Monthly Archive: August 2016
Rob Clearfield – Islands – ears&eyes
Chicago trio which puts freedom to the forefront. Rob Clearfield – Islands [TrackList follows] – ears&eyes ee16-047, 57:36 [6/3/16] ****: (Rob Clearfield – piano, electric piano, organ, guitar, co-producer; Curt Bley – acoustic and electric bass; Quin Kirchner – drums) There’s a sense of self-determination on Chicago pianist Rob Clearfield’s first trio outing, the hour-long Islands. Clearfield issued two previous albums (a quintet record and a solo piano undertaking), and he wanted to approach this release with a purpose. “There’s a freedom inherent in the trio, where I’m the main melodic player,” he states. “When we were recording, I knew that this project was really going to be about my playing; I was never going to be in the background or blending into the ensemble.” He went further and pushed himself and his rhythm section (electric and acoustic bassist Curt Bley and drummer Quin Kirchner) into a realm of freedom within limitation. This musical aesthetic creates tension via the essential restrictions of three musicians and also by the dynamism of improvisation performed within each of the nine compositions (seven by Clearfield and two credited to the trio). Clearfield widened the trio configuration in the recording process. He overdubbed organ and […]
DVORAK: Sym. No. 6 in D Major; 2 Slavonic Dances – Houston Sym. Orch./ Andres Orozco-Estrada – Pentatone
A nicely recorded and persuasive performance. DVORAK: Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Op. 60; 2 Slavonic Dances, Opus 72, No. 3, Opus 46, No. 8 – Houston Sym. Orch./ Andres Orozco-Estrada – Pentatone multichannel SACD PTC 5186 575 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: There really isn’t any kind of consensus on the best recordings of the Dvorak Sixth. Written in response to a Vienna commission by Hans Richter after the wild success of the Slavonic Dances, the 1880 work has served as the Cinderella to the more famous stepsisters of Symphonies 7, 8, and 9. That’s unfortunate, because the piece is as fresh and charming as one could ask for, not as “profound” as the subsequent issues—though that term doesn’t really fit Dvorak in general—but full of ingratiating and fully lyrical impulses of gratifying propensity. My favorites are Kertesz and Kubelik, and until now, Colin Davis’ remake for LSO Live (SACD). But hearing the Davis now makes him seem rather lackluster, and LSO Live had not yet perfected the rather boxy sound that makes so many of their live issues sound like concert-in-the-park recordings under a closed acoustical shell. Enter Orozco-Estrada, with a renewed perspective and high energy content, and […]
*********** BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies – Karajan ********** DGG audio-only Blu-ray
This magnificent set finally available in the format it deserves—and we can afford. * BEETHOVEN: The Nine Symphonies (1963); Rehearsal of the Ninth Sym. – Berlin PO/ Herbert von Karajan – DGG Pure Audio Blu-ray stereo 00289 479 5977 (1 disc), 6+ hours [Distr. by Universal] *****: It’s almost impossible to give this set anything but five stars. My own history with it is quite emotional. In 1973 I was just beginning a record collection, something that morphed into a lifelong passion, and the fame of Karajan’s set, already 11 years old, was irresistible and emphatic—I had to have it, my first recordings of any of the Beethoven symphonies. So once I saved up the money—about fifteen dollars for this impressive LP set at the time—I settled into the two-week period that the record store said it would take for arrival. The moment pushed forward and I was as excited as if Karajan himself was coming to see me. Providence would prove the event somewhat mixed and dicey, however. My girlfriend, with whom I had just enjoyed a weekend at the beach with her family, decided precipitously on the following Monday evening, to break up with me! Needless to say, […]
Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra – Portraits and Places – Origin
