Monthly Archive: December 2017

Heifetz and Horowitz = MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish”; KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto – Vladimir Horowitz, piano/ Jascha Heifetz, violin/ New York Philharmonic Orchestra/ Efrem Kurtz – Pristine

Heifetz and Horowitz = MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish”; KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto – Vladimir Horowitz, piano/ Jascha Heifetz, violin/ New York Philharmonic Orchestra/ Efrem Kurtz – Pristine

Heifetz and Horowitz = MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition; MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219 “Turkish”; KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 – Vladimir Horowitz, piano/ Jascha Heifetz, violin/ New York Philharmonic Orchestra/ Efrem Kurtz – Pristine Audio PASC 513, 77:27 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****:   Pristine pairs the two most […]

Jean-Michel Bernard Plays Lalo Schifrin – Varese Saraband 

Jean-Michel Bernard Plays Lalo Schifrin – Varese Saraband 

Jean-Michel Bernard Plays Lalo Schifrin – Varese Saraband 303 067 523 8, 63:42 ****1/2: Lalo Schifrin’s career in music began as a classical progeny. When he met iconic trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie in his native Argentina durang the 1950’s. Schifrin joined Gillespie’s band and this unique merger of classical and jazz structures occurred. Although versed in […]

Bob Gluck and Tani Tabbal – At This Time: Duets – Ictus 

Bob Gluck and Tani Tabbal – At This Time: Duets – Ictus 

Bob Gluck and Tani Tabbal – At This Time: Duets [TrackList follows] – Ictus CD181, 49:51 [10/15/17] ****: A different kind of duet album. (Bob Gluck – Yamaha acoustic piano, Roli Seaboard Grand, Keith McMillan QueNexus, Yamaha P60, Apogee Quartet audio interface, Ableton Live & Lemur iPad interface, Madrona Labs Aalto synthesizer, Kontakt software sampler; […]

ROBERT SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 3; ALBAN BERG: Lyric Suite; GYORGY KURTAG: Officium Breve – Quartet Gerhard– Harmonia Nova 

ROBERT SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 3; ALBAN BERG: Lyric Suite; GYORGY KURTAG: Officium Breve – Quartet Gerhard– Harmonia Nova 

ROBERT SCHUMANN: String Quartet No. 3; ALBAN BERG: Lyric Suite; GYORGY KURTAG: Officium Breve – Quartet Gerhard– Harmonia Nova HMN 916108, [Distr. By Harmonia Mundi] 63:11, (10/23/17) ***1/2: Some emotionally deep music playing exceptionally by this young quartet. This is a fascinating release and mainly for the concept behind the new label, Harmonia Nova. Harmonia […]

Ed Neumeister & his NeuHat Ensemble – Wake Up Call – MeisteroMusic 

Ed Neumeister & his NeuHat Ensemble – Wake Up Call – MeisteroMusic 

Ed Neumeister & his NeuHat Ensemble – Wake Up Call [Tracklist and Performing Artists follow] – MeisteroMusic 0017, 67:13 [7/15/17] ****: Modern, large ensemble jazz from an under appreciated composer/conductor. Don’t use the term big band jazz when it comes to arranger/conductor and trombonist Ed Neumeister. True, he utilizes many musicians on his self-released and […]

Marc Copland – Better by Far – InnerVoice Jazz

Marc Copland – Better by Far – InnerVoice Jazz

Marc Copland – Better by Far – InnerVoice Jazz IVJ 103, 62:29 [Spring 2017] ****: Pianist Marc Copland’s quartet makes it better. (Marc Copland – piano; Ralph Alessi – trumpet; Drew Gress – double bass; Joey Baron – drums) Pianist Marc Copland is and has been a persistently clear example of the lyrical side of […]

