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| CLASSICAL |
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| $16.99 |
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| Title: |
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Horn Concertos; Horn Quintet |
| Label: |
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Profil/Hanssler
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Composer:
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Performer: |
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Wilhelm Bruns; Quadriga-Quartett; Mannheimer Mozartorchester / Thomas Fey |
| ISBN: |
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9786310142104 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310142100 |
| UPC: |
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00881488504620 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDPFILPH05046 |
| Cat.#: |
|
PH05046 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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You don't hear Mozart's horn concertos performed on period instruments very often, and this may be why. On this recording, Wilhelm Bruns plays a natural horn (i.e. without valves, the way they were built in Mozart's time), and despite his admirable intonation and expressiveness, the sometimes watery tone of his horn betrays the instrument's fiendish difficulty. I normally prefer period instruments myself, but I'm afraid this one isn't likely to replace my copy of the Hermann Baumann recordings anytime soon. Still, any library supporting an early music program should probably own this for illustrative purposes. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Intimate Voices |
| Label: |
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Deutsche Grammophon
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Composer:
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Edvard Grieg; Carl Nielsen; Jean Sibelius |
| Performer: |
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Emerson String Quartet |
| ISBN: |
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9786310119755 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310119753 |
| UPC: |
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00028947759607 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000634002 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0006340-02 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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It tends to be kind of cold and dark in Scandinavia, so a 19th-century composer from the region could be forgiven a certain sense of frustrated longing. That's the mood that all three of these string quartets have in common (but then again, all romantic composers tend to sound kind of longingly frustrated to me). The Emersons were made for this repertoire, and play all three quartets with dark passion and a thrilling energy. The recorded sound is worth noting on this disc -- it's especially sharp and rich. Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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String Quartets |
| Label: |
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Wigmore Hall Live (dist. Koch)
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Composer:
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Conlon Nancarrow; Gyorgi Ligeti; Henri Dutilleux |
| Performer: |
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Arditti String Quartet |
| ISBN: |
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9786310012964 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310012967 |
| UPC: |
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05065000924027 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWGMR0003 |
| Cat.#: |
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WHLive0003 |
| Period: |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Recorded in April of 2005, this disc finds the wonderful Arditti Quartet playing three spiky and exciting 20th-century works by composers not normally associated with the string quartet. The Nancarrow is wry and acerbic, as you'd expect, and the Ligeti is by turns fidgety, abstract and chaotic. Dutilleux's Ainsi La Nuit is the really odd duck -- a twelve-movement work that revels in abstraction while still looking back with a hint of longing to the 19th-century masters. Very nicely recorded in Wigmore Hall. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Philip & Mary |
| Label: |
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Coro (dist. Allegro)
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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The Sixteen / Harry Christophers |
| ISBN: |
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9786310195889 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310195883 |
| UPC: |
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00828021603723 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGROCRO16037 |
| Cat.#: |
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COR16037 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Following in the footsteps of the Tallis Scholars and the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra, the famed British choir The Sixteen has established its own record label and is putting out both new releases and reissues at a healthy pace. This fine collection presents an imaginary reconstruction of the service that would have been sung at the marriage, in 1554, of Mary Tudor and Prince Philip of Spain, centered on Thomas Tallis' brilliant Puer Natus mass. Briefer pieces by Manchicourt, Guerrero and Sheppard are included as well, all gloriously sung and warmly recorded. Highly recommended to all classical collections. (RA) |
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| $8.99 |
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| Title: |
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Mass of the Children; Shadows; Wedding Canticle |
| Label: |
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Naxos
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Composer:
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John Rutter |
| Performer: |
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Choir of Clare College; Farnham Youth Choir; Clare Chamber Ensemble; Various Soloists / Timothy Brown |
| ISBN: |
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9786310134222 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310134221 |
| UPC: |
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00747313292226 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNAXO8557922 |
| Cat.#: |
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8.557922 |
| Period: |
