Grammy Archive
“New York Rhapsody” – Lang Lang, p. & many others – Sony Classical
A really amazing crossover album and one of the very best Rhapsody in Blues. “New York Rhapsody” – Lang Lang, p. & many others [TrackList follows] – Sony Classical 889853329229, 70:00 (9/16/16) *****: I almost decided to put this CD in our Popular category, but it certainly is a very intense crossover effort in spite […]
“Under Stalin’s Shadow” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 in d, 8 in c, 9 in E-flat; Suite from Hamlet – Boston SO/ Andris Nelsons – DGG (2 CDs)
A fine follow-up to the Grammified first release. “Under Stalin’s Shadow” = SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphonies Nos. 5 in d, 8 in c, 9 in E-flat; Suite from Hamlet – Boston SO/ Andris Nelsons – DGG 479 5201 (2 CDs), 76:44, 80:54 [Distr. by Universal] ****: It’s very nice to hear the BSO back on DGG. It’s […]
Metalwood – Twenty – CellarLive
Metalwood – Twenty – CellarLive CL02016 ****: The revitalization of a band devoted to electric/fusion jazz sounds. (Mike Murley – saxophones; Brad Turner – piano,triton,trumpet; Chris Tarry – electric bass; Ian Froman – drums) If you are into nostalgia for the electric/fusion jazz sounds like that of Weather Report, Return To Forever, and the Miles […]
Antonio Ciacca Quintet – Volare, The Italian American Songbook – Cellar Live
Antonio Ciacca Quintet – Volare, The Italian American Songbook – Cellar Live CL101815, 55:31 ***: A mostly robust and assertive session. (Antonio Ciacca – piano; Paul Gill – acoustic bass; Peter Van Nostrand – drums; Cory Weeds – tenor saxophone; Benny Benack III – trumpet & vocals) The Italian word Volare means “to fly” in […]
WILLIAM BOLCOM: Canciones de Lorca; Prometheus – R. Barbera – tenor/Jeffrey Biegel, piano/ Pacific Chorale and Sym. /Carl St. Clair – Naxos
WILLIAM BOLCOM: Canciones de Lorca; Prometheus – R. Barbera – tenor/ Jeffrey Biegel, piano/ Pacific Chorale and Sym. /Carl St. Clair – Naxos CD 8.559788 (11/13/15) TT: 54:52 ****: Striking contemporary songs and choral work with orchestra make for a compelling musical experience. William Bolcom (b. 1938) is an extremely prolific and skilled composer, winning […]
BOYER: Symphony No. 1 and Fanfares and Overtures – London Phil./ Boyer – Naxos
BOYER: Symphony No. 1 and Fanfares and Overtures (TrackList follows) – London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Peter Boyer – Guest Leader: Simon Blends – Naxos 8.559769 – TT: 55:14 (2/25/14) ****: Interesting contemporary music well played and nicely recorded. Peter Boyer is one of the most frequently performed American orchestral composers of our current milieu. Among his […]
Randy Brecker – Randy Pop – Piloo
Randy Brecker – Randy Pop – Piloo PR009, 77:54 ****: (Randy Brecker – trumpet, effects, voice; Kenny Werner – piano, keyboards, arrangements; David Sanchez – tenor saxophone; Amanda Brecker – vocals; Adam Rogers – guitar; John Patitucci – bass; Nate Smith – drums) Elite session musician revisits his pop career in a jazzy way! Randy […]
“Far in the Heavens” = Choral works of STEPHEN PAULUS – True Concord Voices & Orch./ Eric Holtan – Reference Rec./Fresh!
An essential recording of a much-missed artist. I’ll just leave it at that. “Far in the Heavens” = STEPHEN PAULUS: Prayers and Remembrances; Nunc dimittis; The Incomprehensible; I Have Called You By Name; Little Elegy; When Music Sounds – True Concord Voices & Orch./ Eric Holtan – Reference Recordings/Fresh! FR-716, 66:14 [Distr. by Naxos] *****: […]
Clarence Carter – Patches – Atlantic/ Pure Pleasure – vinyl
Pure Pleasure re-mastered vinyl is a soul classic!
Home Page for August 2015
Our August drawing for all visitors here is the 53-CD Vol. 3 of the Mercury Living Presence Collector’s Edition boxed set, which completes the entire series of releases by this pioneering audiophile label. HERE is our review of it, and HERE is the detailed listing of every single CD in the 53-CD reissue package. They […]
Ryan Truesdell – Lines of Color: Gil Evans Project Live at Jazz Standard – Blue Note/Artist Share
Honoring the legend, Gil Evans, in a live setting…
Paul Avgerinos – Bhakti – RoundSkyMusicMEMORU FUJIEDA: Patterns of Plants – Sarah Cahill, piano – Pinna
Two most worthwhile and quite different New Age albums.
Paul Avgerinos – Bhakti – RoundSkyMusicMEMORU FUJIEDA: Patterns of Plants – Sarah Cahill, piano – Pinna
Two most worthwhile and quite different New Age albums.
“My Favorite Dowland” = JOHN DOWLAND: 23 selections [TrackList follows] – Paul O’Dette, lute – Harmonia mundi
The five-GRAMMY-winning lutenist.
“The Year Before Yesterday” = Music by WILLIAM KRAFT, SHAUN NAIDOO, ERIK GRISWOLD, JOSEPH PEREIRA, ISAAC SCHANKLER, NICHOLAS DEYOE /Los Angeles Percussion Q. – Sono Luminus (2 discs)
Great sound and equally engaging music in surround.
Ray Charles – Genius Loves Company [TrackList follows] – Concord /Hear Music (DVD+CD)
Genius certainly applies to Ray Charles, and this was his final recording session.
Christian Jacob, piano – Beautiful Jazz – a private concert [TrackList follows] – Wilder Jazz vinyl
A solo jazz outing by this classically-based pianist, all analog, on vinyl.
Storm Large – Le Bonheur [TrackList follows] – + her band Le Bonheur – Heinz Records Eliane Elias – I Thought About You – A Tribute to Chet Baker [TrackList follows] – Concord Jazz
Two terrific female vocalists; quite different from one another.
Storm Large – Le Bonheur [TrackList follows] – + her band Le Bonheur – Heinz Records Eliane Elias – I Thought About You – A Tribute to Chet Baker [TrackList follows] – Concord Jazz
Two terrific female vocalists; quite different from one another.
JENNIFER HIGDON: On a Wire; MICHAEL GANDOLFI: QED.: Engaging Richard Feynman – Eighth Blackbird/ Atlanta Sym. Orch. and Chorus/ Robert Spano – ASO Media
Another stunning contemporary disc from two composers very much associated with the ASO.
CHRISTOPHER THEOFANIDIS: Symphony No. 1; PETER LIEBERSON: Neruda Songs – Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-sop./ Atlanta Sym. Orch./ Robert Spano – ASO Media
A bold second take on a seminal piece, plus a new and substantial first symphony from one of the best composers today.
elbow – The Take Off and Landing of Everything [TrackList follows] – Fiction/Polydor – 45rpm double vinyl
Indie rock charting the ups and downs of mature relationships.