Monthly Archive: August 2018
Changyong Shin – Keyboard works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven – Steinway and Sons
Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven (Piano Works)—Changyong Shin (piano)—Steinway and Sons 30041—59:22, ****1/2: I always enjoy hearing recitals by emerging artists. Shin studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and has been a winner in a number of prestigious competitions. This recital is a means to showcase his versatility with the standard repertoire. He performs Bach’s Toccata, BWV 912, Mozart’s Hunt sonata, K. 576, Haydn’s sonata no. 60, and Beethoven’s A major sonata, op. 101. Shin is a technically-precise musician, but likewise applies rubato and dynamic shading to his playing. The recorded sound in this release is first-rate. The piano—a Steinway D—is even-toned, blooming ever so much in the middle register. The acoustic is live enough to celebrate the piano’s sound without anything feeling washed-out. Shin descends into the quiet shadows capable of the instrument many times so that the few outbursts come across as grand, rich explosions of color, as in the Beethoven Vivace Alla Marcia. Shin’s Bach for me is polite and somewhat underwhelming. This is a pianist approaching Bach, with no attempt to reference the sound world of Bach’s keyboard instruments. The opening is played forte, with even pressure but then the first cadences feel artificial. There’s nothing […]
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Featuring Paul Desmond – Brubeck Time – Columbia Records/Speakers Corner
Re-mastered vinyl recording showcases this iconic jazz quartet!
Serge Koussevitzky, Vol. 11 = Orchestral Works by CASADESUS, SIBELIUS, SCHUMANN – Yves St-Laurent Studio
The ever-volatile Serge Koussevitzky electrifies us with his fierce renditions of Sibelius and Schumann.
The Music Treasury 19 August 2018
This week, The Music Treasury is presenting the distinguished tenor Nicolai Gedda, who had an exceptionally long career throughout the 20th Century.
Hubert Laws – Afro-Classic – CTI Records – Speakers Corner
Vinyl reissue of iconic jazz flautist is revelatory! Hubert Laws – Afro-Classic – CTI Records CTI 6006 (1970)/Speakers Corner (2018) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 37:29 ****1/2: (Hubert Laws – flute; Don Sebesky – arrangements; Ron Carter – bass, electric cello; Dave Friedman – vibes; Gene Bertoncini – guitar; Fred Waits – drums; Richie “Pablo” Landrum – percussion; Airto Moreira – percussion; Bob James – electric piano; Fred Alson Jr. – bassoon) Houston native, Hiubert Laws approached playing the flute as both a vehicle for classical and jazz music. As a teenager he participated in classical and jazz bands. While on scholarship to the Julliard School Of Music, he performed with with the the New York Metropolitan Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. At the same time, Laws was appearing with jazz acts, including Mongo Santamaria. In 1964, he recorded as a band leader for Atlantic Records. But he hit an artistic peak when he was signed to the CTI label, most notably with Rite Of Spring and Afro Classic. He has worked as a sideman for many artists including Chet Baker, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Bernstein, Paul McCartney, Stevie Winder, Bob James, Carly Simon, Sergio Mendes, J.J. […]
Mark Winkler, Cheryl Bentyne – Eastern Standard Time – Café Pacific Records
East Coast hip! Mark Winkler, Cheryl Bentyne – Eastern Standard Time Café Pacific Records CPCD 4065 48:34****: ( Mark Winkler & Cheryl Bentyne – vocals; Rich Eames – piano; Bob Sheppard – sax; Grant Geissman – guitar; Pat Kelly – guitar #7; Gabe Davis – bass; Dave Tull – drums; Kevin Winard – percussion; Stephanie Fife – cello) Eastern Standard Time by the singers Mark Winkler and Cheryl Bentyne is a bookend to their 2013 release West Coast Cool which chronicled tunes from the 1950s which told the musical story of the West Coast Cool sound. While in the East, the jazz music that enjoyed recognition in the clubs of that same time period was not generally regarded as cool, but rather as hip.Among the singers whose names were linked to this period were Jackie Paris, Mose Allison, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor and Anita O’Day. Backed by a sympathetic swinging band, Winkler and Bentyne prance though a session of eleven charts of which seven are duets, and the other four are solo efforts equally split between the two singers.Bob Dorough’s much recorded “Devil May Care” opens the disc with a spirited Afro- Cuban arrangement by pianist Rich Eames, one of […]
