What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 01 January 2017
2017 has arrived today, so time to start this thread afresh.
Last year's thread can be found here;
Dick Hyman - Live at Maybeck recital hall.
If you like swing / stride music and solo piano music, than I can recommend this album.
From allmusic.com:
Dick Hyman is such a versatile pianist that his own style has often been overshadowed by his interpretations of other pianists' work. Music of 1937, which features 11 diverse songs premiered in that year, finds Hyman at times hinting at Oscar Peterson (especially on "Where or When"), the stride piano masters, classical music, and even the basslines of Dave McKenna, but mostly he plays in his own virtuosic yet very melodic and accessible style. "Loch Lomond" pays tribute to Benny Goodman's rendition, "Thanks for the Memory" is based a bit on Bob Hope's original recording, and Art Tatumwould have been proud to have cut this version of "In the Still of the Night." The wide range of emotions (from an exuberant "Bob White" to a somber "The Folks Who Live on the Hill") and Hyman's typically brilliant playing on the solo recital make this CD a particular standout.
Don't often listen to this, even though I like it. I guess it's because to properly enjoy the album it has to be listened through from start to end and with The Wall that's more of a time commitment than most albums.
Sandy Denny -Sandy.
I've been listening to the acoustic collection and a CD of demos of Sandy's work recently, and the stark arrangements do show off her singing and the songs beautifully. But I also love her studio albums, the voice and interpretations are definitely strong enough to show up well with a band, I love every song on this album, and her cover of Richard Farina's Quiet Joys of Brotherhood is worth the price of admission on its own., while her compositions such as It'll Take a Long Time,, The Lady and Bushes and Briars are wonderful songs.
A bottle of nice red, Sandy on the stereo, watching swifts wheeling in the air over the Calder Valley through the windows, what better relaxed Saturday evening could I have?
I've been listening to this 15-CD set recently which I bought in HMV for about £30. It contains a few of the Bach recordings which have featured in this thread in the past few weeks. Very fine listening...........
Johannes Brahms - The Three Piano Trios - Borodin Trio (2 LPs)
I bought these from Oxfam at £2.49. A real snip and superb quality especial after cleaning on my Loricraft PRC4.
This recording introduced me to the piano trio, and left me spell bound. Today I felt I liked the No 2 best of all. I like the conversation between the cello and violin particularly in the first two movements. The SL speaker cable has enriched the cello sound and added to the mysterious air of this work.
Browsing the web I found mention of the Florestan Trio's very highly regarded recordings of these trios and the Schumann ones. It made me wonder whether our esteemed member was one of that trio.
Phil
Vinyl, a compilation album from the mid80s. Dave Swarbrick was one of the great English folk fiddlers, and in Fairport Convention was one of the creators of English folk-rock. This album has some of his many wonderful studio performances, if I had any sense of timing physically I'd be dancing now. It's energising and beautiful music.
Somewhere in the house I have a signed copy of Swarb's obituary, about 20 years ago the Telegraph declared him dead and published an obituary, later in the year at the Cropredy Festival he happily sold off signed copies of the obit., sadly he did die about a year ago so the joke is now a sadness.
Vinyl. Staying with great musicians from Fairport, the first great solo album from the master singer songwriter guitarist Richard Thompson, with his then wife Linda. Her wonderful folk voice complements his songs to create a genuinely great album, RT doesn't do happy upbeat songs, but similarly to Leonard Cohen, he writes about the downside to show that the upside still shines through. (OK, End of the Rainbow doesn't have an upside in any way, but all the other songs leave me feeling uplifted at the end.) For me this album is sheer beauty, great songs, a brilliant female vocalist wth some great male backing/harmony vocals, a world-class guitarist and excellent backing musicians.
A fine record. Very fine indeed.
McGuinn, Clarke, Hillman on vinyl. A slightly MOR album from 3 of the Byrds, still good music, but more Eagles than the Byrds, Based on the plastic outer sleeve I bought the Capital Radio studio copy at the 1993 Help A London Child charity event. Picked at random from the vinyl cabinet, better than I remembered.
Eoink posted:
McGuinn, Clarke, Hillman on vinyl. A slightly MOR album from 3 of the Byrds, still good music, but more Eagles than the Byrds, Based on the plastic outer sleeve I bought the Capital Radio studio copy at the 1993 Help A London Child charity event. Picked at random from the vinyl cabinet, better than I remembered.
Saw the original Byrds in 1965 and saw this unit sometime between '77-'79 in Spokane, Washington. Gene Clark was my favorite Byrd. I need to hear this again sometime soon. Memories, thanks. regards, Jeff A
Vinyl. Bought at Muse Cafe in Hebden Bridge, fantastic musicians playing excellent Irish folk influenced rock,.
Vinyl. Early ,Melissa Etheridge, grew t bluesy rock vocals, good backing band.
....and very good it is, too.
alt-J "An Awasome Wave":
am probably too old to like this, but i often find myself using this to check that all is OK with my system!
enjoy
ken
.....another CD arrived in the afternoon moon
Joe Sample - The Pecan Tree
Joe Sample (Piano), Larry Alberman (Drums), Joy Anderson (Bass), Dean Parks (Guitar), Lenny Castro (Percussion), and Peter Wolf (Syths).
Also: Vocals on 'No One but Myself to Blame' and 'Fools Gold' - Lizz Wright. Vocals on 'In a Heartbeat and 'With These Hands' - Howard Hewett. Drums on 'Fools Gold' and 'In a Heartbeat' by James Godson. Percussion on 'No One But Myself to Blame' and 'In a Heartbeat' - Paulinho da Casta
Joe Sample from Southeastern Texas influenced by the 'sanctified holy rollers' whose music he found wonderful but frightening, along with the gospel, blues and jazz music inside his community.
The Pecan Tree is smooth jazz with a mix of instrumentals and vocals. Wonderful for a easy Saturday evening.
.....next up
John Mayer - Continuum
......next up (actually just finishing up)
Love Ray's gruff voice and guitar playing. I first heard of Wylie at the 1st Annual North Texas Folk Festival & Hootenanny on October 7, 1995. He does it all writes the lyrics, the music and performs. Well worth the time to give listen.