Monthly Archive: July 2013
“The Complete String Quartet Works of JOHN ADAMS” = John’s Book of Alleged Dances; String Quartet; Fellow Traveler – Attacca Quartet – Azica
Adams writes compellingly for the string quartet medium, and he gets fine advocacy from the Attaca Quartet.
LOWELL LIEBERMANN: Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano; Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano; Album Leaf; Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano (“Sonata Semplice”); Sonata No. 4 for Cello and Piano – Dmitri Atapine, c. /Adela Hyeyeon Park, p. – Blue Griffin
Stimulating music and fine performances let down by a less-than-stellar sound recording.
Aerial America – New England Collection, Blu-ray (2013)
Fly over New England in hi-def and learn about some of its milestones.
BACH: Double and Triple Concertos = Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor; Concerto for Harpsichord, Flute and Violin in A Minor; Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C Minor; Concerto for Three Violins in D Major – Rachel Podger, v./ Brecon Baroque Ens. – Channel Classics
High technology meets high art in these superb performances on SACD.
Ursula Bagdasarjanz, violin – “Sept Poesies pour Violon et Piano“ = BAGDASARJANZ: Berceuse; Dracula; Gipsy-Romance; Caprice; Reverie; Joie de vivre; Introduction et petite Valse des Alpes; MOZART: Sonata in B-flat Major: Allegro moderato; HANDEL: Sonata in f Major; NARDINI: Sonata in D Major: Adagio; PAGANINI: Sonata – Ursala Bagsarajanz, violin/ Milanie Di Christino, violin (Bagdasarjanz “Poesies”)/ Fernande Kaesar, Bruno F. Saladin, Luciano Sgrizzi, Raluca Stirbat, pianists – Gallo
The last of the Gallo edition given to violin virtuoso Bagdasarjanz allows us to savor her gifts as stylish performer and gifted composer in her own right.
Danwen Jiang “Live in Concert” = CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Sonata for Violin and Piano; CÉSAR FRANCK: Sonata for Piano and Violin; MAURICE RAVEL: Sonata for Violin and Piano – Danwen Jiang, violin/Walter Cosand, p. – Soundset Recordings
Wonderful French recital played magnificently!
DEBUSSY, POULENC, RAVEL & FRANCAIX: Piano Concertos – Florian Uhlig, piano/ Deutsche Radio Philharmonie /Pablo González – Hänssler Classic
Having all of these French piano concertos together on one disc is certainly worth consideration.
SYDNEY HODKINSON, “Shifting Treks” = Potpourri: 11 Very Short Pieces; Epitaphion; Piano Concerto No.1: A Shifting Trek – St. Petersburg State Sym. Orch./Vladimir Lande/Barry Snyder, p./Moravian Philharmonic Orch./Petr Vronsky – Navona
Interesting works worth a listen from this American voice.
Alexandra Silocea, piano – “Sound Waves” = Works of ROMBERG, DEBUSSY, LISZT, RAVEL, SCHUBERT – Avie
For her second Avie disc, pianist Alexandra Silocea selects a world of water colors and poetry, most of which, but not all, offering spiritual solace.
Enrico Granafei – Alone and Together – CAPKeve Wilson – Pure Imagination – Composers Concordance
Two instruments not usually heard in jazz or pop.
TELEMANN: Works for Clavier – Olivier Baumont, harpsichord – EuromusicROYER: Premiere Livre de Pieces pour Clavecin – Yago Magugo
A pair of infrequently-heard composers for the harpsichord.
Blood, Sweat & Tears – Columbia/ORG (45 rpm double album, vinyl)
A classic from 1968 that was in many of our collections, but not in nearly the fidelity of these 45 rpm reissues.
Rhythm & Hues: Solo Piano Music of GERSHWIN & CHOPIN – Dr. Alicia Zizzo – 4TAY
Dr. Alicia Zizzo makes her case for Gershwin as “the Twentieth Century Chopin” rather convincingly, with a series of preludes and incidental pieces that emulate or “stimulate” the older master in jazz terms.
Harold Mabern – Live At Smalls – SmallsLive
An album of dynamic playing and rhythmic distinctiveness.
Audio News for July 16, 2013
Dr. Amar Bose Dies at Age 83; Converting AV Files for Free; Launch of Pure Audio Blu-ray Releases; Music for iOS Devices Updated
GHEDINI: Archetettue, Contrappunti, Marinaresca e baccanale – soloists/Orch. Sinfonica de Roma/ Francesco La Vecchia, Naopxes
Some solid neo-Romantic offerings from this surprising Italian composer.
Barry Elmes Quartet – Happy Hour – Cornerstone Records
A cohesive session from a sure-footed band.
JAN GUNNAR HOFF, solo piano – Living -2L (audiophile vinyl)OLA GJEILO, solo piano – Piano Improvisations – 2L (audiophile vinyl)
Audiophile vinyl versions from two of 2L’s recent Pure Audio Blu-ray piano albums.
Vanishing Waves (2012/2013)
An innovative and surreal low-budget sci-fi feature out of Lithuania, of all places.
Eli Yamin and Evan Christopher – Louie’s Dream: For Our Jazz Heroes – Yamin Music
Ellington to Coltrane and Armstrong to Mary Lou Williams: it’s a clarinet/piano dream come true.
John Medeski, solo piano – A Different Time – Okeh
A Medeski, Martin and Wood member goes solo with superbly subtle results.
Audio News for July 12, 2013
New Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Devices; Hints on 4K/UltraHD; Pandora and Musicians Locked in Battle Over Royalties
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