“apotheosis, vol. 2” = MOZART: The Piano Quartets – Joyce Yang, Alexander String Quartet – Foghorn Classics `
“apotheosis, vol. 2” = MOZART: The Piano Quartets – Joyce Yang, p/ Alexander String Quartet – Foghorn Classics CD2018, 1:04:09 [Dist. by Naxos] *****: I love the Alexander String Quartet; it would be unfair to call them throwbacks, for that suggests that they live in the past with little interest in string progression and modern techniques. But they possess a tonal quality that reeks flexibility, fascination, and enthrallment with beautiful sound for its own sake, soft, vibrant, yet able to turn on a dime. There is simply no more beautiful quartet playing today. This second volume of “apotheosis” focuses on the marvelous piano quartets of Mozart—K. 478 in G Minor, K. 493 in Eb Major. These are, with good reason, a couple of the most beloved chamber works in the entire literature, despite that fact that overall there are not many examples—or good ones, at any rate, in the history of music. (The exceptions are fantastic!) It’s like a car with a flat tire—the balances are often very difficult to achieve properly, with the piano often having to simply take over what is perceived as a missing part. But Mozart, never one to be satisfied with such a construct, finds, […]
Grigori Frid: Clarinet Sonatas – John Finucane, Elisaveta Blumina – MDG Multi-channel SACD
Russian sonatas by Grigori Frid in stunning surround sound Grigori Frid: Clarinet Sonatas – John Finucane (clarinet), Elisaveta Blumina (piano) (6/8/18) MDG Multi-channel SACD Catalogue No: MDG9032069 TT: 57:16 ****: Gregori Frid is not a well known name in classical composing, but he was a unique voice and I’m thrilled to see more of his works appearing on disc. Frid, who died in 2012 was a Russian composer of music written in many different genres, including chamber opera. Frid was a prolific composer. His most notable works are his two chamber operas, both to his own libretti. The Diary of Anne Frank is a monodrama in 21 scenes for soprano and chamber orchestra. He wrote three symphonies (1939, 1955, 1964), a series of instrumental concertos including a Concerto for viola, piano and string orchestra (1981), as well as film scores. For this disc, we get 3 Clarinet Sonatas, numbers 1-3. John Finucane performs on the clarinet, while Elisaveta Blumina is the pianist Frid was alive during the musical reign of such greats as Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, and some of the other Russian greats, but Frid’s sound is unique and yet has a distinctive Russian sound. I found all three sonatas a […]
COLTRANE. Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album – Verve
COLTRANE. Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album – Verve Why did I give this CD two ratings instead of one? You’ll find out soon. COLTRANE. Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album. John Coltrane (saxophone), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), Elvin Jones (drums)[June 29, 2018]. CD. Verve. 47:00 */*****: This release of a 55-year old recording of John Coltrane, one of the century’s greatest jazz performers/composers, seems to be a great find, perhaps the best one of the year. Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album was made on a single day in March 1963 but it took this long for it to see the beguiling mists of twilight. However, its title is a bit disingenuous. It’s not the lost album. There have been two other John Coltrane finds I know of: Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (which I reviewed on these pages) and Live at the Half Note: One Down, One Up, both released in 2005. Coltrane biographer Ben Ratliff says Verve (Impulse!’s parent company) has eighty-six CDs worth of Coltrane’s concert recordings, and it doesn’t really matter whether they are “found” or not. There’s more in the queue. Okay. So check this […]
Cory Weeds Little Big Band – Explosion – CellarLive
