Monthly Archive: January 2017
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24; Piano Concerto No. 8, Piano Sonata No. 11; Fantasia – Wilhelm Kempff – Praga Digitals
The Kempff Mozart recordings combine an elastic gravity with refined delicacy. MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in c minor, K. 491; Piano Concerto No. 8 in C Major, K. 246; Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K. 331; Fantasia in d minor, K. 397 – Wilhelm Kempff, piano – Bamberg Sym. Orch. (K. 491)/ […]
Rush – Time Stands Still (2016)
Rush – Time Stands Still (2016) Cast: Geddy Lee – bass, vocals; Alex Lifeson – guitar; Neil Peart – drums; incl. interviews with Brian Hiatt, Liam Burt, Ray Daniels, John Virant and others. Studio: Rounder/Ole and Zoe Vision ZOE0114300002 Director: Dale Heslip Narrator: Paul Rudd Video: 16:9, color, black &white Audio: PCM Stereo 2.0, DTS […]
Best of the Year Discs for 2016
Best of the Year Discs for 2016 = The 12 Multichannel Hi-Res Discs of the Month for 2016 CLASSICAL (incl. HI-RES), CLASSICAL REISSUES, CLASSICAL VINYL & PURE AUDIO BLU-RAY KATI AGÓCS: The Debrecen Passion – BMOP Sound 1046 American First Piano Sonatas – Licad, p. – Danacord * ”For the Beauty of […]
Howard Johnson & Gravity – Testimony – Tuscarora
Howard JOHNSON and Gravity – Testimony – Tuscarora 17-001, 53:39, (3/3/17) ****: (Howard Johnson: BB-flat tuba, baritone sax, pennywhistle/ Velvet Brown; Ens. leader, F-tuba/ Dave Bergeron; E-flat tuba/ Earl McIntyre; E-flat tuba/ Joseph Daley; BB-flat tuba/ Bob Stewart; CC tuba/ Carlton Holmes; piano/ Melissa Slocum; bass/ Buddy Williams; drums) Low rumbles, virtuosic soloing and great […]
MENDELSSOHN: Syms. Nos. 1 & 4 – London Sym./Gardiner – LSO Live
A vigorous and incisive Italian, with a fresh and even more exhilarating “First”. MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 1 in c, Op. 11; No. 4 in A, Op. 90 “Italian” (1833 version) – London Sym. Orch./ John Eliot Gardiner – LSO Live multichannel Pure Audio Blu-ray & SACD LSO0765 (2 discs, on audio-only Blu-ray), 62:11 [Distr. by […]
BEETHOVEN & BRUCH Violin Concertos – Accardo & Masur – Pentatone
Accardo and Masur combine for splendid work in pillars of the violin concerto repertory. BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61; BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 in g, Op. 26 – Salvatore Accardo, violin/ Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/ Kurt Masur – Pentatone RQR multichannel (4.0) SACD PTC 5186 237, 71:22 (10/21/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Italian […]
FOSS: “Piece’s of Genius” – three chamber works – var. soloists – Albany
FOSS: “Piece’s of Genius” – three chamber works – NY New Music Ensemble / Jean Kopperud, clar./ Stephen Gosling, p./ Linda Quan & Deborah Wang, violins/ Lois Martin, viola/ Christopher Finckel, cello – Albany Troy CD 1644, 62:17 (10/1/16) ***1/2: A fine survey of Foss chamber music covering a quarter century of composition. It was […]
POUL RUDERS: Symphony No. Five – Danish Nat. Sym. Orch./Olari Elts – Bridge
Another complex and unique but interesting work for the Ruders fan. POUL RUDERS: Symphony No. Five – Danish Nat. Sym. Orch./Olari Elts – Bridge 9475 [Distr. by Albany] (11/04/16) 26:30 ***: I agree wholly with other writers who have commented that Bridge is to be commended for continuing its series of works by the very […]
Madeleine Peyroux – Secular Hymns – Impulse!
