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November 2009
Look for "Rick's Pick" 
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| CLASSICAL |
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| $19.98 |
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| Title: |
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From The Vaults of Westminster Cathedral |
| Label: |
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Hyperion (dist. Harmonia Mundi)
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Choir of Westminster Cathedral / Martin Baker |
| ISBN: |
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9786313248360 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00034571177076 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDHPONCDA67707 |
| Cat.#: |
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CDA67707 |
| Period: |
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Various Periods |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Plainchant, motets by Victoria and Byrd, the meltingly gorgeous Missa ad Praesepe of George Malcolm, and several other modern and early vocal masterworks are presented on this program, which traces the liturgical year from Advent through Epiphany. As the title suggests, these pieces are all associated in various ways with the Westminster Cathedral; some were sung there from its earliest days, and others were commissioned for its spectacular choir. Half the beauty of this disc is the music itself; the other half is the best-sounding boy treble section in Christendom. (RA) |
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| $25.98 |
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| Title: |
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Pieces De Viole |
| Label: |
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Virgin Veritas
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Composer:
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Marin Marais |
| Performer: |
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Jerome Hantai; Alix Verzier; Pierre Hantai |
| ISBN: |
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9786312938422 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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05099969321320 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDVIRG93213 |
| Cat.#: |
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6 93213 2 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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Reissue (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Originally issued as two separate discs in 1997 and 2001, this handy (if slightly overpriced) reissue twofer brings together top-notch performances of some of the finest music ever written for the bass viol (a Renaissance and baroque-era ancestor of the cello). The vinegary tone of the viol won't please every ear -- especially when paired with the thin-toned harpsichord -- but Marais' gracefully florid melodies are delightful, and the playing of the Hantai brothers and second viol player Alix Verzier is beyond reproach. If your library doesn't already own a good recording of these pieces, this is a good place to start. (RA) |
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| $24.99 |
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| Title: |
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Canzonen Und Tanze Des Fruhbarock (Early Baroque Canzonas and Dances) |
| Label: |
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New Classical Adventure (dist. Naxos)
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Susanne Ehrhardt; Angelika Oertel; Christian Beuse; Klaus Eichhorn |
| ISBN: |
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9786313155132 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00885150601983 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDNCRC60198 |
| Cat.#: |
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60198 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This disc was originally recorded in 1999 but seems to be available now for the first time. It consists of pieces by some of 17th-century Italy's less celebrated names -- Angelo Berardi, Bartolomeo de Selma y Salaverde, Angelo Notari, and Giovanni Bassano. They are played by a quartet led by the very fine recorder player Susane Ehrhardt; accompanying instruments include the organ, harpsichord, dulcian (an early bassoon) and lute. These are fine compositions, somewhere between the stately grandeur of the French style and the earthier and more functional court music of Germany. The playing is generally very good, though there are moments when the recorder's intonation seems to wobble a bit. Recommended to all early music collections. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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The Eight-Stringed Bach |
| Label: |
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Accent (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Johann Sebastian Bach |
| Performer: |
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Raphaella Smits |
| ISBN: |
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9786313241439 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00675754018283 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDACCE24206 |
| Cat.#: |
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ACC 24206 |
| Period: |
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Baroque |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Playing a custom-built eight-string guitar, Raphaella Smits presents here a gorgeous program consisting of her own arrangements of one Bach's lute preludes, a solo partita for flute, and the D minor partita for solo violin. Her playing is virtuosic, but more importantly it is insightful, laying out the voices on the prelude's fugue section with both unimpeachable clarity and rhythmic flexibility. Everyone respects Bach, but few musicians understand or empathize with him the way Smits seems to. This is an uncommonly lovely disc, highly recommended to all classical collections. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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La Magdalene: The Cult Of Maria Magdalene In The Early 16th Century |
| Label: |
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Glossa (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Graindelavoix / Bjorn Schmelzer |
| ISBN: |
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9786313017812 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00675754016456 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDGLSA32104 |
| Cat.#: |
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GCD P32104 |
