Beatles Archive
Hart, Scone and Albin – Leading the British Invasion – Zoho Roots
Soul-jazz and more inspired by a newer British Invasion. Hart, Scone and Albin – Leading the British Invasion [TrackList follows] – Zoho Roots ZM201801, 63:20 [1/5/18] ****1/2: (John Hart – guitar; Adam Scone – Hammond organ; Rudy Albin Petschauer – drums) Hammond organist Adam Scone, drummer Rudy Albin Petschauer (who shortens his professional name to Rudy Albin) and guitarist John Hart look to the musical British Invasion for inspiration on their 63-minute trio outing, the aptly-titled Leading the British Invasion. But don’t expect to hear The Beatles, Cream, The Rolling Stones or others who crossed the Atlantic in the 1960s. For the most part, this 11-track collection of covers (plus one band original) is more contemporary. The idea was to redo songs by female singers who had recent success, although there are a few items which go back decades. Hart, Scone and Albin give a hearty soul-jazz approach to tunes recorded by Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, Lorde, Adele, Dusty Springfield and Sade. The result is not simplified instrumental copies of material done by the women. This CD is a masterful set of reinterpreted popular singles or album cuts. The emphasis is on covers which stand on their own but don’t […]
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 first time—the major orchestral works of iconic composer, arranger and producer Martin. Performed by the Berlin Music Ensemble conducted by Craig Leon, the album features music from the films Yellow Submarine, Live and Let Die and the previously unrecorded choral and orchestral score for The Mission. Also included are the Overture to Under Milk Wood, the suite Three American Sketches and other previously unreleased original compositions. Martin was, of course, a lot of the composing power behind the Beatles, and he lushly scored several of their breakthrough albums and augmented and outright composed the music for their films, including A Hard Days Night and Yellow Submarine. As mentioned, he also composed the music for the Bond film, Live and Let Die. His talent was prodigious. Martin produced 30 number-one hit singles in the United Kingdom and 23 number-one hits in the United States. This album […]
The Hot Club of San Francisco – John Paul George & Django – HCL ; Thelonius Monk – Criss-Cross – Columbia
Two Vinyl LPs—The Beatles in gypsy jazz and Monk’s second and terrific album; contains his big hits. The Hot Club of San Francisco – John Paul George & Django – HCL 27041 33 1/3 vinyl ****: Thelonius Monk – Criss-Cross – Columbia CS 8838 (1963)/Pure Pleasure Records 33 1/3 vinyl re-master (2017)****: Although they are not identified in the title, the first of these LPs is dedicated to Ringo & Dan Hicks. Hicks, a San Francisco-based musician, gave the leader and lead guitarist of the HCSF (Paul Mehling) an idea to include “old” tunes. He had long fantasized about whether Django’s Hot Club of the 1930s would have played Beatles numbers. Now on this vinyl, 13 of them are heard in excellent arrangements and with the best fidelity. There was a lot of very contentious discussion about the arrangements, in which all members participated. The violin part is prominent in many of the arrangements, played by Evan Price. One girl, Isabelle Fontaine, is one of the two rhythm guitars, washboard, and contributes to some of the vocals. Four special guests also participate, on soprano ax melodica, barrel organ and drums. The great drummer Jeff Hamilton is one of them. Price […]
San Francisco String Trio – May I Introduce To You – Ridgeway Records
May I Introduce To You – San Francisco String Trio – Ridgeway Records RRCD006 61:51***: A new spin to bring a “jazz” interpretation to iconic compositions (Mads Tolling – violin; Mimi Fox – electric, acoustic & 12-string guitars; Jeff Denson – double bass & vocals) Question: What does the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and jazz have in common? Answer: Nothing. Question: What does the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as interpreted by The San Francisco String Trio and jazz have in common? Answer: A lot. On the 50th Anniversary of the release of this seminal album, this Bay Area trio puts a new spin on the music to bring a “jazz” interpretation to the iconic compositions. All members of this saucy trio come from jazz backgrounds, and currently have faculty positions at the California Jazz Conservatory. So tackling this project was not a stretch. The real trick is taking these familiar tunes with their popular musical structure and verses, and converting them into something new in a completely different genre. The experiment begins with “When I’m Sixty-Four” as violinist Tolling introduces the song with a run through of the first two verses, which […]
The Ed Palermo Big Band – The Great Un-American Songbook – Cuneiform, Rune
The Ed Palermo Big Band – The Great Un-American Songbook: Volumes I & II [TrackList follows] – Cuneiform, Rune 435/436 (2-CDs) 58:49, 54:48 [2/24/17] *****: Who can mix prog-rock, British pop music, Miles Davis, Jeff Beck and West Side Story? It could only be the one and only Ed Palermo. (Ed Palermo – leader, conductor, arranger, alto saxophone; Barbara Cifelli – baritone saxophone, Eb mutant clarinet; Matt Ingman – bass trombone; Charley Gordon – lead trombone; Ronnie Buttacavoli – lead trumpet; Katie Jacoby – electric violin; John Bailey, Steve Jankowski – trumpet; Clifford Lyons – lead alto saxophone, clarinet; Phil Chester – second alto saxophone, flute piccolo, soprano saxophone; Bill Straub – lead tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet; Ben Kono – second tenor saxophone, flute, oboe; Michael Boschen – trombone; Ray Marchica – drums; Paul Adamy – electric bass; Bob Quaranta – acoustic piano; Ted Kooshian – electric keyboards; Bruce McDaniel – guitar, vocals, arranger (track 7, CD 1), producer, mixing, mastering; Mick Starkey, Napoleon Murphy Brock – guest vocals) Alto saxophonist Ed Palermo and the Ed Palermo Big Band are probably most famous for several Frank Zappa tributes. On Palermo’s latest outing he takes a stab at mostly British rock […]
