Monthly Archive: January 2017
Hints On Shooting a Classical Video – (From a Grammy-award-winning producer: Choose the piece but film the moment; Set the scenes & shoot it lean; Keep it real; Tell a story; Get intimate. “If the viewer wants to focus purely on the music they’re welcome to shut their eyes. But if they want to watch you making the music, make sure they are watching something interesting.” Most Home Theater Companies Missing from CES – Only four companies were there: AudioControl, Wolf Cinema, James and Vutec. Though the Venetian suites had a $196,000 home theater demo, the lack of true home theater was noticeable at CES in Las Vegas. It is becoming apparent that manufacturers seeking to create trade channel partnerships with integrators are bypassing CES. But there was still plenty to see the show from a display standpoint. LG, Sony and Panasonic showcased impressive flat panel technology, namely OLED. But there were few audio companions. The exorbitant hotel prices are also reducing media traffic, and then there is the huge congestion at the show. Moving between venues generally takes one to two hours. The Return of the Violin – The violin is getting much attention in recordings and live concerts […]
Mike LeDonne, B-3, & The Groover Quartet – That Feelin’ – Savant
Keeping the classic organ/sax quartet format vibrant… Mike LeDonne & The Groover Quartet – That Feelin’ – Savant SCD 2159, 59:38 ****: (Mike LeDonne – Hammond organ; Eric Alexander – tenor sax; Peter Bernstein – guitar; Joe Farnsworth – drums. With special guest, Vincent Herring – alto sax on # 1, 5, & 6) Living in New York City with its unique seven-day-a-week jazz scene, provides the opportunity for Hammond B-3 organist, Mike LeDonne, to keep his Groover Quartet tight. Fellow band members Eric Alexander (tenor sax), Peter Bernstein (guitar), and Joe Farnsworth (drums) are all active with various projects and recording dates. Yet they can play with LeDonne often, usually at the jazz club Smoke. Mike has kept the soul jazz sax/organ/guitar front line format alive and kicking on his new CD, That Feelin’. It is a grouping that can re-conceptualize pop and soul charts like “La La Means I Love You” and “This Will Be an Everlasting Love” as well as the Broadway tune, “A Lot of Living to Do.” Straight-ahead jazz is covered by Donald Byrd’s “Fly Little Bird, Fly” and the standard, “At Last.” The quartet expands to a dual sax quintet with altoist, Vincent Herring, […]
Carol Robbins, harp – Taylor Street – Jazzcats
A welcome jazz harp with ensemble release… Carol Robbins, harp – Taylor Street – Jazzcats 109, 53:49 ****: (Carol Robbins – harp; Billy Childs – piano and Fender Rhodes; Bob Sheppard – saxophones and clarinet; Larry Koonse – guitar; Curtis Taylor – trumpet; Derek Oles – bass; Gary Novak – drums; Ben Shepherd – electric bass) There is a lushness to the jazz harp with ensemble release, Taylor Street, from harp player Carol Robbins, that will draw listeners in immediately, and demand further replays to fully appreciate its harmonic richness. Robbins studied with the pre-eminent jazz harpist, Dorothy Ashby, and she explores the harp’s strengths as a lead instrument backed by top L.A. session men on nine of her original compositions. Certainly it’s the lyrical bliss inducing aura brought on by a full size concert harp that begins the process. Billy Childs’ piano and Fender Rhodes expands the landscape with his Jazz Chamber Ensemble mates, Bob Sheppard on sax and clarinet, and guitarist, Larry Koonse. The burnished tone of trumpeter Curtis Taylor rounds out the front line, backed by bass and drums. The nine tracks are a blend of heated jazz, bluesy riffs, and a strong dose of classical motifs […]
Brad MYERS & Michael SHARFE – Sanguinaria (Hopefulsongs) – Colloquy
Brad MYERS & Michael SHARFE – Sanguinaria (Hopefulsongs) – Colloquy 13214, 59:49 (1/30/17) ****½: (Brad Myers – guitar/ Michael Sharfe – doublebass/ Dan Dorff Jr. – drums/ Tom Buckley – drums/ Marc Wolfley – percussion/ Dan Karlsberg – melodica) Outstanding arrangements for guitar & bass duo rooted in classic jazz and midwestern Americana aesthetic. The new release Sanguinaria (Hopefulsongs) by well-established Cincinnati musicians Brad Myers and Michael Sharfe makes an immediate visual impression. A perfectly-rendered botanical illustration of the bloodroot plant is framed on the lower half of all six panels of the fold-out sleeve. On the cover, the subterranean root emerges into leaf and flower. Dabs of watercolor and a couple of industrious ants add detail. It is among the most striking images I have ever seen on a CD and is suggestive of a special artistic care and purpose. Mr. Myers explains in the liner notes the choice of the image as a metaphor for the duo format. “The plant sometimes produces a rare double flower… and when pierced or broken, it bleeds a reddish sap, which accounts for its Latin name.” There are multiple meanings here – that which is hidden, nourished over time, vulnerable to destruction, […]