| Period: |
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Renaissance |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Some of the pieces collected on this program of 16th-century works in honor of Mary Magdalene sound startlingly raw -- thanks in large part to the mannerist ornamentation and the deliberately astringent vocal tone employed by the choir. The result is a Renaissance program that sounds more gothic, and at times evokes the flavor of early Ars Nova polyphony (when it doesn't sound more like shapenote hymnody). I can't vouch for the historical arguments behind this approach, but I can say that the musical result is both arresting and fascinating. (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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One Of A Kind |
| Label: |
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Centaur (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Various Composers |
| Performer: |
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Rebecca Rischin |
| ISBN: |
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9786312969334 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00044747298122 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCENT2981 |
| Cat.#: |
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CRC 2981 |
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20th Century |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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All the pieces on this recording are for unaccompanied clarinet. The program includes the title piece by Mark Phillips, Joan Tower's Wings, Stravinsky's Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo, and works by Bela Kovacs, Kalmen Opperman, Paul Harvey, Jonathan Flowers, and Meyer Kupferman. Quite an ambitious program no matter how you slice it. Rebecca Rischin has a flawless technique; her pitch control is stupendous. Recommended for programs supporting applied clarinet. (MJB) |
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| $35.96 |
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| Title: |
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Die Jahreszeiten |
| Label: |
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Farao (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Franz Joseph Haydn |
| Performer: |
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Chorgemeinshaft Neubeuern; KlangVerwaltung; various soloists / Enoch zu Guttenberg |
| ISBN: |
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9786312969891 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00675754016210 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDFARA108056 |
| Cat.#: |
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B 108056 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New (3-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Haydn's magnificent late-period oratorio is presented here in a masterful performance from Bayreuth in 2004. The Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuern is known for its clarity of diction and terrific sense of ensemble. The KlangVerwaltung Orchestra is known for its rich, full sound despite adherence to the sparseness of players true to the period. Enoch zu Guttenberg conducts an engaging and delightful performance of one of the great oratorios. This performance is also available on DVD. The third CD presents Guttenberg's thoughts on the performance in German--so it will be of limited use in some settings. All in all a masterful performance by chorus, orchestra, and soloists. (MJB) |
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| Title: |
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Violin Concertos |
| Label: |
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Supraphon (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Frantisek Benda; Vaclav Pichl; Antonin Vranicky |
| Performer: |
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Gabriela Demeterova; Prague Chamber Orchestra / Milan Lajcik |
| ISBN: |
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9786312968429 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00099925397722 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSUPP3977 |
| Cat.#: |
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SU 3977-2 |
| Period: |
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Classical |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This disc offers three very fine specimens of the Classical period concerto. All are played with great lightness, elegance, and balance by soloist Gabriela Demeterova, who plays with deliberateness and accuracy while maintaining an air of spontaneity and exuberance. This disc also includes a video of the first movement of the Vranicky concerto. Highly recommended for all collections. (MJB) |
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| Title: |
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Piano Trios |
| Label: |
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Live Classics
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Composer:
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Felix Mendelssohn |
| Performer: |
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Eggner Trio |
| ISBN: |
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9786313098491 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00675754017316 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDLVCL809 |
| Cat.#: |
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LCL 809 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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With his genius for melody and penchant for lickety-split scherzo movements, nowhere does Mendelssohn shine more brightly than in his chamber music. The Trio no. 1 in D minor (op. 49) is exuberantly joyful, and its famous scherzo is played at breakneck speed with incredible accuracy by the Eggner Trio. Also included on this recording is the Trio no. 2 in C minor (op. 66), a somewhat more mature piece but still characterized by Mendelssohn's signature lightness and fire. The Eggner brothers have produced a highly superior recording of two very difficult chamber works. Highly recommended for all classical collections. (MJB) |
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| Title: |
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Fashionably Late: Juliet White-Smith Debuts! |
| Label: |
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Centaur
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Composer:
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Juliet White-Smith, viola. |
| ISBN: |