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Modern |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The title of this latest large-scale work from British composer John Rutter may raise a faint alarm in the back of your head, and it should: any combination of the terms "mass" and "children" is liable to refer to something cloying and saccharine. In this case, though, the music is classic Rutter: melodically accessible and maybe just a little bit oversweetened, but well within the bounds of good taste. His mass setting involves both children's and adults' voices, and scatters hymn settings in among the traditional liturgical elements. Very nice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Psalmi Davidis Poenitentiales |
| Label: |
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Harmonia Mundi
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Composer:
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Orlando de Lassus |
| Performer: |
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Collegium Vocale Gent / Philippe Herreweghe |
| ISBN: |
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9786310113005 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310113003 |
| UPC: |
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00794881798827 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD HMC901831 |
| Cat.#: |
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HMC 901831.32 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The penitential psalms of King David remain some of the most affecting material of the Old Testament, so it should come as no surprise that Orlando de Lassus' settings of them would rank among the finest products of his amazing musical mind. They were written when he was young and relatively inexperienced, but already his mastery of the polyphonic idiom is apparent; on this gorgeous recording, Philippe Herreweghe elicits a sumptuously lovely performance by the Collegium Vocale Gent. It's hard to imagine a more convincing account of these pieces. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Piano Concertos; 3 Sonatas |
| Label: |
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Decca
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Composer:
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Ludwig van Beethoven |
| Performer: |
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Steven Lubin; Academy of Ancient Music / Christopher Hogwood |
| ISBN: |
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9786310119991 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310119990 |
| UPC: |
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00028947572978 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000623802 |
| Cat.#: |
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475 7297 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
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These three discs were originally issued separately on the (now sadly defunct) L'Oiseau-Lyre label, as a two-disc set of the piano concertos (1988) and a single disc of sonatas (1991). In all cases the soloist is the very fine fortepianist Steven Lubin, and on the concertos he's accompanied by the wonderful Academy of Ancient Music under Christopher Hogwood. Those as yet unconvinced by arguments in favor of period-instrument performance of romantic works owe it to themselves to give these luscious and elegant recordings a fair hearing; Hogwood and the AAM are at their best here, and Lubin plays with a firm yet gentle touch and deep musicality. And the price can't be beat. Highly recommended to all classical collections. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Mozart in Egypt |
| Label: |
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Virgin Classics
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Composer:
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; various others |
| Performer: |
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Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra; various ensembles and soloists |
| ISBN: |
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9786308298677 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6308298670 |
| UPC: |
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00724354531125 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDVIRG45311 |
| Cat.#: |
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5 45311 2 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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The packaging is annoyingly cute and the concept questionable: small- and large-scale works of Mozart are combined and juxtaposed with instrumental and vocal performances of traditional music by Egyptian performers. Mozart's Masonic ties and the Middle Eastern themes that occasionally arose in his music (cf. Abduction from the Seraglio) form the ostensible connection here, and the startling transitions and contrasts are quite fun, but whether the final product makes a convincing musical argument is less clear. Interesting, but not essential. (This disc was originally issued in 1997 and is being marketed again in 2006 in observance of Mozart's birthday.) (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Blockfloten-Werke |
| Label: |
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Harmonia Mundi USA
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Composer:
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Georg Philipp Telemann |
| Performer: |
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Maurice Steger; Akademie fur Alte Musik, Berlin |
| ISBN: |
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9786310167664 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310167669 |
| UPC: |
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00794881800421 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD HMC901917 |
| Cat.#: |
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HMC 901917 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The three pieces on offer here (the A minor suite for recorder and strings, the C major recorder concerto and the "Hamburger Ebb und Flut" overture) are arguably potboilers, but they're given new life here in remarkably warm and energetic performances by the Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin and the excellent recorder soloist Maurice Steger. I approached the A minor suite, in particular, with something close to bored resignation, and was surprised and delighted by this ensemble's ability to revive my interest in that familiar piece. Very highly recommended. (RA) |
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| COUNTRY/FOLK |
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| Title: |
