Monthly Archive: July 2016
Magnet Animals – Butterfly Killer – RareNoise
Willfully risk-taking music from the RareNoise label. Magnet Animals – Butterfly Killer [TrackList follows] RareNoise RNR063, 49:35 [5/20/16] ***1/2: (Todd Clouser – guitar, vocals; Eyal Maoz – guitar; Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz – bass; Jorge Servin – drums) Magnet Animals live up to their name. On the foursome’s debut, the 49-minute Butterfly Killer, the band can be polarizing; can attract and repel; can be sonically beastly; and can be as potent as a large magnetic force. Magnet Animals is the brainchild of guitarist/vocalist Todd Clouser, whose background includes the New York City downtown jazz/skronk scene. It’s there he met guitarist Eyal Maoz (who has worked with John Zorn and released solo albums on Zorn’s Tzadik label). Clouser also found his bassist, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, in the same NYC community. Clouser and Blumenkranz met at a John Lurie tribute show. Rounding out the group is drummer Jorge Servin. Clouser discovered Servin in Clouser’s new home, Mexico City. Butterfly Killer has been issued as a digital download, as a vinyl LP, and on compact disc. This review refers to the CD configuration. Over the course of ten Clouser originals, Magnet Animals oscillate through a myriad of auditory approaches, and like other performers on […]
Martha Argerich Early Recordings (Works of MOZART, BEETHOVEN, PROKOFIEV, RAVEL – DGG (2 discs)
Youthful studio recordings by Martha Argerich provide admirers with several important works added to her discography. Martha Argerich – Early Recordings = MOZART: Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576; BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3; PROKOFIEV: Toccata, Op. 11; Piano Sonata No. 3 in a minor, Op. 29; Piano Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, Op. 83; RAVEL: Gaspard de la Nuit; Sonatine – Martha Argerich, p. – DGG 479 5978 (2 CDs) 36:00, 54:50 (5/20/16) [Distr. by Universal] ****: Assembled from German studio recordings made in Cologne and Hamburg, 1960 and 1967, these performances by Argentine virtuoso Martha Argerich (b. 1941) complement her commercial records with works that tend to reveal a more intellectual string in her multicolored harp. Having studied with German virtuoso-pedagogue Friedrich Gulda, Argerich reveals a personality that eschews mere imitation of a respected master. The first movement of Mozart’s 1789 D Major Sonata (23 January 1960) – which Argerich had prepared for the 1957 Busoni Competition in Balzano – enjoys a lusty energy that imparts notable buoyancy to its canonic devices, its “trumpet” fanfares, and penchant for two-part imitation. The intimacy of the occasion lights […]
“Martha Argerich & Friends Live from Lugano 2015” – Emphasis on piano works incl. 3 pianos – Warner (3 discs)
The piano dominates the 2015 Lugano Festival, the convocation of fine chamber music performances. “Martha Argerich & Friends Live from Lugano 2015” = BRAHMS: Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40 (arr. Viola); Scherzo from F.A.E. Sonata; Clarinet Trio in a minor, Op. 114; SCHUMANN: Six Canonic Studies (arr. Debussy), Op. 56; SCHUBERT: Variations for 2 Pianos, D. 813; RIES: Piano Quintet in b minor, Op. 74; TURINA: Piano Trio No. 2 in b minor, Op. 76; BARTOK: Rumanian Folk Dances; DEBUSSY: En blanc et noir; BACALOV: Portena for Two Pianos and Orchestra; POULENC: Sonata for Two Pianos; GLASS: Suite from Les enfants terrible (arr. for 3 pianos); GINASTERA: Dances from Estancia – Martha Argerich, p./ Lilya Zilberstein, p./ Nathan Braude, viola/ Ilya Gringolts, v./ Alexander Mogilevsky, p./ Mayu Kisima, v./ Akane Sakai, p./ Paul Meyer, clar./ Gautier Capucon, v./ Nicholas Argerich, p./ Andrey Baranov & Lyda Chen, v./ Jing Zhao, cello/ Enrico Fagone, doublebass/ Alissa Margulis, v./ Natalia Margulis, cello/ Jura Margulis, p./ Geza Hosszu-Legucky, v./ Stephen Kovacevich, p./ Eduardo Hubert, p./ Sergio Tiempo, p./ Karin Lechner, p./ Giorgia Tomassi, Carlo Maria Gringuoli and Alessandro Stella, pianos (Ginastera)/ Orch. della Svizzera Italiana/ Alexander Vedernikov – Warner Classics 08256646285495 […]
Blue Mitchell & Sonny Red – Baltimore 1966 – Uptown