Madeleine Peyroux – Secular Hymns – Impulse!/Verve B0025437-02 33:33**** An album that has an interesting texture and a solid groove. (Madeleine Peyroux – vocals, acoustic guitar, guileless; John Herrington – electric guitar, vocals; Barak Mori – upright bass, vocals) “Short but sweet” might be the appropriate description of the latest Madeleine Peyroux release entitled Secular […]
RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: Nagasaki: Memories of My Son – Tokyo Philharmonic Orch./soloists – Milan
A beautiful and poignant score to a mostly unknown movie. RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: Nagasaki: Memories of My Son – Tokyo Philharmonic Orch./soloists – Milan M2-37688, 57:32 (9/22/16) ***1/2: Ryuichi Sakamoto has a long and admirable resume of work in both the concert hall realm and, that for which he is best known; film scores. I have […]
Audio News for January 20, 2017
Schools Dive Into Video Stream – Two national companies – National High School Sports Network and The Cube, have been joined by WSN – a new streaming technology in 38 classrooms so far. Unlike the other two, who offer only the software, WSN offers a turn-key package of hardware, software and technical support. The other […]
Zero Days (2016)
Zero Days (2016) Cast: George W. Bush & others Director: Alex Gibney Studio: Magnolia Home Ent. 1115 (1/17/17) Video: for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English, DD 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Extras: Interview with director, Theatrical trailer Length: 114 min. Rating: **** This documentary/thriller is about Stuxnet – a self-replicating computer malware that the U.S. […]
The Girl on the Train, Blu-ray (2017)
A daring thriller without the usual gun play. The Girl on the Train, Blu-ray (2017) Cast: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux Director: Tate Taylor Studio: Universal Studios Home Ent. 61179949 (1/17/17) (2 discs) Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, color HD Audio: English DD 5.1 & 2.0, French DD 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1, […]
Ancient Aliens Season 9 (15 episodes) (2016)
Season Nine of a popular video series which explores many mysteries within us. Ancient Aliens Season 9 (15 episodes) (2016) Cast: Erich von Daniken, George Clotworthy, Giorgio Tsoukalos, David Childress, Eric Redfern Studio: Lionsgate 4-DVD collection – 15 Episodes on 4 discs Video: 1.78:1 For 16:9 screens, color Audio: English PCM 2.0 stereo Subtitles: English […]
Rez Abbasi & Junction – Behind the Vibration – Cuneiform
Guitarist Rez Abbasi’s new band brings fusion to an innovative level. Rez Abbasi & Junction – Behind the Vibration – Cuneiform, Rune 424, 57:59 [5/20/16] ****: (Rez Abbasi – guitar, co-mixer; Mark Shim – tenor saxophone, MIDI wind-controller; Ben Stivers – keyboards, B-3, Rhodes; Kenny Grohowski – drums) Guitarist Rez Abbasi has seemingly worked in […]
Richard Pinhas and Barry Cleveland (guitars etc.) – Mu – Cuneiform
Two iconoclastic guitarists weave together an experimental, improvisational session. Richard Pinhas and Barry Cleveland – Mu – Cuneiform, Rune 426, 48:20 [1/16/17] ****: (Barry Cleveland – producer, mixer, guitar, Moog guitar, bowed guitar, bowhammer guitar, E-Bow guitar, sitar guitar, M-Tron, Vocalizer 1000, kalimba, zither, gong, incidental percussion, percussion programming, samples; Richard Pinhas – guitar, guitar […]
DVORAK: Slavonic Dances (comp.) – Czech Phil./ Jiri Belohlavek – Decca
Do we need another of these? Maybe not, but we definitely need THIS one! DVORAK: Slavonic Dances (complete) – Czech Phil./ Jiri Belohlavek – Decca 478 9458, 76:08 [Distr. by Universal] *****: From the opening bars of the first Opus 46 dance, I was afraid I was going to be unimpressed. I didn’t like the […]
As Dreams – Music by JANSON, LACHENMANN, NØGÄRD, XENAKIS & SAARIANO – Norwegian Soloists Choir /Grete Pedersen – BIS
As Dreams – Music by JANSON, LACHENMANN, NØGÄRD, XENAKIS & SAARIANO – Norwegian Soloists Choir /artistic director Grete Pedersen – BIS multichannel SACD BIS2139, TT: 61:00 10/28/16 [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Contemporary music representing dreams. This is an interesting and compelling disc from BIS and the Norwegian Soloists Choir and its artistic director Grete Pedersen. […]
Stephen Crump – Stephen Crump’s Rhombal – Papillon Sounds double vinyl
Stephen Crump – Stephen Crump’s Rhombal – Papillon Sounds PS51514 stereo double vinyl, TT: 59:33 ****: Jazz bassist and composer releases an unusual tribute album. (Adam O’Farrill – trumpet; Ellery Eskelin – tenor saxophone; Stephen Crump – doublebass; Tyshawn Sorey – drums) Stephen Crump has established a solid reputation as a musician, composer and bandleader. […]
BORTKIEWICZ: Lyrica Nova; Etude in D-flat Major; Nocturne; Esquisses de Crimee; Three Preludes; Piano Sonata No. 2 – A. Soldano, p. – Divine Art
The music of Bortkiewicz receives ardent and luxurious realization from pianist Soldano. BORTKIEWICZ: Lyrica Nova, Op. 59; Etude in D-flat Major; Nocturne from Op. 24; Esquisses de Crimee, Op. 8; Three Preludes; Piano Sonata No. 2 in c-sharp, Op. 60 – Alfonso Soldano, p. – Divine Art dda 25142, 69:31 (10/14/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: The […]
Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits – Sazi
Camaraderie and friendship on full display. Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits [TrackList follows] – Sazi sr004, 47:39 [10/7/16] *****: (Scott Amendola – drums, cymbals, co-producer; Wil Blades – Hammond B-3, Hohner Clavinet, co-producer) What is the sound of deep-rooted friendship? Cajoling and jokes. Finishing each other’s sentences. And in case of drummer Scott Amendola […]
ADAMS: Scheherazade.2 – St. Louis Sym./David Robertson – Nonesuch
John Adams’ new Violin Concerto is dramatically compelling. JOHN ADAMS: Scheherazade.2 – Leila Josefowicz, v./ St. Louis Sym./David Robertson – Nonesuch 557170, 47:35 ****: One of the characteristics that is so endearing about John Adams’ music is that it reflects the variety of emotional and intellectual Zeitgeist of our times. It can be deep and […]