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Gentle Words: Shaker Songs |
| Label: |
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Loft Recordings
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Artist:
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| Performer: |
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Tudor Choir / Fullington |
| ISBN: |
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9786306469642 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6306469648 |
| UPC: |
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00617145104120 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDLOF 1041 |
| Cat.#: |
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LRCD 1041 |
| Genre: |
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Folk/Religious |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Arranging Shaker hymns and songs for choir is always a rather dicey proposition: if you don't impose a bit of harmony (of which these songs typically have none), you run the risk of boring listeners; if you make the songs too elaborate, you betray the Shaker aesthetic ideal of beauty, simplicity and utility. Kevin Siegfried treads that fine line with graceful eloquence on these arrangements, which use harmony sparingly and beautifully, creating a sound somewhere between 18th-century New England hymnody and the more spare, straightforward sound of Shaker worship. The Tudor Choir sings with a thrilling combination of clean tone, seamless blend and powerful affect. Very highly recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Reunion: A Decade Of Solas [CD & DVD] |
| Label: |
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Compass
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Artist:
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Solas |
| ISBN: |
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9786310143675 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310143670 |
| UPC: |
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00766397443126 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCOMS974431 |
| Cat.#: |
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4431 |
| Genre: |
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Celtic |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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I didn't realize they had broken up, but whatever -- this live-disc-plus-DVD package is a charming and at times breathtaking reminder of why Solas is (was?) one of America's best and most exciting Irish bands. The DVD includes some wonderful candid and interview footage as well as film of the live performances included on the CD. Karan Casey's voice is killer as always, and watch how John Doyle makes rhythm guitar playing sound like rocket science and look like pure, distilled joy. Spectacular. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Let' Er Go, Boys! |
| Label: |
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Rounder
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Artist:
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Michael Cleveland |
| ISBN: |
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9786310199436 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310199439 |
| UPC: |
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00011661056121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDROUR561 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-0561-2 |
| Genre: |
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Bluegrass |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Michael Cleveland has won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Fiddler of the Year award three times now, and it's easy to see why: not only is he a virtuoso, but he plays with an infectious glee than seems to draw in everyone around him, eliciting top-notch performances from the likes of Del McCoury, Vince Gill, Tim O'Brien, Rob Ickes and many more. This is his second solo album, and will hopefully be followed up by many more. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Unsung |
| Label: |
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Rounder
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Artist:
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Slaid Cleaves |
| ISBN: |
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9786310232836 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310232835 |
| UPC: |
|
00011661324527 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6132452 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-3245-2 |
| Genre: |
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Folk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Austin-based singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves delivers a solid set of covers on his latest album. But it's not the kind of covers album you normally see -- one that consists mainly of reworked arrangements of familiar classics. These are songs by his colleagues, songwriters that you probably haven't heard of unless you're deeply into the modern troubadour scene: Karen Poston, Steve Brooks, Adam Carroll, etc. How do they work? Beautifully. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Reintarnation |
| Label: |
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Rhino
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Artist:
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k.d. lang |
| ISBN: |
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9786310040141 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310040146 |
| UPC: |
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00081227336622 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRHIN73366 |
| Cat.#: |
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R2 78366 |
| Genre: |
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Country |
| Release type: |
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Best of |
| Comments: |
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This was a brilliant idea: it's a k.d. lang best-of, sort of, except that it focuses specifically on her country material, skipping over the torchy, croony stuff of her later career. That stuff has been great as well, but it's nice to have the more trad country stuff distilled down to a single well-chosen package (and the Clash shout-out inherent in the cover design is a typically sly touch). "Big Boned Gal" and "Don't Be a Lemming Polka" are presented here one after the other. Need you know more? (RA) |
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| JAZZ |
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| $13.98 |
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| Title: |
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Live Show |