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9786312969341 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00044747298221 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDCENT2982 |
| Cat.#: |
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CRC 2982 |
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20th century |
| Genre: |
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Classical Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The choice of pieces for this project showcases the versatility of the viola, which Ms. White-Smith plays masterfully. For her debut program she has chosen a variety of chamber works by George Walker, Maurice Gardner (2 pieces), and Michael Colgrass, whose Variations for Four Drums and Viola was written in 1957. (The Walker and Gardner pieces are world premier recordings and are particularly intense.) All four pieces are stellar contributions to the viola repertoire and these particular performances are memorable. Recommended for all collections but especially those supporting applied viola programs. (MJB) |
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| Title: |
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Piano a quatre mains |
| Label: |
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Timpani Imports (dist. Qualiton)
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Composer:
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Florent Schmitt |
| Performer: |
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Christian Ivaldi; Jean-Claude Pennetier |
| ISBN: |
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9786312968351 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00675754015879 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTIMP1159 |
| Cat.#: |
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1C1159 |
| Period: |
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Romantic |
| Genre: |
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Classical |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Florent Schmitt (1870-1958) wrote prolifically for the piano, but fame has eluded him, perhaps in part because he is difficult to label. At times there are touches of impressionism in his work, but is primarily Romanticism, especially the influence of Chopin and Schumann, that permeates his music. This recording is of three suites for piano four hands. The music is at times exuberant and at times very melancholy and introspective. Listening to this collection leads on to wonder why this composer is not better known. The team of Christian Ivaldi and Jean-Claude Pennetier really put life into this music both as individual pianists and as an ensemble. Distinctively French and hopelessly Romantic, Schmitt's music deserves a more prominent place in music history. Highly recommended for all collections. (MJB) |
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| COUNTRY/FOLK |
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| $13.99 |
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| Title: |
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Hummingbirds |
| Label: |
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New Weave
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Artist:
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Saturnalia Trio |
| UPC: |
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748043077329 |
| Cat.#: |
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NWCD-773 |
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Folk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This delightfully versatile group’s only problem is arithmetical; it actually consists of four multi-instrumentalists, who play everything from psalteries to synthesizers and darbukkas to dulcimers. They dig deeply into the progressive folk genre, combining medieval and Renaissance music with modern sensibilities. Memorable originals sit comfortably next to songs by John Dowland, and the results form a thoroughly enjoyable pastiche that might remind one of Fairport Convention or the Incredible String Band. This recording will be a smash within a hundred miles of any Renaissance fair. (JW) |
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| Title: |
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Tribute to The Mississippi Sheiks: Things About Comin' My Way |
| Label: |
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Black Hen Music (dist. Burnside)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786313269884 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00775020955325 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBKHM00065 |
| Cat.#: |
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BHCD-0055 |
| Genre: |
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Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Mississippi Sheiks were a popular African-American string band in the 1930s, recording such famous songs as “Sitting on Top of the World.” Muddy Waters used to walk ten miles to see them play, and they were a major influence on a wide range of blues and blues-rock musicians. This tribute features a stellar cast of musicians, including The North Mississippi Allstars, Bruce Cockburn, Madeleine Peyroux, Geoff Muldaur, Bill Frisell, and John Hammond. As you might imagine, this diverse set of musicians each add their own distinctive take to each song, ranging from Frisell’s guitar/horn duet, to the Carolina Chocolate Drops show-stopping string band version of “Sitting On Top of the World.” Highly recommended. (GH) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Golden Apples of The Sun |
| Label: |
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Signature Sounds
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Artist:
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Caroline Herring |
| ISBN: |
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9786313295999 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00701237202525 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSIGS2025 |
| Cat.#: |
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SIG 2025 |
| Genre: |
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Folk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Mississippi-born Herring brings old-time instrumentation to her thoughtful, well-crafted songs. At times her delivery had the feel of early Joni Mitchell, while her honesty and social conciousness evoke a young Peggy Seeger. A very impressive, unpretentious recording that lets Herring’s considerable talents shine. GH) |
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| Title: |
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Wishful Thinking |
| Label: |