A perfect blend of sweet and sour… Blue Mitchell & Sonny Red – Baltimore 1966 – Uptown UPCD.83, 70:52 ****: (Blue Mitchell- trumpet; Sonny Red- alto sax; John Hicks- piano; Gene Taylor- bass; Joe Chambers- drums) For lovers of straight-ahead jazz and hard bop in particular, Uptown Records has continued to release superb live sessions based out of Baltimore from the 1960s through the 70s. These were Sunday afternoon concerts put on by the Left Bank Jazz Society. Due to the fact that the sessions were on Sunday afternoons and not too far away from New York City, the Society could bring in the best talent and first rate backing musicians. Recorded sound quality could be a bit “iffy” but many of the Uptown issued Left Bank dates feature a nicely mixed full sound stage. Such is the case with the new Blue Mitchell/Sonny Red quintet recording from March 20, 1966. (We typically hear Mitchell backed by Junior Cook, former mates with one of Horace Silver’s best hard bop aggregations.) Blue is noted for his warm, lyrical tone that is fully expressed on ballads. Sonny Red was a bop-oriented alto saxist who had a relatively short career, passing away in […]
The Verdeht Trio “American Images 7” – Works of HUTCHESON, GERSHWIN, WINLER, MADSEN – Crystal
The Verdehr Trio, “American Images 7” = JERE HUTCHESON: Rondo Brillante; Nocturnes of the Inferno; PAMELA MADSEN: Sea Change 2; DAVID WINKLER: Warhol Appassionata; GERSHWIN (arr. Armand Russell): Promenade – The Verdehr Trio (Walter Verdehr, v./Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, clar./Silvia Roederer, Deborah Moriarty, David Renner, p.) – Crystal Records CD972, 68:05, (2/09/16)****: A legacy album to conclude a very important series. In the chamber music realm, the combination of violin, clarinet and piano has been one of my favorites (my clarinet player side coming out) and has a very rich twentieth century repertoire due in no small part to the commissioning legacy and four decades of artistry of Walter and Elsa Verdehr. It is absolutely amazing the breadth and variety of the more than one hundred works that this husband and wife duo has given us over the years. Their trio has included a few different pianists over the years, including the present Silvia Roederer, performing the Madsen, Winkler and Gershwin works, Deborah Moriarty, featured on Hutcheson’s Nocturnes of the Inferno and David Brenner, on the Rondo Brillante. The combined training, recording resume and teaching positions held of all these amazing musicians is beyond impressive. This recording, the last in their twenty-two […]
A Hologram for the King, Blu-ray (2016)
A memorable performance by Hanks as a salesman for a new holographic gadget for the King of Saudi Arabia. A Hologram for the King, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Tom Hanks, Tom Skerrit, Sarita Choudhury, Ben Whishaw Director: Tom Tykwer Studio: Roadside Attractions/Lionsgate (8/9/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English & Arabic – DTS-HD MA 5.1 or 2.0 Subtitles: English. English SDH, Spanish Extras: The Adaptation of A Hologram for the King, The Making of A Hologram for the King Length: 104 min. Rating: ***** Hanks is Alan Clay, a recently-divorced middle-aged U.S. salesman pitching a holographic teleconferencing system to the king of Saudi Arabia. His past includes having been on the board at Schwinn bicycles, which he took to China, which turned out to be a mistake. He has a series of misadventures attempting to negotiate the new country’s unique customs and style. (At one point his driver takes him by a big crowd and he is told that is where the outdoor public executions take place.) He constantly works to see his contacts, who tell subordinates they will be in another day and are not. He works to get normal food and good Wi-Fi for his trio […]
The Fred Hersch Trio – Sunday Night At The Vanguard – Palmetto