PAGANINI: 24 Caprices, Op. 1 – Augustin Hadelich, violin – Warner Classics 

PAGANINI: 24 Caprices, Op. 1 – Augustin Hadelich, violin – Warner Classics 

PAGANINI: 24 Caprices, Op. 1 – Augustin Hadelich, violin – Warner Classics 0190295728229, 81:07 (1/12/18) ****: Augustin Hadelich serves us a set of the complete Paganini Caprices in rousing, masterly fashion. Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year and the Warner Classics Award Winner 2015, Augustin Hadelich (b. 1984) performs one of the several “Everests” of […]

Lewis Porter-Phil Scarff Group – Three Minutes to Four – Whaling City Sound 

Lewis Porter-Phil Scarff Group – Three Minutes to Four – Whaling City Sound 

Lewis Porter-Phil Scarff Group – Three Minutes to Four [TrackList follows] – Whaling City Sound WCS 100 (distr. by Naxos), 73:19 [8/25/17] ****: Not your typical world jazz release. (Lewis Porter – piano; Phil Scarff – tenor, soprano and sopranino saxophones, tamboura; John Funkhouser – bass; Bertram Lehmann – drums) The best jazz takes listeners […]

Cyprien Katsaris plays THEODORAKIS = KATSARIS: Grande Fantaisie sur Zorba; Improvisation; THEODORAKIS: Prelude No. 7; Melos No. 5; Petite Suite for Piano – Cyprien Katsaris, piano – Piano 21 

Cyprien Katsaris plays THEODORAKIS = KATSARIS: Grande Fantaisie sur Zorba; Improvisation; THEODORAKIS: Prelude No. 7; Melos No. 5; Petite Suite for Piano – Cyprien Katsaris, piano – Piano 21 

Cyprien Katsaris plays THEODORAKIS = KATSARIS: Grande Fantaisie sur Zorba – une Rhapsodie Grecque; Improvisation spontanee sur des chansons de Theodorakis; THEODORAKIS: No. 7 from 11 Preludes, AST 44; No. 5 from 12 Melos, AST 541; Petite Suite for Piano, AST 90 – Cyprien Katsaris, piano – Piano 21 P21 057-N, 78:17 (12/5/17)  [www.cyprienkatsaris.net] ****: […]

Lise De La Salle, “Bach Unlimited” = Works by—and inspired by—J.S. BACH: Composers included BUSONI, POULENC, ROUSSEL, LISZT

Lise De La Salle, “Bach Unlimited” = Works by—and inspired by—J.S. BACH: Composers included BUSONI, POULENC, ROUSSEL, LISZT

Lise De La Salle, “Bach Unlimited” = Works by—and inspired by—J.S. BACH: Composers included BUSONI, POULENC, ROUSSEL, LISZT [Composition List Below] –  Naïve Records V5444, 60:32, (11/03/17) ***1/2: A bit eclectic and very impressive! I do not profess to be an expert in piano playing nor in the current repertoire. I have heard plenty however […]

Rufus Reid (with the Sirius Quartet) – Terrestrial Dance – Newvelle Records 

Rufus Reid (with the Sirius Quartet) – Terrestrial Dance – Newvelle Records 

Rufus Reid (with the Sirius Quartet) – Terrestrial Dance – Newvelle Records NV 012LP – audiophile vinyl LP – ****1/2 Newvelle Records continues to pursue the creative less familiar path… (Rufus Reid – bass; Steve Allee – piano; Duduka Da Fonseca – drums; with Sirius String Quartet: Fung Chern Hwei – violin; Gregor Huebner – […]

Reiner conducts WAGNER = Orchestral Selections from Die Meistersinger; Parsifal; Die Walkuere; Tannhauser; Lohengrin; Siegfried – New York Philharmonic/ Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner – Pristine Audio

Reiner conducts WAGNER = Orchestral Selections from Die Meistersinger; Parsifal; Die Walkuere; Tannhauser; Lohengrin; Siegfried – New York Philharmonic/ Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/ Fritz Reiner – Pristine Audio