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Gold Strike (dist. Red)
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Artist:
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Hot Club Of Cowtown |
| ISBN: |
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9786313145300 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00626570601098 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDGDSE333 |
| Cat.#: |
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333 |
| Genre: |
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Country & Western |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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This release is great news for fans who thought they’d seen the last of the Hot Club when the trio disbanded in 2005. Fiddler/songwriter/singer Elana James is back with guitarist Whit Smith and bassist Jake Erwin to deliver a new set that is as good as anything they’ve done before. James and Whit trade lead vocals and crystal solos on their instruments. Their delightful combination of Western swing, Django jazz, country, and anything else they like never lets up through a baker’s dozen of originals and covers. This one is highly recommended. (JW) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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No Fool for Trying |
| Label: |
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True North
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Artist:
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Violet Madison |
| ISBN: |
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9786313043613 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00620638052921 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTNRTTND529 |
| Cat.#: |
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TND 529 |
| Genre: |
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Folk |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Madison Violet is the stage name for the Canadian singer/songwriter duo of Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac. This fine CD features their original songs, elegant tunes with gentle acoustic arrangements and lyrics that have drawn favorable comparisons to Gillian Welch in their strength and poetic imagery – and rightly so. You can hear the influence of Welch, early Neil Young (think “Helpless”) and Ian Tyson in their work, but the final result is a compelling set of original songs, sung by a pair who have been polishing their craft for nearly a decade. Great stuff. (GH) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Garden of Joy |
| Label: |
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Stony Plain
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Artist:
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Maria Muldaur |
| ISBN: |
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9786313232932 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00772532133227 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSTON21332 |
| Cat.#: |
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SPCD 1332 |
| Genre: |
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Jug Band Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Way back when, Muldaur was a member of the legendary Jim Kweskin Jug Band, a wonderfully fun outfit from the early 60’s. She digs into her past to revitalize the jug band genre on her latest record, gathering together Taj Mahal, David Grisman, John Sebastian and others in the guise of the Garden of Joy Jug Band. Fun and tasty chops abound on a varied set of traditional Depression-era tunes (“Bank Failure Blues”) and a pair of newly-penned songs by Dan Hicks, who joins Muldaur on vocals. A delightful anachronism! (GH) |
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| JAZZ |
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| Title: |
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The Classic Prestige Sessions, 1951-1956 |
| Label: |
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Prestige/Concord Jazz
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Artist:
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Miles Davis & Sonny Rollins |
| ISBN: |
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9786313086085 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00888072314610 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDPSGR31461 |
| Cat.#: |
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PRS-31461 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Compilation (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Miles Davis. With Sonny Rollins. The complete Prestige recordings, including alternate takes, on two CDs. Why are you even reading this? You know you have to have it. (RA) |
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| $16.00 |
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| Title: |
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Pulse |
| Label: |
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Moon Haw
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Artist:
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Jim Weider's Project Percolator |
| UPC: |
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786851269529 |
| Cat.#: |
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363 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Guitar guru Jim Weider’s vita includes a long stint with The Band, plus gigs with Roger Waters, Mavis Staples, and others. Project Percolator is a (mostly) instrumental affair, with Weider fronting a quartet with guitarist Mitch Stein and drummer Rodney Holmes. This is hot, jazz fusion-influenced material, with dazzling guitar work and energetic drumming driving things along. Fans of instrumental guitar that blends Dick Dale, Jeff Beck, and Mahavishnu Orchestra will love this. (GH) |
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| Title: |
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Brewster's Rooster |
| Label: |
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ECM
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Artist:
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John Surman |
| ISBN: |
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9786313086023 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00602527011127 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B001314802 |
| Cat.#: |