SHOSTAKOVICH: Sonatas for Violin and Viola – Duo TschoppBovino – Genuin
SHOSTAKOVICH: Sonatas for Violin and Viola – Duo TschoppBovino – Genuin 16428, 62:29 (6/6/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: (Mirjam Tschopp – violin & viola/ Riccardo Bovino – piano) Challenging and desolate late works of Shostakovich (just in case you need some sobering up.) If there were a Rotten Tomatos Index for 20th century chamber music, one could be certain that the string quartets of Dmitri Shostakovich are among the only works that would receive equally high scores from both critics and audience. If you left out the first as well as the last six quartets, this score would put them among the most cherished music of all time. Likewise, the trios and the quintet are works of enduring appeal and are increasingly performed and recorded. Those who have seriously engaged with this music are marked for life, imprinted with its message and emotional power. Of course, the last third of this composer’s quartets involve special challenges. One must face the famous bleakness and also the sense that a formidable technique has been purposefully narrowed down. A lot of craft and architecture have been jettisoned. If in the quartets from the ‘40s and ‘50s, he was building a house, in his final […]
BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 2; Konzerstueck; In Memorium; Adagio appassionato – BBC Scottish Sym./Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion
Max Bruch occupies Vol. 21 of The Romantic Violin Concerto, and with just cause. BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 2 in d, Op. 44; Konzertstueck in f-sharp, Op. 84; In Memoriam in c-sharp, Op. 65; Adagio appassionato in f, Op. 57 – Jack Liebeck, v./ BBC Scottish Sym. Orch./ Martyn Brabbins – Hyperion CDA 68055, 68:21 (1/6/17) [Distr. by PIAS] ****: Jack Liebeck’s recording (10-11 Dec. 2014) extends Hyperion’s The Romantic Violin Concerto series (as Volume 21), here with Max Bruch’s 1877 Second Concerto, a work known to us primarily through the efforts of Jascha Heifetz and Itzhak Perlman. The inspirational force for this alternately lyrical and stentorian piece, Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908), had worked with Bruch at the Frankfurt and Wiesbaden premieres of the g minor Concerto. The opening movement, in sonata form, casts two opposing ideas after having begun with a mournful Adagio. Some elegant work in the French horns accompanies Liebeck’s suave arioso. His instrument, by the way, soars as only the “Ex-Wilhelmj” Guadagnini of 1785 can. The martial elements move heavily, processional in a tonal syntax similar to that of Mendelssohn. The second movement Recitativo: Allegro moderato might claim Louis Spohr as its spiritual godfather, especially his […]
Jazz Haunts & Magic Vaults : The New Lost Classics Of Resonance Vol. 1
Jazz Haunts & Magic Vaults : The New Lost Classics Of Resonance Vol. 1 HCD-2026, 77:37 ****: A number of tasty offerings designed to entice the most discriminating listeners. (Jaki Byard; Dennis Coffey; Bill Evans; Tommy Flanagan; Stan Getz; João Gilberto; Gene Harris; Shirley Horn; Freddie Hubbard; Thad Jones; Scott LaFaro; Mel Lewis; Charles LLoyd; Wes Montgomery; Sarah Vaughan; Larry Young) In the January 2017 (Issue #171) of The New York City Jazz Record, Resonance Records was chosen as one of the Best Labels of the Year 2016 in the non-profit category. While being a non-profit jazz label might be somewhat of an oxymoron, the owners of the label are to be commended as they have done a yeoman job of unearthing recordings of historical interest and bringing them to the listening public. This compilation Jazz Haunts & Magic Vaults (back in day of LPs, such releases were called samplers) showcases a variety of tracks from either projects that the label already has on the market, or that would be forthcoming. There are a number of tasty offerings that should clearly entice listeners to purchase the entire album, depending on their musical proclivities. The bold-face names who are represented on […]
RICHARD SUSSMAN: Evolution Suite – Richard Sussman – p., electronics, & others – Zoho