Big band jazz which blends past and present. Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra – Portraits and Places [TrackList follows] – Origin 82710, 57:02 [5/9/16] ****: (Scott Reeves – conductor, Flugelhorn; Steve Wilson – soprano and alto saxophone, flute; Vito Chiavuzzo – alto saxophone, flute; Rob Middleton and Tim Armacost – tenor saxophone, clarinet; Jay Brandford – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet (tracks 1, 4); Terry Goss – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet (tracks 2-3, 5, 8); Seneca Black, Nathan Eklund, Bill Mobley, Andy Gravish – trumpet, Flugelhorn; Tim Sessions, Matt McDonald, Matt Haviland – trombone; Max Seigel – bass trombone; Jim Ridl – piano; Todd Coolman – bass; Andy Watson – drums; Sara Serpa – voice (tracks 3-4); Emi Miyajima Nobe, Yuzuki Nobe – Japanese dialogue (track 3)) There’s inspired music coursing through the debut album by the Scott Reeves Jazz Orchestra. During the hour-long Portraits and Places, Reeves shows many inspirations, from pianist James Williams (his résumé includes stints with Art Blakey and Clark Terry as well as jazz education) to composers such as Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. Through eight compositions (seven originals by Reeves plus one by Antonio Carlos Jobim), Reeves takes his large ensemble for a swinging ride replete […]
Audio News for Tuesday August 16, 2016
Dolby Cinema Construction Accelerated – 100 Dolby Cinema theater venues will be completed by the end of this year by AMC Theaters and Dolby. Each venue will be capable of projecting Dolby Vision and using Dolby Atmos immersive sound. The Dolby Vision laser projection system in the theaters delivers high dynamic range (HDR), with richer colors, ultra-deep blacks, and a contrast ratio that exceeds other image technologies. Dolby Atmos complements the enhanced visuals with 3D object-oriented sound that can seem to come from anywhere, including overhead. It makes dialog, music and sound effects more realistic, adding to the sense of immersion. There are currently 22 Dolby Cinema locations in U.S. The public response to the combination has been enthusiastic nationwide. Latest Editions on Streaming and on Blu-ray – HBO Now has The Get Down Part 1, Hulu has Tonight With John Oliver: Season 3, and Netflix is featuring Barcelona, the fine 1994 film. Don’t miss Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life? on Netflix in November. On Blu-ray you can see In The French Style, starring 19-year-old Jean Seberg. If you like serial killer fare you will love Road Games, starring Andrew Simpson as a British hitchhiker in rural France. […]
“Berl Senofsky in Concert” – Works of RAVEL, RACHMANINOFF, BARTOK, BACH, BRAHMS & Others – Bridge
A happily unearthed treasury from 1958 Belgium adds to the cult status of Philadelphia violinist Berl Senofsky. “Berl Senofsky in Concert” = RAVEL: Piece en forme de Habanera; BARTOK: Roumanian Dances; RACHMANINOFF: Vocalise; YSAYE: Sonata No. 6 in E Major; CRESTON: Suite for Violin and Piano, Op. 19; WIENIAWSKI: Polonaise No. 1 in D, Op. 4; BACH: Chaconee from Violin Partita No. 2 in d minor, BWV 1004; BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100: Allegretto grazioso; Hungarian Dance No. 7 – Berl Senofsky, v./ Marie Louise Bastyns, p. – Bridge 9470, 59:51 (8/8/16) [Distr. by Albany] ****: Recorded at the American Theater, Brussels (6 October 1958), this recital from the World’s Fair Expo ’58 features esteemed American violinist Berl Senofsky (1926-2002), who in 1955 became First Prize Winner of the 1955 Queen Elisabeth International Competition. For this recital, Senofsky has as his collaborator Belgian pianist Marie Louise Bastyns, a pupil of Carlo Zecchi. For Senofsky acolytes, the opportunity to add to his sadly limited recorded discography should motivate their purchase of this distinctive recital. Senofsky demonstrates both the broad range of both in musically international taste and his command of his instrument. The Ravel Habanera oozes […]
“Nada in Hamburg with Johannes BRAHMS” = Nada Loutfi, p. – MEII
