Monthly Archive: January 2014
The Great Zoot Sims – “Down Home” – Bethlehem Records mono
A swinging Zoot Sims on every track.
Don Cherry – Live in Stockholm – Caprice
Historically important Don Cherry music unearthed and issued for the first time.
Evgeny Svetlanov = BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3 in F Major; DEBUSSY: La Mer; CHAUSSON: Poeme de l’amour et de la mer; “La Mort de l’amour – Le Temps des lilas” – Janet Baker, mezzo-sop./ London Sym. Orch. – ICA Classics
Evgeny Svetlanov in London brings his patented, energetic style to bear on non-Russian works he clearly leads with refined fervor.
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9; SMETANA: The Moldau; LISZT: Les Préludes – Berlin Radio Sym. Orch./ Ferenc Fricsay – DGG Pure Audio stereo Blu-ray
More than 50 years old, this Pure Audio remastering sounds fresh and exciting.
“Timeless” = Works of 8 composers incl. Michael Daugherty – Kate Prestia-Schaub, piccolo/Martin Kennedy, p. – K8trills Records
How can you listen and not be happy?
Skip Sempé – Memorandum XXI (TrackList follows) with Capriccio Stravagante/Capriccio Stravagante Renaissance Orch./Capriccio Stravagante Les 24 Violons – Paradizo (5 CDs & bound book)
An immense immersion in early music, with essays and interviews in a 388-p. bound book and performance reissues on five CDs.
Audio News for January 24, 2014
New Sony Hi-Res Mobile Audio Player; International CES 2014; D&H Reminds Dealers of Winter Sports Events Helping Sales; LG Display Reports Lower Q4 Sales
Allan Taylor – All Is One – Stockfisch Records
Veteran troubadour exhibits wisdom and grace.
ZZ Quartet – Beyond The Lines – Inandout Records
European music tinged with some jazz inflections.
SMETANA: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor “From My Life”; JANACEK: String Quartet No. 1 “Kreutzer Sonata”; String Quartet No. 2 “Intimate Pages” – Jerusalem Q. – Harmonia mundi
Searing, musically potent readings of three Czech quartet masterpieces from the Jerusalem Quartet make for compelling listening.
GIOVANNI GABRIELI: “Berliner Dom – Music for Brass & Organ” = Andreas Sieling, organ/ Berlin Brass/ Lucas Vis – PentaTone
Masterpieces of Gabrieli for organ and brass.
“I Am the Center” – Private Issue New Age Music in America, 1950-1990 – DE HARTMANN, IASOS, HALPERN, SLEPIAN, STEARNS, LARKIN & Others – Light in the Attic (2 CDs)
The first anthology of some of the original New Age works which hold up well.
“I Am the Center” – Private Issue New Age Music in America, 1950-1990 – DE HARTMANN, IASOS, HALPERN, SLEPIAN, STEARNS, LARKIN & Others – Light in the Attic (2 CDs)
The first anthology of some of the original New Age works which hold up well.
Wild Beauty Sonata Suite – The Brussels Jazz Orchestra, featuring Joe Lovano – Half Note
An artist of revelation and confidence.
ROUSSEL: Bacchus and Ariadne Suite No. 2; RAVEL: Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2 – Chicago Sym. Orch./ Jean Martinon (1965) – RCA Victor/ HDTT DVD-A
Another fine hi-res transfer made from prerecorded open-reel tape.
Nir Felder – Golden Age – Okeh
Billed as the “next big thing” in jazz guitarists, Nir Felder’s debut recording incorporates serious themes with Americana grandeur .
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, 3D Blu-ray (2014)
A rather silly kids-only sequel to the more successful original animated feature.
Marc Cary Focus Trio – Four Directions – Motéma
The Marc Cary Focus Trio makes a return, with more multi-tiered music.
Blue Jasmine (2014)
Woody Allen’s provocative character study demonstrates his continued relevance.
Four Corners! – Berlin Philharmonic Horn Quartet – Fontec Japan
More than a novelty, there are some very fine performances here led by the best artists in the world.
The Bowed Piano Ensemble: “Ice & Fire” = STEPHEN SCOTT: Afternoon of a Fire; New York Drones; Vocalise on “In a Silent Way”; Aurora Ficta; “La Guitarra”; Baltic Sketches – The Bowed Piano Ensemble/Stephen Scott, dir. – Navona
This unique composer’s work continues to evolve but remains intriguing.
All-Star Orchestra DVD series with Gerard Schwartz (2013)
Breathtaking audio and performances, but with unequal sound levels.