RICHARD SUSSMAN: Evolution Suite – Richard Sussman – p., electronics, Scott Wendholt – trumpet, Flugel horn, Rich Perry – tenor sax, Mike Richmond – acoustic & elec. bass, Anthony Poinciotti – drums/ The Sirius Quartet, With special guest: Zach Broc – elec. violin – Zoho CD ZM 201614, 71:00 (10/7/16) [Distr. by Allegro] *** 1/2: An important classical/jazz work but hurt a bit by the lack of a great recording. Richard Sussman’s ground-breaking The Evolution Suite for Jazz Quintet, String Quartet, and Electronics is the culmination of almost a decade of development. This five-movement, hour-long composition was funded by a Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Grant, and premiered and recorded on December 20, 2015, at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space in New York City. The work is a fusion of jazz and classical music. Composer Richard Sussman said it best: “”By combining jazz improvisation and many diverse rhythms and instrumental textures from throughout the world with contemporary classical music, I feel we can more truly reflect and more strongly connect with a wider cross-section of the multi-cultural society in which we live.” The disc includes another work, called Prevolution, a 10-minute track Sussman considers a ‘prequel’ to […]
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme – The Complete Masters Deluxe Edition – Verve Universal (2016) – Verve/Impulse
John Coltrane – A Love Supreme – The Complete Masters Deluxe Edition – Verve Universal (2016) B0023727-02/ Verve/Impulse (1963) stereo A-77, 3-CD box TT: 146:08 *****: The long-awaited complete box set of Coltrane’s masterpiece has been released. (John Coltrane – tenor saxophone; McCoy Tyner – piano; Jimmy Garrison – doublebass; Elvin Jones – drums; Archie Sheep – tenor saxophone; Art Davis – doublebass) John Coltrane’s arduous climb to jazz stardom has been duly chronicled. In the tradition of Charlie Parker, he battled addiction to emerge as a musical force. As part of the original Miles Davis Quintet, he became a part of jazz history, playing on what many consider to be the greatest jazz album ever, Kind Of Blue. After leaving (or being fired) from the Quintet, Coltrane assumed his destiny as a bandleader. In particular, he recorded a group of live albums at the Village Vanguard that became classics. His no-holds-barred saxophone approach displayed a vibrant intensity that thrilled jazz fans. He also recorded occasional melodic standards, displaying versatility and deft touch. By 1965, John Coltrane was at the peak of his career. He decided to record an album that reflected his spiritual transformation in 1957. A Love Supreme […]
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in c; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in c – Yevgeny Sudbin, p./ Minnesota Orch./ Osmo Vanska – BIS
Sudbin and Vanska collaborate in music that shares common dramatic impulses. MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24 in c, K. 491; BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3 in c, Op. 37 – Yevgeny Sudbin, p./ Minnesota Orch./ Osmo Vanska – BIS multichannel SACD-1978 (2/25/14), 66:16 [Distr. by Naxos ] ****: Music historians consistently point out the tremendous influence of Mozart’s 1786 c minor Piano Concerto upon Beethoven’s 1804 c minor Concerto, so it seems somewhat inevitable that two collaborators and a responsive orchestra should combine them in the same program, recorded 2011 and 2012. Perhaps the social history of the recording itself warrants some comment, since the Minnesota Orchestra came close to dissolution, but conductor Osmo Vanska – having resigned as Musical Director – graciously stepped back to the podium for this project. Pianist Yevgeny Sudbin supplies his own (romantic) cadenzas for the Mozart, and they will provoke ears and eyebrows, much in the same way some two generations ago Artur Schnabel’s post-Modernist cadenzas raised hackles among the very musicians who participated in the recording for EMI. The emotional furor of the Mozart opening movement – utilizing the largest of Mozart’s orchestras – Allegro well captures its intensely furious and often […]
Naxos Beethoven – Berlin Philharmonic
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Audio News for January 13, 2017