This all-Brahms recital by a Lebanese master reveals an artist with a real affinity for the composer’s style. “Nada in Hamburg with Johannes BRAHMS” = Variations on a Hungarian Theme, Op. 21, No. 2; Chaconne for Solo Violin (arr. left hand) from J.S. BACH: Partita No. 2; Chorales, Op. 122 No. 2: Schmuecke dich, o liebe Seele”; No. 4: “O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen”; No. 8: “Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen”; Piano Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 1; Etude No. 6 for the Piano, Left Hand (after SCHUBERT) – Nada Loutfi, p. – MEII, 64:33 [www.eugenemarlow.com] ****: Lebanese virtuoso Nada Loutfi emigrated from war-torn Beirut to Paris, where she won First Prize from the Paris Conservatory. Further study with Gyorgy Sebok at Indiana University further refined her style. She hosts and performs on her own radio program, “The Classical Hour,” on Crescenthillradio.com out of Louisville, Kentucky. This all-Brahms recital (performed on a Yamaha instrument) derives from a session at the TNT Studios 29 January 2016. Nada opens with the 1853 Variations on a Hungarian Song, a tune the violinist Eduard Remenyi gave to Brahms that consists of a mere eight bars. Typical of gypsy style, […]
“F. Gerard Errante, New Music for Clarinet – Another Look” – Works by USSACHEVSKY, HAILSTORK , ERRANTE & Others – Ravello
A valuable collection of some of the most avant-garde clarinet work. “F. Gerard Errante, New Music for Clarinet – Another Look” = WILLIAM O. SMITH: Solo for Clarinet with Delay System; Asana; VLADIMIR USSACHEVSKY: Four Studies for Clarinet and EVI; ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK: A Simple Caprice; DANA WILSON: Piece for Clarinet “alone”; F. GERARD ERRANTE: Souvenirs de Nice; SYDNEY HODKINSON: The Dissolution of the Serial – F. Gerard Errante, clar./Lee Jordan-Anders, p./William Albright, p./ Nyle Steiner, EVI – Ravello RR7941, 60:25 (8/12/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: The booklet notes to this very unusual collection begin by reminding us (reminding me!) of the 1976 book, “New Sounds for Woodwinds” by Bruno Bartolozzi; which I own (somewhere) and haven’t even thought about for over forty years. Similarly, these works are all, in their own way, landmark compositions in the style that was the “latest thing” in the 1960s and ‘70s. The style of clarinet playing in which F. Gerard Errante was/is an absolute master depends heavily on the player’s ability to perform a vast array of extended techniques such as multiphonics, pitch bending, quarter tones, and a command of the extreme altissimo register. Errante was one of the first and one of the […]
“Concerto – A Beethoven Journey” DVD – Seventh Art & Piano Con. Nos. 1 & 2 – Minaar, p. – Challenge
“Concerto – A Beethoven Journey” (2016) Music by: Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Soloist: Leif Ove Andsnes Directed by: Phil Grabsky Genre: Documentary Studio: Seventh Art (1 DVD) [7/29/16] Video: 16:9 1080i HD color Audio: PCM Stereo Menus in English, Norwegian Subtitles: English, Norwegian No Region Code Length: 92 min. Rating: **** B01AGQZF66 LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 – Hannes Minaar, piano/Netherlands Sym./Jan Willem de Vriend – Challenge Classics CC72712 multichannel SACD, 64:59 (5/06/16) ****: Two glimpses of different important series a treat for Beethoven lovers. The five piano concerti of Beethoven remain staples of the concerto repertoire and are recognized as masterpieces that bridge those of Mozart to the early Romantics; many of whom modeled their creations after those of Beethoven. These releases are both fairly recent and give us a very rewarding look into two of the finest younger Beethoven interpreters playing today. Of the two powerful and talented pianists, I was less familiar with the young Dutchman Hannes Minnaar. He is a wonderfully skilled performer and his work here with the Netherlands Symphony in the Concertos No.1 and No. 2 is of top quality, and in treatments – under maestro Jan Willem de Vriend […]
SCHUBERT: Impromptu in A-flat Major; Sonata in c minor – Luisa Guembes-Buchanan, p. – Del Aguila