The Fred Hersch Trio – Sunday Night At The Vanguard – Palmetto PM2183, 68:00 ****: Fred Hersch is a painter of musical portraits that are infused with tonal color and harmonic depth. (Fred Hersch – piano; John Hébert – bass; Eric McPherson – drums) Pianist Fred Hersch is a painter of musical portraits that are infused with tonal color and harmonic depth, all presented within a frame of originality, sophistication, and virtuosity. His latest trio recording, Sunday Night At The Vanguard continues to demonstrate his commitment to these traits. As pointed out by Fred Hersch in the brief liner notes, the chosen numbers were derived from the entire first set in order as performed at the club, with the other two tunes coming from the second set. The opening number “A Cockeyed Optimist” was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1949 for the Broadway musical South Pacific. After a run-through of the melody, Hersch and the band embark on an exposition of the number that says they are going to be steadfast inventive partners with smart interplay and proficient fluency. “Serpentine” begins a series of Hersch original compositions, each of which carves out a textured approach to the music that […]
Audio News for July 29, 2016
Finnish Composer Rautavaara Dies – At age 87 the composer of many inspirational works passed away, and left this statement: “It is my belief that music is great if, at some moment, the listener catches ‘a glimpse of eternity through the window of time’… This, to my mind, is the only true justification for art. All else is of secondary importance.” Xbox One S to Launch August 2 – It will be the first console to support UHD video and the new larger-capacity Blu-rays, and the smaller version will initially be up available in 25 different countries. Thee will be three different models: a 500GB version for $299, a 1TB version for $349 and a 2TB version of $399. According to Microsoft “availability is limited and demand is high” and they suggest preordering the console soon. Investigation Finds That Millions of Consumers Are Targeted by Malware Operators – A Digital Citizens investigation has found that malware operators and content theft website owners have teamed up to target consumers, with an unexpected assist from U.S.-based tech firms. One in three content theft websites expose consumers to dangerous malware that an lead to ID theft, financial loss and ransomware. The report found […]
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker Suite; Capriccio Italien; Polonaise & Waltz from “Eugene Onegin,” ‒ London Philharmonic Orch./ Leopold Stokowski ‒ PentaTone
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a; Capriccio Italien, Op. 45; Polonaise and Waltz from “Eugene Onegin,” Op. 24 ‒ London Philharmonic Orch./ Leopold Stokowski ‒ PentaTone Classics multichannel SACD PTC 5186 299, 47:18 (3/11/16) ***: Mostly for Stokie fans, but the Capriccio Italien is impressive, and so is the recycled four-channel sound. I’ve never been a huge fan of Stokowski, though I confess he could often bring wholly new insights to a familiar piece of music—even when he wasn’t tinkering with the scoring and positioning of the musicians. I recall a performance of a Mahler symphony (the Second, I think) that I heard with the ninety-some-year-old maestro at the helm of the Philadelphia Orchestra: it was a remarkably fresh interpretation that any young firebrand conductor could have learned from. And while my shelves were never replete with Stokowski recordings, I fondly recall the Beethoven Ninth he set down for Decca’s Phase 4 series. Like the multi-mike Phase 4 recording technique itself, the interpretation was quite a bit bigger than life, plus Stokie couldn’t resist upgrading Ludwig’s creation, interpolating some extra swoops from the horn section into the ascending sextuplet figures that conclude the work. So it is with Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker […]
Matt Lavelle’s 12 Houses – Solidarity – Unseen Rain
Big band free jazz is more than discordant noise. Matt Lavelle’s 12 Houses – Solidarity [TrackList follows] – Unseen Rain UR-9945, 48:52 [5/6/16] ****: (Matt Lavelle – cornet, Flugelhorn, alto clarinet, conductor; Lee Odom – soprano sax, clarinet; Charles Waters – alto sax, clarinet; Ras Moshe Burnett – soprano sax, tenor sax, flute, bells; Tim Stocker – baritone sax, bass clarinet; Mary Cherney – flute, piccolo; Claire de Brunner – bassoon; Chris Forbes – piano; Laura Ortman – violin; Gil Selinger – cello; Anders Nillson – guitar; Jack DeSalvo – banjo, mandola; John Pietaro – vibraphone, percussion; François Grillot – doublebass; Ryan Sawyer – drums; Anaïs Maviel – voice) Matt Lavelle likes to use the fullest spectrum of instruments as possible. The multi-horns player (cornet, Flugelhorn and alto clarinet) includes 16 musicians on Solidarity, his debut as the leader/conductor of 12 Houses. Lavelle also penned the six originals. Instead of pursuing a typical jazz big band or large ensemble approach, Lavelle focuses on sweeping improvising, with cues provided by his compositional writing. In other words, while there are moments of melodic, lyrical and harmonic construction, there are many more where instrumentalists apply elements of free jazz or open soloing. Lavelle’s […]
