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Trio Wanderer, Catherine Montier, Christophe Gaugué – César Franck: Violin Sonata, Piano Trio No.1 & Piano Quintet – Vierne: Piano Quintet (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:58:21 minutes | 4,10 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © harmonia mundi
The Trio Wanderer follows up its multi-award- winning Schumann set with an exploration of the fascinating world of César Franck.
The gulf between his youthful trios and the prodigious works of his maturity reveals a fundamental turning point in the history of French chamber music.
Continuing along the trail that Franck blazed with such brio, Louis Vierne’s deeply moving Quintet offers an echo of the older man’s work.
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Trio Agora – Hotel Tango (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:11:50 minutes | 1,27 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Accentus Music
With their highly anticipated album “Hotel Tango” Trio Agora invites us on a journey through the history and development of the tango. From its roots to its manifold manifestations worldwide, the trio presents tango as a unique mixture of European, South American and African idioms. With arrangements and dedicated compositions, the trio explores the genre from a personal perspective. Look forward to a reimagined version of Astor Piazzolla’s “Las cuatro estaciones porteñas,” works of Stravinsky, Gardel, Ravel, Ginastera and more.
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Trampled by Turtles – Alpenglow (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 40:05 minutes | 860 MB | Genre: Bluegrass, Alt. Country, Indie Folk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Banjodad Records
Produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Alpenglow is the Minnesota-based sextet’s tenth album. The album, named after the optical phenomenon that takes places when the sun casts a reddish glow across the mountains at dawn and dusk, opens with the wistful beauty of “It’s So Hard To Hold On”. The narrator contemplates the passing of time and how imperative it is to savor it while you have it.
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Tom Ollendorff – Open House (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 46:16 minutes | 538 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Fresh Sound New Talent
“There is no crowd like an expectant crowd. Hailed by Gilad Hekselman as “one of the world’s finest guitarists,” Tom Ollendorff certainly had some billing to live up to as he kicked off the Irish leg of an international tour to promote Open House (Fresh Sound Records, 2023). Just his second album, following the impressive debut A Song For You (Fresh Sound Records, 2021), it may seem premature to burden the young English guitarist with such a loaded label, but in this short but brilliant set Ollendorff allayed any fears that this was a case of hype. If the shoe fits…
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Tito Puente – Mambo Diablo (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 40:41 minutes | 1,61 GB | Genre: World
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Concord Picante
Although he was never inactive, the 1980s found Tito Puente in a bit of a renaissance. His exciting Afro-Cuban jazz band had found a home on the Concord Picante label, and his music was increasing in popularity again. This particular CD has a stronger than usual repertoire, including “Take Five,” “Lush Life” (done as Latin jazz), “Pick Yourself Up” and “Lullaby of Birdland”; the latter song has its composer George Shearing guesting on piano. Puente wrote half of the arrangements, contributed some excellent playing on timbales and vibes, and is heard heading a spirited three-horn, three-percussion octet. Very enjoyable music. – Scott Yanow
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Tim Ray Trio – Fire & Rain (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:15:06 minutes | 1,50 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Whaling City Sound
Tim Ray’s new release Fire & Rain features his jazz piano trio with John Lockwood on bass and Mark Walker on drums. The ensemble showcases their harmonically rich and balanced sound, playing uncommon yet effective choices such as Oliver Nelson’s “Stolen Moments” and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Mojave,” as well as newer material including three original pieces and the collective “Improv #1 (for Chick).” This collection pays tribute to Ray’s heroes, including Monk’s “Bye-Ya” and Jarrett’s “The Windup,” while also featuring works by overlooked composers such as Carla Bley and Dave McKenna. The album includes a track from the singer-songwriter genre, James Taylor’s iconic “Fire and Rain,” which builds to an inexorable group climax. Also in the collection, is a family portrait piece, “The Meeting,” alternatively titled “The Jbug and the Kman” and a groovy track called “NO Worries,” which has a hint of electric keyboard and New Orleans-style rhythm. Despite the varying moods and themes, the trio’s level of creativity never falters, making Fire & Rain “some of the most inspired trio music of what we might call the surround-Covid era.” according to Bob Blumenthal in the excellent liner notes.
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Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane – Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane (1961/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 37:58 minutes | 1022 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Jazzland
Seldom does a “cash in” turn into a “classic,” but in the case of this 1961 album of outtakes and leftovers by Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane recorded four years prior, that’s exactly what happened. Monk and Coltrane only played together briefly, during the last half of 1957 when Monk’s quartet was in transition and Coltrane himself was juggling a busy solo recording schedule after being booted from Miles’ first great quintet due to his heroin addiction. While Coltrane may have been struggling a bit at the time, Monk was at the height of his powers; over the course of 1957 the pianist would record and release four albums, at least two of which—Monk’s Music and Brilliant Corners—are classics. Of those four, Coltrane was only featured prominently Monk’s Music (his playing on the otherwise solo Thelonious Himself was limited to a single cut), the only album for which they had an official recording session.
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The Telescopes – Experimental Health (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 38:25 minutes | 426 MB | Genre: Alternative Rock, Experimental Rock, Shoegaze
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Weisskalt Records
Experimental Health is the 14th album from The Telescopes and their third release on the Weisskalt label. The album was created entirely independently by Stephen Lawrie in a remote cottage in West Yorkshire between January to May 2022.
Experimental Health is folk music made with broken toys and cheap synths – mostly Pocket Operators and miniature synths. There are no guitars present on the album, most of the instrumentation costing £50 or less. The complexity of sound rests within the simplicity of the composition and musical arrangements.