| Label: |
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Silverwolf (dist. Allegro)
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Artist:
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Eric Sheridan |
| ISBN: |
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9786308491986 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6308491985 |
| UPC: |
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00787991106422 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGROSWC1064 |
| Cat.#: |
|
1064 |
| Genre: |
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Jump Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Really not so much a jazz man as a jump-blues revivalist, Eric "Shoutin'" Sheridan harks back explicitly to the days of Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner and King Pleasure. The songs tend to be novelties and naughty barroom ditties ("Crawfishin'," "Kept On Sittin' On It"), the horn arrangements tend to be both raucous and tight, and Sheridan tends to declaim rather than sing. Hey, that's why they call him Shoutin'. Good stuff. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Marty Grosz And His Hot Combination |
| Label: |
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Arbors (dist. Allegro)
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Artist:
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Marty Grosz and His Hot Combination |
| ISBN: |
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9786310115511 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310115510 |
| UPC: |
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00780941131925 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGROARB19319 |
| Cat.#: |
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ARCD 19319 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Guitarist and singer Marty Grosz has been delighting audiences with both his old-school hot jazz performances and his witty stories and song introductions for decades. This studio album finds him delivering both, singing "Just a Gigolo" in German and chopping his way with energetic grace through standards like "Alabamy Home" and "If It Ain't Love." Sometimes the humor seems a bit strained and dated, but the music is wonderful. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Stablemates |
| Label: |
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Candid (dist. City Hall)
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Artist:
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Blue Mitchell |
| ISBN: |
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9786310201900 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310201905 |
| UPC: |
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00708857955329 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCAND79553 |
| Cat.#: |
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CCD 79553 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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This is a very welcome reissue of a previously hard-to-find quintet recording made by the fine trumpeter Blue Mitchell in 1977, shortly before his untimely death from cancer. It finds him in excellent form, playing a set comprised mostly of standards. Even on the uptempo numbers (including an energetic "There Will Never Be Another You" and a set-closing take on the bop standard "Ow!"), Blue plays with economy and precision rather than showy bluster. The sound is clear and crisp, and his rhythm section supports him beautifully. Highly recommended to all jazz collections. (RA) |
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| $11.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Classic Quartet |
| Label: |
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Candid (dist. City Hall)
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Artist:
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Thelonious Monk |
| ISBN: |
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9786310202846 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310202847 |
| UPC: |
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00708857955121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCAND79551 |
| Cat.#: |
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CCD 79551 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Not everyone agrees on what constitutes the "classic" Thelonious Monk Quartet, so for the record, this is the 1963 version featuring saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Butch Warren and drummer Franke Dunlop. Certainly it's at least a classic lineup, and this live recording (made for videotape in Tokyo, and thus not of completely sterling sonic quality) is a good document of that group playing a quite convincing set of Monk standards. On the opening rendition of "Epistrophy" Monk sounds positively frisky, swinging the rhythm in an unusual manner; his solo take on "Just a Gigolo" is also noteworthy. Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Most Folks |
| Label: |
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OmniTone (dist. Allegro)
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Artist:
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Pete McCann |
| ISBN: |
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9786310194691 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310194690 |
| UPC: |
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00686281521320 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGROOTI15213 |
| Cat.#: |
|
15213 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Pete McCann is an almost frighteningly versatile guitarists who is equally impressive wheter playing spiky, harmonically challenging avant-bop ("Rack'em Up"), straight-ahead apres-bop ("Most Folks"), subtly Latin-flavored acoustic ballads ("Las Tia") or funky fusion ("Yes, My Friend"). And he's not afraid to skronk it out once in a while, either. Wow. (RA) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Liftoff |
| Label: |
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Jen Bay
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Artist:
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Mark Elf |
| ISBN: |
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9786310203447 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310203444 |
| UPC: |
|
00601926001128 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDJEN 2035 |
| Cat.#: |
|
JBR 0011 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Guitarist Mark Elf was so proud of the new melody he wrote over the changes to John Coltrane's "Countdown" ("Liftoff") that he recorded it twice for this album, at two different tempos. It was a smart and insightful decision, as most of his musical choices tend to be. I still find his phrasing on the solos to be a bit blocky sometimes, but he maintains a great swing throughout and there's no arguing with his compositions or note choices. (RA) |