Chosen (2016)
Another but very well-done Holocaust film. Chosen (2016) Cast: Harvey Keitel, Luke Mably, Ana Ularu Director: Jasmin Dizdar Studio: Lionsgate (8/2/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish Length: 93 min. Rating: **** Harvey Keitel stars as an old Jewish man telling a young relative a story of a Hungarian man name Sonson’s resistance to the Nazis in WWII without revealing that it is his own story. Sonson’s courage alters the course of the WWII. The German forces first stop treatment for Jews in the hospital and his beloved wife dies as a result. He must summon the courage to lead an attack against the Nazi forces in this story based on true events. Sonson is repeatedly asked by the other fighters to lead them since he is such a good leader. Finally he gives in and agrees. He somehow finds a Nazi officer’s uniform and practices sounding like a Nazi while the other Jews dress in Nazi outfits to get into areas where they normally would not. They even learn to put their hands behind them and walk like the Nazis. The Hungarian soldiers are also portrayed as guilty. Sonson unwittingly becomes the […]
MAHLER: Symphonies 2, 8 & 10 – Wyn Morris – HDTT (2 audio-only Blu-rays)
Three Mahler symphonies in hi-res sound and recent recordings on Blu-ray audio-only. GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”; Symphony No. 10 (Deryck Cooke version) – 2016 – High Definition Tape Transfers Blu-ray stereo ****: GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” – 2016 – High Definition Tape Transfers Blu-ray 5.0 surround and 2.0 stereo ****: The first of these SATA has little technical information, but features the Symphonica of London conducted by Wyn Morris with the New Philharmonia Chorus, Brucker-Mahler Choir of London, Ambrosian Singers, The Orpington Jr. Singers, the Highgate School Choir and the Finchley Children’s Music Group. This strange Mahler symphony opens with the glorious Veni Creator Spiritus, and then goes to the three movements from Goethe’s Faust, with a stultifying number of soloists in the various parts of the opera about Faust and the Devil. A number of different arrangers have had their hand at completion of the Tenth Symphony of Mahler, and many orchestras perform just the first movement, since that was the closest to Mahler’s intention at the time. However, the indefatigable Deryck Cooke has produced a full-length performing version of the Tenth, which is heard here, played by the New Philharmonia Orchestra […]
The Modern Jazz Quartet – Lonely Woman – Atlantic (1962)/ Pure Pleasure (2016)
A magnificent MJQ album in remastered vinyl sonics. The Modern Jazz Quartet – Lonely Woman [TrackList follows] – Atlantic PPAN SD1381 (1962)/Pure Pleasure Records (2016) – (4/16) *****: Lovingly remastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London, this is one of the best of the many MJQ albums out there. John Lewis (who in the liner notes by Raymond Mouly in France is called the second greatest American composer after Ellington) decided to honor one of the last great innovators in jazz – Ornette Coleman – by having the first track and the title of this album reflect one of his great compositions. Lewis saw Coleman as the first jazz genius since Parker, Gillespie and Monk. While not following Coleman’s own harmolodic theory, Lewis emphasizes the often overlooked strength of his compositional ideas. The MJQ adds a chamber music-like feeling to its interpretations of Lewis originals “Fugato” and “Trieste.” Mouly talks about being tempted to call the “Fugato” and some other tracks “third-stream-and-a-half” for the remarkable quartet arrangements of what were originally works for full orchestra. “Lamb, Leopard” is from Lewis’ original ballet Original Sin and is a total delight. Milt Jackson’s vibes are distinctly on the left […]
