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

Bill Deasy

"Start Again"   (2013)

Bill's newest solo release

Finished:  Laura Cantrell - No Way There From Here     (2014)

Now:  Rhiannon Giddens, Roger Gold, & Mara Shea - All The Pretty Horses        (2008)

 Ludwig van Beethoven:  Stewart Goodyear (piano)

The Complete Piano Sonatas

Over the past few weeks I have been exploring my latest Beethoven Sonata sets.  I had not heard Stewart Goodyear prior to springing for this.  His playing is quick and purposeful.  The set would be that much better if it were not for the slightly below average sonics.  Overall, well done though.

Coldplay

"Ghost Stories Live 2014"   (2014)

Ludwig van Beethoven:  Ronald Brautigam (fortepiano)

The Complete Piano Sonatas

In contrast, Ronald Brautigam's playing is much more mature and full of depth and ideas but much more fortepiano-y sounding, if you get my drift.  I really like Brautigam for his style and I can only imagine what this might have sounded like on a modern Steinway pianoforte rather than a fortepiano .

Seriously though, it might sound odd coming from me but I have had a complete change of heart toward the idea of period instruments and style as of late and thanks to one individual especially on this forum and so I am really glad for recordings like this as they are rare and musically we can learn many things from them.  Recorded sound is of the usual BIS high standards.

My next purchase from Ronald Brautigam will be his Beethoven Concertos and these I believe have been recorded on a modern grand. 

If you are looking for a fortepiano set then I believe this is the one to get as the playing is really top notch.

Frederic Chopin:   Jean-Marc Luisada (piano)

14 Waltzes

7 Mazurkas

This is my first Luisada disc and I am currently trying to figure him out.  It seems he was recording Chopin on Deutsche Grammaphone in the early 90's.   Now he seems to re-recording some of it again on RCA.  For instance, in 1990, he recorded 17 Waltzes on DGG and here only 14 but he through in 7 Mazurkas that are intended to fill in the gaps from a 2008 recording of 40 Mazurkas.

His playing is quite interesting but not in the way of many others who have recorded the Waltzes where I get the impression that it is more about their egos and the playing becomes more showy and full of performance nuggets and goals.

I much prefer Luisada who doesn't seem concerned about showing off and focuses only on the music and brings little unique twists about that make the music sound fresh, level-headed and personal.  It is like he is performing only to you, the one listener with him in a room and that is all that matters.

This recording reminded me a little of what I felt like in hearing Chopin as a child.  In turn, I spent the afternoon with 7 or 8 Waltzes at the piano and this was the start of a very pleasing day musically for me that went from Beethoven Sonatas (inspired by Brautigam) and then the Waltzes that then turned in to playing Nocturnes, Preludes, Etudes, Mazurkas, Impromtus and then finally some cello sonatas from Debussy, Brahms and Rachmaninov.  Quite a workout actually.

Very nice for me (but maybe will be a disappointment for those who might have a singular vision or expectations of a certain standard.  Recorded quality is above standard although only a little different for me as he is recording on a Yamaha piano.

The Devil Makes Three - Live at the Mystic Theatre (Petaluma, CA)

(2011)

My only other exposure to the band is their most recent studio album, 2013's "I'm A Stranger Here".  I liked that enough to try another album.  I figured a live album would be a fun listen.  So far so good (1st listen). 

This group falls into the alt-folk genre.  Similar artists that I am familiar with would be The Avett Brothers, and Old Crow Medicine Show. 

Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra

"When The World Was One"   (2014)

recommended earlier today on another thread, never

been led wrong

with thanks

top of the pile:

Freddie Hubbard

"Sweet Revenge"   (2005)

perfect follow on, Freddie got the title spot but the stars for me on this set are Joanne Brackeen on piano and Roy Haynes on drums

The Eagles. On The Border. On the original Asylum clouds label vinyl from 1975. The first commercially successful album for the group, and the last of their association with producer Glyn Johns. Bill Szymczyk produced the majority of songs and Don Felder made his debut with The Eagles. Big things ahead for the band. Their next LP would be a Number 1.

Not having listened to this in many a year, I decided to give Eye In The Sky on this 25th Anniversary remaster of the '82 original a whirl, while considering whether or not to go for their Complete Albums Collection box set. 11 albums for £29 seems a good deal...

This 2011 remaster of what most commentators believe was his best tour. Hard to believe that it's coming up to twenty years since this great and influential blues rock guitarist died.

Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band. Night Moves. Original issue on the Capitol orange label from 1976 with mastering by Wally Traugott. Solid sounding music from the heyday of the classic rock period.

Another excellent reissue by Music Matters's 33RPM.
Art Blakey's Moanin'. Earlier in the main rig. Playing '"he Drum Thunder (Miniature) Suite" LOUD on the Briks was a hoot. Dynamics and speed on the new remaster is just excellent.

• Art Blakey – drums
• Lee Morgan – trumpet
• Benny Golson – tenor saxophone
• Bobby Timmons – piano
• Jymie Merritt – bass

Cannonball's Somethin'Else

• Cannonball Adderley — alto saxophone
• Miles Davis — trumpet
• Hank Jones — piano
• Sam Jones — bass
• Art Blakey — drums

That good old Dutch rock band Golden Earring. Moontan originally from 1973 and remastered in '99 includes the hit single Radar Love. Their first album Just Ear Rings came out in 1965 and according to Discogs they were still releasing albums up to 2012.

Music Matters reissue Undercurrent. Sounds great even on a hastily put together Sondek with a new plinth. ( I'll fine tune it tomorrow :/ )

Bee Gees- Main Course

From 2006

EP

Last night and this mornings listening.

Really i'm touched by the way my SBLs work now that they have a solid wall behind. Really i have to grab one of those olive 250s.