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2046 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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What a quartet! Saxophonist Surman is joined by guitarist John Abercrombie, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and bassist Drew Gress, and the results are wonderful. Rather than a star-packed jam session, they play as a tight, fluid ensemble, sharing solos, yet making sure the whole is larger than the sum of the parts. Surman & co. alternately play bouncy rhythmic tunes propelled by DeJohnette & Gress, one selection that takes off into free territory, and a few quiet numbers settle things out, including a gorgeous version of the Billy Strayhorn chestnut “Chelsea Bridge.” A great jazz record by four masters. Recommended. (GH) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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With a Heartbeat |
| Label: |
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Douglas
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Artist:
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Pharaoh Sanders; Bill Laswell |
| ISBN: |
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9786313239245 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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03660341123171 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDDGLS1 |
| Cat.#: |
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AD-01 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Although saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders gets top billing, this really feels like a Bill Laswell album. The sidemen are mostly Laswell's usual suspects (Nicky Skopelitis, Jeff Bova, Trilok Gurtu, etc.) and the schtick (all grooves are based on medical recordings of heartbeats) sounds like his idea. And it's Laswell's trademarked melodic, dubby basslines that give three of the album's four tracks their unique character. Sanders is Sanders, which is to say that he plays freely throughout and always just a bit sharp. Mainly for Laswell fans. (RA) |
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| $29.98 |
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| Title: |
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Dresden: In Concert |
| Label: |
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ECM
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Artist:
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Jan Garbarek Group |
| ISBN: |
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9786313205677 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00602527095721 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B001334202 |
| Cat.#: |
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2100/01 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Fans know what to expect: saxophonist Garbarek's characteristically dancing, lyrical tone put in service of sometimes knotty, often discursive melodies and improvisations. On this live album, they can also expect that little added zing that can emerge when a top-flight ensemble is onstage together, and this one includes the extraordinary drummer Manu Katche as well as equally fine bassist Yuri Daniel and drummer Rainer Bruninghaus. Very nice. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Miss Smith to You |
| Label: |
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Fat Note
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Artist:
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Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers |
| ISBN: |
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9786313097265 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00725543888327 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDFTN 3 |
| Cat.#: |
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0003 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz/Jump Blues |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Looking for sultry torch songs, rocking jump blues, and sexy ballads? Looking for someone who can convince you to listen, yet again, to songs like "Sunny Side of the Street" and "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing"? Then look no further: Lavay Smith and her unbelievably hot big band will give you all you want and more, and will even have you singing along, perhaps against your will, with "When the Saint Go Marching In." (RA) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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Plays The Legacy of Oscar Peterson [CD/DVD] |
| Label: |
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Resonance
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Artist:
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Resonance Big Band |
| ISBN: |
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9786312914174 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00724101743122 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRSNC1008 |
| Cat.#: |
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RCD-1008 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New (2-discs) |
| Comments: |
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George Klabin, president of the label and producer of this album, tells of the origin and creation of this project in his notes, and the bonus DVD gives even greater detail on the production. But the most important part is the playing. Marian Petrescu is the pianist, and he is simply marvelous, capturing the spirit of Peterson, and giving us a delightful stroll through a mix of Peterson originals and tunes associated with him. The band backing him does an excellent job, with deft and elegant arrangements throughout. The results should satisfy fans of both Peterson and contemporary big bands. (JW) |
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| $13.99 |
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| Title: |
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Third Occasion |
| Label: |
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Mythology
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Artist:
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David Binney |
| UPC: |
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700261263632 |
| Cat.#: |
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MR 0006 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Alto saxophonist David Binney leads a quartet of piano, bass, and drums here, augmented on occasion by a four-piece brass section on a set of original compositions. The result is a program of sophisticated, cerebral tone poems, linked by an introduction and coda that make it something of a concept album. If that sounds like too much, one could also take this as noir with a twist of lemon. The nice thing about Binney is that one can approach his music in lots of ways and still find it enormously satisfying. (JW) |
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| $12.98 |
