Monthly Archive: November 2013
Chucho Valdés & the Afro-Cuban Messengers – Border-Free – Jazz VillagePiano Masters Series Vol. 4 (Brazil) – Jovino Santos Neto, solo piano – Adventure Music
These are both really amazing pianists: one from Cuba and one from Brazil.
Zsolt Bognar: Franz & Franz = SCHUBERT: Drei Impromptus; LISZT: Der Doppelganger; Aufenhalt; La Chasse; Staendchen von Shakespeare; Apres une Lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata – Zsolt Bognar, p. – Con Brio
In an auspicious debut recording, Zsolt Bognar pays homage to Franz Schubert and Franz Liszt, a recital of resonant power and often compelling poetry.
Stuck In Love/The Writer’s Playlist – Varese Sarabande vinyl
Indie film soundtrack combines atmospheric score and catchy songs!
Gerry Gibbs – Thrasher Dream Trio – Whaling City Sound
A stylish, authoritative, confident piano trio excursion.
Johnny Shines – Standing At The Crossroads – Testament (1970)/ Pure Pleasure vinyl
Authentic Delta legend is vibrant on audiophile vinyl.
“Spellbound” = Works by PAUL OSTERFIELD, RONALD KEITH PARKS, TIMOTHY LEE MILLER, MICHAEL MURRAY, MARK ELIOT JACOBS – Navona
All this music is designed to let an orchestra and conductor show off a bit. An enjoyable program.
Audio News for November 22, 2013
2014 International CES to Feature Record of Automotive Exhibitors; New Noise-Cancelling Headphone; Acoustic Sounds HiRez Store Offering Titles in DSD; TiVo Systems Added to Blue Ridge Cable; Reelin’ in the Years Finds Unseen Screen Tests from ‘80s & ‘90s
Sean Chen: Crystal Award = BRAHMS: Variations on an Original Theme; BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 29 “Hammerklavier”; BARTOK: Thre Etudes – Sean Chen, p. – Harmonia mundi
To call Van Cliburn Competition winner Sean Chen’s performances of Brahms, Beethoven, and Bartok “crystalline” does more than make a pun, as you can hear for yourself.
Shrek – The Musical, Blu-ray (2012/2013)
Not as hilarious as the animated feature, but lots of family fun nevertheless.
BACH: The Orchestral Suites: No. 1 in C Major; No. 2 in B Minor; No. 3 in D Major; No. 4 in D Major – La Petite Bande/ Sigiswald Kuijken – Accent
The Bach Orchestral Suites are hereby rendered with hearty, “authentic” affection, though not every taste will endorse the performances without qualifications.
SATIE: “The 4-Handed Piano” – Pascal Rogé & Jean-Philippe Collard, piano/ Chantal Juillet, violin – Decca
An interesting look at some of Satie’s four-hand piano music plus one piece for violin and piano.
The Jazz Experiments Of Charles Mingus – Bethlehem Records
“In my music I’m trying to play the truth of what I am.” – Charles Mingus.
Springsteen & I – Blu-ray (2013)
Documentary on rock icon provides a unique fan perspective.
BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique – Orch. National de France/ Leonard Bernstein (1976) – EMI/Hi-Q xrcd
An audiophile xrcd24 reissue of a 1976 Bernstein performance of the Berlioz work.
“Hot” = Works by GEORGES APERGHIS, ANOTHONY CHEUNG, AARON CASSIDY, MARCOS BALTER, CHAYA CZERNOWIN & FRANCO DONATONI – Ryan Muncy, saxophones – New Focus
This is pretty abstract stuff but it’s hard to ignore.
Huberman: Complete BACH and MOZART Recordings = BACH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor; Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major; MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major; Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major – Bronislaw Huberman, v./ Vienna Philharmonic Orch./ Issay Dobrowen/ NY Philharmonic/ Bruno Walter (K. 218) – Pristine Audio
The “controversial” but ever-exciting violinist Bronislaw Huberman has his Bach and Mozart inscriptions collected and remastered in a most ingratiating collection.
Audio News for November 19, 2013
After HD and UHD Comes HD Audio. Or Does It?; Big Boxed Sets from Major Labels Multiply; Kent Nagano Contract at Montreal Extended to 2020
TURNAGE: From the Wreckage; Speranza – London Symphony Orch./ Daniel Harding – LSO Live
Well-played contemporary works by an up-and-coming British star composer.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: On Wenlock Edge; 10 Blake Songs; JONATHAN DOVE: The End; WARLOCK: The Curlew – Mark Padmore, tenor/ Nicholas Daniel, oboe/ Huw Watkins, p./ Britten Sinfonia/ Jacqueline Shave – Harmonia mundi
A ravishing experience of incredible music, presented in near perfection.
15 CHRISTMAS CDs & Blu-rays for 2013
15 varied holiday music CDs, starting with classical and moving to jazz and pop.
DVORAK: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat Major; Slavonic Dances: No. 3 in A-flat Major; No. 7 in C Major; No. 6 in D Major – Bournemouth Sym. Orch./ Jose Serebrier – Warner Classics
The fourth of Jose Serebrier’s incursions into the Dvorak symphony cycle reveals the long-neglected beauties of the composer’s 1865 Second Symphony.
CHOPIN by Horszowski: Through Text and Sound = Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor: Movements 1-2; Fantasie in F Minor; Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor; Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise; 24 Preludes; Berceuse in D-flat Major; Etude in F; Polonaise-Fantasie in A-flat Major; Valse in E Minor, Op. Posth.; Mazurka in C; Nocturne in F-sharp Major – Mieczslaw Horswzowski, piano-/ Prades Festival Orchestra/ Alexander Schneider – Arbiter (2 CDs)
Decades of global searching uncover once lost performances of Chopin by Polish master Horszowski, along with a Chopin biography the pianist notated included in the fine booklet.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
