Monthly Archive: February 2013
Audio News for February 12, 2013
Conductor James DePreist Dies at 76; Renegade Jazz Trumpeter Donald Byrd Dies at 80; The Electric Recording Company Luxury Mono Vinyls
Hans Theesink & Terry Evans – Delta Time – Blue Groove Records
Homage to Delta blues is timeless.
HANDEL: Belshazzar, Blu-ray (2011)
A staged production of this marvelous work is definitely overkill, but the music shines through.
VERDI: Nabucco (complete opera), Blu-ray (2012)
One of Verdi’s most popular operas is given a performance fully worthy of the ranking.
Neil Alexander – “Darn That Dream” – Solo Piano Vol. 1 – P-Dog Records
A daring and self-assured artist.
Fabien Sevitzky = Works of ARENSKY; BOSSI; GRIEG; BACH; DUBENSKY; TCHAIKOVSKY; GRAINGER; BLOCH; GRETRY – Philadelphia Ch. String Simfonietta – Pristine Audio
Fabien Sevitzky, later of Indianapolis Symphony fame, here finds restored his early recordings with the Philadelphia Chamber String Simfonietta, which he founded and led with urbane authority.
Mostly Other People do the Killing – Slippery Rock! – Hot Cup
To be smooth or not to be smooth, that is the question.
Art Pepper – Neon Art Vols. 1 – 3 – Omnivore Records/ Widow’s Taste OVLP 26, 48, 49 (3 LPs)
Art Pepper – Another (healthy) Art attack on vinyl.
Fascination – Coral Reef 3D, Blu-ray 3D (2012)Fascination – Coral Reef 3D – Mysterious Worlds Underwater, Blu-ray 3D (2012)
A pair of 3D underwater films with the same title.
2 Cellos – In2ition – Sony Masterworks
Classical music and pop meet at a graceful crossroad.
“American Byways – The Music of MICHAEL DAUGHERTY”- Firecracker; Regrets Only; Rosa Parks Boulevard; Walk the Walk; Blue Like an Orange; Diamond in the Rough; Bizarro – U. of Central Oklahoma Wind Sym. and soloists/ Brian Lamb – Equilibrium Records
Daugherty’s music is always entertaining and the UCO winds is a find!
BRITTEN: Les Illuminations; Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge; Serenade; Now sleeps the Crimson Petal – Barbara Hannigan, sop./ James Gilchrist, tenor/ Jasper de Waal, horn/ Amsterdam Sinfonietta/ Candida Thompson – Channel Classics
Luminous performances and stunning SACD sound characterize these three Britten classics for string orchestra and voice.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band – What’s Going On – Shout Factory (2006)/ PurePleasure audiophile stereo vinyl
Dirty Dozen Brass Band interpreting a Marvin Gaye classic, post Hurricane Katrina.
A Late Quartet, Blu-ray (2012/2013)
A very moving feature that ties in beautifully with this publication.
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor – St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orch./ Yuri Temirkanov – Mirare
Veteran Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov leads an inspired reading of the Shostakovich Fifth in live performance, an expression here of heroic optimism after some fateful storms.
SUK: Serenade for Strings in E–flat Major; DVORAK: Serenade for Strings in E Major; Nocturne – Appassionata/ Daniel Myssyk – Fidelio
The Canadian chamber ensemble Appassionata performs two enchanting string serenades by Czech masters Suk and Dvorak in exemplary renditions and fine sound.
Amazing Ocean 3D, Blu-ray (2012)
Good underwater 3D effects, but not one of the top such features.
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross! – The Hottest New Group in Jazz – with the Ike Isaacs Trio – Columbia/ Pure Pleasure mono Jon Hendricks – Fast Livin’ Blues – band incl. Pony Poindexter, Joe Newman and Freddy Green – Columbia/Original Recordings Group 2-45 rpm stereo vinyls
Audiophile reissues of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross plus a Hendricks solo album.
Pierre Monteux = BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No. 3; R. STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks; SAINT-SAENS: Violin Concerto No. 3; STRAVINSKY: Petrushka – Michel Schwalbe, violin/ Berlin Philharmonic Orch./ Pierre Monteux – Testament
The indefatigable octogenarian Monteux still rattles the rafters in a Berlin Philharmonic appearance with brilliant concertmaster Schwalbe, live performances previously unissued.
Jim Pearce – You Are An Edgy Visionary Seer – self
A quirky pianist/songwriter/vocalist.
Jeremy Pelt – Water and Earth – High Note
Jeremy Pelt – time for a change on his annual January CD release.
Audio News for February 8, 2013
Consumers Move Away from Desktop Computers to Mobile Devices; New Paradigm Powered Soundbar; Orb Launches Upgraded Mini-amp; Subwoofer Maker SVS Launches First Fullrange Speaker; Yamaha Audio Sales Growth
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