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| Title: |
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Up And Down |
| Label: |
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Blue Note
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Artist:
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Horace Parlan |
| ISBN: |
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9786312737346 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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05099926513720 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBNOT65137B |
| Cat.#: |
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50999 2 65137 2 0 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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This Rudy Van Gelder reissue was originally recorded in 1961. The fine hard bop pianist was surrounded here with major talent in the form of Booker Ervin on tenor sax, guitarist Grant Green, bassist George Tucker, and Al Harewood on drums. These tunes are strongly rooted in the blues, and the alternation of piano, sax, and guitar in the solos makes for a varied and enjoyable listen. A bonus track has been added. This one is an easy vote. (JW) |
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| ROCK/POP |
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| Title: |
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Tear This World Up |
| Label: |
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Delmark
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Artist:
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Eddie C. Campbell |
| ISBN: |
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9786313032105 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00038153079925 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDDELM0799 |
| Cat.#: |
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DE 799 |
| Genre: |
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Jazz |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The years he's spent in Europe have made him less than famous here, but guitarist Eddie C. Campbell was a staple of West Side Chicago blues for decades, a sideman for Magic Sam and others. He comes roaring back on this album with deep funk blues and a rich, resonating style of guitar playing that can’t be ignored. Vocals are nimble over driving shuffles, funky workouts, and slow burners. This is a great showing. (JW) |
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| $17.98 |
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| Title: |
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The Secret Song |
| Label: |
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Thirsty Ear/All Saints
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Artist:
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DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid |
| ISBN: |
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9786313232482 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00700435719125 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDTHRS57191 |
| Cat.#: |
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57191 |
| Genre: |
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Electronica/Hip Hop |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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I give Spooky a hard time for his boundless pretentiousness (song titles on this one include "Cognitiva," "Pax per Fidem" and "Duality (Drum and Bass Duo in D flat Minor)"), but there's no questioning either his way with a groove or his really quite jaw-dropping turntable skills. This is a concept album, but dont worry too much about that -- steer clear of the self-consciously turgid pseudo-philosophizing and the fish-in-a-barrel political jabs (Spooky really sticks his neck out by putting a George W. Bush sample over a laugh track, for example) and you've got yourself a whole handful of top-notch avant-hip-hop. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Trans Plutonian Transmissions |
| Label: |
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Soleilmoon (dist. Revolver)
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Artist:
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Arecibo |
| ISBN: |
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9786313203482 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00753907785227 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDSLMN152 |
| Cat.#: |
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152 |
| Genre: |
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Electronica |
| Release type: |
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Reissue |
| Comments: |
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Originally issued in 1995, this is a stunning and unsettling program of electronic compositions derived largely from data compiled by NASA's Deep Space Network, a set of three antennas placed around the earth that monitors various kinds of signals from outer space. The music that Brian Williams (a.k.a. Lustmord, a.k.a. Arecibo) creates from these data sets defines enormous sonic spaces and inspires feelings of wonder with a slight edge of existential dread. The album must be heard to be understood, and really ought to be heard by any aspiring electronic composer. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Love Tattoo |
| Label: |
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Verve Forecast
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Artist:
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Imelda May |
| ISBN: |
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9786313107506 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00602517905610 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDUMG B001308202 |
| Cat.#: |
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B0013082-02 |
| Genre: |
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Pop/Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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With her leopard-skin top, a voice like honey-infused whiskey and a band that sounds like a cross between the Cherry-Poppin' Daddies, the Blasters and Los Lobos, not to mention an ability to write songs that sound simultaneously fresh and vintage, Imelda May is going to thrill every ducktailed cool daddy in your patron base. Love Tattoo bops, rocks, swings and sways, sometimes with a Latin beat, sometimes in a flat-out rockabilly style and sometimes in a torchy jazz mode, but even when the influences are obvious the sound ends up being stragely original and personal. How does she do that? (RA) |
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| $8.98 |
