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

Franz Liszt:  Carlo Grante (piano)

Liszt, Art & Literature

1st press CBS vinyl.

Franz Liszt:  Vesselin Stanev (piano)

Ironically, all these are available on Spotify Premium (US).

Peter Frampton

"The Very Best Of .........."   (1998)   SP

What's the Otis Taylor album like Ewen?

Pete only posts when anything Steely crops up and Richard is running the Old Cinema Laundrette with his wife Kathy where they host gigs in amongst washing machines. Last year they hosted Martin Carthy as well as many other up and coming artists. Great unusual concept.

Franz Liszt: Angela Hewitt (piano)

It was completely by chance that this week came three discs of Franz Liszt and all of them shared many of the same works.  So what to make of the differences other than take them in stride?  It is after all easy to jump to the wrong conclusions from just one listen.  If one has strong, ingrained perceptions of how things should go then it is tough to give grace towards extreme views that pull in the opposite direction that one believes they should go.

Angela Hewitt playing Franz Liszt is what you could say as "interesting."  After one listen for sure I am stumped and not sure what exactly my views are here.  As I could say it was what I expected leaving an ambiguous cloud hanging over it.  Does this mean it was great or does it mean something less flattering?

While there is much to praise here I won't say too much about this as this is the part that fits the "what I expected from Angela Hewitt part."  The interpretation part is the challenging aspect for me I portions of this is quite good while at other times (especially in the sonatas) I hear more a tendency to lecture or pontificate.  Not that this is necessary wrong (which it isn't).  I am just trying to put in to words what I believe the modus operandi is behind her views.

The other difficulty one has of overriding ones own views is that you then have to relearn the piece and I like do this, in fact.  For instance, in something like either sonata here, I naturally am attracted to the combination of light vs dark, heaven vs hell, good vs evil, etc. as Liszt is a master of juxtaposing these two elements.  Very few players can skillfully relay this back in their playing but when it is done correctly the effect is magical.  With Hewitt here I tended to find myself asking quite often where is the tension vs. release in her playing.  This would be my severest criticism as she stays well away from injecting any passion or angst into the music.

I will keep listening and I am sure that this will become a new way of thinking about this music for me which will counter quite nicely my more typical tastes with the music.

1st press Track vinyl. 

Dave Kerzner

"New World"    (2014)    SP

I know what you mean, Doug - in the b minor, for me it's also about the contrasts and the careful management of the tension and release. It's a very personal thing, apparently - I have plenty of examples on my shelf of performances I don't really like because they strike me as missing some of the elements that I want to hear in this music. On the other hand, while I find Hewitt to be a frustratingly inconsistent performer, this is a performance I like very much. Joining you with another personal favorite:

Cheers, EJ

Streaming | CD FLAC rip

Fleetwood Mac ~ Men of The World (2008)

Playing CD 2 of 3

Thanks, ewemon. Mine is a Universal Records CD (3771219) from 2014. The CD itself is very pink. Can't recall where I bought it. I'll have to have a look around for the versions you mention.

Listening to Nils Petter Molvær. I really like how he uses various styles such as world music, electronica and dance music as well as jazz, and creates his very own musical expression. As a trumpetist he reminds me of Miles Davis when he plays "sparingly" with a thin clear high tone.

Just checked out the Launderette on FB. I think Emily Barker has played there as well. I was in Durham last July to see Jo Hamilton in the Cathedral. If I'd known, I would have tried to say hello to Richard.

BTW, Rae Morris is touring in Glasgow & Edinburgh in Oct if you can make it.

http://raemorris.co.uk/live

Recorded in an outdoors cafe, delightful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axyaN8CcLG4

More Nils Petter Molvær, this time np3

Just watched the DVD that came with this set. Boy, do I wish I'd been at that show!

"We don’t normally think of Duke Ellington as an LP oriented sort of artist, much of his best music came out before the LP existed, and once it became the medium of choice, Ellington was beginning to lean on recording his past hits. One notable exception is “Ellington Uptown”, one of the earlier ‘long playing’ albums Duke ever recorded, and it’s a power packed release laden with fine gems. Alongside “Such Sweet Thunder” and “Ellington at Newport”, “Ellington Uptown” is possibly the best LP of Duke’s lengthy career. As if the original LP wasn’t already good enough, the 2004 CD re-issue added the excellent “Controversial Suite” and “The Liberian Suite” to make it ‘the one Ellington CD you should own if only own one?"

Excellent  album and  I also have a soft spot for Lifeforms which  I find a little mellower. These guys are really creative. Great stuff.

Thanks for the info EJ.