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| $24.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Essential Herbie Hancock [Remaster] |
| Label: |
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Legacy
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Artist:
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Herbie Hancock |
| ISBN: |
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9786309988140 |
| ISBN-10: |
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630998814X |
| UPC: |
|
00827969459324 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCOLM94593 |
| Cat.#: |
|
82796 94593 2 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Reissue (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Pianist Herbie Hancock is one of the giants of modern jazz, and to distill his 40+ year career down to two CDs is nearly impossible. Nonetheless, this isn’t a bad career retrospective, offering a fine sampling of his 1960s material on Blue Note, as well as his early 70s fusion material. But there are problems with this collection -- there’s only one cut from his historical stint with Miles Davis, and a bit too much time dedicated to some of this markedly weaker material from the early 80s. Caveats aside, this provides a representative sampling of the various -- and varied -- aspects of his career. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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Time Line |
| Label: |
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ECM
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Artist:
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Ralph Towner |
| ISBN: |
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9786310154275 |
| ISBN-10: |
|
6310154273 |
| UPC: |
|
00602498759110 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B000631202 |
| Cat.#: |
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ECM 1968 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Ralph Towner’s solo material is singularly magnificent music; rare and beautiful, and utterly unique. One of my most memorable musical experiences was hearing him play a remarkable solo composition at a concert in the early 1980s. I thought it was a new work, and was transfixed by his gift for complex yet melodic composition and brilliant command of the frets. Amazingly, he announced that it was an improvised piece, and my reverence for his skills as a composer and performer skyrocketed. He has yet to disappoint on any of his solo recordings, and Time Line, a series of mostly original solo compositions for classical and 12-string guitar, is no exception. Very highly recommended. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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The Essential Ted Weems 1923-1930 |
| Label: |
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Challenge/Retrieval (dist. Allegro)
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Artist:
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Ted Weems |
| ISBN: |
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9786310194745 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310194747 |
| UPC: |
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00608917903423 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGROCHRRTR79034 |
| Cat.#: |
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RTR 79034 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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The Retrieval imprint picks up where the historical jazz label Fountain left off, collecting and lovingly reissuing classic early jazz recordings from the 78-rpm era. This generously-packed two-disc set features recordings by Ted Weems and his orchestra from the late 1920s; the arrangements and playing are both superb, the sound is better than you might expect, and the occasional vocal numbers scattered in among the hot instrumentals are a special treat. Highly recommended to all jazz collections. (RA) |
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| ROCK/POP |
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| $13.98 |
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| Title: |
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Breakupdown |
| Label: |
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Chocolate Industries (dist. Caroline)
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Artist:
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Ghislain Poirier |
| ISBN: |
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9786309737854 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309737856 |
| UPC: |
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00677514005823 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCHLI58 |
| Cat.#: |
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CHLT058 |
| Genre: |
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Rock/Electronica |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Quebecois hip hop -- a contradiction in terms? Maybe so, but who cares? On Breakupdown, Ghislain Poirier continues to prove that glitchy post-hip-hop can emerge from just about any scene, and he plys his hand at everything from cut-up sound pastiches ("Synthetic Rhythms") to straight-up rap ("Cold As Hell") to postmodern dancehall ("Mic Diplomat"). Not every track is equally essential, but the ones that kick hardest might leave you with a permanent limp. Yes, that's a compliment. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Soft Money |
| Label: |
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Anticon (dist. Caroline)
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Artist:
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Jel |
| ISBN: |
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9786310001753 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310001752 |
| UPC: |
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00655035505626 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDATCN56 |
| Cat.#: |
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abr0056 |
| Genre: |
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Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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You can pretty much always count on the Anticon label to give you something interesting, and this album from Jel is no exception. The focus is on funky underground hip hop beats, but there's also a generous smattering of rhymes (and even sung lyrics) pertaining to a variety of political topics. Not surprisingly, it's the beats that are most interesting and least predictable. Not in particular the dark but strangely pretty "All Around." Recommended. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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People Gonna Talk |
