What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. X)

Carrying on the Floyd theme and enjoying every bit of it

I think I'll finish tonight's listening with this

The Phillips brothers–Jean-Marc, also violinist with the acclaimed Trio Wanderer, and cellist Xavier–join forces and deliver technically accomplished, emotionally intense, and musically absorbing performances of Kodály’s Sonata and Duo that easily rival the catalog’s best. Cellist Xavier makes light of the solo sonata’s cruel double-stops and cascading leaps, and negotiates the high-lying declamatory passages with the same laser-like focus and assurance we might associate with Birgit Nilsson in Wagner and Strauss. Although he arguably stretches the central Adagio within inches of its breaking point, Xavier’s seemingly endless bow arm and stunning array of colors beckon and sustain your undivided attention. He makes the delicate pizzicato and arco alternations sound as if they’re coming from two different instruments, and not always cellos!

By contrast, in the Duo both Xavier and his violinist sibling Jean-Marc transform their instruments into a single eight-stringed, impeccably tuned entity as they suavely maneuver the busy ostinatos and long-lined melodies back and forth. The drive they bring to the outer movements conveys an orchestral sweep that differs from the Turovsky Duo’s more confrontational, inflected style of playing. The engineering creates a semblance of a small, intimate hall, with just the right amount of space between musicians and audience. Powerful music and powerful performances–how can you miss? [3/27/2006]

Reviewed by Jed Distler/Classics Today

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band. Night Moves. On vinyl from 1976. I listened to this album mostly on 8-track while driving to high school back in the day. Nice to hear it again.

I have the DCC version of this but haven't played it in years. Thanks for reminding me how good the album is. 

An oldie but goldie.

@ewemon,

You're very welcome! Not much listening time for me lately, but I had Darkness on the Edge of Town on the platter for nearly a week of repeated plays before replacing it with Night Moves. 2112 before that. I'm loving the rich analog sound of LPs from 1976 .

ECM weekend planned. First up...

This live solo piano concert at Tokyo's Suntory Hall is not a solo concert in the usual freewheeling Jarrett sense. Rather, it sounds like a formal recital of individual compositions, each followed by applause (unlike the improvised concerts where applause only comes at the end of a set). 

 

Keith is often in an introspective, even dark mood, with deep growling in the lower bass regions in the closing minutes of "Opening." Yet he can also be quietly affirmative and devotional, always the musician/virtuoso who doesn't flash his technique for its own sake. Of the eight tracks, only "Fire Dance" has some of the jazzy verve associated with the solo concerts. The Jarrett devotee will want this; others should use caution.

Billy Hart, of course, is no stranger to ECM, first recording for the label in 1974 - his swinging beat and delicate cymbal tracery were heard with Bennie Maupin on the classic Jewel In The Lotus, and for ten years he was a member of the Charles Lloyd Quartet, playing on Lloyd's The Call, All My Relations, Canto and Lift Every Voice - influential albums all. Tenor saxophonist Mark Turner guested with Enrico Rava on New York Days in 2008, also recording with the Fly Trio the acclaimed album Sky And Country. Bad Plus pianist Ethan Iverson and bassist Ben Street make their first ECM appearances with All Our Reasons.

 

Hart, Iverson and Turner are all featured as composers. Material includes modern blues; a Coltrane tribute, 'Ohnedaruth' (the spiritual name adopted by Trane) which re-works 'Giant Steps'; and an Iverson-penned homage to Paul Bley, the wonderfully-titled 'Nostalgia for the Impossible'. The gently loping Hart tune 'Duchess' was previously recorded on his 'Oshumare' album while Turner's 'Nigeria' takes off from 'Airegin', Sonny Rollins's much-covered composition (which was inspired originally by Nigerian dancers).

 

Drummer Billy Hart's rich history includes stints with Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and many others. A vast discography incorporates sessions with Miles Davis for 'On The Corner' and 'Big Fun'.

 

Personnel:Mark Turner (saxophone), Ethan Iverson (piano), Ben Street (double-bass), Billy Hart (drums)

On Qobuz Hi-Fi

For some odd reason, I felt like listening to some late 16th-century Italian music this morning, before setting off for a day's toil.

Who could better fit the bill than Gesualdo, whose 4th book of madigrals is beautifully performed by the Italian early music ensemble La Venexiana? Wonderful stuff:

Cheerful chap, that Dowland. On CD:

plus some of the download tracks

atb

kk

some horwitz this morning...

Flying Lotus, Cosmogramma.  Fuelled from my recent interest in dubstep i came accross this artist again.  What would i class this as music wise.....  Experimental electronic, well that's is the definition on Wiki and i can't think of anything else.  Found this album maybe a bit too much on my first listen.

atb

kk

while you have some noise - it's still a very special performer and worth while to listen to an appreciate...

Veteran pianist Steve Kuhn is in the same class as label-mate Keith Jarrett: a virtuoso improviser who injects new life into familiar material. Kuhn's sophistication with harmony and delicacy of touch are in evidence throughout this session, shared with electric bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Joey Baron.

 

Some pieces are originals from Kuhn's Promises Kept (the faintly cocktail-jazzy Morning Dew, the Latin-gliding Adagio, the jaunty Promises Kept), from 2002. Swallow's bassline drive and Baron's snare-smacks under the thrilling A Likely Story underpin Kuhn's power and certainty of direction. Carla Bley's Permanent Wave has her cool chordal saunter, and Swallow's own Good Looking Rookie is a springy bopper.

 

It's straightish jazz, but in a class of its own

Jackson Browne

"The Naked Ride Home"

Spotify

Frank Zappa/Mothers - PLAYGROUND PSYCHOTICS -  2cd.

in between, decent but not realy exciting - like Jean Effram more..

now on something more exciting

Eric Clapton

"There's One In Every Crowd"

Spotify