Concierto de Aranjuez – Lex Vandyke, guitar with orch. [TrackList below] – Top Records

by | Jul 3, 2009 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

Concierto de Aranjuez – Lex Vandyke, guitar with orch. [TrackList below] – Top Records/Ultradisc  stereo-only SACD UD-SACD8921.2 ****:

I was expecting a rather kitchsy collection of Latin-oriented guitar and orchestra tracks on this audiophile “high quality master recording” from the Hong Kong label, but it is actually a very pleasant collection of hits from the Latin American hits list – both classical and pop, and Vandyke is a superb guitarist. Of course it’s not the entire Concerto de Aranjuez of Rodrigo, but only one four-minute movement which opens the collection of 18 tracks. The hi-res mastering was done at 192 K/32 bits for highest possible fidelity. There are no credits for the arrangements or orchestra, and I couldn’t find any details about Vandyke online…interesting.  Any disc with the tremolo study Recollections of the Alhambra – my favorite solo classical guitar piece – is bound to get my vote. This disc would be a natural for those with one of those extreme high-end two-channel-only SACD players. Most of us with multichannel capabilities can’t port stereo SACDs thru Dolby ProLogic for surround effects, which is a shame.

TrackList: Concierto de Aranjuez, Besame Mucho, Manha de Carnaval, Amor Amor Amor, Romance, Recollections of the Alhambra, Theme from The Deer Hunter, Perfidia, Maria Elena, The Girl from Ipanema, Vaya Con Dios, Wave, Nostalgia, One Note Samba, Malaguena, La Paloma, Prelude No. 1, La Comparsa.

 – John Sunier

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01