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- Review count31
- Helpfulness votes2
- First reviewAugust 18, 2009
- Last reviewFebruary 20, 2013
- Featured reviews2
- Average rating4.6
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![Portraits & Elegies [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1850/18505683_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Simply beautiful
on May 10, 2010
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
Violinist Frank Almond and pianist Brian Zeger team up on this new release from Innova to perform a range of chamber music by four contemporary composers. The pieces vary widely in character and style, but all embody the adage that less is more. Philip Lasser’s “Vocalise” and “Berceuse Fantasque” are spare, emotionally haunting works of considerable subtlety and depth. Lasser’s melodies are stunningly beautiful, and the counterpoint between violin and piano is nothing short of breathtaking. The selections from Ned Rorem’s “Day Music” and “Night Music” segue from elegiac tone poems to sprightly, dance-like exercises in rhythm; all are effortlessly beguiling. Peter Lieberson’s “Elegy” strikes a lugubrious tone from start to finish, yet harbors unexpected shards of lightness among the gloom. Russell Platt’s “Adagio, Amoroso” and “Lamentoso” are pure expressions of beauty and longing. Almond and Zeger make for a great team—their playing is completely in sync in terms of form, content and expression. An interesting side note to this recording is that Almond plays the “Lipinski” Stradivarius, which dates from 1715. Needless to say, it sounds out of this world, with a warmth and timber from another age.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Gabriel Prokofiev: Piano Book No. 1 [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1845/18451124_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Forging new paths
on May 10, 2010
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
The Russian pianist GeNIA is one of the outstanding interpreters of modern classical music, having released several CDs on the aptly named Nonclassical label founded by iconoclastic composer Gabriel Prokofiev (who seems to have inherited some creative mojo from his famous grandfather Sergei). “Piano Book No. 1” is GeNIA’s first recording devoted to Prokofiev’s solo piano works, which channel traditional impulses through a spiky modernism. Impressionistic pieces like Rockaby, Glass Swing and Side Dance contrast with more aggressive, melodically astringent works like Tough Moves. Many of the pieces start out with simple, recurring motifs that gradually become complicated in interesting ways. GeNIA effectively bridges the music’s conventional and unconventional elements in this mood mosaic of an album. Her superb technical command foregrounds the music’s formal underpinnings; her emotional capacity highlights its heart.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Spectrum [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1795/17951557_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Giving fusion a good name
on April 13, 2010
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
I guess the best description for this recording might be avant-garde jazz meets minimalist classical. By turns explosive and improvisational, contemplative and structured, it’s a unique synthesis, to be certain. And it’s largely a successful one, thanks to the talents of David Crowell, a neo-classical composer and saxophonist who has played with Philip Glass and Steve Reich. For me, the standout tracks are the aggressive, burning jazz-rock numbers “Happy Nightmare” and “Nectar of Life,” which contrast nicely with the down-tempo minimalism of pieces like “Point Reyes” and the spirit-lifting sonorities of “Long Goodbye” and “Looking Deeply.” Crowell’s saxophone is the dominant instrumental voice, but he gives plenty of space to guitarist Grey McMurray and Fender Rhodes wiz Red Wierenga, whose playing is consistently fresh and inventive. And props must also go to electric bassist Mike Chiavara and drummer Jason Nazary, whose rhythmic support flaunts an edgy, in-your-face intensity that helps keep the music from lapsing into formalism.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![100 Years of Django [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1836/18369328_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Viva Django
on February 13, 2010
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
Je vous salue, Azica Records. That’s what gypsy jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt would doubtless say about this amazing tribute recording led by modern guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola. The title “100 Years of Django,” alludes not only to the fact that a century has passed since Reinhardt’s birth in 1910, but also to the nearly 100 songs he wrote during his all too brief lifetime. As Vignola points out in the track notes, this CD is intended to spotlight Reinhardt’s prowess as a composer. In addition to familiar favorites like “Swing Gitane,” “Tears” and “Nuages,” Vignola has included some lesser-known gems—notably “Diminishing Blackness,” with its Brazilian-tinged, impressionistic vibe; and “Mystery Pacific,” a rarely heard piece that speeds along with a rhythmic propulsion reminiscent of a train chugging down the tracks. Vignola has assembled a cracking band to interpret these tunes, including Vinny Raniolo on rhythm guitar, Gary Mazzaroppi on bass and Julien Labro on accordion. Vignola delivers one compelling solo after another, foregrounding his stylistic individuality while evoking Reinhardt’s bittersweet sound and quicksilver swing. Labro is equally virtuosic on the accordion, its smoky tones calling to mind the prewar jazz clubs in which Reinhardt came to prominence. This is one of those recordings that starts out in high gear and seems to get better as it goes along. The musicians are completely locked into the groove and sound as if they’ve been playing together for years. “100 Years of Django” was recorded in a church, which contributes to the live feel of the performances, and the notable warmth of the sound. The commitment to the spirit of Django Reinhardt is manifest in every track, as is the pure joy each musician brings to this timeless music.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Paul Fetler: Violin Concerto No. 2; Capriccio; 3 Poems by Walt Whitman [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1830/18302572_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Elegance and Eloquence
