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Audio News for March 31, 2017

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 31, 2017 | Audio News

Google & Sony Collaborate to Bring Hi-Res to Android – The new Android Nougat has over 30 new features and about 250 bug fixes so every Andriod mobile user will benefit from Google. Bluetooth is reliable but not hi-res yet, so Sony lent its LDAC wireless audio coding tech to Android O. This is the same technology already in the Sony sound bar, Walkman NW-ZX2, and Sony Glass Sound Speaker. It can transfer data at about three times better than Bluetooth, and allows for efficent coding and optimized packetzation for an impressive sound quality. Google has already added this tech to their AOSP base code so developers can take advantage of it. The goal is to have hi-res streaming on your smart phone whether it’s a Sony or not. UK Ban on Carrying Laptops and Tablets on Inbound Flights Could be Extended to All Flights – Passengers can no longer carry large electronic devices on inbound flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. It would theoretically stop terrorists from physically triggering a bomb concealed in a laptop. It follows a similar measure announced by U.S. authorities affecting flights originating in a longer list of mainly Muslim countries. […]

Audio News for February 3, 2017

by Audiophile Audition | Feb 3, 2017 | Audio News

New Orleans Public Radio Station Restores Classical to FM Dial – WWNO in New Orlean has begun broadcasting classical music on their new stations Classical 104.9 FM. It therefore becomes the only Golf Coast area between Houston and Tallahassee where music lovers can hear classical music anytime thru the year. New Orleans Public Radio continues to transmit the same program on WWNO HD2 in metro New Orleans and the Northshore and beyond via the Internet at wwmo.org/classical. They will have local music features from 9 AM to 1 PM weekdays, and will carry Performance Today, Continuum, and the Met Opera. Music in NYC – The Budapest Festival Orchestra will appear at David Geffen Hall on the Fifth and Sixth. The Orpheux Chamber Orchestra will premiere Michael Hersch’s End Stages at Carnegie Hall, a tone poem reflecting on mortality, and also at Carnegie Hall, Jordi Savall will present early and modern Venetian instrumental music with his various ensembles on Feb. 12. Glimpse Hardware Turns Any Glasses Into Smart Glasses – Their Kai gadget (now $130 at Kickstarter) sits behind one ear and allows you to access a smart voice interface. With its companion app you can make calls, text search and […]

The Secret Life of Pets, Blu-ray 3D (2016)

by Audiophile Audition | Dec 9, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Another great family animated film, and in 3D! The Secret Life of Pets, Blu-ray 3D (2016) Voice-overs: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper Director: Chris Renaud Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy Studio: Universal Studios 61181890 (2 discs) [12/6/16] plus digital HD and Ultraviolet Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, color 3D Audio: English DD 2.0, French DD 5.1 Subtitles: French, Spanish, English SDH No region coding Extras: Three mini-movies, All About the Pets, Animals Can Talk: Meet the Actors, Hairstylist to the Dogs, The Best of Snowball, How to Make an Animated Film, Anatomy of a Scene Length: 174 min. Rating: **** This animated film answers the question of what our pets do when we are not home. When the owners leave for the day, all sorts of pets from the building get together and gossip with their friends, satisfy their sweet tooths, and throw fantastic parties. When a pampered little dog (played by comedian C.K.) and a new huge brown roommate from the pound (voice of Stonestreet) get themselves lost in the urban jungle of NYC, they learn to put aside their differences in order to survive the epic journey they must make to get back […]

Audio News for November 11, 2016

by Audiophile Audition | Nov 11, 2016 | Audio News

Hedy Lamarr Awards in Entertainment Technology – The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) has inaugurated two annual awards: the “Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology,” and the “Hedy Lamarr Achievement Award for Emerging Leaders in Entertainment Technology.” The latter recognizes female college students in their junior year who show exceptional promise in the field. Austrian-American Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr was a legend best known for a number of film classics, and she was also a lifelong inventor whose innovative work included pioneering “frequency hopping” which became the foundation for spread spectrum technology. Working with composer George Antheil, their radio guidance system for torpedos was patented in 1942 and this technology is utilized today for a variety of cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth applications. “Subway Therapy” for Those Dismayed at Election Results – A NYC artist whose goal is to make people smile, laugh and feel less stressed, started years ago inviting commuters to write a question or share a sentiment on pastel-colored Post-it notes on the walls of a subway stop. He also provides the pens. Since the election the process has become so intense that 1500 notes were left at one place. The messages ranged from providing comforting thoughts […]

