Monthly Archive: February 2016
The Emigrants; The New Land, Blu-ray (1971-72/2016)
A terrific pair of Jan Troell films from 1971 & ’72, with gorgeous restoration and fascinating extras. The Emigrants; The New Land, Blu-ray (1971-72/2016) Director: Jan Troell Cast: Max von Sydow, Liv Ullmann, Eddie Axberg Studio: Swedish Film Industry/Warner Bros./ The Criterion Collection 796/797 (2/9/16) [2 discs] Video: 1.66:1 for 16:9 wide screen, 1080p HD […]
LARS GRAUGAARD: Venus – NYU Contemp. Music Ens. and other NYU performers – Dacapo
LARS GRAUGAARD: Venus – NYU Contemp. Music Ensemble; NYU Percussion Ens./ NYU Sym. Orch. / Jens Georg Bachmann & Jonathan Haas, conductors/ Patti Kilroy, violin/ Ian Shafer, oboe/ Patrick Swoboda, double bass – Dacapo multichannel SACD 6.220628, 58:52 (10/9/15) [Distr. by Naxos] ***: Contemporary computer-composed music in hi-res surround. The four works on this SACD […]
Audio News for February 26, 2016
Jazz and Classical Music Culture in Spotlight in Kenya; Net Neutrality Defied by Verizon; Six Computer Video Players Tested; Here Active Listening Earbuds
Joe Turner – The Boss Of The Blues – Atlantic Records (1956) /Pure Pleasure (2015)
Joe Turner – The Boss Of The Blues – Atlantic Records (1956)/Pure Pleasure PPAN 1234 (2015), 44:49 mono vinyl *****: This is a perfect mixture of blues and jazz! (Joe Turner – vocals; Joe Newman – trumpet; Lawrence Brown – trombone; Pete Brown – alto saxophone; Frank Weiss – tenor saxophone; Pete Johnson – piano; […]
BRAHMS: Piano Quartet No. 3; Piano Trio No. 1 (orig. version) – Trio Wanderer/ C. Gaugue, viola – Harmonia mundi
The dark, tragic romance of the Brahms chamber music experience lies in these performances by Trio Wanderer. BRAHMS: Piano Quartet No. 3 in c minor, Op. 60; Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8 (orig. version) – Trio Wanderer/ Christophe Gaugue, viola – Harmonia mundi HMC 90222, 73:54 (1/22/16) ****: Trio Wanderer – […]
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance / Stan Getz – Moments in Time – Resonance
Two more archival historical releases from Resonance Records- Getz/Gilberto ’76 & Moments in Time… Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto ’76 – Resonance HCD 2021, 55:15 ****: (Stan Getz – tenor sax; Joao Gilberto – vocals, guitar; Joanne Brackeen – piano; Clint Houston – bass; Billy Hart – drums) Stan Getz – Moments in […]
“The Return” = Preludes of RACHMANINOFF, Works of BABAJANIAN – Raffi Besalyan, p. – Sono Luminus CD & audio-only Blu-ray
Riveting sound and brilliant performances add up to a most desirable set. “The Return” = RACHMANINOFF: Prelude Op. 3, No. 2 in C sharp minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 5 in G minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 6 in E flat major; Prelude Op. 23, No. 7 in C minor; Prelude Op. 23, No. 5 […]
TIPPETT: Symphony No 2* [ world première]; BLISS: Short works – Boult/Bliss – Pristine Audio
An intriguing collection of English Music from both sides of the coin. TIPPETT: Symphony No. 2* [ world première]; BLISS: Welcome The Queen – March; March from ‘Things to Come’; Checkmate (excerpts); Theme and Cadenza for violin and orchestra; Overture: Edinburgh / BBC SO / Sir Adrian Boult*/ BBC Concert Orch. / Sir Arthur Bliss […]
“Tavener Conducts Tavener” – Cappella Nova/ Alan Tavener – Linn
A Tavener tribute of substance and compelling emotion. “Tavener Conducts Tavener” – Cappella Nova/ Alan Tavener – Linn CKD 539, 74 min. [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Cappella Nova has a long association with the music of the late John Tavener (2013), and so this tribute album is bookended with music from the very first composition […]
Ken Peplowski – Enrapture – Capri
Ken Peplowski – Enrapture – Capri 74141-2, 53:27 ****: The band has tons of experience and each of the players knows how to connect with each other for a harmonic musical experience. (Ken Peplowski – clarinet, tenor saxophone; Ehud Asherie – piano; Martin Wind – bass; Matt Wilson – drums, percussion) Finding a musical “hook” […]
Audio News for February 23, 2016
Corsair VOID Brings Surround to Gaming Audio on Top Platforms; Epson Moverio Smart Glasses Use OLED Technology; Its Own Streaming Video Service Could Help Apple; Does Google’s $35 Chromecast Audio Still Deliver?
