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Audiophile
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Tchaikovsky:
Piano Trio in A minor, Op.50
Alexander Stark, violin; Bella Shteinbouk, piano; Nata Belkin, violoncello.
Mirrored Nature Records, MNR5001 Reviewed by RSF
Tchaikovsky composed his only Piano Trio, “In Memory of a Great
Artist” -dedicated to the great pianist Nikolai Rubinstein (1835-1881)
- in 1882.
It’s a lovely work, somber and brooding in the first movement, there
is varying drama in the second. While the piano opens with its main theme,
the composition then moves into a set of around a dozen variations.
I’d not heard these artists before, but have been immensely satisfied
by the calibre of playing on this hybrid SACD. You can clearly hear how
well they play together, a unified stance, if you will, as you listen
to the emotional course Tchaikovsky has charted for you. Mirrored Nature
Records sports the logo ‘Music Made Not Manufactured’ on their
releases and while they’ve only three in their catalogue right now,
I’m looking for more great things from them in the future. I would
strongly suggest that if you are unfamiliar with this beautiful chamber
music, you investigate this release further. Not only is the playing outstanding,
the sound quality, both in the two channel SACD layer and the down-converted
CD layer, will captivate you the moment you begin to listen. Highly recommended
and not to be missed.
Supplier: www.mirrorednaturerecords.com
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Pee
Wee Russell - Jazz Reunion
Pure Pleasure/Candid 9020 Reviewed by DDD
Clarinet has never hit the big time as an accepted instrument in jazz,
but when it’s good, it’s very, very good. While I played piano
in the school orchestra, I also spent many years in the school band playing
the clarinet. Perhaps for that reason, Pee Wee Russell has always been
one of my favourite, under appreciated jazz artists. The reunion referred
to in the title is that of clarinet player Russell with tenor saxophone
superstar Coleman Hawkins, and it’s an unqualified success. Pee
Wee and the Hawk are joined here by an all-star cast. Given that the record
was released on Candid, you can be assured that this is no Dixieland session.
These old pros laid down a sophisticated set of smart, straight ahead
jazz, with the timing nicely defined by the bass line of Milt Hinton.
This is the epitomy of “toe-tapping” music. Beautifully recorded,
this stereo release sounds much fresher than the mono original I’ve
been listening to for years. There’s no artificial left-right separation,
and the instrumental solos are beautifully presented – there is
an enormous amount of air surrounding the vibration of the reed sound
on the solos, resulting in a startling facsimile of these legends standing
between the speakers, replaying these tunes. I’m quite familiar
with (and a big fan of) the Candid house sound. Pure Pleasure has done
a great job in improving on an old master. |
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Biber,
Schmelzer: Seventeenth Century Music and Dance from the Viennese Court.
Ars Antiqua Austria, Letzbor, Michael Oman, Recorder.
Chesky Records Hybrid SACD 262 Reviewed by RSF
What a surprise. Not only is this release something one normally would
not expect to see on the Chesky label, the disc has been around for nearly
three-years! While I don’t hear about everything, I would have expected
to read about this recording somewhere. I guess I don’t get out
enough. This is out and out party music, albeit from a few centuries past.
While I am very familiar with Biber’s Rosenkranz Sonatas, the dances
on this release were completely new to me. This is also the first music
I’ve heard from the Austrian composer, Johann Schmelzer. The recordings
are really wonderful and on this disc is some of the best music for recorder
I’ve ever heard. The recording venue is the Marienkapelle at the
St. Florian Monastery, Austria. Gorgeous acoustics are captured with,
according to the liner notes, “strictly minimalist microphone placement
utilizing the very best of high-end digital and analog audio components.
This fare is very easy to digest and not only is the music interesting,
the sound is simply heavenly. While not something I was expecting from
Chesky, I’m delighted to have this addition to my collection. While
I’ve not explored early music as many others have, this is certainly
one stunning disc. Highly recommended.
Supplier: www.cheskyrecords.com
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The Byrds
- Mr Tambourine Man
Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2014 Reviewed by DD
One of rock music’s undisputed classics from one of the most important
groups of the ‘60’s, delivered in a pristine SACD version
of the original mono along with a roster of six bonus tracks, mostly in
stereo. What’s to dislike here? From the opening chimes of McGuinn’s
12-string Rickenbacker, the album still sounds as fresh as if it were
written yesterday. Throw in classics like Gene Clark’s ‘I’ll
Feel a Whole Lot Better’ and the band’s special take on Dylan
including ‘Spanish Harlem Incident’, ‘All I Really Want
To Do’ and ‘Chimes of Freedom’. The only thing that
falls flat from the original album’s tracks is their humorous take
on ‘We’ll Meet Again’ - probably fine in their live
performances at the time but for me at least a quick edit here. The bonus
tracks include a nice alternate take in stereo of ‘I’ll Feel
A Whole Lot Better’ and of Clark’s ballad ‘You Won’t
Have To Cry’ along with the single edit of their superb take on
‘All I Really Want To Do’. The closing instrumental, whilst
fine in it’s own way, demonstrates just how much the bands vocals
add; you find yourself expecting their entry at any moment.
