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

  Justin Adams - Desert Road.

  Played Justin's latest album last evening, so, returning to this one is very easy. More of the finest desert trance.

  Lot's of folks mentioning Percy's latest as their favourite album of the year ............. have a listen to this, it's there on Tidal, and you'll

  soon come to realise how much of an influence he is within the Sensational Space Shifters, a quite unique talent, IMHO.  

1978 - vinyl - US first pressing...

I have had this for some time, don't know why I have not listened to it until now - must replay it !

A must have ! - recommended  to any 'Miles' fans

Sofya Gulyak (piano)

Nikolai Medtner:  4 Folk Tales Op. 26 | Tragic Sonata Op. 39, No. 5
Sergei Rachmaninov:  Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42
Sergei Prokofiev:  Sonata No. 6 in A major Op. 82

While Nikolai Medtner and Sergei Rachmaninov were friends and contemporaries the music composed by each could not have been more different.  Medtner's family, although living in Russia for several generations were of Germanic stock.  Might this explain why Medtner's music might not entirely have that certain air of painful Russian sadness and despair associated with it typical of most other Russian composers such as Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, or even Prokofiev?  It has been said of Medtner that he is the 'Russian Brahms'.  At the same time, Rachmaninov did declare that Medtner is 'the greatest composer of our time'.  However, for each composer and for each listener there remains a clear divide in style and form.

To illustrate the differences is to almost talk about opposing political views such as between a Democrat and Republican.  Some would say that Medtner was 'Rachmaninov without memorable tunes' and others would say that Rachmaninov was 'Medtner without the brains'.   

Sofya Gulyak was the 2006 winner of the Sigismund Thalberg International Piano Competition and in 2009 winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition plus a prize winner at many other competitions.  A nicely recorded record and I did enjoy her playing very much.

Continuing the Mike Oldfiekd albums from yesterday, today I'm playing 'Hergest Ridge' from the 4-LP 'Boxed' set. I realise that I've hardly ever played this disc owing to TB and Ommadawn.

  Keb' Mo' - Suitcase.

  Some gentle, understated  blues choons from Keb' & chums ................. awfully good. 

Debussy:  Sonatas & Trios 

Renaud Capuçon, Bertrand Chamayou, Gérard Caussé, Emmanuel Pahud, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Edgar Moreau

A nice Debussy chamber music recital. 

Excellent recital with a tenor who's rapidly making a name for himself as one of today's best - in several fragments here (highlight: the duet from Halevy's 'Guido'), he is breathtakingly good - both musically, as well as in his care for expression and enunciation. Rizzi and the Hallé do a good job supporting.

Cheers

EJ

Now Playing......

Fred Simon - Dream House

Fred Simon (piano), Kelly Sill (bass), and Sarah Allen (drums)

Streaming on Tidal......

Continuation of playing Fred Simon, one album played last night, a second early today, A mellow Friday with Fred!

seakayaker posted:

Now Playing......

Fred Simon - Dream House

Fred Simon (piano), Kelly Sill (bass), and Sarah Allen (drums)

Streaming on Tidal......

Continuation of playing Fred Simon, one album played last night, a second early today, A mellow Friday with Fred!

Yes I miss Fred around these parts.

.sjb

Continuing with Spyres and El-Khoury, together in a complete recording of Donizetti's Les Martyrs.

Cheers,

EJ

First play of a new purchase.  I haven't really taken much notice of her since she first burst on the scene. My early impressions are that her music has developed and matured. 

I know as a big fan of Nerina I'm biased but this latest album of hers is gorgeous. It's getting a lot of air-time in this household.  

Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 2

The man has only gone and done it again. Another superb album following on from Volume 1. Great voice and great choons. Consistently high score on the belterometer! Love it.

I notice this one is available as a hi-res download. Time hint unashamedly to the family about how much I rate this and what a wonderful Christmas gift it would make. 

1st run through of Chris Stapleton’s new one, another superb album. Already after 1 listen sneaking into my top releases of the year list.  Thanks to the posters here whose listening to Vol. 1introduced me to him.

Marillion

Misplaced Childhood - 24/96

My favourite Marillion album.

ted_p posted:

Marillion

Misplaced Childhood - 24/96

My favourite Marillion album.

Is that from Qobuz?

I really enjoy that too, though the singles seem to jar amongst the rest of it these days.

Clive B posted:

Continuing the Mike Oldfiekd albums from yesterday, today I'm playing 'Hergest Ridge' from the 4-LP 'Boxed' set. I realise that I've hardly ever played this disc owing to TB and Ommadawn.

"...Ain't got no time for intellectual music, bleedin' Hergest Ridge/Give me a riff that swings like a catapult dings and I can boogie like a bitch, Awright?..."

steve

nigelb posted:

Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 2

I notice this one is available as a hi-res download. Time hint unashamedly to the family about how much I rate this and what a wonderful Christmas gift it would make. 

I downloaded it at 24/96, sounded excellent on the Nova.

After a stunning gig from Percy and the shape shifters last night, a blast of a fairly recent album he played a few from.

Paper Plane posted:

Clive B posted:

Continuing the Mike Oldfiekd albums from yesterday, today I'm playing 'Hergest Ridge' from the 4-LP 'Boxed' set. I realise that I've hardly ever played this disc owing to TB and Ommadawn.

"...Ain't got no time for intellectual music, bleedin' Hergest Ridge/Give me a riff that swings like a catapult dings and I can boogie like a bitch, Awright?..."

steve

Why do you think I've hardly ever played it?!

Now playing.......

Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 2

Happy to see the full album has been released...... I will be downloading the hi-res version very soon.

For anyone who has not seen or heard Chris previously I would recommend taking a look at his NPR Tiny Desk concert here.  

Chris and his wife perform together and the three songs included are: More Of You, When The Stars Come Out, and Whiskey and You.  A great songwriter and performer.......

Cathy Krier (piano)

Claude Debussy:  Images Books I & II | Masques
Karol Szymanowski: Masques Op. 34

Tommy Flanagan, John Coltrane, Kenny Burrell, Idrees Sulieman - The Cats (1957). CD-rip. Nice one.