“1615, Gabrieli in Venice” – Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/ His Majesty’s Sagbutts & Cornetts/ Stephen Cleobury – King’s College SACD + Blu-ray
A good place to start if you are an audiophile and don’t know this composer. Are there any out there? “1615, Gabrieli in Venice” – Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/ His Majesty’s Sagbutts & Cornetts/ Stephen Cleobury – King’s College multichannel SACD + audio-only Blu-ray KGS0012 (2 discs), 73:10 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: The only […]
“Bach & Beyond, Part 2” = BACH: Sonata No. 1 in g, BWV 1001; Partita No. 1 in b, BWV 1002; BARTOK: Solo Violin Sonata, Sz. 117; SAARIAHO: Frises – Jennifer Koh, v. – Cedille
This second installment is every bit as engrossing as the first! “Bach & Beyond, Part 2” = BACH: Sonata No. 1 in g, BWV 1001; Partita No. 1 in b, BWV 1002; BARTOK: Solo Violin Sonata, Sz. 117; SAARIAHO: Frises – Jennifer Koh, v. – Cedille CDR 90000 154 (2 discs), 91:18 [Distr. by Naxos] […]
Lydia Mordkovitch Tribute – British Violin Concertos = Works of BAX, BLISS, DYSON & VEALE – Chandos (2 CDs)
Chandos celebrates the late Lydia Mordkovitch, assembling her stunning performances of rare British concertos. Lydia Mordkovitch Tribute – British Violin Concertos = BAX: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; BLISS: Concerto for Violin and Orch.; DYSON: Violin Concerto; VEALE: Violin Concerto – Lydia Mordkovitch, v./ London Philharmonic Orch./ Bryden Thomson/ BBC Nat. Orch. of Wales/ BBC […]
FISCHER TULL: 7 works + interview with composer – Keystone Wind Ens. – Klavier
Fischer Tull is a man whose music is definitely worth exploring. FISCHER TULL: Terpsichore; Prelude and Double Fugue; Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble; Cryptic Essay; Jargon; Accolade; Sketches on a Tudor Psalm; Interview with Composer – Keystone Wind Ens./ Jack Stamp – Klavier K11207, 79:37 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Fisher Mickey Tull (1934-94) is […]
CAROLA BAUCKHOLT: Need to talk to friends – Cikada Ensemble – 2L Pure Audio Blu-ray + SACD + downloads
CAROLA BAUCKHOLT: Ich muß mit Dir reden (Need to talk to friends) – Cikada Ensemble – 2L Pure Audio Blu-ray 2L-116-SABD + multichannel SACD, 54:20 – DTS-HD MA 192kHz/24 bit 5.1 & PCM stereo, mShuttle: stereo FLAC 96kHz + MP3 – (2/26/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: A haunting electronic score with superb sonics. This disc […]
Cowboys & Frenchmen – Rodeo – Outside In Music
Jazz influenced by cinema, geography and youthful zeal. Cowboys & Frenchmen – Rodeo [TrackList follows] – Outside In Music 1502, 52:42 [11/4/15] ***1/2: (Ethan Helm – alto saxophone, flute, clarinet; Owen Broder – alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet; Chris Ziemba – piano; Ethan O’Reilly – bass; Matt Honor – drums) Jazz musicians are influenced by […]
Pacific Harp Project = Works of Grandjany, Debussy, Ravel, Liszt & others – The Pacific Harp Project
Pacific Harp Project = MARCEL TOURNIER: Sonatine; MEGAN BLEDSOE WARD: Revenge of the Harpies; Portrait; Willow Waltz; Serafina; MARCEL GRANDJANY: Rhapsodie; CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Danse Sacree et Profane; MAURICE RAVEL; Introduction and Allegro; FRANZ LISZT: Un Sospiro; ALLAN WARD: First Take; Incognito – The Pacific Harp Project (Megan Bledsoe Ward, harp/Noel Okimoto, vibes/Jon Hawes, bass/Allan Ward, […]
“At the Far Edge” = DANIEL ASIA : Symphony #1; Symphony No. 4; At the Far Edge – New Zealand Sym. Orch. / James Sedares – Summit + catalogue
“At the Far Edge” = DANIEL ASIA : Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 4; At the Far Edge – New Zealand Sym. Orch. / James Sedares – Summit + catalogue – DCD 256, 61:57 (2/15/00) ***: Interesting contemporary compositions but an uneven recording. This very listenable disc from Summit Records is not a new release, […]
KUHLAU: Piano Quartets 1 & 2 – Copenhagen Piano Q. – DaCapo
If you think Kuhlau is simply all about flighty flute music, you’ll be in for a big surprise here. KUHLAU: Piano Quartet No. 1 in c, Op. 32; No. 2 in A, Op. 50 – Copenhagen Piano Quartet – DaCapo multichannel SACD 6.220596, 72:44 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: It’s odd how the one-eyed German who […]
HENRY KIMBALL HADLEY: 6 Works – BBC Concert Orch./ Rebecca Miller – Dutton Epoch
HENRY KIMBALL HADLEY: Scherzo Diabolique; Salome; Cleopatra’s Night; Othello Overture; San Francisco; The Enchanted Castle – BBC Concert Orch./Rebecca Miller – Dutton Epoch CDLX 7319 [Distr. by Harmonia mundi], 78:16, (9/11/15) ***: Pleasant enough and somewhat obscure but just not that interesting. Henry Kimball Hadley was an early twentieth century American composer from Boston who […]
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 5 – Ruggiero Ricci, v./ New Sym. Orch./ BBC Sym. Orch. (Op. 64)/ Sir Malcolm Sargent – Guild
Vintage Sir Malcolm Sargent renditions of two Tchaikovsky staples, which according to your taste may prove exceptional. TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35; Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64 – Ruggiero Ricci, v./ New Sym. Orch./ BBC Sym. Orch. (Op. 64)/ Sir Malcolm Sargent – Guild GHCD 2425, 78:56 [Distr. By […]