Monthly Archive: January 2017

Rush – Time Stands Still (2016)

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

      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 & 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 […]

Madeleine Peyroux – Secular Hymns – Impulse!

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 […]

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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 […]

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 /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 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

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

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 […]