A self-assured session from a tight little band Cory Weeds Little Big Band – Explosion – CellarLive CL111317 59:40****: In reading the names of the musicians that participated in this session, alto saxophonist PJ Perry popped out. It was a reminder of an early time when a couple of these smaller styled units were playing regularly in Canada. In particular, Perry played with the highly regarded Rob McConnell Tentet in the early 2000s, and that band recorded not unsurprisingly on the Canadian label Justin Time Records. Regrettably, Perry is not given much to do in this recording, despite being biting and inventive alto player. In this outing, the preponderance of the musicians are Canadians, but there were several ringers including baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, trombonist Steve Davis and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli all of whom are Americans. The bustling charts were arranged by a Vancouverite couple Jill Townsend and husband Bill Coon and were a judicious mixture of tunes written by bop masters, popular standards, and soul favourites. When he was alive, pianist Tommy Flanagan was always tasteful improvisor, and his composition “Minor Mishap” follows in that tradition. After a strong opening theme, trombonist Steve Davis and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli take […]
McClenty Hunter, Jr. – The Groove Hunter – Strikezone
Plenty of McClenty on McClenty Hunter’s solo debut. McClenty Hunter, Jr. – The Groove Hunter – [TrackList follows] – Strikezone 8816, 51:54 [5/4/18] ****: Drummer McClenty Hunter, Jr. knows how to swing. Hunter was a member of saxophonist Kenny Garrett’s quintet for three years (Hunter can be heard on Garrett’s 2013 album, Pushing the World Away); for eight years he’s been part of guitarist Dave Stryker’s band; and he’s backed numerous artists such as saxophonist Lou Donaldson and trombonist Curtis Fuller. So, it’s no surprise to learn Hunter’s 52-minute solo debut as a leader, entitled The Groove Hunter, features lots of swing, groove and percussive dexterity. Hunter put together an outstanding line-up for his first record, including trumpeter Eddie Henderson, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, pianist Eric Reed, Stryker and several more. The nine tracks are a diverse showcase not only for Hunter but also the other players. Material ranges from covers (Herbie Nichols, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder and others) to Hunter originals. Hunter’s arrangements favor traditional, straightforward jazz. There’s nothing here which is abrasive, avant-garde or otherwise dissonant. This is feel-good jazz which sounds wonderful from start to finish. Hunter opens with Nichols’ “Blue Chopsticks.” Nichols is probably most famous […]
Vince Guaraldi – Oh Good Grief! – Omnivore Records/Warner Bros
Reinterpreted “Peanuts” themes stand the test of time on Vince Guaraldi’s 1st Warner Bros album (1968)… Vince Guaraldi – Oh Good Grief! – Omnivore Records/Warner Bros ORLP-287 – stereo LP – 1968 – 27 min. – ****1/2 (Vince Guaraldi – piano, electric harpsichord; Eddie Duran – electric guitar; Stanley Gilbert – bass; Carl Burnett – drums) Vince Guaraldi’s career took off in 1960 after the single “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” caught the public’s fancy and climbed the pop music charts. However, what cemented Vince’s place in popular culture were his compositions written for the seasonal “Peanuts” cartoon TV specials. There was a charm and jauntiness to the catchy melodies that set off the witty dialogue written for Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, “Pig-Pen,” and the inimitable beagle, Snoopy. The specials were hits with children, and the hip musical accompaniment appealed to their parents. Vince Guaraldi was a San Francisco based jazz pianist, who was also well known as a member of vibraphonist Cal Tjader’s combo. Vince was a creative musician, who also had a strong interest in Bossa Nova music. He recorded several albums with guitarist, Bola Sete, for the Fantasy Record label. For his first album for […]
Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band – West Side Story Reimagined – Jazzheads