Reiner conducts WAGNER = Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg: Prelude to Act I (two performances); Prelude to Act III; Dance of the Apprentices; Procession of the Mastersingers; Parsifal: Prelude to Act I; Die Walkuere: Ride of the Valkyries; Tannhauser: Venusberg Music; Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I and Prelude to Act III; Siegfried: Forest Murmurs – New […]

Jonathan SARAGA: Journey to a New World – Fresh Sounds New Talent 

Jonathan SARAGA: Journey to a New World – Fresh Sounds New Talent 

Jonathan SARAGA: Journey to a New World – Fresh Sounds New Talent 535, 72.05 (10/1/17) ***½:  Feisty, uptempo post-bop ensemble with agile soloing by Fresh Sound New Talent trumpeter in front. (Jonathan Saraga; trumpet/ Remy Le Boeuf; alto sax/ Aki Ishiguro; guitar/ Chris Pattishall; piano/keyboards/ Rick Rosato;bass/ Kenneth Salters; drums) There is scarcely a person […]

William WALTON: Symphony No. 1—Symphony No. 2. Bournemouth Symphony Onyxclassics 

William WALTON: Symphony No. 1—Symphony No. 2. Bournemouth Symphony Onyxclassics 

William WALTON: Symphony No. 1—Symphony No. 2. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Kirill Karabits, onyxclassics ONYX4168, 73:50, ***** Once in a while a reviewer hears a performance of familiar works that is so unique that it redefines the music. Kirill Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has made a recording that expresses the passion and warmth of two […]

DEBUSSY: Estampes; Images; Children’s Corner Suite; La plus que lente; L’Isle joyeuse – Stephen Hough, piano – Hyperion 

DEBUSSY: Estampes; Images; Children’s Corner Suite; La plus que lente; L’Isle joyeuse – Stephen Hough, piano – Hyperion 

DEBUSSY: Estampes; Images, Books I-II; Children’s Corner Suite; La plus que lente; L’Isle joyeuse – Stephen Hough, piano – Hyperion CDA68139, 69:25 (1/5/18) [Harmonia mundi/PIAS] **** A potent and sonically resonant all-Debussy album attests to the spectacular technique of Stephen Hough. Having listened to the exotic, even voluptuous, sounds of the gamelan and gong (or […]

Artur Schnabel: Beethoven Birthday Salute!

Artur Schnabel: Beethoven Birthday Salute!

Streams and Podcasts for 17 December 2017 Artur Schnabel: Beethoven Birthday Salute! That all so distinguished pianist Artur Schnabel will be featured on this week’s show of The Music Treasury, broadcast on Sunday evenings in the Bay Area, as well as streaming on the ‘Net. While an exceptional pianist renowned for his performances of composers […]

The Film Scores and Original Orchestral Music of George Martin – Berlin Music Ensemble conducted by Craig Leon  – Atlas Realisations 

The Film Scores and Original Orchestral Music of George Martin – Berlin Music Ensemble conducted by Craig Leon  – Atlas Realisations 

The Film Scores and Original Orchestral Music of George Martin –  Berlin Music Ensemble conducted by Craig Leon  – Atlas Realisations CD ARCD008 (11/10/17) *** 1/2 Familiar and never heard music by the iconic George Martin This is a most welcome and overdue disc of the music of George Martin. This recording collects —for the […]

SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2; Violin Concerto – Ivry Gitlis, violin/ Vienna Symphony Orchestra/ Orchestre Radio National de France/ Jascha Horenstein – Pristine 

SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2; Violin Concerto – Ivry Gitlis, violin/ Vienna Symphony Orchestra/ Orchestre Radio National de France/ Jascha Horenstein – Pristine 

SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43; Violin Concerto in d minor, Op. 47 – Ivry Gitlis, violin/ Vienna Symphony Orchestra (Op. 47)/ Orchestre Radio National de France/ Jascha Horenstein – Pristine Audio PASC 516, 70:22 [www.pristineclassical.com] *****: Superlative Sibelius interpretations to add to the Horenstein legacy, brilliantly assisted by veteran Ivry Gitlis. […]