A very nice version of a superb album.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186 |
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Saint-Saëns:
Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op 78 (Organ Symphony) etc.
Bélanger, org. Orch.Métropolitain du Grand Montréal,
Nézet-Séguin.
Atma Classique SACD2 2331 Reviewed by RSF
Recorded in December, 2005, this Hybrid Surround SACD is my first introduction
to Johanne Goyette’s Atma Classique label. And what a fine introduction
it is. We’re all familiar with Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony,
and the remaining works on this disc are all delightful snippets for organ
and orchestra.
The performances are excellent and the sound quality on the SACD and CD
layers is rich, layered and well recorded. Opus 78 is one of my favourite
works and I’ve heard some that have left me wanting. Not so here.
We’re given an insightful performance with a rich, but not too reverberant
acoustic. The Guilmant, Vierne and Widor are also wonderful additions.
These are classic works for Organ and orchestra, carefully crafted and
extremely well presented. This disc is quite a treat for me as I’d
visited Oratoire Saint-Joseph when I lived in Montreal and I was never
fortunate enough to hear the organ played. There was always some reason
why it wasn’t working. As an aside, the notes accompanying this
disc are some of the finest and most comprehensive I’ve ever come
across. I’ve enjoyed this disc very much and I hope you will as
well.
Top recommendation!
Supplier: www.atmaclassique.com |
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Claude
Debussy: La Mer
Ottorino Respighi: Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome.
Reiner, CSO
RCA Living Stereo SACD 82876-71614-2 Reviewed by DD
This is a release I’ve been waiting for since this series began.
What I got (in terms of superb sound quality) was much more than I bargained
for!
While I’d not been a fan of Dr. Reiner’s La Mer, what I heard
on the SACD layer really surprised me. The original U.S. Shaded Dog has
had this ‘dry’ acoustic. It sounded, not lean, but somewhat
‘midrange challenged.’ It was a fine performance spoiled by
an un-involving recording. Well, this transfer is very involving. It’s
a great example of a timeless performance now afforded the sound quality
it justly deserved. I’m sure something happened in the three-track
to two-track transfer for LP purposes. The other huge ear-opener was the
final track of The Pines. Again, on very early pressings of this recording,
you could clearly hear the tape saturating during the last climax: that,
or distortion from the cutting head. Well, here again, it’s not
there! The recording is clear as a bell and as exciting as ever. Whatever
has happened, this is a stunning example of not only what RCA recorded
(and Sound/Mirror has brought to life) but the artistry and majesty of
Fritz Reiner and his Chicago Symphony. Indispensable!
Supplier: www.livingstereo-sacd.com |
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J. S.
Bach: Solo and Double Violin Concertos
Andrew Manze and Rachel Podger, violins, AAM
Harmonia Mundi HMU 807155 Reviewed by RSF
It’s truly amazing how much beautiful music J.S.Bach wrote. Manze
and Podger bring a gorgeous, rich and harmonious style to these works.
While this recording was first released in 1997, the stereo/multi-channel
Hybrid SACD sounds exceptionally satisfying on either the CD layer or
the SACD two channel layer released in 2003. These are outstanding performances
and I rate them as near reference quality. I am exceptionally fond of
an early EMI vinyl release with Ferras and Menuhin (ASD 346) but these
performances by Manze and Podger rival those.
Partially, I’m enthralled with the original instruments used, but
the performances are insightful, lyrical and extremely engaging. If anyone
is intimidated or feels that Bach may not be the composer for them, I
challenge them to spend the 56+ minutes with this Harmonia Mundi release
and then tell me Bach is a bore! What fascinates me even more about the
playing of these two very gifted artists is how well they play together,
yet I know, from other recordings, how different their styles are. Some
of the accolades by the ‘major’ critics and magazines are
listed on the back of the case and I will rubber stamp them absolutely.
This is music making that is very exciting and oh, so grand.
Supplier: www.harmoniamundi.com |
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Louis
Armstrong - Plays W. C. Handy
Pure Pleasure/Columbia CL 591 Reviewed by DDD
Pure Pleasure has remastered one of my desert island discs – my
favorite Armstrong recording and one that shows him at his best musically
and sonically. Obviously, dreams do sometimes come true and now we have
a two-disc re-issue of the original LP with the addition of five extra
songs added on the CD version of the album in 1997 (CK 64925). These tracks
were recorded in 1954, except for one of the bonus tracks from 1956 and
an excerpt from an interview with W. C. Handy by record producer George
Avakian. Unlike some titles, where it is obvious why certain numbers were
excised, this is a strong album front to back.
How does this new release stack up against the original maroon label Columbia
vinyl? Almost from the moment that the stylus first touched down, I heard
subtle and not so subtle details that I had never noticed before, and
I have listened to this recording in various incarnations hundreds of
times. Add to that the fact that the harmonic texture is captured spot
on, and this new re-issue is an instant candidate for my Record of the
Year.
Taking into consideration the bonus tracks, and I am putting this into
contention for Re-issue of the Decade. Mastered by Ray Staff from the
original tapes and pressed by Pallas, don’t miss it!
