Monthly Archive: June 2018
Bernstein in the 1940s, Volume 2 = Works by SCHUMANN; ROZSA; R. STRAUSS – New York Philharmonic – Pristine Audio
Pristine restores the historical moment of Bernstein’s 1943 debut at Carnegie Hall, a moment that officially launched a legendary career.
ANTHEIL: Specter – performed by Duo Odeon – Music of George Antheil – Sono Luminus
A good collection of Antheil’s music, played with passion and precision Antheil: Specter – performed by Duo Odeon – Music of George Antheil – Sono Luminus Audio CD DSL-92222 (6-22-18) TT: 61:59 George Antheil (1900-1959) was an American composer—born in Trenton, New Jersey—who began his professional career in Europe, where he was friends with, among […]
Chet Atkins – Chet Atkins In Hollywood – Speakers Corner Records
A country guitar legend records in Hollywood and enhances his legacy. Chet Atkins – Chet Atkins In Hollywood – RCA Victor LSP-1993 (1959/1961)/Speakers Corner Records (2016), 180-gram stereo vinyl 35:47 ****1/2: (Chet Atkins – guitar; Howard Roberts – guitar; Jethro Burns – mandolin; Clifford Hill – bass; George Callender – bass; Larry Bunker – drums; […]
Kevin Sun – Trio – Endectomorph
New trio music inspired by Parker, Coltrane, Iyer and more. Kevin Sun – Trio – Endectomorph Music EMM-003, 71:47 [2/2/18] ****: (Kevin Sun – tenor saxophone, C-melody saxophone (tracks 4, 12), clarinet (tracks 2, 7, 9), producer; Walter Stinson – bass; Matt Honor – drums, Tracklist at end of review) Saxophonist and clarinetist Kevin Sun […]
Harry Nilsson – Aerial Ballet – Speakers Corner (2017)
Fifty years later, this pop album is still important! Harry Nilsson – Aerial Ballet – RCA Victor LSP-3956 (1968)/Speakers Corner (2017) 180-gram vinyl, 25:15 ****1/2: (Harry Nilsson – vocals; Plas Johnson – woodwinds; Dennis Budimir – guitar; Al Casey – guitar; Michael Melvin – piano, organ, harpsichord; Larry Knechtel – piano, bass; Jim Gordon – […]
Dectet: The Music of David Sampson – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/Paul Polivnick, American Brass Quintet – Albany Records
Compelling compositions by American Composer David Sampson
Ry Cooder – Paradise And Lunch – Warner Brothers/Reprise/Speakers Corner
A classic 1974 roots album gets a well-deserved analog update! Ry Cooder – Paradise And Lunch – Warner Brothers/Reprise MS 2179/Speakers Corner (2016) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 36:51 *****: Ry Cooder’s Paradise And Lunch was released in 1974 to critical acclaim. Backed by a stellar ensemble of jazz (with no less than Earl Hines one one […]
RICHARD STRAUSS: Macbeth; Don Juan; Death and Transfiguration; Festmarsch – Staatskapelle Weimar/ Kirill Karabits – Audite
Familiar and unfamiliar orchestral selections from Richard Strauss receive energetic readings from conductor Karabits. RICHARD STRAUSS: Macbeth, Op. 23; Don Juan, Op. 20; Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24; Festmarsch in C Major – Staatskapelle Weimar/ Kirill Karabits – Audite 97.755, 70:25 (5/18/18) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: In 1884, Richard Strauss became, through the support of […]
Reason & Reverence: Works for Orchestra – Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra / Petr Vronský – Navona
An excellent collection of contemporary collection of music around the theme of reverence and growth Reason & Reverence: Works for Orchestra – Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra / Petr Vronský Navona Records NV6166 (6/8/2018) ****: What a refreshingly good listen this disc from Navona is. The album starts splendidly with Christopher Keyes’ An Inescapable Entanglement. It has […]
MENDELSSOHN: Overture & Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Budapest Festival Orchestra/ Ivan Fischer – Channel Classics
Faeries and humans may well dance and rejoice in Ivan Fischer’s new reading of Mendelssohn’s classic response to Shakespeare’s magical comedy. MENDELSSOHN: Overture and Incidental Music to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Opp. 21 & 61; F. MENDELSSOHN: May Night, OP. 9, No. 6; Distance, Op. 9, No. 2; Gondola Song, Op. 1, No. 6 – […]
Danny Fox Trio – The Great Nostalgist – Hot Cup
Modern piano jazz from a forward-looking trio… Danny Fox Trio – The Great Nostalgist [TrackList follows] – Hot Cup 104, 53:18 [1/19/18] ****: (Danny Fox – piano; Chris van Voorst van Beest – bass; Max Goldman – drums) There’s plenty of personal history in the ten originals on the Danny Fox Trio’s third album, the […]
French Moments = Piano Trios by ROUSSEL, DEBUSSY, FAURE – Neave Trio – Chandos
The Neave Trio bestows upon us three French piano trios that well define late Gallic Romanticism and its capacity for rare colors. French Moments = ROUSSEL: Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 2; DEBUSSY: Piano Trio in G Major; FAURE: Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 120 – Neave Trio – Chandos CHAN 10996, 70:08 […]
The Music Treasury for 23 June 2018 — Violinist Michael Rabin
The Music Treasury this week is featuring recordings by violinist Michael Rabin, who had an exceptional career in the 1900s, albeit a tragically short one. Rabin showed deep musical talents at very early ages, studied with Heifetz and Galamian when quite young, with his Carnegie Hall debut performing Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 5. More information of Michael […]
The Music of Lucien Caillet, Vol. 2 = Works by BACH; BUXTEHUDE; VIVALDI ; DEBUSSY; RACHMANINOV; TCHAIKOVSKY; CAILLET – Pristine Audio
Both sophisticated and splashy, the transcriptions from Lucien Caillet compel some virtuoso playing from various ensembles.