A much-respected pedagogue performs Schubert in a manner thoroughly sympathetic to the Viennese style. SCHUBERT: Impromptu in A-flat Major, D. 899, No. 4; Sonata in c minor, D. 958 – Luisa Guembes-Buchanan, p. – Del Aguila DA 55312, 40:00 [L4muse@comcast.net] ****: Pianist Luisa Guembes-Buchanan enjoys a reputation as an able pedagogue and Professor of Piano who has volunteered for more than 15 years at the “Summer School Wust” in Germany, an inspirer especially of young students of that instrument from the new “Länder” in central Germany. She has recorded the complete Beethoven piano sonatas and lectured extensively on the significance of the late sonatas. This all-Schubert disc, featuring Ms. Guembes-Buchanan’s artistry on a Fazioli instrument, was recorded in Cambridge, MA in 2015. The Schubert A-flat Major Impromptu of 1828 receives a fluent and vibrant reading: from its opening a-flat minor, the music progresses, Allegretto, in ¾, with felicity and assurance. The pianist prepares us, through canny pedal, lyrical runs, and adjusted dynamics, for the transition into c-sharp minor, where Schubert plays his wonted enharmonic tricks with the melodic tissue. The slightly disruptive repetition of minor seconds in the designated Trio section achieves a sonorous turn via the Fazioli’s special particular […]
RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in E minor – Concertgebouw Orch./ Mariss Jansons – RCO Live
RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in E minor – Concertgebouw Orch./ Mariss Jansons – RCO Live RCO 16004 multichannel 5.0 SACD, 55:49 (6/24/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: A fine offering of this popular symphony. Rachmaninoff composed his Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 in 1906-1907. Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony premiered in St. Petersburg on February 8, 1908, with the composer conducting. Originally, the work was dedicated to Sergei Taneyev, a Russian composer and teacher who studied under Tchaikovsky. The symphony is one of Rachmaninoff’s most popular works and there are no shortages of fine performances. This disc is an excellent addition to the roster, and while it is a new release in this incarnation the recording is from 2010 and it was previously released under the title Mariss Jansons Live: The Radio Recordings. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has recorded the Second many times, and under many conductors, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Kirill Kondrashin and Kurt Sanderling. The performance here is first-rate and highly emotional, as the Second should be. Jansons is in full control of the orchestra, and he offers a rousing interpretation. The 5.0 SACD layer is crisp with a very stable image at the front speakers. The rear channels […]
Audio News for August 12, 2016
BBC Radio 3 Has Highest Audience in Five Years – The number of people now listening to Radio 3 in the UK has reached 2.2 million. Programs such as Breakfast and Essential Classics, Listening Service and Jazz Now have scored record highs. The station’s recent introduction of birdsong-inspired programming is credited with helping to attract new listeners. It includes pairing of recordings of birds singing with musicians. Home Audio Device Global Analysis – The new study, published by SBWire, considers downstream and upstream components, and highlights major factors that drive its growth. Leading companies in the global Home Audio Device market are profiled as to annual revenue, products, applications, capacity production, areas of coverage and more. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of leading players in the global Home Audio Device market are measured. What is Dolby Atmos Sound? – Originally developed in 2012, it is a surround sound technology building on the 5.1 and 7.1 systems of old and taking things to a new level by adding a lot more speakers. Some commercials theaters now use up to a whopping 64 speakers. The sonic experience is not channel-based, requiring multi-channel source material. Instead, it is object-based, where elements of […]
Jane Monheit (vocals) – The Songbook Sessions – Ella Fitzgerald – Emerald City