on January 20, 2010
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
There is much to like in this Naxos American Classics recording featuring the music of Paul Fetler, which is the first devoted exclusively to his work. Included on this disc are his Violin Concerto No. 2, Capriccio, and Three Poems by Walt Whitman. The concerto for me is the highlight, showcasing his elegant and urgent lyricism throughout all three movements. Fetler’s melodies are full of yearning yet never sound cloying, and are wonderfully embroidered with impressionistic sound colors and accents. Moreover, Fetler maintains perfect balance between the violin and orchestral passages, never letting the latter overwhelm the former, even during the overtly dramatic and propulsive third movement. The composer’s Capriccio is much lighter in tone, marked by balletic rhythms and spirited melodies, and evokes Debussy in its shimmering atmospheres. I’m somewhat less enamored of the Three Poems by Walt Whitman. That’s no knock on Fetler’s evocative musical settings, which effectively complement the emotional and thematic tenor of Whitman’s verse (narrated by the poet Thomas H. Blaske). As much as I like Whitman’s poetry, and as much as I appreciate Fetler’s musical underscore, I’ve never warmed to the combination of spoken poetry and classical music, which to my ear comes off as a little stiff and portentous. (That kind of thing seems to work much better with jazz—Jean Shepherd’s improvised narration on Charles Mingus’ “The Clown,” for example.) All in all, however, this recording is a fine introduction to a composer long deserving of greater recognition.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Thelonious Monk: American Composer [DVD] [1993]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4649/4649072_sa.jpg)
This disc examines the music and life of legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. Part of the Masters of American Music Series, the DVD contains a standard full-frame transfer. The English soundtrack does what it can with the limited quality of some of the source materials. The classic clips used during the feature guarantee that this BMG Video release should be of interest to Monk fans and jazz enthusiasts.
Customer Rating
5
Prophet and Poet
on December 9, 2009
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
Even among jazz musicians, a notoriously eclectic and eccentric bunch, Thelonious Monk stood out as a cat of a completely different stripe. Monk wasn’t just a visionary—he was a bold insurrectionist who helped pioneer bebop and wrote numerous jazz standards to boot. Monk’s complex, evocative tunes were full of surprising twists and turns, and his piano solos were noted for their percussive force and controlled dissonance. He simply heard, wrote and played music differently from anyone before or since. Yet as challenging as his music could be, it was also imbued with an otherworldly beauty few other jazz composers have approached. Most importantly, Monk never sold himself or his music short, even at the cost of commercial success. The essence of the man and his art is admirably captured in this “Masters of American Music” documentary. Originally part of a television mini-series that aired in the late 1980s/early 1990s and which previously appeared on VHS, it has now been remastered, repackaged and released on DVD by the good folks at Naxos, who also put out the essential Jazz Icons DVD series. The film features plenty of performance and behind-the scenes footage; a wealth of archival stills; and interviews with musicians Randy Weston, Billy Taylor and Thelonious Monk III (plus record producer Orrin Keepnews), who provide additional context and emotional resonance. The disc times out at 59 minutes, which is just long enough to paint a compelling portrait in images and music, but not too long to wear out its welcome. Even those who own the more comprehensive documentary “Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser” will find this to be a worthy companion disc.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Terry Riley: In C Remixed [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1829/18291754_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Minimalist Classic Revisited
on December 9, 2009
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
I generally avoid remix projects, which tend to be reductive, ego-driven exercises that fail to respect and/or illuminate the spirit of the original pieces. A happy exception is “In C Remixed,” which has been perpetrated by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble in a spirit of true creative exploration. This talented aggregation of young musicians has teamed with several contemporary composers, DJs, and electronica innovators to play with, deconstruct and subvert Riley’s 1964 masterpiece in all manner of bewitching ways. The composer himself is on record as being amazed at some of the alternate versions conjured on this two-disc collection. While retaining much of the trancelike intensity of Riley’s epochal work, the remixers explore a variety of moods as they steer the piece into the realms of ambient, rock, electronics, breakbeat, even funk. And while “In C” is typically played on keyboard instruments, it is brought to life here through a broad instrumental palette, including piano, xylophone, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, flute, cello, violin, bassoon and accordion. The very structure of the work, with its repeated intermeshing phrases and steady pulse, has always been open to fresh interpretations; the GVSU ensemble has simply taken this dynamic to another level. The arrangements are all (with one exception) successfully realized. On first listen, I was most intrigued by Mikael Karlsson and Rob Stephenson, who break “In C” down into icy abstract sound snippets while somehow maintaining a sparsely melodic cohesion; David Lang, whose take is full of brooding drama; and Michael Lowenstern, who adds a surprising Middle-Eastern-flavored funk to the mix. But these are just several of the many interpretive jewels in this collection, one that invites and demands repeated visitations.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Jesús Rueda: Piano Music [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1807/18074076_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Euphonic Modernism
on October 26, 2009