| Label: |
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Rounder
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Artist:
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James Hunter |
| ISBN: |
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9786310030807 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310030809 |
| UPC: |
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00011661218727 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECD116 6121872 |
| Cat.#: |
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11661-2187-2 |
| Genre: |
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Rock/Soul |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The novelty hook here is that James Hunter is a skinny white British guy who seems to be channeling the soul (no pun intended) of Sam Cooke. Try to ignore the novelty factor, though, and just revel in the wonderful tensile strength of these spare R&B arrangements and of Hunter's sweet, clear voice. And while you're at it, notice the ska and bluebeat-flavored rhythms that pop up on several tracks -- did I mention that he's British? (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Way Back |
| Label: |
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Hightone
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Artist:
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Willie |
| ISBN: |
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9786310166407 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310166409 |
| UPC: |
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00012928819121 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRHIN8191 |
| Cat.#: |
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HCD8191 |
| Genre: |
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Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Willie "Big Eyes" Smith is a Chicago blues legend, but is known mainly as the drummer in Muddy Waters' band. On this album he shows himself to be a talented bandleader and singer as well as a formidable harmonica player. Leading an all-star session crew that includes legendary pianist Pinetop Perkins, guitarist Bob Margolin and fellow harp monster James Cotton, Smith delivers a fine set of traditional Chicago-style blues classics and originals. Very nice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Stax Profiles |
| Label: |
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Stax
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Artist:
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Staple Singers |
| ISBN: |
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9786310154107 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310154109 |
| UPC: |
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00025218862424 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSTXR8624 |
| Cat.#: |
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STXCD-8624-2 |
| Genre: |
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Soul/Rhythm & Blues |
| Release type: |
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Best of |
| Comments: |
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The formidable vaults of the legendary Stax catalog are now controlled by the Fantasy label group, which means that it's easier (and cheaper) than ever to get your hands on some of the best R&B ever recorded in the U.S. If your library has limited means (and don't we all) and needs a handy overview of that label's classic 1960s and 1970s output, then consider snagging all ten entries in the Stax Profiles series, which includes best-ofs by such greats as Otis Redding, Booker T & the MGs, Rance Allen and the Staple Singers. If you only want one of them, then consider this one, which may be the most consistently exciting entry in the series (Allen's gospel collection is a close second). (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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One Two Punch |
| Label: |
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Telarc
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Artist:
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Liquid Soul |
| ISBN: |
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9786310192345 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310192345 |
| UPC: |
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00089408363320 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTELA83633 |
| Cat.#: |
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CD-83633 |
| Genre: |
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Funk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Carrying on a proud tradition of instrumental funk that goes back at least to the Meters and Booker T and the MGs, Liquid Soul specializes in a jazzy, horn-powered dance music that hides significant complexity behind the surface glitter of its shiny production and hard-hitting grooves. Rap, bebop, house-derived grooves and even heavy metal guitars make cameo appearances, but the focus is on the horns and the funky beats. As it should be. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Delta Hardware |
| Label: |
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Real World
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Artist:
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Charlie Musselwhite |
| ISBN: |
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9786310182377 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310182374 |
| UPC: |
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00094635854725 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDREA 58547B |
| Cat.#: |
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58547 |
| Genre: |
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Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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One of a slowly diminishing number of blues harmonica masters left on the American scene, Charlie Musselwhite has made a name for himself over the course of a career that has now stretched over four decades. As a singer he's fine, but when he sings you'll find yourself waiting patiently for him to put that harp back in his mouth, the better to hear the subtle tonal shadings and delicate microtonal bends that make his solos such a joy. (RA) |
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| WORLD/ETHNIC |