Jane Monheit (vocals) – The Songbook Sessions – Ella Fitzgerald [TrackList follows] – Emerald City ECR 001, 58:42 ****: A sincere tribute filled with vocal dexterity and ingenuity. (Jane Monheit – vocals; Nicholas Payton – trumpet/organ tracks 11/12; Michael Kanan – electric piano; Neal Miner – bass; Rick Montalbano – drums; Daniel Sadownick – percussion; Brandee Younger – harp tracks 5/12) No longer the ingénue who at twenty was the first runner- up in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute vocal competition, Jane Monheit has matured into a captivating and expressive singer. With the release of The Songbook Sessions – Ella Fitzgerald on her own label Emerald City Records, Monheit demonstrates her own acutely inventive capability. Tackling those songs that had been associated with the great jazz songstress Ella Fitzgerald is no small undertaking. While certainly not intentionally attempting to channel Ella, comparisons would be forthcoming regardless of intent. Fortunately Monheit’s own vocal dexterity and ingenuity get paid to that idea in a hurry. Starting with Duke Ellington’s “All To Soon”, Monheit shows her inquisitive spirit as she weaves her way around the lyric as the band shows a soft Latin touch, with trumpeter Nicholas Payton offering some interesting fills. […]
SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 3, 6, 7 – Minnesota Orch./ Osmo Vänskä – BIS
SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 3, 6, 7 – Minnesota Orch./ Osmo Vänskä – BIS multichannel (5.0) SACD-2006, 82:00 (9/9/16) (Distr. by Naxos) ****: Three fine Sibelius Symphonies beautifully rendered by the Minnesota Orchestra in a lovely recording. The Swedish label BIS Records gives us the final recording of the Minnesota Orchestra’s celebrated Sibelius symphonies series. Conducted by Music Director Osmo Vänskä, who is known for his Sibelius interpretations, the album features the Finnish composer’s Third, Sixth and Seventh Symphonies. This is a fine recording and interpretation of the three symphonies. Of Sibelius’ seven symphonies, the Third may be the least known. He conducted the premiere himself on September 26, 1907. Notable for its lean textures, it culminates in a broad majestic theme. Sixteen years later, Sibelius completed his Sixth Symphony and led its premiere in February of 1923. Annotator Robert Markow writes, “A cool, rarefied air seems to surround the Sixth in music of purity and luminescence. Textures are transparent, colors are muted [and] orchestral forces are modest.” Just a year later, Sibelius led the premiere of the work that would turn out to be his final symphony, his Seventh. Written in one movement, it is the culmination of Sibelius’ lifetime […]
Van Morrison – It’s Too Late to Stop Now – Sony /Exile/Legacy (2 vinyls)
Whetting the appetite for more Van… Van Morrison – It’s Too Late to Stop Now – Sony /Exile/Legacy 88985323261 – two vinyl LPs (1973/2016) ***1/2: (Van Morrison – vocals; Jeff Labes – piano and organ; John Platania – guitar; David Hayes – bass; Dahaud Shaar – drums; Jack Schroer – saxophones; Bill Atwood – trumpet; Nathan Rubin, Tim Kovatch, Tom Halpin – violins; Nancy Ellis – viola; Terry Adams – cello) B01EMP3X20 Recorded in the Summer of 1973 at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Civic Center, and the Rainbow Theater in London, Van Morrison was in the prime of his life (not like he has lost much over the years), and had one of his most potent backing bands, the 11 piece Caledonia Soul Orchestra in tow. The horns were tight, the string backing was professional and Van had already recorded Astral Weeks and Moondance. Eight sets from tour performances were used, recorded on two-inch 16-track analog tapes. There were no overdubs or studio induced “sweeteners” applied. Legacy Recordings has recently re-released the two LPs in remastered 24 bit hi-res sound (also in 2 CDs) as an enticement for their three volume CD/ single DVD of unreleased […]
SMETANA: Ma Vlast – Evelinde Trenker and Sontraud Speidel, pianos – MD&G Gold