The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – 2 CD edition – 1967 – Apple/ Parlorphone
The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – 2 CD edition – 1967 – Apple/ Parlorphone B0026524-02 (CD1 39:49, CD2 60:29) ****1/2: A welcome 50 year reunion of Sgt. Peppers with surprises… (John Lennon – guitars, piano; Paul McCartney – bass, guitars, piano; George Harrison – guitars; Ringo Starr – drums) The 50th anniversary release of a stereo remastered Sgt. Peppers is a cause for celebration. Imagine that you are seeing a long lost friend (who is bringing surprises) after many years apart. It is rare when reality exceeds your expectations. The sequel seldom matches the original. However, in the case of a stereo remastered Sgt. Peppers, the advances in remastering capabilities over the last five decades can help a masterpiece be improved. When The Beatles released Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band fifty years ago, it struck a strong chord with the public. The Beatles had sworn off touring and were ready to concentrate on working on more advanced pop music in the studio aided by producer, George Martin. McCartney states in the anniversary liner notes that the Sgt. Peppers Band concept would be an alter ego of The Beatles. It was time to expand their horizons. […]
Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O
B-3 trio plus classic Beatles compositions – a winning combination … Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O 2424, 67:51 ****1/2: (Jim Alfredson – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, electric piano/synthesizers; Lawrence Barris – guitar; Randy Marsh – drums, harmonica (#9); Bill Vits – percussion (#1, 3, 5, 9, 12); Mike List – tabla (#12) ) For lovers of the Hammond organ, and soul jazz, it is a very short journey to get excited about a project bringing the Hammond to re-interpret classic Beatles compositions with organ and guitar improvisation. Changing “All You Need is Love” to 5/4 time or “Taxman” to 7/4 sounds about right when the vibe is soulful. (Adding a tenor sax to the mix would have been perfection, but who’s complaining when the trio is expanded to a quintet including tabla on George Harrison’s “Within You Without You.”) Choosing twelve tracks from the Beatles songbook might have been the hardest choice for band leader organist, Jim Alfredson, who also recorded, mixed, and mastered the project. “Taxman” kicks off the tribute with the familiar melody immediately upfront in the mix before Alfredson adds a little grease, and we’re only missing dancers on risers […]
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, Blu-ray (2016)
The definitive authorized story of the early Beach Boys and “Pet Sounds”. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: The Beach Boys, various talking heads Studio: Eagle Vision/Universal EV8335479 Video: for 16:9 screens, HD 1080i color Audio: English, DTS-HD MA, PCM stereo Subtitles: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese Extras: Additional interviews (30 min) Rating: **** This documentary explores the beginnings of the Beach Boys and preparations for their acclaimed 11th studio album, Pet Sounds. Brian Wilson, the brains behind The Beach Boys, had quit touring about a year before in order to concentrate on writing and recording in the studio. The documentary features archive footage and exclusive interviews, looking at the relationships in the band at the time and the creative process behind what many consider to be one of the most influential albums of the ‘60s. Brian worked in the studio while the rest of the boys were out touring, and he created multi-layered compositions with painstaking attention to details, utilizing orchestration, sound effects and unusual instruments. The band then returned from touring and added their trademarked complex vocal harmonies, with several singing falsetto. The band was highly affected by The Beatles’ Rubber Soul album (as I […]
The Fred Hersch Trio – Sunday Night At The Vanguard – Palmetto
The Fred Hersch Trio – Sunday Night At The Vanguard – Palmetto PM2183, 68:00 ****: Fred Hersch is a painter of musical portraits that are infused with tonal color and harmonic depth. (Fred Hersch – piano; John Hébert – bass; Eric McPherson – drums) Pianist Fred Hersch is a painter of musical portraits that are infused with tonal color and harmonic depth, all presented within a frame of originality, sophistication, and virtuosity. His latest trio recording, Sunday Night At The Vanguard continues to demonstrate his commitment to these traits. As pointed out by Fred Hersch in the brief liner notes, the chosen numbers were derived from the entire first set in order as performed at the club, with the other two tunes coming from the second set. The opening number “A Cockeyed Optimist” was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1949 for the Broadway musical South Pacific. After a run-through of the melody, Hersch and the band embark on an exposition of the number that says they are going to be steadfast inventive partners with smart interplay and proficient fluency. “Serpentine” begins a series of Hersch original compositions, each of which carves out a textured approach to the music that […]
Jeff Lynne’s ELO Live in Hyde Park & Mr. Blue Sky, Blu-ray (2015)
A Jeff Lynne double feature on Blu-ray for his fans.
