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

Nice contemplative music, is it still jazz ?......., as there is no clear definition let's say yes...

Hi Clive,

       My copy is a New Zealand HMV sound Value (xax2815). I tried to post album photo 3 times,no luck. Columbia and EMI logos top left, other than that it's the classic grey brown cover of them sitting on the tracks. Just to add I have just added a power supply to my stageline, My vinyl does sound a new.

You are right about my Japanese (non-existent) and the incorrect CD cover, Stu.  Sloppy on my part. Here's a photo of the CD I have:

I recently bought this, having sold the vinyl about ten years ago. I'd forgotten how good it is. This remaster sounds very good too.

Sol Gabetta (Cello), Hélène Grimaud (Piano) 

Phantasiestücke for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 73 by Robert Schumann 

Sonata for Cello and Piano no 1 in E minor, Op. 38 by Johannes Brahms

Sonata for Cello and Piano by Claude Debussy 

Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40 by Dmitri Shostakovich 

About two years ago, this Duo CD came out and I remember thinking - better late than never.  At the time, it came out just after I had worked on and played Schumann's Phantasiestücke with my cellist partner for the better part of a year.  What a rush of energy and emotion I felt after listening to this after the fact.  A totally humbling experience.  Grimaud and Gabetta are each such strong willed individuals on their own one would think it impossible for them to make this work but they work brilliantly together.  They are strong willed opposites so in a way they are like a great marriage.  Alone they are magnificent and together they are greater than the sum of the parts.

Now two years later history repeats in a way.  After working on the Debussy last year and just playing a final performance a week ago here arrives the vinyl.  It is like fate that these two made this record and it is a very special gift for me and that I have it.

Today I am working hard already on the Brahm's F major cello sonata.  What are the chances that when I am done with this piece that a duo II comes out with that and more wonderful chamber music.  I can only hope.

Record quality is fairly good but DG seems to have a thing for making the hole just a hair too small for my turntable anyway. 

Edvard Grieg:  Emil Gilels (klavier)

Lyric Pieces 

So I'm listening to the album that the photographer put at the bottom of this pile of LP's.  Funny that I would buy this almost entirely for the Gilels / Grieg alone shows you why I would never be hired as a marketer.  My tastes and desires are more individual rather than catering to what most of the crowd wants and sees.  Gilels is numbered album two in the set just behind Argerich/Abbodo.  Above the Gilels is album 5 which is Strauss-Also sprach Zarathustra.

The Gilels is a tad noisy on the surface but I have yet to clean it either.  Recorded in 1974.  Despite all else the music is worth it to me.

This is ace Denis. Love the way it builds and the range of instruments. Reminds me of White Willow, and that's a very good thing.

STEREOLAB  - fab four suture -  

 1.Kyberneticka Babicka Pt 1.

 2. Interlock

 3. Eye Of The Volcano

 4. Plastic Mile

 5. "Get A Shot Of

  The Refrigerator"

 6. Visionary Road Maps

 7. Vodiak

 8. Whisper Pitch

 9. Excursions Into "oh, a-oh"

10. I Was A Sunny Rainphase

11. Widow Weirdo

12. Kyberneticka Babicka Pt 2.    -  on Too Pure c.d release.

Subtle music like this is wasted on me. Where's me Priest albums?

Battaglia and lamento are two genres which cover a whole range of musical expression, in both the vocal and instrumental music of the 17th century. On one hand the din of battle comes across through the sound of trumpets and drums and on the other hand, the human voice expresses the anguish of being trapped in a hopeless situation.

On a Sunday morning I am much more into lamento mood cherishing the voice of Montserrat Figueras, Jordi Savall's wife, who unfortunately succumbed to cancer in 2011. Tony Cooperman on the harpsichord and Rolf Lislevand on lute contribute on selected tracks.

Because they were playing Geno very loudly in a pub near Villa Park yesterday 

I've heard some excuses for dropping points but that's a new one on me, Chris. 

Maria Callas:  Remastered (LP)

A superb little taste of Maria Callas for the morning.

I have a hankering now to pick up Verdi's La Traviata with Giulini, Callas but it is priced ridiculously high at more than $250 for 3 LP's .

it took several plays for me, but still got hooked just the same. 

Some gentle female vocals for a restful Sunday afternoon

Followed by some Nerina Pallot. This lady is very talented. 

I've heard some excuses for dropping points but that's a new one on me, Chris. 

… and they follwed it up with Special Brew by Bad Manners - which I don't have - but it could have been what some of hte united players had been drinking.

Now …..

On vinyl from 1983 - "Phil Everly"

With Mark Knopfler, Pete Wingfield, Billy Bremner (not the footballer!), Christine McVie and a certain Sir Cliff Richard (no idea who he is) making appearances in his backing band.

Christine McVie joins him for a great version of McGinness Flint's "When I'm dead and gone".  

Thanks, Doug - it doesn't look as if that - or equivalent - is available in the UK.

Clive

David Gray

"Mutineers"     (2014)     mp3

Govt Mule - Dark Side Of The Mule (2014)

Streaming: CD FLAC rip

On cd.

Emmy The Great

"Virtue"      (2012)      mp3