SMETANA: Ma Vlast – Evelinde Trenker and Sontraud Speidel, pianos – MD&G Gold Records MD&G 930 1960-6 multi-channel SACD with additional 2+2+2 80:00 (8/5/16) [Distr. by eOne] ****: A unique transcription of the Smetana classic arranged for two pianos. Smetana’s Ma Vlast is a standard part of the concert repertoire. It was the composer’s manifesto of national destiny for Czech listeners and it went on to worldwide acclaim. Smetana debuted the piece in 1882, and by that time the composer was almost completely deaf. In structure, it is similar to Lizst’s symphonic poems. Heard with a full orchestra it’s a thrilling piece. Here we get something a little different, with a performance for duo pianos by Eveline Trencher and Sontraud Speidel. The two virtuosi have toured the world in concert, playing acclaimed transcriptions of Mahler and Bruckner at Lincoln Center and at various venues and festivals around Europe. I can’t say I prefer the Smetana for two pianos, but it is a captivating listen. The use of two pianos provides a tonal depth that one piano would not, and the pianists preserve the emotion and lush dynamics of the piece. It’s a surprisingly good listen. The 5.1 channel SACD is […]
Noah Preminger, sax – Some Other Time – Newvelle vinyl
Saxist Noah Preminger explores the blues on winning Newvelle Records LP issue… Noah Preminger – Some Other Time – Newvelle NV003LP – 180gm audiophile vinyl ****: (Noah Preminger – tenor sax; Ben Monder – guitar; John Patitucci – bass; Billy Hart – drums) Newvelle Record’s latest release in their LP subscription series continues their winning streak in issuing state of the art LP recordings. Following in the foot steps of Frank Kimbrough’s Meantime and Jack DeJohnette’s Return, Noah Preminger’s Some Other Time boasts impeccable acoustics and a moody tenderness in an exploration of largely blues ballads. The interplay between the quartet is striking. Ben Monder’s guitar is a perfect foil for Noah’s breathy tenor explorations. It has both a warm and inviting presence that floats over and under themes presented. John Patitucci’s bass is muscular and sympathetic, similar to how Charlie Haden supported both Hank Jones and Pat Metheny. Billy Hart’s drumming is made to order for this group as his stick work is equally at home in straight ahead and free settings. On “Melancholia” and “Porcelain” he guides with care, and when a forceful hand is needed on Noah’s “Semenzato” his cymbals lead the way. Their shimmering presence in […]
Rhys Chatham – Pythagorean Dream – Foom
Music meant to be experienced fully alert and awake. Rhys Chatham – Pythagorean Dream [TrackList follows] – Foom FM007CD, 51:46 [6/3/16] ****: (Rhys Chatham – trumpet, electric guitar, bass flute, alto flute, C flute, producer, engineer, mastering) Composer Rhys Chatham has made a name for himself by conceiving large-ensemble music with armies of guitarists (100 and 200 or more at a time); helping form a vibrant NYC 1970s scene which inspired rock groups such as Swans, Sonic Youth and the Band of Susans; while exploring lengthy music efforts which blended modern minimalist classical music with the drive of punk and post-punk. So, it may come as a surprise that Chatham’s newest endeavor, the 51-minute Pythagorean Dream is a one-man-band solo project. But listen to the two elongated compositions (plus a shorter bonus track) and everyone will understand Chatham has not abandoned his electric guitar orchestrations. Chatham may have gone back to basics, but by using a multi-second delay effect, he has layered feedback loops of variable intervals to craft resonant, overlapping tiers, which transcend the limitations of a single musician recording in a studio. A point to appreciate: there is no overdubbing on this record and it was recorded directly […]
“BUTTERWORTH: Orchestral Works – The Banks of Green Willow” – Kris Russman – BIS
“BUTTERWORTH: Orchestral Works – The Banks of Green Willow” A Shropshire Lad – six songs orchestrated by Kriss Russman · World première recording of the orchestrated version – James Rutherford (bari.); Two English Idylls; Suite for String Quartette arranged for string orchestra by Kriss Russman; world premiere recording of the orchestrated version; Love Blows As The Wind Blows; James Rutherford (bari.); Fantasia for Orch. completed by Kriss Russman · World premiere recording – BIS multichannel SACD BIS-2195, 74:00 (7/1/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Familiar music by Butterworth re-scored for orchestra, along with some world premieres. George Butterworth was a fine English composer whose life was cut short 2 years after he joined the army and died in the trenches at the Somme in 1916. This disc has several of Butterworth’s pieces, most notably his Orchestral Fantasia (a world premier recording) which he had started just before the war broke out: a 92-bar full score manuscript lasting some three-and-a-half minutes has been preserved. On the first page Butterworth wrote ‘see short score’ which indicated that the work may have been completed but if so, the score has been lost. The composer and conductor Kriss Russman has therefore taken up where the […]