Harold Vick – Don’t Look Back – Strata East/PurePleasure
Continuing the Strata East tradition… Harold Vick – Don’t Look Back – Strata East/PurePleasure SES-7431 – audiophile 180 gm vinyl – 1974 – ****: (Harold Vick – tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet, soprano sax; Virgil Jones – trumpet and flugelhorn; George Davis – alto flute, guitar; Kiane Zawadi – euphonium; Joe Bonner – piano, Fender […]
BLOCH: Music for Viola and Piano – Paul Neubauer, viola/ Margo Garrett, piano – Delos
Virile, robust performances of Bloch’s viola compositions make this collection a must for those who cherish the instrument at its best. BLOCH: Suite for Viola and Piano; Suite for Viola Solo; Suite Hebraique; Meditation and Processional – Paul Neubauer, viola/ Margo Garrett, piano – Delos DE 3498, 56:27 (2/16/18) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Cultural historians […]
The Music Treasury for 17 June 2018 — Andre Tchaikowsky, pianist/composer
This week, The Music Treasury will feature Andre Tchaikowsky, both a composer and pianist from the 1900s. His career, although short, was full with performances and a significant number of compositions, including an operatic setting to Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. The show can be heard in the Bay Area on the KZSU radio station; it […]
Ryan Keberle and Frank Woeste – Reverso-Suite Ravel – Phono Art
Modern jazz inspired by classicalism. Ryan Keberle and Frank Woeste – Reverso–Suite Ravel [TrackList follows] – Phono Art/Alternate Side, Ref Phonoart 001, 53:40 [2/9/18] ****: (Ryan Keberle – trombone, co-producer; Frank Woeste – piano, co-producer; Vincent Courtois – cello; Jeff Ballard – drums) Classical music and jazz have become intertwined over the decades, from Gershwin’s […]
Carlo Zecchi: The Complete Cetra Solo Recordings – Carlo Zecchi, piano/ Arrigo Tassinari, flute/ Giaconda da Vito, violin/ E.L.A.R. Symphony Orchestra/ Fernando Previtali – APR
The piano artistry of Italian master Carlo Zecchi finds a resplendent tribute in Obert-Thorn’s meticulous restoration.
Benito Gonzalez, Gerry Gibbs and Essiet Okon Essiet – Passion Reverence Transcendence: The Music of McCoy Tyner — Whaling City Sound
A charismatic Tyner tribute. Benito Gonzalez, Gerry Gibbs and Essiet Okon Essiet – Passion Reverence Transcendence: The Music of McCoy Tyner [TrackList follows] – Whaling City Sound [dist. by NAXOS] WCS 102, 77:32 [4/27/18] ****: (Benito Gonzalez – acoustic piano; Gerry Gibbs – producer, drums, percussion, conga drums, harp, mini-Moog, vibraphone, marimba, kalimba, balifons, glockenspiel, […]
Sometime Ago – Cornerstone Records
An appealing release filled with subtle coolness. Sometime Ago – Cornerstone Records CRST CD 148 58:24****: (Jim Vivian – bass; John Abercrombie – guitar; Ian Froman – drums; Mike Murley – tenor saxophone) John Abercrombie was an American guitarist, who in addition to being an influential jazz figure, might also be considered as a synthesizer […]
To Brahms, With Love = BRAHMS: Cello Sonatas – Amit Peled, cello/ Noreen Polera, piano – CAP Records
To Brahms, With Love = BRAHMS: Cello Sonatas – Amit Peled, cello/ Noreen Polera, piano – CAP Records Amit Peled applies his cherished Casals cello in the service of the two Brahms sonatas. To Brahms, With Love = BRAHMS: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38; Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Major, […]