Things Alexa Cannot Yet Do – The shortfall of Alexa’s IFTT integration is the lack of any actions whatsoever. You cannot complete a task for have Alexa play a tune. You must divide every command into its own statement – no trying to get Alexa to do more than one thing at a time. There are currently no notifications, audio or visual. It would be nice if Alexa spoke the name of the person calling you, but no. Only three words wake Alexa devices: Alexa, Amazon or the name of the device – no customized wake words. There is no voice-memo function – you cannot leave messages for others in your household. Alexa does not distinguish different voices. If you have multiple Amazon devices around the house, you cannot speak to just one of them and Alexa will not stream the same music to all your Echo speakers, but you can with Google Home and Chromecast. “This Decade Belongs to Gustavo Dudamel and His Innovative Ways” is a statement by the author of an article Can Classical Music Survive With Shedding Its Obsessions with Purism? It came about due to the current musical film La La Land, which has swept […]
BARBER: Adagio for Strings – BRUCKNER: String Quintet in F Major – Konzerthaus Kammerorch., Berlin- Cugate Classics
BARBER: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 – BRUCKNER: String Quintet in F Major – Konzerthaus Kammerorchester, Berlin- Cugate Classics CG013- two multichannel SACDs (5.0), 50:26 [Distr. by Naxos] (10/14/16) *****: A lovely paring of moving works for strings by Barber and Bruckner. Back in 2004 the BBC asked its radio listeners to vote for the saddest music ever written, Barber’s Adagio For Strings won hands down. It’s a lovely piece, and the outcome of the poll is not a great surprise. It’s been recorded many times, and it’s especially nice to have a well-played SACD of this work. The disk also offers Bruckner’s String Quartet in F Major. The work was composed at the suggestion of the famous Viennese violinist Joseph Hellmesberger. Written about the time of the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, it is a surely a Romantic work, symphonic in scale but rather intimate in character. The Adagio, in contrast to Barber’s sadness, expresses transcendent bliss. Both pieces are very well played by Konzerthaus Kammerorchester of Berlin. Sayako Lusaka and Michael Erxleben are the Concertmasters. In terms of sonics, I find no fault. The realism of the strings, the dynamic range, and the lower registers are all served well by […]
HOELLER: Fantasie for Violin and Organ; Triptychon for Organ solo; Improvisationen for Cello & Organ – William Preucil, v./ Roy Christensen, c./ Barbara Harbach, organ – MSR Classics
The music of Karl Hoeller proves devotional and ecstatic in a highly individual but dark style. KARL HOELLER: Music for Violin, Cello and Organ = Fantasie for Violin and Organ, Op. 49; Triptychon for Organ solo, Op. 64; Improvisationen for Cello and Organ, Op. 55 – William Preucil, v./ Roy Christensen, cello/ Barbara Harbach, organ – MSR Classics MS 1445, 70:55 (9/29/16) [Distr. by Albany] ****: During a phone interview with pianist Veronika Jochum, daughter of eminent conductor Eugen Jochum, the name of composer Karl Hoeller (1907- 1987) arose, in the course of a radio tribute to Eugen Jochum which featured one of Hoeller’s orchestral compositions. Given Hoeller’s penchant for polyphony, tonal colors, and classical procedures, a comparison to Paul Hindemith seemed inevitable; but Ms. Jochum and I agree that Hoeller’s style feels distinctly less “academic” than that of Hindemith. The three works presented here derive from the years 1949-1963. Violinist William Preucil served as concertmaster in Atlanta and in Cleveland, before assuming the first violin position with the Cleveland String Quartet. The Fantasie (1949) opens with a solo violin cadenza before the organ joins him in some “symphonic” harmonization. The writing for both instruments, whether in concert or individually […]
Kenny Burrell And The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited – Unlimited 1 – HighNote
Kenny Burrell And The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited – Unlimited 1 – (Live At Catalina’s) – HighNote HCD7298 ****: This is a big band that has a sense of swing and plays with a brawny professionalism. (Kenny Burrell – electric guitar, vocals; Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited; Special guest: Barbara Morrison – vocal on track 16) The guitarists who were the natural successors to Charlie Christian, such as Wes Montgomery, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow and Jimmy Raney are all now deceased. The lone “soul” survivor, is the 85 year old Kenny Burrell. However age has not dimmed his capacity for tasks that are devoted to expanding the appreciation of big band music, all the while continuing to perform at the highest level. This live recording from Catalina’s Jazz club in Hollywood California, took place over several dates in 2015 and 2016. The Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited for which Kenny Burrell is the Artistic Director, is made up of top-shelf professional musicians, who work in the recording, movie, and TV industry based in LA. The band is devoted to performing compositions from jazz’s vast repertoire, and assisting in developing new ideas in jazz music. The program that […]
