. orchestras – APR (3 CDs)
An extraordinary female in the music world, in recordings from pre-electrical years to the late 1940s.
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet: Ten Pieces, Op. 75; Toccata in D Minor, Op. 11 – Nikolai Demidenko, piano – Helios
Three colossal “standards” of the Russian school find their potent acolyte with Demidenko and his old school virtuosity in 1998 recordings.
LIONEL SAINSBURY: Cello Concerto – JOHN FOULDS: Cello Concerto – Raphael Wallfisch, c. – Royal Scottish Nat. Orch./Bournemouth Sym. Orch./Martin Yates – Dutton Epoch
Two Neo-Romantic British Cello Concertos provide an abundance of melodies, but the Sainsbury is a contemporary masterpiece.
Patricia Barber – Nightclub – Premonition Records – 2 vinyl discs
Jazz pianist/singer pays homage to late night saloon culture.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
