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;
PaulM160 posted:
one that divides opinion; the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end... I remember getting this from a guy at work who got it from a record club: bad move, warped to buggery, watching the stylus as the LP turned either made you feel seasick or like you were on a merry go round!
Funnily enough the original copy of Genesis Live I bought was dished like a fruit bowl. Side two played sort of fine because the circumference was in contact with the edge of the platter, but side one showed a gap of about 0.5". Produced some very hypnotic whooshy sounds too!
Bruno Bohmer Camacho - Herencias.
Great jazz with caribbean elements. Reminds me of Michel Camilo.
The Intimate Ella - CD-rip. The title spells it out!
Great pianist. This is different from a lot of other executions. A remarkable effort, while it competes with his Bach... below the Grammophone review
To choose the last three Beethoven sonatas as your debut recording might be seen as headstrong, but the last five? That bespeaks, at worst, reckless arrogance, at best, a quiet confidence. Igor Levit is Sony’s latest signing: Russian-born, Austrian- and German-schooled, all of 26 years old and currently a BBC New Generation artist.
And it quickly emerges that this is neither reckless nor arrogant but a debut of true significance. Everywhere you turn, you encounter thoughtfulness, an utter engagement with the composer and a clear sense of Levit’s personality, though never in a shouty ‘look at me, I’m playing the Hammerklavier fugue’ sort of way. Though, while on that subject, his fugue is pretty spectacular: he brings across the iconoclastic element of this movement but also an unfailing sense of clarity of structural thinking. And while the fugue subject itself has plenty of incision, it’s never aggressive, while in the quieter passages he produces some lustrously pearlescent playing.
And even when you might find yourself disagreeing with this or that interpretative detail – arguably there are moments of the Op 111 variations that are perhaps a little slow for my taste, while the opening of Op 109 is perhaps a little studied (compared, at least, to the inimitable Hess) – the sheer conviction of Levit’s playing is mesmerising. In the finale of the same E major Sonata, the way he sustains the line and builds the momentum is judged to a nicety.
The physical aspects of late Beethoven are dispatched, perhaps unsurprisingly, with great energy and panache. But there’s nothing merely gung-ho about this pianist’s approach: the opening of Op 106 is strongly contoured but also hugely febrile, with plenty of air in the textures.
What really makes this recording special, though, is Levit’s way with the slower movements. The short Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll of Op 101 is gloriously haloed, more of a piece, mood-wise, than the highly reactive Guy in his newer cycle; Levit reaches an almost unbearable intensity, before leading into the finale, via the reminiscence of the opening, utterly naturally. And while he doesn’t go for Solomon’s heavenly lengths in the slow movement of Op 106 – he’s more akin to Goode temperamentally – he’s every bit as intense as Guy in his first recording for Naïve.
Add to that a warm yet detailed recording and you have something of a triumph. Hats off to Sony, too, for bagging themselves yet another tremendous pianist, to keep Volodos and Andsnes company. I could go on and on about this recording but the best thing is to hear it for yourself.
Bert Schurink posted:
Thanks for posting this, Bert. We listened to Novo Piano, with coffee, waking up in bed this morning. Very well played piano album, with 2 vocal tracks. I'm sure this one will become one of our favorite piano albums. There are more Maxence Cyrin albums on Tidal if anyone wants to try them.
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band - Tidal HiFi
First time ever listing to an allman brothers band album, only studio album on tidal.
Edward
The vinyl generations version of streaming...
How Blue Can We Get? (1970 UK Blue Horizon 25-track stereo double LP compilation.
Volume I :
–Fleetwood Mac Watch Out 4:10
–Jellybread Don't Pay Them No Mind 3:15
–Top Topham Mini-Minor-Mo 2:10
–Duster Bennett What A Dream 3:50
–Bacon Fat Boom, Boom (Out Goes The Lights) 3:46
–Chicken Shack Evelyn 4:15
–Christine Perfect And That's Saying A Lot 2:57
–Bacon Fat Small's On 53rd 3:46
–Fleetwood Mac I'm Worried 3:24
–Chicken Shack The Way It Is 4:25
–Jellybread No Brag, Just Facts (Parts 1 And 2) 3:56
–Fleetwood Mac Rambling Pony 2:40
Try again: UK original 1998 double vinyl. Was a better British album released in the 1990s? Can't think of one...
Chris Cunningham - If You Knew All Along
Short but sweet. 
Brilliant posted:The Intimate Ella - CD-rip. The title spells it out!
One of her best.
Disc 2...
–Elmore James Hand In Hand 3:00
–Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup That's Alright 2:19
–Magic Sam All Your Love 2:56
–Larry Johnson Catfish Blues 2:34
–Otis Spann My Love Depends On You 5:18
–Furry Lewis Casey Jones 2:30
–Champion Jack Dupree Grandma (You''re A Bit Too Slow) 3:15
–George Smith No Time For Jive 7:22
–Johnny Young Deal The Cards 3:45
–Roosevelt Holts Little Bitty Woman 3:04
–Bukka White Bed Spring Blues 2:48
–Mississippi Joe Callicott On My Last Go Round 3:45
–Otis Rush Jump Sister Bessie 2:26
Nelson Freire - Bach
Very nice performance from Nelson Freire of the music of Bach. He plays the pieces in his own style which makes this CD worthwhile for me.
On CD:-
(1974 original| 2005 MFSL remaster)
Sometimes its good to get these boys out... and it's been too long.
Kevin-W posted:Try again: UK original 1998 double vinyl. Was a better British album released in the 1990s? Can't think of one...
Kev, I love both albums and bands but, for me, this one here just edges it! Just my opinion of course.
2017 - Tidal - First listen...
Mr E and his gang are up to no good again. After 40 years you'd have thought they would have changed,mellowed and behaved. No chance!
Inspired by Brilliant's post above...
Ella - Cole Porter Songbook
Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems
His voice just got better with age.
nigelb posted:Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems
His voice just got better with age.
Good shout Nigel, I was wondering what to queue up next!
Michel Camilo
One of his early recordings. A good one imo.
From allmusic.com
Michel Camilo was one of the most stimulating jazz pianists to emerge in the mid- to late '80s. His powerful two-handed attack (full of impressive technical skills), his knowledge of both jazz and Afro-Cuban music, and his willingness to constantly take chances make each of his solos into an adventure. This Portrait set, his first date as a leader to be made available domestically, features Camilo in a pair of trios with either Marc Johnson or Lincoln Goines on bass and Dave Weckl or Joel Rosenblatt on drums; Mongo Santamaria makes some guest appearances on congas. On the spirited outing, Michel Camilo sticks to originals, with the exception of "Blue Bossa."
On aged vinyl (Not digitally remastered!)
Why? Time for a bit of Scotishness to reflect my third Caledonian granddaughter who arrived yesterday.
steve
ewemon posted:
Continuing on a country theme.
He played at a local country bar a few months back and I thought that was strange. I guess this explains that. I like his voice so I'll give it a listen.
Paper Plane posted:On aged vinyl (Not digitally remastered!)
Why? Time for a bit of Scotishness to reflect my third Caledonian granddaughter who arrived yesterday.
steve
Congratulations and an appropriate band to celebrate with.