Audio News for July 26, 2016
Responding to Catastrophe wth Culture – Politics intrusion on culture can be unnerving. Stalin restricted the work of Shostakovich, The Third Reich’s appropriation of Wagner prompted Israel to adopt an unofficial ban on his music. The ban was set aside in 2001 by Daniel Barenboim, who also set up the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, comprised principally of Israelis and Palestinians. Shostakovich’s Festive Overture is remembered today as a towering symbol of freedom from musical dictatorship. After the attack in Nice, Sakari Oramo, conductor of the first night of the BBC Proms, preceded his scheduled program with a rendition of La Marseillaise. The entire Albert Hall audience rose to its feet at the end with rapturous applause, reminiscent of the scene in Casablanca when La Maseillaise was sung by everyone else at Rick’s club, overpowering the voices of the Nazis. And this was not the first time the Proms had altered their program in the wake of catastrophe. After 9/11, the BBC added Beethoven’s Ode to Joy to their final night celebrations. No single national anthem can serve to rally us all. Paris and Ansbach were attacks on culture, focusing on musical events; Nice was an assault on identity. Both culture and […]
Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane, Matthew Garrison – In Movement – ECM
Family, friendship, musical camaraderie: all part of the latest from Jack DeJohnette. Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane, Matthew Garrison – In Movement [TrackList follows] ECM 2488, 54:21 [5/6/16] ****1/2: (Jack DeJohnette – drums, piano, electronic percussion; Ravi Coltrane – tenor, soprano and sopranino saxophone; Matthew Garrison – electric bass, electronics) What would the jazz world be without drummer, composer and forward-thinking Jack DeJohnette? Certainly a less interesting music universe, that’s for sure. He’s played hard-bop, avant-garde (he was an important member of the Chicago improvisational scene which led to the formation of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), fusion (with Charles Lloyd and then Miles Davis), and has collaborated with countless artists (Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, John Abercrombie, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, John Scofield and a host of others). DeJohnette has had a lengthy sojourn on ECM, and his latest for that label is the 54-minute eight-track In Movement. For this late 2015 studio date, DeJohnette pulled together a stellar trio. DeJohnette is heard on drums, piano and electronic percussion; Ravi Coltrane is on tenor, soprano and sopranino saxophones (this is his first ECM-related project); and Matthew Garrison is on electric bass and contributes electronics (also the […]
Jane Ira Bloom, sop. sax – Early Americans – Outline
Soprano saxophonist finds that three is the perfect number. Jane Ira Bloom – Early Americans [TrackList follows] Outline OTL142, 52:18 [5/13/16] ****: (Jane Ira Bloom – soprano saxophone, co-producer; Mark Helias – bass; Bobby Previte – drums) Soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom does something new on her latest album, the 52-minute Early Americans. On her 16th release as a leader, she strips the proceedings down to a trio format. The result is a dozen Bloom originals (and one Broadway standard) which crackle with sustained fortitude, snap with swing and groove, and pop out from the speakers or headphones with auditory aplomb. Bloom is joined by two longtime musical friends: bassist Mark Helias (who first collaborated with Bloom in the mid-70s) and drummer Bobby Previte (who has worked with Bloom for 15 years). It’s not hard to imagine the simpatico synergy which filters through each tune, and listening confirms Bloom, Previte and Helias’ uncanny communication. There are many standouts. The CD opens with two memorable pieces. “Song Patrol” introduces a magnificent melodic theme via Bloom’s sincere soprano, while Helias and Previte contribute freely-moving rhythms. This is modern jazz but doesn’t stray into free or avant-garde territory. There’s a lithe bass/drum duet […]