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| Title: |
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Gold & Wax |
| Label: |
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Palm Pictures
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Artist:
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Gigi |
| ISBN: |
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9786310183794 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310183796 |
| UPC: |
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00660200212827 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDPPCR2128 |
| Cat.#: |
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PALMCD 2128 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Ethiopian singer Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibawbaw has been making steady inroads into the U.S. market in recent years, thanks to the efforts of English and American champions Bill Laswell and Chris Blackwell. Laswell produced this, her second album, and it's another bracing explosion of sinuous North African melodies and modern electro-funk. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Trafico |
| Label: |
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Crammed (dist. Rykodisc)
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Artist:
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Think Of One |
| ISBN: |
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9786310199979 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310199978 |
| UPC: |
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00876623001324 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRD C230013 |
| Cat.#: |
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CRAW 30 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Multilingual, polyrhythmic, equally willing to samba, to skank and to rock out mightily, and named after a Thelonious Monk composition, Belgium's Think of One makes music that really ought to be a sonic mess but is instead an electrifying joyride of tuneful, danceable, horn-driven fun. This is what multiculturalism is supposed to sound like. (RA) |
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| $14.98 |
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| Title: |
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Rough Guide to Merengue |
| Label: |
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World Music Network
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786310153759 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310153757 |
| UPC: |
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00605633117127 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWMN 331171 |
| Cat.#: |
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RGNET1171CD |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Given the huge popularity of the merengue sound throughout Latin America, it was inevitable that this Dominican dance music would gradually accrete other influences as well and morph into something new. You can hear that process happening over the course of this well-selected sampler, which includes the merengue-reggae fusion of Chichi Peralta's "La Ciguapa" and Eddy Herrera's hip hop and reggaeton-flavored "Estoy Dolido" as well. Perfect for staff parties. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Arriba Suena Marimba!: Currulao Marimba Music From Colombia |
| Label: |
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Smithsonian Folkways
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Artist:
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Grupo Naidy |
| ISBN: |
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9786309985279 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309985272 |
| UPC: |
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00093074051429 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDFOLK740514 |
| Cat.#: |
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SFW 40514 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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If you didn't pay close attention to the language in which the group is singing, you might be fooled into thinking that this lovely blend of drums, marimbas and call-and-response vocals had been recorded in Africa -- which is, of course, where this particular musical tradition originated. The enduring African influence on the music of coastal Colombia and Ecuador is nicely documented here, with recent and high-quality studio recordings. Recommended to all ethnomusicology collections. (RA) |
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| $12.98 |
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| Title: |
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La Ghriba: La Kahena Remixed |
| Label: |
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Six Degrees
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Artist:
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DJ Cheb i Sabbah |
| ISBN: |
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9786310230405 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310230409 |
| UPC: |
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00657036112629 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSXDR361126 |
| Cat.#: |
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1126 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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On La Kahena, Dj Cheb i Sabbah invited female singers from around North Africa to contribute performances on which he then exercised his electro-dance prerogatives, creating a wonderful fusion of new and old sounds. For La Ghriba he invited other producers and DJs to bring their remixing skills to bear on the same material, creating another wonderful fusion, this time one more degree removed from the original sources. Scoff all you want, you boring ethno-purists -- the rest of us are too busy shaking our booties to listen. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Screaming Target |
| Label: |
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Trojan
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Artist:
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Big Youth |
| ISBN: |
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9786310131061 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310131060 |
| UPC: |
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00060768055322 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTJNR80553 |
| Cat.#: |
