duo Archive
The Labéque Way (2017)
A wonderful documentary on probably the leading two-piano team in the classical world. The Labéque Way (2017) Cast: Katia & Marielle Labéque, Alessandro Baricco, Sir Simon Rattle, Semyon Bychkov Director: Félix Cabez Studio: EuroArts Music International 2064058 (3/3/17) Video: 1.33:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English, PCM stereo No region code Extras: Complete performances of […]
Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – audio-only Blu-ray & SACD
Music for trumpet and piano in sparkling sound. Ole Edvard Antonsen [trumpet] & Wolfgang Plagge [piano] – “Furatus” = Music by GRIEG, KOSAKU YAMADA, SHOSTAKOVICH, TVEITT and NIELSEN – Pure Audio Blu-ray – 5.1 surround + stereo + mShuttle /+ SACD multichannel and stereo – 2L-130, 53:10 ea. (2 discs) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Recorded […]
Russian Ballet Transcriptions for 2 Pianos = STRAVINSKY, BORODIN, TCHAIKOVSKY, KHACHATURIAN – Piano 21
Cyrpien Katsaris and Etsuko Hirose provide fingers and firepower to a compilation of Russian ballet favorites. Russian Ballet Transcriptions = STRAVINSKY: The Firebird – Suite No. 2; BORODIN: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, Act II; TCHAIKOVSKY: Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66: Adagio; The Nutcracker – Suite, Op. 71a; Swan Lake, Op. 20: 3 Dances; KHACHATURIAN: Gayaneh: […]
Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits – Sazi
Camaraderie and friendship on full display. Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits [TrackList follows] – Sazi sr004, 47:39 [10/7/16] *****: (Scott Amendola – drums, cymbals, co-producer; Wil Blades – Hammond B-3, Hohner Clavinet, co-producer) What is the sound of deep-rooted friendship? Cajoling and jokes. Finishing each other’s sentences. And in case of drummer Scott Amendola […]
Jim HALL (guitar) & Red MITCHELL (bass) – Valse Hot: Live at the Sweet Basil 1978 – ArtistsShare
Jim HALL (guitar) & Red MITCHELL (bass) – Valse Hot: Live at the Sweet Basil 1978 [TrackList follows] – ArtistsShare 0148, 50:00 (10/7/16) ****½: Unreleased recordings of a memorable 1978 encounter between Jim Hall and Red Mitchell. I never had the chance to see Red Mitchell play in person. A couple of years after his […]
Stuart McCALLUM & Mike WALKER – The Space Between – Edition
Atmospheric guitar duo music in the tradition of early Pat Metheny with string quartet adornment. Stuart McCALLUM & Mike WALKER – The Space Between – Edition 1082, 49:11 (11/25/16) ***: (Stuart McCallum – acoustic guitar & electronics/ Mike Walker – electric guitar; (string quartet on tracks 1, 3, 6 & 7) Laura Senior & Gemma […]
Nadia Reisenberg, piano – Live Ch. Recitals and Home Solo Performances = Works of WEBER, MOZART, BEETHOVEN, LISZT & Others – Romeo (2 discs)
Piano virtuoso Nadia Reisenberg’s “personal elation” in making chamber music with gifted friends and colleagues. Nadia Reisenberg – Live Chamber Recitals and Home Solo Performances = WEBER: Grand Duo Concertante, Op. 48; MOZART: Piano Trio in E-flat Major, K. 498 “Kegelstatt”; BEETHOVEN: Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 11 “Gassenhauer”; Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, […]
Nick Sanders & Logan Strosahl – Janus – Sunnyside Communications
Nick Sanders & Logan Strosahl – Janus – Sunnyside Communications SSC1469, 41:40 ***: An intriguing release. (Nick Sanders – piano; Logan Strosahl – alto & tenor saxophone) You have to give credit to Nick Sanders and Logan Strosahl for getting this album entitled Janus released. Imagine, if you will, the pitch meeting with Sunnyside Communications […]
HINDEMITH: Viola Sonatas – Paul Eurler (viola) Christian Rivinius (piano) / Viola Sonatas Op. 11 & 25; Solo Viola Sonatas – MD&G