A captivating and fulfilling recording that more than reimagines this enduring masterpiece. Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band – West Side Story Reimagined – Jazzheads JH1231 (2CDs) 79:38**** ( Bobby Sanabria – music director, drum set plus 20 person big band) In the early 1590s, William Shakespeare wrote the Verona, Italy based tragedy Romeo and Juliet centred around an undisclosed generational feud between the Montagues and Capulets, and there was no accompanying musical score ( at least none that we are aware of ). In 1957, when Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim wrote the Broadway musical West Side Story, they appropriated the Romeo and Juliet story line but transformed it into an ethnic and racial gang war between whites and Puerto Ricans as embodied by the Jets and the Sharks. In this instance, the story line was advanced by the ambitious music of Bernstein and Sondheim. Drummer Bobby Sanabria and his Mulitverse Big Band have taken this musical gem and turned it into a Latin jazz celebration and recorded it live at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York City on November 19,2017. With this large band, backed by a robust six person rhythm section, playing layered innovative charts, the end […]
Egon Petri Plays BRAHMS: Violin Sonata; Viola Sonata; Rhapsodies and Ballades – with Joseph Szigeti, Samuel Lifschey – Pristine Audio
Producer Mark Obert-Thorn provides the complement to the recorded Petri Brahms legacy, 1937-1955. BRAHMS: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108; Viola Sonata No. 2 in F minor, Op. 120, No. 1; 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79; 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117; Ballades, Op. 10: No. 1 in D minor; No. 2 in D Major; No. 3 in B minor and No. 4 in B Major (the latter two as a FLAC download) – Joseph Szigeti, violin/ Samuel Lifschey, viola/ Egon Petri, piano – Pristine Audio PAKM 076, 76:59 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****: Dutch pianist Egon Petri (1881-1962) may well endure more as a pedagogue than brilliant virtuoso, since his teaching, first in Berlin and then both at Cornell University and Mills College, includes a host of luminaries, including Earl Wild, Gunnar Johansen, John Ogden, and Ruth Slenczynska. But Petri’s advocacy of his mentor, Ferruccio Busoni, for example, led to his collaboration in the 1941 Memorial Concert in New York led by Dimitri Mitropoulos. Between 1935-1938 he recorded for English Columbia, and his recordings of Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Franck, Beethoven, and Brahms won high praise. Recording engineer and producer Mark Obert-Thorn has assembled the Petri Brahms legacy from several sources, 1937-1955, including […]
The Music Treasury 12 August 2018
This week, The Music Treasury is presenting works by conductor Louis Frémaux. Frémaux was an active conductor in the 1900s, post WWII, in Europe and Australia. Among other pieces, the show will present Bizet’s rarely heard Second Symphony, Roma. The show, hosted by Dr Gary Lemco, will air between 19:00 and 21:00 PDT on KZSU in the Bay Area; it can also be heard concurrently on the ‘Net at kzsu.stanford.edu. Louis Frémaux, Conductor Louis Frémaux (1921-2017), conductor, was born in Aire-sur-la-Lys, France and came from an artistic background; his father was a painter, and his mother a music teacher. He studied music at the conservatoire in Valenciennes, but his studies were interrupted by WWII, when he joined the French Resistance; at the end of the war he was commissioned in the French Foreign Legion and posted to Vietnam in 1945-46. He entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1947, studied under Louis Fourestier and Jacques Chailley, and graduated in 1952 with a first prize in conducting. After his release from the French Foreign Legion (following his recall for service in Algeria), Frémaux worked with the orchestra of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, at the request of Prince Rainier. He was made a Chevalier de […]
Pat Metheny Group – American Garage – ECM Records