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06076-80553-2 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Trojan gets criticized (and sometimes with very good reason) for endlessly recycling its deep catalog of vintage reggae recordings, but this latest reissue of pioneering DJ Big Youth's debut album is a welcome one for several reasons. First of all is a restored original mix that no longer segregates Big Youth's voice and instrumental backing into the left and right channels respectively; second is a generous program of bonus tracks that includes alternate versions and the original vocal tracks on which Big Youth's dubwise toasts were based. An essential reggae document. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Roi De La Bossa Nova (The King Of Bossa Nova) |
| Label: |
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Sunnyside Records
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Artist:
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Luiz Bonfa |
| ISBN: |
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9786309985835 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309985833 |
| UPC: |
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00016728303729 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSSCI283037 |
| Cat.#: |
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283037 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Guitarist Luiz Bonfa is in some ways a less famous exponent of bossa nova than Jobim and Gilberto, though he did compose music for the classic film Black Orpheus. This is an expanded reissue of a 1963 album that features his nylon-string guitar playing, sometimes with a small combo and sometimes with larger ensembles. This style of music became so ubiquitous and influential that it is hard to hear it with fresh ears, but this recording is a great reminder that there is a lot more to bossa nova than its current reputation as lounge music. (SA) |
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| $19.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Promise: The King Of Balkan Brass |
| Label: |
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Piranha (dist. Harmonia Mundi)
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Artist:
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Boban Markovic |
| ISBN: |
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9786309981448 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309981447 |
| UPC: |
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00826863190128 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHMD PIR1901 |
| Cat.#: |
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CD-PIR 1901 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Gypsy brass bands of the Balkan region ply a sound that falls somewhere between the raucous jolliness of the New Orleans brass band tradition, the yearning emotion of the mariachi tradition, and the rhythmically complex dance music indigenous to the Balkans. The latest release from Boban Markovic's Serbian orchestra features music that is complicated and mind-blowingly virtuosic, but easily accessible all the same. Very nice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Mish Maoul |
| Label: |
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Mantra
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Artist:
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Natacha Atlas |
| ISBN: |
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9786310088808 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310088807 |
| UPC: |
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00609008103821 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBEGG81038 |
| Cat.#: |
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MNTCD 1038 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Ths album is being billed as Natacha Atlas' "return to her roots," but that doesn't mean that the Euro-Moroccan singer is going back to some kind of folky purism. Her keening Arabic wail is still buttressed by up-to-the-minute beats as well as accordion and strings, and guests include rappers Princess Julianna, Clotaire K and Sofiane Saidi. She continues to be just about the best and most consistently enjoyable voice on the Afro-European scene. Highly recommended. (RA) |
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| $13.98 |
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| Title: |
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Super Reggae & Soul Hits |
| Label: |
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Trojan
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Artist:
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Dennis Brown |
| ISBN: |
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9786310131085 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6310131087 |
| UPC: |
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00060768055124 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTJNR80551 |
| Cat.#: |
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06076-80551-2 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Dennis Brown was only 15 when this collection was originally issued in 1972, but he had already made a major name for himself in reggae circles. Super Reggae & Soul Hits remains one of his most compelling albums, and this welcome reissue adds seven bonus tracks: dub versions, alternate takes and single releases from the same period. All reggae collections should own this version of this classic album. (RA) |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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In The Heart Of The Moon |
| Label: |
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Nonesuch
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Artist:
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Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate |
| ISBN: |
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9786309630056 |
| ISBN-10: |
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6309630059 |
| UPC: |
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00075597992021 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNONE79920 |
| Cat.#: |
|
79920 |
| Genre: |
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World Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Ali Farka Toure is no longer with us, but at least we have a wonderful collaboration with Toumani Diabate to console us after this loss. Actually Toure hangs back here and plays guitar mostly as an accompanist to Diabate's virtuoso kora (a kind of harp-like instrument originating in west Africa). The fact that the recording session consisted of two old friends playing traditional songs that they remebered from long ago may be of interest to fans, but this music's gentle beauty would probably be apparent even to listeners who had never heard a note of African music. (SA) |
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