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Ludwig
van Beethoven: Complete Sonatas and Variations
Pieter Wispelwey, ‘cello; Dejan Lazi, piano.
Channel Classics CCS SA 22605 Reviewed by DD
A multi-channel recording, this set was recommended to me by Channel’s
Canadian distributor, Greg Pastic of SRICanada. I’ve known Greg
for over 20 years and he said he was looking forward to my reaction to
this set. He was not surprised when I said, quite simply, “WOW!”
It’s always exciting when I discover new artists that have great
technique and are afforded excellent sound. What more could one ask? Both
artists have an extensive international background in orchestral and solo
performances. They’ve played, either together or separately with
almost every major orchestra on every continent. There is no doubting
their skills; just listen to them play!
I’ve compared this set to some of the other Beethoven violoncello
works I own including the Rostropovich/Richter, Fournier/Gulda, Fournier/Kempff
and Maisky/Argerich issues. What excites me about these interpretations
is the equality between the players. There is energy, passion, delicacy
and excitement I don’t often find in “sets”. With complete
sets I normally feel that the artists get some of the performances right…
but also some of them wrong. Well, there is nothing wrong here. The CD
layer sound is outstanding as well. The set is a real treat and I cannot
recommend it highly enough. Superb!
Supplier: www.channelclassics.com |
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Max Bruch:
Violin Concerto in G minor; Scottish Fantasy; Concerto No. 5 in A minor.
Henry Vieuxtemps. Violin
Heifetz, NSO London, Sargent
RCA Living Stereo Hybrid SACD, 82876-71622-2 Reviewed by RSF
This release brings to new life, two original U.S. Shaded Dog recordings
on one excellent Hybrid SACD. Bruch’s works for violin and orchestra
are among my most favorite recordings and there has never in my mind,
been anyone to come near Heifetz in his performance of the Scottish Fantasy.
These performances show not only the superb technique and craftsmanship
Heifetz was known for, but the emotional contrasts he creates in the Fantasy,
certainly put holes in the argument that, ‘while he was a great
technician, there was no emotion in his playing.’ One listen and
you’re absolutely hooked. The Vieuxtemps, offers a fine reading
of a work we don’t hear often these days.
Beacause they were recorded in the United Kingdom by the legendary Kenneth
Wilkinson and Allan Reeve, sadly they were taped in two-track stereo only,
meaning that no three-track tapes were ever recorded. However, we are
offered superb sound in both the down converted two channel CD layer and
the richer SACD layer. These are legendary performances with stunning
sound quality and another ‘must have’ for your library.
Highest recommendation.
Supplier: www.livingstereo-sacd.com |
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Nat King
Cole - After Midnight
Pure Pleasure/Capitol PPAN W782 Reviewed by DDD
For those who have never heard anything but his later records on Capitol,
such as The Very Thought Of You or Love Is The Thing, this will be a revelation.
It’s a real jazz album, with Cole supported by a trio plus solos
from five other players, notably Stuff Smith, Harry “Sweets”
Edison and Juan Tizol. Cole was an extremely influential jazz pianist
and recorded extensively with a jazz trio before developing a broader
base with his wonderful crooning albums. Of his jazz recordings, which
generally have disappointing sound, this one presents the best marriage
of great performance and sonic merit. Cole’s singing is just that
much better with these great jazz arrangements and this new package by
Pure Pleasure spreads the original album’s 12 tunes across two 180
gram LPs whilst adding an additional 6 numbers from the 1956 sessions.
Nat King Cole records have become something of a sub-specialty for Steve
Hoffmann.
His three albums on DCC were some of his best work, and these long out-of-print
LPs are now collectors’ items. He also issued one LP through S&P
Records, which is still available. Mastering credit is shared here with
Ron McMaster and Kevin Gray, whose chain of mastering equipment is far
better than that available during Hoffman’s DCC days.
Those factors, coupled with the choicest of Nat King Cole material, make
this an unqualified success.
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Buddy
Guy & Junior Wells - Going Back To Acoustic
Pure Pleasure Records PPAN001 Reviewed by RP
This album, recorded on May 15th 1980 at the Sysmo Studio in Paris for
the French Isabel record label, once again reunited two of the greatest
blues men for an inspired, wonderfully instinctive and brilliantly improvisational
session. Guy on guitar and Wells on harmonica give magical acoustic performances,
right from the opening ‘Boogie Chillun’ and ‘Give Me
My Coat And Shoes’ to ‘My Home Is The Delta’ and ‘Wrong
Doing Woman’. These classic songs are matched by an impeccable re-master
of the kind of recording which constantly reminds me exactly just why
I own a turntable. Fantastic transparency, a jaw dropping presentation
of rough hewed vocal dynamic shifts and the kind of inner details that
scream “intimacy” recreates the atmospheric roots of the Deep
South - making this a must own record from a sonic perspective as well.
Guy and Wells chew over those gristle and bone themes that have preoccupied
generations (both through their own songs and those penned by the likes
of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Sunny Joe) and in the process they
reveal the full width, depth, scale and cultural impact of the blues legacy.
Supplier: www.purepleasurerecords.com |
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