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| Title: |
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Shark Bites and Dog Fights |
| Label: |
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Bieler Bros (dist. ADA)
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Artist:
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Skindred |
| ISBN: |
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9786313167555 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00874007003223 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDBLRB70032 |
| Cat.#: |
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874007003223 |
| Genre: |
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Pop/Rock |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The latest from this blisteringly energetic band is liable to divide its fanbase somewhat. Those who thought of them as a dancehall-metal group will probably be disappointed by the lack of reggae inflections in evidence; those who thought of them as a metal-dancehall group may be relieved. In any case, their sound remains sharp, focused and furious; I was going to dock them a grade for the brevity of the program (31 minutes) until I noticed the budget-line pricing. Nice. (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Keep An Eye on The Sky |
| Label: |
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Rhino
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Artist:
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Big Star |
| ISBN: |
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9786313180936 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00081227985875 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDRHIN519760 |
| Cat.#: |
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519760 |
| Genre: |
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Pop/Rock Music |
| Release type: |
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Boxed Set (4-discs) |
| Comments: |
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Between 1968 and 1975, Memphis-based Big Star blended the British Invasion sound with melodic, crunchy, guitar-driven songs to help define what would be called “power pop,” influencing everyone from REM to the Replacements. Rhino’s new box set is the holy grail of Big Star material, four CDs that document their most important work, plus a ton of demos and alternate takes and several live sets from 1973. This definitive Big Star set is crucial for any rock collection. Highly recommended. (GH) |
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| $15.98 |
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| Title: |
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Exploding Head |
| Label: |
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Mute
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Artist:
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Place to Bury Strangers |
| ISBN: |
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9786313223312 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00724596942024 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDMRCD69420 |
| Cat.#: |
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9420-2 |
| Genre: |
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Pop/Rock Music |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Every music collection needs something that will make the ears bleed. On their sophomore release, A Place to Bury Strangers whips up a frenzy of fuzz, distortion, drone and feedback. Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine are the most prominent influences, but “Smile When You Smile” lifts guitar riffs from Mudhoney while the title track gets them from early Cure. With its hypnotic mixture of garage, surf, psychedelia and a smattering of goth, they subsume their influences into something unique. (MC) |
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| WORLD/ETHNIC |
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| $18.98 |
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| Title: |
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Imidiwan: Companions |
| Label: |
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World Village (dist. Harmonia Mundi)
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Artist:
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Tinariwen |
| ISBN: |
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9786313248681 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00713746809621 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWLDV468096 |
| Cat.#: |
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468096 |
| Genre: |
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World |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The backstory on Tinariwen usually gets all of the attention, because not a lot of pop groups got their start as nomadic Touareg desert warriors. But the real story here is a group that is both refining and expanding its sound after having toured the world as professional musicians, something they could hardly have imagined when they started out. That sound is electric, edgy, hypnotic, and utterly unique. It’s tempting to call this album a great leap forward, but it’s really a leap inward. (SA) |
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| $14.98 |
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| Title: |
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Jazz Around The World |
| Label: |
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Putumayo
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786313263622 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00790248029627 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDPUTU296 |
| Cat.#: |
|
P296 |
| Genre: |
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World |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Definitely "around the world," but less arguably jazz, this compilation is -- like most Putumayo compilations -- a blissfully pleasurable and utterly unchallenging introduction to a variety of musical styles from around the globe. Artists from Quebec, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand and Cameroon (just to name a few regions) all take on songs and instrumentals that bear a variety of (mostly tangential) relationships to jazz, and that all add up to a perfect disc for a rainy afternoon with your sweetie and a CD player with a setting. (RA) |
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| $9.99 |
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| Title: |
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Eternal |
| Label: |