Ben Allison – Quiet Revolution – Newvelle Records – vinyl

by Audiophile Audition | Nov 4, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Ben Allison’s drummer-less trio – honors Jim Hall & Jimmy Giuffre… Ben Allison – Quiet Revolution – Newvelle Records NV005LP – audiophile vinyl ****1/2: (Ben Allison – bass; Ted Nash – tenor sax & clarinet; Steve Cardenas – steel-string guitar) The concept of a drummer-less trio is not a new one for jazz. The concept goes back to at least trios with Oscar Peterson, and Nat King Cole. Having the trio not include a pianist is only a bit harder to find, but the trio of Lucky Thompson, Skeeter Best, and Oscar Pettiford come to mind. Among the most noted for utilizing this concept were guitarist Jim Hall and multi-reedist Jimmy Giuffre. Bassist Ben Allison is the latest to record with saxophone and guitar, and in a gorgeous-sounding audiophile vinyl just issued by Newvelle Records for their subscription series, Allison is paired with Ted Nash and Steve Cardenas to honor Giuffre and Hall. In addition to the honorees, Allison and Nash each contribute a composition as well as the inclusion of the “Love Theme from Spartacus.” What is immediately apparent in listening to this marvelous sounding LP is the joy and creative interplay between the trio. Watching a YouTube video […]

Lean – Lean – Music Wizards

by Audiophile Audition | Oct 24, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Lean in and listen: trio music which is loose and lingering. Lean – Lean [TrackList follows] – Music Wizards 712411776534, 57:16 [9/16/16] ****: (Jerome Sabbagh – tenor and soprano saxes; Simon Jermyn – electric bass, effects; Allison Miller – drums, bike, effects) Lean is a New York City-based trio consisting of saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh, bassist Simon Jermyn and drummer Allison Miller. To appreciate what this forward-driving jazz threesome can do, follow the dictates of the trio’s self-titled debut…and lean in. Listen closely. Pay attention. This hour-long album is rich with compositional creation, improvisational imagination and masterful musicianship. Sabbagh is from France but has called NYC home since the early ‘70s. He’s played with Victor Lewis, Bill Stewart, Billy Drummond, and others; and has led or co-led several groups over the years. Jermyn was raised in Ireland and since moving to New York City has been on stage with John Hollenbeck, Tony Malaby, Dan Tepfer, and many more; issued solo records; and is associated with other NYC-area bands. Miller fronts Boom Tic Boom and is a member of Honey Ear Trio; has performed with songwriters Ani DiFranco and Natalie Merchant; and frequently sits in with the house band for late-night talk-show […]

Genius (2016)

by Audiophile Audition | Aug 30, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A fascinating story of a famous writer’s struggles to get his books published. Genius (2016) Cast: Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce Director: Michael Grandage Studio: Summit/ Lionsgate (9/6/16) Video: 2.39:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: “Genesis of Genius,” “Painting a Portrait of the Lost Generation” Length: 98 min. Rating: ***** This film chronicles the NYC 1930s’ lifestyle and the chaotic relationship between the great North Carolina author Thomas Wolfe and his editor at Scribiner – Maxwell Perkins. Their friendship goes thru many phases as they work tirelessly on editing down the lengthy and verbose handwritten manuscripts of Wolfe. Wolfe’s wife is also a major fixture in the rocky relationships, and she seems to understand what is happening between her husband and the editor better than either of them do. It’s quite amazing that the filmmakers were able to somehow make it interesting to watch what an editor does. [I’m so glad I don’t have those length problems with any of my writers… Ed.] Firth, as the editor, always keeps his hat on, until the very end when he reads the final letter Wolfe has sent him […]

Rocco John Quartet – Embrace the Change – Unseen Rain

by Audiophile Audition | Jul 11, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