![The Grip Weeds – How I Won the War [TrackList follows] – JEM/ Strange Change Music](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/GripWeeds.jpg)
The Grip Weeds – How I Won the War [TrackList follows] – JEM/ Strange Change Music
Conflict and resolution: that’s how the Grip Weeds “Won the War”.
George Benson – Give Me The Night – Qwest Records/ Warner Brothers /Pure Pleasure vinyl
A superior hi-res stereo vinyl of singer-guitarist George Benson.
Milos, guitar – Blackbird – The Beatles Album – Mercury / Universal
Milos, guitar – Blackbird – The Beatles Album – Mercury /Universal Classics B0024425-02 [1/25/16], 42:19 ****1/2: Classical guitarist delivers Beatles classics with style. (Milos Karadaglic – guitar; Chriss Hill – bass; Christopher Austin – string arrangements, with guest vocalists Gregory Porter – vocal; Tori Amos – vocal, Steven Isserlis – cello; Anoushsa Shankar – sitar) Certainly there has been a plethora of classically-interpreted Beatles music (their producer George Martin established a career in this milieu). Other rock and pop stars courted classical musicians for involvement in creating pop classical music. The Beatles never had to coerce anyone to cover their music. Orchestras, philharmonics, ukulele players or singers were anxious to do Beatle music. The latest classical artist to take a shot at Beatles music is Milos Karadaglic. Milos, who has released highly-regarded classical music, decided to head in a new direction, and that tangent resulted in Milos – Blackbird – The Beatles Album. As a younger man, the gifted thirty-two year old guitarist tried to get some of his demos to Paul McCartney (to no avail). So he released a tribute to the iconic band. There are covers of familiar material, but with consummate instrumental passion. His choice of material […]
![The Animals – The Best Of The Animals [TrackList follows] – Abkco Music vinyl](https://www.audaud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/TheAnimals.jpg)
The Animals – The Best Of The Animals [TrackList follows] – Abkco Music vinyl
This British Invasion band adhered to blues roots.
Audio News for December 10, 2013
Mandela Inspired Concerts, Songs, Movies, Poems, Fiction; LA Times’ List of Top Hi-Res Download Sites; A Premium Clock Radio from Yamaha; Dell Shipping Its First UHD Monitors in Early 2014; Biopic on The Beatles’ Manager; Spotify to Compete with Pandora and iTunes by Offering Free Music; La Scala Gala Season Closes with La Traviata
Springsteen & I – Blu-ray (2013)
Documentary on rock icon provides a unique fan perspective.
Audio News for August 20, 2013
Beatles Still Among Music’s Highest Earners; NAS Study on Violent Video Games; Plasma Display Burn-In; Restaurants and Bars Getting Too Loud
“Mood Indigo – Symphonic Music of ERIK LOTICHIUS:” Variations and Finale on “Mood Indigo” (Duke Ellington); Concerto No. 1 for piano and orch.; Four Songs on American Poetry; Ragtime for Orchestra – Sandro Ivo Bartoli, p. (Concerto)/ Miranda van Kralingen, sop. (Four Songs)/ St. Petersburg Academic Sym. Orch./ Vladimir Lande – Navona Records CD + DVD
This Dutch composer got a St. Petersburg recording session for four of his works, including one consisting of variations on the Ellington tune.
Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed – London Records (1969)/ABKCO Records – vinyl
Greatest rock ’n roll band re-release their greatest album.
Audio News for January 8, 2013
Print a Kiddie LP Using a 3D Printer; New European Copyright Laws; CES and T.H.E. Shows in Las Vegas; Brian Cheney of VMPS Dies
Paul and Linda McCartney – Ram – Apple-EMI (1971)/ Concord Music Group (2 CDs)
Ram is McCartney’s most appealing solo project, with lots of bonus tracks.
“Latin Perspectives” = LEO BROUWER: Quintet; Beatlerianas; MIGUEL DEL AGUILA: Presto II; JAVIER ÁLVEREZ: Metro Chabanco – Ahmed Dickinson Cárdenas, guitar / Santiago Q. – Cubafilin Records
This an entertaining little program, well played and recorded too.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