Muriel, or The Time of Return, Blu-ray (1963/2016)
Some critics consider this to be the best film Resnais ever did. Muriel, or The Time of Return, Blu-ray (1963/2016) Director: Alain Resnais Cast: Delphine Seyrig, Jean-Pierre Kerien, Nita Klein Cinematographer: Sacha Vierny Studio: Argos/Janus/The Criterion Collection 824 (7/19/16) Video: 1.66:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p HD color, remastered Audio: French, PCM mono Subtitles: English Extras: Excerpt from 1980 TV documentary Une approache d’Alain Resnais, Excerpt from 1969 interview with Delphine Seyrig, 1963 interview with composer Hans Werner Henze, New interview with film scholar Francois Thomas, Theatrical trailer, Printed booklet with essay by film scholar James Quandt Length: 116 min. Rating: ****1/2 This was Resnais’ follow-up to Last Year at Marienbad. The first thing different I noted about the two was that in that film there was no smoking or drinking and in this one everybody does both, like most French films. Again, it’s a reflection on the nature of time, a major interest of Resnais. There’s a lot of sub rosa stuff reflecting France’s recently-ended war in Algeria, much as some U.S. films of the time touched on the Vietnam conflict. Resnais leaned toward the avant-garde in music for his films, and the interesting concept of Muriel is that its […]
LIEUWEN: Concertos Volume II = Slovak Nat. Sym. Orch. /Franz Krager and Texas Musical Festival Orch./ Krager – MRS Classics
LIEUWEN: Concertos Volume II = Concerto for Cello and Orchestra; Romance for Violin, Cello and Orchestra; Vivace for String Orchestra; Concerto for Piano, Marimba and Orchestra – Slovak Nat. Sym. Orch. /Franz Krager and Texas Musical Festival Orch./ Krager – MRS Classics MSR 1582 (4/14/16) TT: 1:03:57 [Distr. by Albany] ****: Contemporary music fans will feel at home with Lieuwen’s lovely compositions. My colleague Steven Ritter has previously reviewed Peter Lieuwen’s other MSR Classics disc, which comprises volume 1. He wished for more, and this disc is volume 2, entitled Concertos. As Steven Ritter noted, Lieuwen’s work is hard to characterize. I hear music that sounds like Gade, and some of the American contemporary masters, but the fact is Lieuwen’s sound is unique and compelling. Driving rhythms, thoughtful music, and some lovely dynamics make his music worth more than passing notice. The first work on the disc is a fine listen. It’s the Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, written in 2012. The concerto was written for cellist Nicholas Jones, who performs it here. The first movement is massively dynamic, while the second movement is played broadly and more melancholy at the outset. I have mixed options about the recording. The […]
The All Star Orchestra cond. by Gerard Schwarz, Programs 11 & 12 (2015)
The All Star Orchestra, Programs 11 & 12 (2015) Music: RICHARD STRAUSS, W.A. MOZART, SAMUEL JONES Director: Habib Azar Producers: Gerard Schwarz & Paul Schwendener Studio: Naxos (9/11/15) Video: for 16:9 screens Audio: PCM stereo Language: English, no subtitles All regions Length: 114:00 Rating: **** A very rewarding addition to a very important series. The American conductor Gerard Schwarz completed an unprecedented twenty six year tenure as music director of the Seattle Symphony in 2011. During that time, he took that ensemble from being one of the many quite good, but largely unknown, city orchestras in the country to what is still seen as one the nation’s best. I have seen Schwarz conduct and he is an unassuming but highly gifted interpreter and communicator. Therefore, it does not surprise me at all that the performances here are top notch. We get a very fine rendition of the Richard Strauss Ein Heldenleben as well as that of Mozart’s “Posthorn” Serenade, K.320 featuring horn soloist David Bilger. I was also very pleased to discover that each of the programs in this series does feature one or two “core” classics, carefully chosen by Schwarz, as well as a world premiere. In the six […]
Quincy Jones – Roots: The Saga of an American Family – A&M/ Varese Sarabande