New York City quartet which promotes changes, all sorts of changes. Rocco John Quartet – Embrace the Change [TrackList follows] – Unseen Rain UR-9947, 67:49 [5/6/16] ****: (Rocco John Iacovone – alto and soprano saxophone; Rich Rosenthal – guitar; François Grillot – double bass; Tom Cabrera – drums) Alto and soprano saxophonist Rocco John Iacovone and his quartet make accessible avant-garde and free jazz; or rather the musicians produce free-ranging material that is challenging but which is not too demanding to enjoy. There is an engaging openness to the eight lengthy tracks on this 68-minute release, Embrace the Change. There’s a continual development throughout Iacovone’s originals, a sense that listeners might not know where they’re going to next, but will appreciate the shifts and curves along the way. Rocco John (he shortens his name for his album projects) explains the underlying concept for his latest recording, “Embrace the change is a thought, an idea, and a philosophy. It’s a comment on our evolution as human beings. It seems the only constant we experience is change and we constantly need to learn how to deal with it. To do this, we have to dig deep. These were the thoughts behind the […]

WYNTON MARSALIS: Blood On The Fields, Blu-ray (1996/2016)

by Audiophile Audition | Jun 10, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

A fine documentary on the making of the 1996 Marsalis album. WYNTON MARSALIS: Blood On The Fields, Blu-ray (1996/2016) Cast: Wynton Marsalis Director: Susan Shaw Studio: Monarda/ Arthaus Musik 109215 [3/25/16] Video: For 16:9 screens, 1080i color & b&w Audio: English PCM Stereo Subtitles: English, German, French All regions Length: 54 min. Rating: **** This film, obviously with its under-an-hour length, was made by director Susan Shaw in honor of the Marsalis composition Blood On The Fields. He is more than well-known as a trumpet player and composer in jazz as well as the classical genre. Much of the film consists of black and white footage of Marsalis sitting in the back seat of his car being driven around NYC while he expounds on the meanings of jazz and so on. In the film he journeys not only to his Lincoln Center headquarters, but also to his home town of New Orleans and to the NYC studio where the album Blood On The Fields was recorded. His assembled band from Lincoln Center is seen putting together the album, while he talks about his music and his special way of working. While it would be a shame to have this video […]

Florian Hoefner Group – Luminosity – Origin

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 8, 2016 | Jazz CD Reviews

Musical storytelling which mixes compositional originality with instrumental brilliance. Florian Hoefner Group – Luminosity [TrackList follows] – Origin 82706, 54:28 [1/15/16] ****: (Seamus Blake – tenor and soprano saxophone; Florian Hoefner – piano; Sam Anning – bass; Peter Kronreif – drums) Stepping outside one’s comfort zone is a time-honored tradition in jazz. Pianist Florian Hoefner—born and raised in Germany and who finished his jazz education in Manhattan—took that journey a bit further than most. In 2014, he relocated from NYC to the isolated city of St. John’s in Canada’s farthest easterly province, Newfoundland. Not a hotbed of jazz, but the rugged and scenic area offered a place where Hoefner could and did focus his creativity. The result is Hoefner’s new quartet album, Luminosity, his third outing as a leader and one which exhibits growth, development and thoughtful complexity. The eight tunes (all Hoefner originals) total 54 minutes and were specifically composed for Hoefner’s international group, which also comprises tenor and soprano saxophonist Seamus Blake (who grew up on the west coast of Canada; runs his own quintet; and has been a regular with the Mingus Big Band); bassist Sam Anning (an Australian who resides in NYC and has worked with […]

The Walk (A True Story), Blu-ray 3D (2016)

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 4, 2016 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews

Am amazing acted, feature version of the previous Man On Wire documentary. The 3D version is not for acrophobics. The Walk (A True Story), Blu-ray 3D (2016) Director: Robert Zemeckis Cast: Benedict Samuel, Ben Kingsley, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Schwartz & others Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 46397 (1/5/16) [2 discs] Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1. DD PCM stereo Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish All Regions Extras: Deleted scenes, The Amazing Walk, Learning to Walk the Wire, Pillars of Support, Previews Length: 123 min. Rating: ***** Only one man – the obsessive French wire-walker Philippe Petit – ever walked on a wire between the 140 ft. twin towers of the former World Trade Center in NYC. Guided by his real-left mentor, Papa Rudy (played by Kingsley here) and aided by band of international recruits, Petit and his group overcome terrible odds, betrayals, dissensions and close calls to execute their really mad plan – which must be done while the contruction workers are still building the towers and before the workmen arrive early in the morning. On top of everthing, the whole process was illegal, and Philippe is arrested […]