Andrea Claburn, vocals – Nightshade
Andrea Claburn – Nightshade – [Distr. by CD Baby], 52:07 ***: A high calibre of creativity. (Andrea Claburn – vocals; Matt Clark – piano & Fender Rhodes; Sam Bevan – acoustic & electric bass; Alan Hall – drums; John Santos – percussion; Terrence Brewer – acoustic & electric guitars; Erik Jekabson – trumpet & flugelhorn; Kasey Knudson – alto saxophone; Teddy Raven – tenor saxophone; Rob Ewing – trombone; Mads Tolling – violin & viola; Joseph Hébert – cello) Andrea Claburn, with her debut self-produced album Nightshade, has decided to “tilt at windmills”. But unlike Don Quixote, who mistakenly thought windmills were giants, Claburn is embarking on the long road to success. To complete the Quixote analogy, as described in the 1964 musical Man From La Mancha, she will “dream the impossible dream”. In her case, it might very well come true. Starting with a strong musical education, as well as a grounded and assured voice, Claburn uses these talents to explore a collection of original pieces, along with some covers from the jazz repertoire. While one might quibble with the inventiveness and sophistication of her own compositions, she is at home with her other choices. The opening track, “Lionheart”, […]
Audio News for January 10, 2017
David Bowie’s Impact on Classical Music – During the past year, a number of classical musicians and composers have done their own tributes to the legendary musician. They run from straight ahead covers to stirring original compositions. Shortly after Bowie’s death Amanda Palmer of the The Dresden Dolls and composer Jherek Bischoff released a short duo album, A David Bowie String Quartet Tribute. The BBC Proms had a evening seeking to re-imagine Bowie’s musical legacy in new classical soundscapes. He had been a fan of classical music and did not shy away from weaving orchestral arrangements into his work. Some even consider him the ultimate crossover artist – due to his ability to bring so many people together by blending his eclectic tastes. More Companies Add Amazon Alexa to Their Hardware – The Amazon personal assistance is capable of providing music playback and weather, traffic, and other real-time information. But this year at CES, many manufacturers are using the voice assistant in their hardware. Whirlpool, GE, Dish, Lenovo and Ford Motors said they plan to add the voice-activated helper to their hardware. Google release a device similar to the Alexa last year called Google Home. Apple is working on an […]
Craig Hartley – Books on Tape Vol. II: Standard Edition
Not your everyday collection of jazz standards. Craig Hartley – Books on Tape Vol. II: Standard Edition – self-released, 57:10 [10/7/16] ****: (Craig Hartley – piano & producer; Carlo De Rosa – bass; Jeremy ‘Bean’ Clemons – drums) On Craig Hartley’s 2013 self-released trio debut, Books on Tape, Vol. I, the pianist introduced his original compositions, which showed his inventive and individualistic imagination. Hartley has returned with another self-released trio album, Books on Tape, Vol II: Standard Edition, and it is appropriately subtitled. That’s because on his sophomore CD, Hartley spends an hour covering material which has influenced or inspired him over the years. The variety and the way Hartley meshes some of the music together offers a unique experience. Among the six interpretive pieces (plus one new composition) is music by Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Bach, Miles Davis, two former Beatles and more. Hartley is joined by bassist Carlo De Rosa (who was also on Hartley’s first CD) and drummer Jeremy ‘Bean’ Clemons. Ellington appears twice. A twisting and turning, nearly 11-minute translation of “Caravan” opens the album. Hartley explains in his liner notes his autonomous approach “allow(s) the group to take the song where it collectively feels it […]
HAYDN: Piano Sonatas Not. 3l, 33, 47 & 58 – John O’Conor, p. – Steinway