HINDEMITH: Viola Sonatas – Paul Eurler (viola)/ Christian Rivinius (piano) / Viola Sonatas Op. 11 No. 4 & Op. 25 No. 4; Solo Viola Sonatas Op. 11 No. 5 & Op. 25 No. 1 – MD&G multichannel SACD (2+2+2) 9031952 (5/13/16) TT: 69:00 [Distr. by E1] ***1/2: Hindemith viola sonatas – a first for SACD. […]
Houston Person & Ron Carter – Chemistry – HighNote
Houston Person & Ron Carter – Chemistry [TrackList follows] – HighNote HCD 7293 49:25 ****: An exuberant release from a definitive bassist and an earthy tenor saxophonist. (Houston Person – tenor saxophone; Ron Carter – bass) The word chemistry springs from the word alchemy which in its very early etymology was often seen as linked […]
Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith – a cosmic rhythm with each stroke – ECM
A trumpet and piano duo project about movement, space and universality. Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith – a cosmic rhythm with each stroke [TrackList follows] ECM 2486, 66:13 [3/25/16] *****: (Wadada Leo Smith – trumpet; Vijay Iyer – piano, Fender Rhodes, electronics) To appreciate the new album by keyboardist Vijay Iyer and trumpeter Wadada […]
“Mezzotints” = STALE KLEIBERG: String Quartet No. 2; Ruf und Nachklang (piano); Ashes (violin solo); Piano Trio No 2; Violin and Cello Sonata; Sonanze e cadenza – Soloists – 2L Blu-ray & SACD
Hard to describe, but once you listen, easy to understand. “Mezzotints” = STALE KLEIBERG: String Quartet No. 2; Ruf und Nachklang (piano); Ashes (violin solo); Piano Trio No 2; Violin and Cello Sonata; Sonanze e cadenza (violin and piano) – Marianne Thorsen, violin/ Oyvind Gimse, cello/ Bard Monsen, violin/ Ole Wuttudal, viola/ Jorgen Larsen, piano […]
Mike Sopko, Bill Laswell and Thomas Pridgen – Sopko Laswell Pridgen [TrackList follows] – self
Ferocious improvised music which weaves heavy rock with hardened jazz.
Martin Taylor – Don’t Fret – Linn
A satisfying reissue from Martin Taylor.
Simon & Garfunkel – The Complete Columbia Albums Collection – Sony/ Legacy Edition (6 vinyl discs)
Vinyl box set of this iconic duo is superb!
Jascha Spivakovsky, piano – BACH to BLOCH, Vol. I = Works of BACH, BEETHOVEN, BRAHMS, CHOPIN, DEBUSSY, KABALEVSKY – Pristine Audio
Let your “discovery” disc for 2015 be this selected group of Australian recordings from Jascha Spivakovsky.
‘Together’ = MAXIMO DIEGO PUJAL: Suite Magica; XAVIER MONTSALVAGE: Fantasia; GARY SCHOCKER: Hypnotized; ALAN HOVHANESS: Sonata for Harp and Guitar, “Spirit of Trees”; KEITH FITCH: Knock on Wood – Yolanda Kondonassis, harp/ Jason Vieaux, guitar – Azica
A lovely collection of modern works for this appealing combination.
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Live In Dublin, Blu-ray (2015)
This video should be a thrill to fans of Hall & Oates.
Yehudi Menuhin, violin = Works of TARTINI, FRANCK, BACH, SAINT-SAENS – MeloClassic
The Menuhin recital from 1952 Asconia presents the 36-year-old artist in peak form.
“Fireworks of Music” – Celebrating the New Year in Hanover [TrackList follows] – Jackson Crawford, sax/ Ulfert Smidt, pipe organ – Rondeau
Sax and pipe organ – a great combination on this German CD.
Piano Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Arabesque Duo – Centaur CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Complete Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Duo Pace Poli Cappelli – Brilliant Classics (2 CDs)
A pair of two-guitar albums of note.
Piano Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Arabesque Duo – Centaur CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO: Complete Music for Two Guitars [TrackList follows] – Duo Pace Poli Cappelli – Brilliant Classics (2 CDs)
A pair of two-guitar albums of note.