ECM releases new audiophile vinyl of a seminal 1970’s jazz album! Pat Metheny Group – American Garage – ECM Records ECM 1155 (1979/2010) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 35:21 [distr. by Universal Music Group] *****: (Pat Metheny – 6 & 12-string guitars; Lyle Mays – piano, Oberheim, autoharp, organ; Mark Egan – bass; Dan Gottlieb – drums) Pat Metheny was born into a musical family in Missouri. His father and brother both played trumpet, and he started his musical journey on horn. Like many Americans, he saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan’s show in 1964, and yet another guitarist was born. He taught guitar at the University Of Miami and The Berklee School Of Music. Metheny released his debut Bright Size Life on ECM Records in 1976 (with Jaco Pastorius/bass and Bob Moses (drums). The diverse musical styles reflected jazz fusion, contemporary and Latin influences. His next album, Watercolors (1977) represented the beginning of his notable collaboration with pianist Lyle Mays. In 1978, the Pat Metheny Group was formed (with bassist Mark Egan and drummer Dan Gottlieb), resulting in the self-titled project. Then PMG recorded American Garage and it soared to #1 on the Billboard jazz chart. From 1982-85, Metheny (at (ECM) […]
Sei Solo = BACH Sonatas and Partitas – Thomas Bowes – Navona Records
Johann Sebastian BACH. Six sonatas and partitas for violin alone—Thomas Bowes (violin)—Navona Records NV6159—164:00, ***1/2: This recording of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, the “Sei Solo,” are recorded across three discs. My immediate reaction was to question why the recording took three discs, while every other recording I have heard took just two. And so I went reading before I listened to try and discover what was novel about this recording from Thomas Bowes. Liner notes are funny things; they’ve long been associated with classical albums and give an opportunity from someone [performer, producer, record label, musicologist, etc., etc.] to educate the listener on some aspect (or many aspects) of the music, the recording, or even the instrument(s) used. And as a collector of albums, I feel qualified in saying that not all liner notes are equal and not all recordings come with them (as is often the case when purchasing re-issues). In 2018, I am not sure we need liner notes in the same way we did in 1998, or we travel back to the origin of the term, from somewhere in the mid-twentieth century when all this commentary was printed on the sleeve of a vinyl record. To […]
SONAR with David Torn – Vortex – RareNoise
Groove, repetition and bold sparseness: it’s SONAR. SONAR with David Torn – Vortex – RareNoise RNR087, 56:12 [3/30/18] ****: (Stephan Thelen – guitar; Bernhard Wagner – guitar; Christian Kuntner – electric bass; Manuel Pasquinelli – drums; David Torn – electric guitar, live looping, manipulation, mixer, producer) Sometimes collaborations are planned. Other times they are fortuitously unintended. Case in point is the 56-minute Vortex, the fourth album from Swiss minimalist groove quartet SONAR. The foursome—comprised of guitarists Stephan Thelen and Bernhard Wagner; bassist Christian Kuntner; and drummer Manuel Pasquinelli—is known for the use of tritones tunings (defined as musical intervals composed of three adjacent whole tones). Avant-garde guitarist Henry Kaiser took a liking to the band’s material and told his friend and fellow guitarist, the legendary David Torn, that Torn should produce the quartet. One thing led to another, and what started as a production relationship became a full-blown partnership with Torn as producer and musical guest. The result is a unique blend of Torn’s uninhibited and open style and SONAR’s orderly, disciplined and specific approach. Thelen notes, “It’s a bit like ying and yang or the two opposing ends of a ring-shaped world.” Vortex was released as a CD; a […]
Gene Clark – Gene Clark Sings for You – Omnivore Records
Early unreleased Gene Clark session for your consideration… Gene Clark – Gene Clark Sings for You – Omnivore Records OVCD 280 – 1967 – 53:12 ***½: (Gene Clark – guitar and vocals; Alex del Zoppo – electric piano; other other musicians are unknown) For many fans of the early Byrds catalog, Gene Clark was the songwriter whose lyrics were most intriguing. His tenure with the group was only two years long but for rabid fans, his influence greatly exceeded that time period. He is credited with having a major influence on the merging of rock with country, bluegrass, and baroque orchestral motifs. Before joining the Byrds he was a member of the New Christy Minstrels for two albums. The pressures of touring and rifts between band members caused Clark to leave The Byrds in 1966. Over the next year, Gene concentrated on writing songs and reportedly built up 200-300 unrecorded tracks. It was during this time period that he went into the studios at Larrabee, and Gold Star, in Los Angeles, and laid down eight new tracks, mostly with minimal accompaniment. Clark also privately recorded additional material for his own use. The eight tracks on acetate laid dormant in Liberty […]
