Tasty prix fixe jazz… Frank Kimbrough – Meantime – Newvelle NV001LP – vinyl ***1/2: (Frank Kimbrough – piano; Andrew Zimmerman – tenor sax; Riley Mulherkar – trumpet; Chris Van Vorst Van Beest – bass; RJ Miller – drums) There are those that love the best life has to offer. (Within reasonable limits) they pursue fine […]
A provacative thriller with a different twist on the revenge story. Remember, Blu-ray (2015) Cast: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Bruno Ganz Director: Atom Egoyan Studio: Lionsgate (5/3/16) Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH Extras: “Performances to Remember,” “A Tapestry of Evil,” Audio track by […]
VASKS: Presence – Sol Gabetta, cello – Amsterdam Sinfonietta – Sony Classical 88725423122, 61:00 ***: Vasks divides the difference between risk and reward and comes out ahead. The Latvian composer Peteris Vasks likes to take risks. His symphonies are wide sprawling affairs, romantic at core with long reflective passages that can suddenly erupt into frantic […]
MAX REGER: Music for Clarinet and Piano = Albumblatt; Sonata in A-flat major, Op. 49, No. 2; Sonata in F-sharp minor, Op. 49. No. 1; Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 107; Tarantella – Alan R. Kay, clarinet/Jon Klibonoff, p. – Bridge 9461, 71:58 (4/04/16) ****: Very rewarding performances of some lesser known works. There has been […]
Russell Malone – All About Melody – HighNote HCD7287, 50:20 ****: Russell Malone is a guitarist of subtlety and conviction. (Russell Malone – guitar; Rick Germanson – piano; Luke Sellick – bass; Willie Jones III – drums) BRussell Malone is a swinging fleet-fingered guitarist with a sentimental streak. The latest studio session from him entitled […]
Diverse and accessible concertos from a champion of modern music. DAVID STOCK: Concertos = Concierto Cubano; Oborama; Percussion Concerto – Andrew Cardenes, violin/ Alex Klein, oboes/Lisa Pegher, percussion/ Boston Modern Orchestra Project/Gil Rose – BMOP Sound 1047, multichannel SACD, 60:10 ****: David Stock (1939-2015) is one of those unknown champions of modern music. In 1976 […]
Paul Robeson in only his second stereo recording receives a sonic upgrade… Paul Robeson At Carnegie Hall – Vanguard/ PurePleasure PPAN VSD 2035 – stereo vinyl (1958) ***1/2: (Paul Robeson – vocals; Alan Booth – piano accompaniment) Paul Robeson was an iconic figure well ahead of his time, who provided a “threat” to the conservative […]
The imported, limited edition 64-CD Leonard Bernstein Collection Vol. 2 is our May free drawing. The repertoire is supplemented by five American Decca CDs, analyses/performances of Beethoven’s Erocia, Schmann’s Second, Dvoraks’ New World, Brahms’ Fourth and Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique. It is rounded off with original cast selections from Fancy Free and On The Town. It is […]