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
It’s always a pleasure to discover a composer with whom one is unfamiliar. Jesús Rueda is a case in point. One of Spain’s most important contemporary musical voices, he is to date sadly underrepresented on disc. Kudos to Naxos then for this recording, which is the first devoted to Rueda’s solo piano music. Listening to these five engaging, at times demanding works, one can discern the influence of such composers as Chopin and Ravel filtered through a distinctly modern sensibility. As the pianist on this disc, Ananda Sukarlan, perceptively states in the liner notes, Rueda has “successfully produced a mesmeric blending of ‘classical’ and contemporary elements: his compositions might ask the instrument to whisper in utmost secrecy or, in Walt Whitman’s words, to sound its ‘barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.’” I don’t know about ‘barbaric,’ but the disc’s lead piece, “Mephisto,” certainly lives up to its name, from its ominous opening chords to its nervous intensity to its percussive note clusters. The composer’s “Piano Sonata No. 1” charts similarly dark emotional terrain, but this is balanced by an irresistible melodic drive and shimmering sound colors. Rueda’s “Piano Sonata No. 2” is distinguished by its jazz-like rhythms and improvisatory feel—at times it evokes the spirit of an avant-garde jazz pianist like, say, Cecil Taylor. Contrasting these weightier works (although they never sound heavy in an oppressive sense) are two suites comprised of very short piano pieces, many of them under 60 seconds. “Invenciones” is a set of nine deceptively simple statements of an almost singsong character. “24 Interludes” comprises two-dozen gorgeous miniatures that conjure a wide variety of moods, from the contemplative to the ecstatic. Sukarlan, a composer in his own right, proves to be an ideal interpreter of this music, having worked extensively with many other leading Spanish composers. He brings a virtuosic touch to Rueda’s more angular and daunting pieces, and mines the emotional possibilities of the more transparent, accessible ones.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Krzysztof Meyer: String Quartets Nos. 5, 6 & 8 [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1807/18071738_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Neoclassic Master
on October 22, 2009
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
Like his more famous compatriot Krzysztof Penderecki, Poland’s Krzysztof Meyer experimented freely with avant-garde musical techniques early in his career before evolving towards more traditional yet still complex and challenging compositional parameters. While he has compiled a large and impressive body of orchestral and vocal work, I find his chamber music most compelling, especially his 12 string quartets, which I rate among the best written during the past four decades. This disc presents his fifth, sixth and eighth string quartets, composed between 1977 and 1985. Each is unique in character and approach, yet they share a dramatic heft and plangent tone found in much Eastern European music. Meyer combines cohesive narrative form and pleasing harmonic symmetry to great effect in each of these works without ever becoming predictable. He keeps the listener pleasingly off balance with contrasting moods, subtle emotional shadings and a wide range of sound colors and textures. Many of the movements unfold with surprising warmth and intimacy; others are more overtly dramatic, with bold, spiky melodic lines punctuated with sharp rhythmic accents. It’s hard to pick a favorite among these quartets—each is emotionally accessible and intellectually stimulating, and given convincing and committed readings by the superb Wieniawski String Quartet.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Choral Works of Krzysztof Penderecki [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1809/18091459_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Stark and Sensational
on October 14, 2009
Posted by: dbrierly
from Studio City, CA
There’s not much you can say about Poland’s Krzysztof Penderecki that hasn’t been said before. One of the towering figures of modern classical music, his profound and complex compositions seem to channel all the angst and suffering of the 20th century, yet their darkness is invariably balanced a sense of hopefulness. This is especially true of his choral compositions. Reason enough to celebrate this Naxos box set featuring a quartet of Penderecki’s seminal vocal works for choir and orchestra. Probably the best known is his “Polish Requiem,” written in stages over a number of years and dedicated variously to Lech Walesa and Solidarity, a pair of notable Polish religious figures, and the 1944 Warsaw uprising against the German occupation. Written for a large orchestra and mixed chorus, the Requiem, while challenging, is reflective of Penderecki’s neo-romantic period, when he began to curb his experimental tendencies in favor of a more accessible musical language. It’s a melodically elaborate, at times overpowering work balanced between the emotional tonalities of nightmares and dreams. “St. Luke’s Passion” was written between 1963 and 1966, and is much more radical in its use of serial techniques and dense tone clusters, yet the vocal lines clearly communicate the work’s religious fervor. “Te Deum” deftly combines eerie and austere vocal passages with angular strings and ominous percussion, which at times evokes a stunning sense of post-apocalyptic despair. Fans of Kubrick’s “The Shining” will recognize certain passages from Penderecki’s “Utrenja,” a brooding two-part work awash in melodic and harmonic atonality and savage choral passages. Also included (consider it a bonus) is the composer’s “Polymorphia,” one of his most extreme and rewarding orchestral pieces. All the works in this set benefit from superb performances by the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir under the baton of Antoni Wit. The recordings are also excellent, full of clarity, warmth and spaciousness. While the bulk of this music is steeped in darkness, it also projects a luminous spirituality that one can interpret from either a religious or secular perspective. The ridiculously low price of this five-CD set makes it the classical music bargain of the year. Add it to your classical music collection immediately.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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