Read moreThe Sixteen, Harry Christophers – Palestrina, Vol. 9 (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]
The Sixteen, Harry Christophers – Palestrina, Vol. 9 (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:10:11 minutes | 2,68 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Coro
Palestrinas music is exquisite and sumptuous? characterised by a richness of texture and purity of sound. From his sacred Masses to settings of the secular Song of Songs, The Sixteen brings this serene and delicate soundworld to sparkling life. Palestrina was a towering figure in Renaissance polyphony and arguably the greatest composer of liturgical music of all time. For nearly half a millennium his legacy and impact on sacred music worldwide has been second to none. The Sixteen continues its acclaimed series exploring a selection of his massive output, with this volume featuring the richly sonorous Missa Ut re mi fa sol la at its heart. The Sixteen also shines a spotlight on some of the glorious music Palestrina wrote for St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist.
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The Ramsey Singers, Mark Fenton – Men and Angels: 21st Century Choral Works (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:04:05 minutes | 1,09 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Ulysses Arts
Founded in 1987, The Ramsey Singers have performed in many of England’s most famous cathedrals and churches including Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Singers come from all over England and meet twice a year.
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The Modern Jazz Quartet – The Comedy (1962/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 34:45 minutes | 387 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Vinyle Numérique
“This is the type of album that led many bop purists to criticize the Modern Jazz Quartet (and John Lewis in particular) for being overly influenced by Western classical music. This album has seven of Lewis’ compositions, episodic works arranged in a suite that portrays characters from a fictional Italian comedy based in the 1500s. Singer Diahann Carroll guests fairly effectively on “La Cantatrice.” Despite being tied to a story, there are some strong improvisations from pianist Lewis and vibraphonist Milt Jackson on this unusual material. The release is not that essential but it is quite interesting.” (Scott Yanow, AMG)
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The Modern Jazz Quartet – European Concert, Vol. 2 (1960/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 41:47 minutes | 911 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Vinyle Numérique
Volume 2 of a double-length live set from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Scandinavia in 1960, almost as a summation of the group’s growing genius in the 50s! The tunes are a mix of John Lewis and Milt Jackson originals, plus other songs all given the wonderful MJQ twist – distilled into a sublime blend of piano, vibes, bass, and drums – all delivered with a sense of class, but never too much polish. Titles include “Pyramid”, “It Don’t Mean A Thing”, “The Cylinder”, “Round Midnight”, “Bag’s Groove”, and “Skating In Central Park”.
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The Modern Jazz Quartet – European Concert, Vol. 1 (1960/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 40:15 minutes | 892 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Vinyle Numérique
European Concert’ is perhaps the classic of the Modern Jazz Quartet. The MJQ presented its jazz in a formally structured context, much like a chamber music ensemble in a classical context. This album, perhaps more than any of their studio recordings, illustrates how the band uses concepts of time, space, beat, rhythm and change to weave them into a seamless whole, where melody is the basis of improvisation, but never really constrains it.
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The Exploding Hearts – Guitar Romantic (Expanded & Remastered) (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 37:15 minutes | 454 MB | Genre: Punk
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Third Man Records
In the wake of their 2003 debut album, Portland’s Exploding Hearts, a punky quartet of early twentysomethings, lost control of their van on the way home from a gig in San Francisco and three members were killed. So endeth the Hearts. Given that tragedy, the band’s one recording was immedicately deemed a punk pop essential. Filled with ten songs that totaled 28 minutes, this blast of youthful exuberance was short but very sweet. Or was that the loss and sympathy talking? Ripe for reappraisal, it’s fascinating to finally hear the album again, 20 years divorced from the tragedy. Predictably, at least for fans, Guitar Romantic still bursts with promise. Remastered for a fresher sound, the exuberant early Clash-like sing-along “I’m a Pretender,” the hooky power pop of “Sleeping Aides and Razorblades,” and the sturdy melodic lift of “Throwaway Style”—which sounds unmistakably like a Strokes outtake—all still retain their raucous originality and sassy charm. Best of all is the delightfully snotty “Boulevard Trash” which, set to a glammy strut, shows the Exploding Hearts, too, could salute the New York Dolls. The messages here never get much beyond the perils of love and so the lyrics are appropriately raw. After mentioning that an ex-girlfriend thinks he’d have a “lobotomy” if she had her way, the protagonist of “Sleeping Aides” is even sure their once-shared pet has also moved on: “I got new girls and I’m runnin’ around/ The house doesn’t look the same /I hung new posters on my wall and the dog don’t remember your name.” These final songs on record from vocalist/guitar Adam Cox, drummer Jeremy Gage, guitarist Terry Six, bassist Matt Fitzgerald and keyboardist King Louie Bankston (who left the band before the crash but died in 2022) have also been improved. Bits of pre-and-post-take chatter from the original reel-to-reel and DAT tapes have been added to the tracks for atmosphere. An alternate mix of “I’m A Pretender,” a new mix of “So Bored,” and a remastered version of the non-album track, “Busy Signals,” which was self-released as a single, are all included as bonus tracks. Guitar Romantic has aged well, passing the crucial test of any album proclaimed an instant classic upon release. – Robert Baird
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The English Concert, Harry Bicket – Handel: Serse (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 02:51:41 minutes | 6,13 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records
In what has become an annual ritual, Harry Bicket and the outstanding English Concert returned to Carnegie Hall after a pandemic-induced hiatus for a Sunday afternoon presentation of another Handel opus: Serse.
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