Monthly Archive: December 2013
Chet Baker – Lost Tapes Early Chet/ Chet Baker In Germany 1955-1959 – Jazz Haus/SWR Music (vinyl)
Lost sessions are a reminder of Chet Baker’s talent.
Astell&Kern AK100 Hi-Res Mobile Player SRP: $699
Taking your hi-res audio files with you portably is certainly worth it, but an expensive option so far.
HANDEL: Six Piano Concertos – Matthias Kirschnereit, p./ Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss/ Lavard Skou Larsen – Deutschlandfunk/ CPO
Interesting performances on the piano of the first six Handel organ concerti.
Patricia Barber – Companion – Premonition Records 90762-1 (double vinyl)
Hi-res vinyl captures the magic of Patricia Barber.
“Flute and Piano Masterworks” = SCHUBERT: Introduction and Var. on “Trockne Blumen,”; CARL REINECKE: Sonata for flute and piano; PROKOFIEV: Sonata for flute and piano in D Major – Paul Fried, flute /Bryan Pezzone, p. – Golden Tone
Fine performances of the Schubert and Reinecke let down by an unattractive recording.
Tierney Sutton – After Blue – BFM Jazz
A remarkable tribute to a famed singer/songwriter.
Earl MacDonald and The Creative Opportunity Workshop – Mirror Of The Mind – Death Defying Records
A musical outing that is hard to define.
Art Farmer – The Complete Remastered Recordings on Black Saint & Soul Note – Cam London (6-CD set)
Six sure winners from Art Farmer, recorded in the 1980s, now remastered…
“LEOS JANACEK: The Piano” = On an Overgrown Path, Books I – II; Moravian Dances; Zdenka Variations; Piano Sonata 1.X.1905; In the Mists; Miniatures; Album for Kamilu Stoesslovou; Moravian Folksongs – Cathy Krier, p. – Cavi Music (2 CDs)
A survey of the piano music of Leos Janacek by Cathy Krier reminds us of the often visceral, original imagination of this composer’s treatment of his Moravian roots.
* R. STRAUSS: Don Juan; Death and Transfiguration; Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks – Pittsburgh Sym. Orch./ Manfred Honeck – Reference Recordings/Fresh!
************* MULTICHANNEL DISC OF THE MONTH ************
R. Strauss’ best-known works in multichannel by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
“Trace of Impressions” = DEBUSSY: Beau Soir; La fille aux cheveux de lin; Sonata for Violin and Piano; RAVEL = Sonata for Violin and Piano; Volcalise – etude en forme de habenera; Sonata Posthume; Pavane for a Dead Princess – Anders Kjellberg Nilsson, v./ Sveinung Bjjeland, p. – 2L
Two of the greatest French composers influenced by a changing world.
MESSIAEN: Harawi, Song of Love and Death; Canteyodjaya – Tony Arnold, sop./ Jacob Greenberg, p. – New Focus Recordings
Late Messiaen doesn’t necessarily mean the best, but much here is rewarding.
BARTOK & KODALY: The Complete String Quartets – Alexander String Q. – Foghorn Classics (3 CDs)
This is an essential recording, maybe the best ever of these important works.
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker Suite; ELLINGTON-STRAYHORN-TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker Suite (1960) – Harmonie Ensemble/New York/ Steven Richman; with Lew Tabackin, tenor sax/Lew Soloff, trumpet/ Bill Easley, clar./ Victor Lewis, drums/ George Cables, piano – Harmonia mundi
A pair of terrific Christmas-season classical/jazz discs.
Clifford Jordan – The Complete Clifford Jordan Strata-East Sessions – Mosaic Records (6 CDs)
Clifford Jordan shares his musical vision with the world…
Neil Young – Live at the Cellar Door (Dec. 1970) – Reprise
Like opening a time capsule of nostalgia.
WALTON: Cello Concerto; DVORAK: Cello Concerto in B Minor – Gregor Piatagorsky, c./ Boston Sym. Orch./ Charles Munch – Pristine Audio
A warm virtuosity we often miss in our current cello superstars well defines the Piatagorsky style, eminently displayed in two major concertos, here beautifully restored.
FLINT JOVENTINO BEPPE: “Remote Galaxy” – Remote Galaxy: Distant Worlds: Lost in September: Tightrope walking beneath heaven: Flute Concerto No. 2 – Philharmonia Orch./ Vladimir Ashkenazy & soloists – 2L (Pure Audio Blu-ray)
An amazing contemporary collection of works in first rate surround sonics.
Audio News for December 6, 2013
New Smart TV Platform; Free Linn Christmas Downloads; Klipsch Launches Anti-Counterfeiting Program for Headphones; Spotliter App Produces Video Effects as They are Recorded; Kickstarter Getting Involved in More Audio Product Introductions; Meridian Explorer is TAS’ Product of the Year; 2013 Editors’ Choice Awards for Cartridges Under $500
“GEORG CHRISTOPH WAGENSEIL: Six Quartets for Low Strings” = Sonata No. 3 in C Major, “Suite des pieces”; Sonata No. 2; Sonata No. 4; Sonata No. 6; Sonata No. 5; Sonata No. 1 – Piccolo Concerto Wien – Accent (2 CDs)
Elegant music that straddles a stylistic fence between the pre-Classical and Classical eras.
Von WEBER: Clarinet Concerto No.1 in F minor; Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major; Concertino for Clarinet and Orch. – Alexander Fiterstein, clar./San Francisco Ballet Orch./Martin West – Bridge
These are excellent performances that should not get lost in the plethora.
BRAHMS: Complete Piano Music Vol. 4 = Zwei Rhapsodien; Klavierstücke; Scherzo; Walzer – Hardy Rittner, p. – MD&G
Is this how Brahms heard his own works in performance? Very possibly. The experience will challenge the ear attuned to the modern piano.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