John O’Conor deftly brings out the variety and infinite charm of five Haydn sonatas. HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 47 in b; Piano Sonata No. 38 in F Major; Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major; Piano Sonata No. 33 in c; Piano Sonata No. 58 in C Major – John O’Conor, p. – Steinway & Sons 30058, 69:51 (11/20/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Irish piano virtuoso John O’Conor (b. 1947) has assembled a delectable group of five Haydn sonatas, composed 1767 and 1789, that display his thorough knowledge of keyboard technique and his infinite capacity for musical invention. Each of the sonatas basks in any number of variations in the course of its development, a brilliant testimony to a musical imagination in ceaseless experiment with the instrument at hand and its ability to generate sensuous form. O’Conor opens with the 1776 Sonata in b minor, one of a set published as the composer’s Op. 14. While something of Scarlatti begins the procession, the writing becomes what one scholar, H.C. Robbins Landon, calls more “expressionistic.” Sojourns into major and minor modes alternate, all accompanied by O’Conor’s jeu perle tones on his chosen Steinway instrument. At several points, the bass tones resonate […]
C.P.E. BACH: Flute Concertos – Emmanuel Pahud, flute/ Kammerakademie Potsdam/ Trevor Pinnock – Warner Classics
C.P.E. BACH: Flute Concertos – Emmanuel Pahud, flute/ Kammerakademie Potsdam/ Trevor Pinnock – Warner Classics 27679, 66:44 (11/4/16) ****: Three exceptionally lively concertos demonstrating flute virtuosity. In a previous release, Emmanuel Pahud and the Potsdam Academy gave us an overview of the musical activities at the Court of Frederick the Great, especially as they celebrated the King’s predilection for the flute. We heard a creditable composition from the King himself as well as pieces by the court favorite, Johann Quantz. Somewhat incongruously, Bach senior was represented; He was a one time guest from the provinces and another era. His son, C.P.E. Bach, however, is the name most closely associated with this moment in musical history, and it is with his work that the present CD is concerned. In the liner notes, it seems like Emmanuel Pahud is interested in nudging Bach out of the Rococo and over to the left. Pahud writes: “He combines the world of the court with that of the people — and does this by fleeing from both realities and inventing a new and different world. He serves neither the powdered wigs not the struggling multitudes, but creates new, musical visions.” The playing of Pahud and […]
MOZART & CHOPIN: “Dialogue” – Josep Colom, p. – Eudora
MOZART & CHOPIN: “Dialogue” – Josep Colom, p. – Eudora multichannel SACD 1404, 79:09 (2/10/16) ****½: A recital that bridges the aesthetic worlds of Mozart and Chopin. We need not succumb to mystical nonsense to believe that great works of art can communicate with one another over time. There are convergent notions at work in the most enduring aesthetic achievements. We see this all the more in individuals of like sensibilities. Aristotle, who believed in the intelligibility of nature and ably delineated the methods of science, could easily converse with Nobel prize-winning scientists of today. In music, too, it is rewarding to think of musical affinities which defy time. The present recording does just this sort of imagining and allows two such figures to meet and hold up a mirror one to the other: Mozart and Chopin. Josep Colom is a veteran Spanish pianist, renowned for his recordings of De Falla, Mompou and Brahms. He is a teacher and jury-member for the Chopin Piano Competition. On this recording, he surely enjoys the finest sound engineering of his career as he debuts for a small but outstanding Madrid-based audiophile label, Eudora. We were suitably impressed with this label’s issue of Haydn […]
Andrew Downing, cello & group – Otterville
Andrew Downing – Otterville – Self-Produced 2 CDs, 69:01 (Avail. as an MP3 download on Amazon) ***: A questionable premise delivers questionable results. (Andrew Downing – cello; Tara Davidson – alto saxophone; Michael Davidson – vibraphone; Christine Bougie – lap steel guitar; Paul Mathew – bass guitar; Nick Fraser – drums; Guests: Rebecca Hennessy – trumpet; William Carn – trombone) One has to wonder why young musicians, who in today’s competitive music environment, put themselves and their questionable ideas on the line to gain an audience. This is especially relevant, where the concept is well beyond the mainstream. Composer/cellist Andrew Dowling, has done just that with his newest self-produced release entitled Otterville. In this 2 CD set, with three exceptions, all of the compositions are by Andrew Dowling. The construct or conceit if you will, is that each piece contains a small excerpt from a jazz standard or the Great American Songbook, from which a unique new composition is built. In Mission Impossible terms, the challenge for you dear reader/listener, if you chose to accept it, is to find this snippet and determine how it fits within the new frame that Downing has built. “This Year’s Fancies” which opens CD […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