Chick Corea – Return To Forever – ECM Records
A landmark in Jazz Fusion is released on audiophile vinyl. Chick Corea – Return To Forever – ECM Records ECM 1022 (1972/2018) 180-gram stereo vinyl, 46:48 *****: (Chick Corea – electric piano; Joe Farrell – soprano saxophone, flute; Flora Purim – vocals, percussion; Stan Clark – electric bass; double bass; Airto Moreira – drums, percussion) Jazz Fusion became a controversial musical form in the late 1960’s. Eschewing traditional instrumentation (double bass, acoustic piano, drums), this genre integrated jazz improvisation and harmony with r & b, funk and rock music. At times the music explored unique chord progressions, rhythms and unusual counterpoints. Sometimes the music was predicated on a basic groove that led into a sustained vamp. Either way, Jazz Fusion was noted for extended jams that often included elements of woodwinds and brass. One of the pioneers was Miles Davis. Bitches Brew (1970) became the epitome of fusion. Musicians like Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, John McLaughlin and Chick Corea carried on this new era in bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra, Headhunters, and Return To Forever. Chick Corea was another pioneer of Jazz Fusion. The Massachusetts native was influenced by his trumpeter father, especially in bebop jazz. At […]
The Rose Garden – A Trip Through the Garden/ The Rose Garden Collection – Omnivore Records
A brief time in the limelight, revisited… The Rose Garden – A Trip Through the Garden/ The Rose Garden Collection – Omnivore Records OVCD 281 – 1968 – 78:24 ***1/2: (Diana De Rose – vocals and acoustic guitar; John Noreen – lead guitar (Rickenbacker 12 string electric), vocals; James Groshong – vocals and guitar; William Fleming – bass; Bruce Bowdin – drums) Rock and pop bands that have just one hit record or album usually are just a brief footnote in music history. However, there are often times an interesting story in how they caught the public’s fancy. The Rose Garden, an LA folk rock band, in 1967, were in the right place at the right time. They were talented, especially for a largely high school age group. Their mentor was the great Gene Clark, a founding member of The Byrds, who wrote many of the the super group’s iconic songs during his tenure from 1964 to 1966. Clark heard the youthful band, then called The Blokes, at an afternoon club audition and was moved by their vocal talents, and the 12 string electric guitar prowess of John Noreen. He introduced them to talent managers and provided them with a […]
Hans Rosbaud conducts MENDELSSOHN; WEBER – Southwest Radio Orchestra, Baden-Baden/ Hans Rosbaud – SWR Classics
SWR Classic issues a series of Hans Rosbaud vintage recordings, 1955-1962, of Romantic staples. Hans Rosbaud conducts = MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture, Scherzo and Notturno; Capriccio brillante in B minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 22; WEBER: Overtures: Preziosa, Op. 78; Der Freischuetz, Op. 77; Der Beherrscher der Geister, Op. 27; Konzartstueck in F minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 79 – Yvonne Loriod, piano (Mendelssohn)/ Robert Casadesus, piano (Weber)/ Southwest Radio Orchestra, Baden-Baden/ Hans Rosbaud – SWR Classics SWR19040CD, 79:40 (8/4/18) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Those who lament the passing of Wilhelm Furtwaengler in 1954 as Germany’s great interpreter of the Romantic tradition—that is, who do not particularly relish the legacy of Herbert von Karajan—may recall the Austrian conductor Hans Rosbaud (1895-1962) continued both that tradition and a strong commitment to modernism in Baden-Baden by tirelessly working with his chosen SouthWest Radio Orchestra. My late colleague from my “First Hearing” days at WQXR-FM in New York City, Richard Kapp, had been a Rosbaud pupil, and he would harp perpetually on the limited scope of those few recordings that failed to represent the extraordinary range of Rosbaud’s musical acumen. Now, SWR Classic issues previously unpublished documents (rec. […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