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Electrofone/Green Wave
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Artist:
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Huun-Huur-Tu and Carmen Rizzo |
| UPC: |
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656901001129 |
| Cat.#: |
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| Genre: |
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World |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Tuvan band Huun-Huur-Tu decided that their latest album needed something a little different, so they sent the tapes to Carmen Rizzo (of Niyaz), and asked him to work a bit of electro magic on it. The result is one of the most striking, beautiful and uplifting albums I've heard in any genre in a long time. The spike fiddle, the throat singing, the frame drums, and all the other traditional elements of Tuvan folk music sound as if they're being individually showcased and amplified, while the beats incorporate themselves seamlessly and give everything an added dimension of rhythmic power without ever threatening to take over the sound. Absolutely wonderful. (Available through Amazon.) (RA) |
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| Title: |
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Felt |
| Label: |
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Dubmission (dist. Allegro)
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Artist:
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International Observer |
| ISBN: |
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9786313207015 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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05050693233624 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDDMSN15 |
| Cat.#: |
|
015 |
| Genre: |
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Reggae |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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International Observer is the alias of founding Thompson Twins member Tom Bailey, who has always harbored a secret dub jones and has let it have free rein on this ongoing solo project. The third album in the series so far (the first two were titled Seen and Heard) continues his brilliant exploration of modern dubwise instrumental reggae styles -- not as sonically nuts as Twilight Circus but not as mainstream as, say, Mad Professor, Bailey's work is faithful to tradition but gently pushes the boundaries as well, and this album is an uncommonly satisfying one. (RA) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Maitei America: Harps of Paraguay |
| Label: |
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Smithsonian Folkways
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786312910404 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00093074054826 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDFOLK740548 |
| Cat.#: |
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SFW CD 40548 |
| Genre: |
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World |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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The Paraguayan harp has become the quintessential folk instrument and point of pride for that country. It is used in a variety of ways, for melody, harmony, and rhythm, with or without other instruments, and in several styles. Here, five experts give us a tour of the styles, focusing on polcas, rhythmically driving at 6/8 time, and guaranias, at slower tempos. Harpists are accompanied by guitar and string bass. Impeccable virtuosity, beautiful melodies, and an excellent booklet make this another important purchase from this reliable label. (JW) |
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| $16.98 |
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| Title: |
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Liberté |
| Label: |
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Wrasse (dist. Fontana)
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Artist:
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Khaled |
| ISBN: |
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9786313155927 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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00875232008021 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDWRSR239 |
| Cat.#: |
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WRSR WRASS239 |
| Genre: |
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World |
| Release type: |
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New |
| Comments: |
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Rai is a pop music style that originated in Algeria, though its practitioners are often based now in France. Khaled was one of the genre’s first stars, and his debut album Kutché was its first masterpiece. Once the leader of a drive to modernize the music with electronics and other modern influences, Khaled now balances traditional and contemporary styles into his own blend, and as we might infer from the title of his new album it has freed him artistically. Liberté is destined to be another landmark. (SA) |
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| $25.98 |
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| Title: |
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Legends of Benin |
| Label: |
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Analog Africa (dist. Forced Exposure)
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Artist:
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Various Artists |
| ISBN: |
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9786312979432 |
| ISBN-10: |
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| UPC: |
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04260126060685 |
| Prod.#: |
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BECDAGAA065 |
| Cat.#: |
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AACD 065 |
| Genre: |
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World |
| Release type: |
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Compilation |
| Comments: |
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For a couple of years now the Analog Africa label has been releasing compilations from the previously almost unknown Benin scene, and this one is another fine example. Focusing on four artists – Gnonnas Pedro, El Rego, Antoine Dougbe’, and Honore’ Avolonto – Legends of Benin features some funk, a little reggae, and a lot of the rhythms that are heard only in Benin. A little obscure maybe, but great music will always find an audience. (SA) |
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© CD HotList 2004 |