A tiny taste of Roots… Quincy Jones – Roots: The Saga of an American Family – A&M/Varese Sarabande 3020674258 (1977), 27:41 ***: (Quincy Jones – composer; with full orchestra, twelve percussionists, choir, and vocalists) With the recent all-new Roots mini-series debuting on A&E, Lifetime, and History Channel, the original soundtrack recording from the 1977 ground breaking series has been reissued. At a paltry sub-28 minute length, this recording just whets the appetite for the mania that the original Roots brought to the American public viewing audience. It was one of the first mini series released on American TV, and its viewership was astounding. I remember being glued to the TV while in college. Written by Alex Haley, it recounted the journey of slaves to America from Africa. The fictional account was deeply moving and helped begin a modern time discussion of race relations. Broadcast on eight consecutive nights (Jan. 23-30, 1977) on ABC, it became an immediate sensation. Starring LeVar Burton as a young Kunta Kinte with strong performances from Lou Gossett Jr., Ben Vereen, Ed Asner, Leslie Uggams, Maya Angelou, Ralph Waite and many others, it won nine Emmy nominations after being nominated for 37 awards. Quincy Jones composed […]
********* MULTICHANNEL DISCS OF THE MONTH *********WAGNER: The Ring Cycle (complete) – Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester/ Marek Janowski – Pentatone (13 SACDs)
Celebrating contemporary aesthetics and presenting superior engineering and performance, Pentatone’s Ring Cycle proves to be the ultimate Gesamtkunstwerk of recording releases. * WAGNER: Der Ring des Nibelungen (complete) – Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester/ Marek Janowski – Pentatone Music (13 multi-channel SACDs) B01D5OXYWS (5/13/16) TT: 13:48:08 *****: If Wagner’s Ring Cycle is an ultimate realization of Gesamtkunstwerk (total art), then Pentatone’s self-described “Epic Ring” set must be called a Gesamtkunstwerk of recording releases. Perhaps this is to be expected, or at least hoped for, if one is to invest in a mammoth multi-hour tetralogy composed during three 19th-Century decades. Pentatone delivers, achieving classical recording’s elusive goal of presenting a contemporary experience. Recording in five-channel surround sound, Pentatone’s goal is “to offer an unrivaled classical music experience through superior audio technology.” Achievement cannot be understated. From the opening of the Das Rheingold Prelude, listeners are pulled into a new Wagnerian experience introducing layered and sustained sound as never heard before. Conducted by Marek Janowski in Berlin, the operas were recorded in performances with the orchestra on the stage instead of in the pit. Pentatone captures this symphonic experience, convincing us that Wagner’s orchestration is the soul of the work. Pentatone’s 13-disc collection contains a massive […]
Charlie Parker – Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes – Mercury/Verve (2 discs)
A 2-CD issue sure to appeal to “Bird” completists… Charlie Parker – Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes – Mercury/Verve B0024802-02 (1949-1952) – CD 1: 78:49, CD 2: 78:50 ***1/2: (Charlie Parker – alto sax; with accompanying artists including: Kenny Dorham, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Harris, Al Porcino – trumpets; Tommy Turk, Bill Harris, Bart Varsalona – trombones; Flip Phillips, Danny Bank – saxophones; Al Haig, Walter Bishop, Jr, Thelonious Monk, Hank Jones, Oscar Peterson – piano; Freddie Green – guitar; Tommy Potter, Curly Russell, Ray Brown, Teddy Kotick – bass; Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Roy Haynes, Don Lamond – drums; Machito, Carlos Vidal, Jose Mangual, Luis Miranda – Latin percussion) There are jazz completists, and then there are Charlie Parker completists. To call the later obsessive, may be an understatement. When you think of Parker as one of the top five jazz geniuses of all time, time spent collecting and listening to ALL of his recorded takes is both a scholarly and deeply satisfying experience. One would think that over six decades later that all of Bird’s recordings would have been issued. Nearly all have been, but the well has not gone bone dry. Take the case with Parker’s Verve-issued tracks […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