Ronnie Cuber – Cuber Libre / Sam Jones – Changes and Things – both Elemental/Xanadu
Two more Xanadu reissues of note. Ronnie Cuber – Cuber Libre – Elemental/Xanadu 90607, 52:48 (1976) ****: (Ronnie Cuber – baritone sax) Sam Jones – Changes and Things – Elemental/Xanadu 906088, 41:58 (1977) ****:) (Sam Jones – bass; Blue Mitchell – trumpet; Slide Hampton – trombone; Bob Berg – tenor sax; Barry Harris – piano; Louis Hayes – drums) At the time that Cuber Libre was issued, Ronnie Cuber was 34 years old, and this was his debut as a leader. He was a sideman, and cut his teeth playing baritone sax for pop legends such as Aretha, Clapton, Steely Dan, and Dr. John. He continues to go strong today and his rock solid baritone anchors the tribute Mingus Big Band. Ronnie is noted for his big throaty baritone timbre and it is put to good use on an extended “Star Eyes.” It’s off to the races on”Rifftide” with Barry Harris quoting “Lady Be Good.” “Sudwest Funk” is a double-time 12 bar blues. Donald Byrd wrote this track and it’s fun to compare it to Byrd’s recorded version that featured Pepper Adams on baritone. Sam Jones’ Changes and Things from 1977 come highly recommended as it has a dream front […]
Dolo Coker – California Hard / Sonny Criss – Saturday Morning – both Elemental/Xanadu
Elemental Music keeps the Xanadu flame lit- Part I… Dolo Coker – California Hard – Elemental/Xanadu 906081 – 1976, 51:13 ****1/2: (Dolo Coker – piano; Blue Mitchell – trumpet/Flugelhorn; Art Pepper – alto and tenor sax; Leroy Vinnegar – bass; Frank Butler – drums) Sonny Criss – Saturday Morning – Elemental/Xanadu 906086 (1975), 39:38 ***1/2: (Sonny Criss – alto sax; Barry Harris – piano; Leroy Vinnegar – bass; Lenny McBrowne – drums) In the mid-1970s jazz was restless as a period of musical expression. Rock had firmly taken hold and the public taste had begun to change. Rock rhythms and electronic instruments were incorporating these influences into a new genre dubbed as “fusion.” Many jazz musicians who did not embrace these changes were either forced to move to Europe or look for studio work in either New York or Los Angeles. Luckily there were some boutique (read: small) recording labels who were anxious to employ these veteran straight ahead jazz musicians to continue to ply their trade. Labels such as Muse, Bee Hive, and Xanadu stood out in their ability to mix and match the artists with leaders becoming sidemen for each others’ releases. Zev Feldman, who helps run Elemental […]
Audio News for August 9, 2016
DEG Second Quartet Home Entertainment Report – Here are details from the second quarter 2016 Home Entertainment Report compiled by the Digital Entertainment Group for their members: Consumer spending on home entertainment products were up 6% from the year earlier. More than eight million UHD TVs have now been sold. Overall physical sales of Blu-ray discs grew only 3%, while in the same quarter last year it grew 35%. More than 45 UHD titles are now available on HD Blu-ray discs with sales of some 288,000. Electronic sell-thru or digital HD grew nearly 9%, driven by theatrical content. VOD platforms were up more than 7% for the quarter, and 95% of all U.S. homes have at least one HDTV. Blu-ray playback devices are in more than 85 million U.S. households. Award-winning Farmer Plays Classical Music to his Pigs – Farmer Paul Howland, in Beccles, Suffolk, says his herd’s favorite radio station is Classic FM. He said “It calms them down…so they’re generally happier.” On Sir Neville Marriner – He is the most-recorded conductor in the classical world. His standards and measures are unequalled, yet he speaks to the notion of British finery and wispy subtlety. One of his many recordings was recently […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
