Album of the Evening

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One more for tonight

 

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Some of the Stravinsky nobody ever listens to, but this recording proves them wrong. Very much worth a listen. 
 

 

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While others debate Cecile (I am on the "pro Cecile" team), let us not forget that we live in a golden age of wonderful jazz vocalists. Here is my current musical crush.

 

 

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This is just pure fun, and great musicianship and singing, too. Have a party in your listening room!
 

 

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These two just keep producing wonderful Beethoven violin sonatas like nobody's business. I last reported on their fantastic recording of Numbers 5-7 released his last spring, and this is to my taste just as fantastic. Excellent SQ, too!

 

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Blossom Dearie at the height of her powers. You give him the ooh-la-la, Blossom!*

 

* Not everyone understands Blossom Dearie's name. Dearie was her family's surname. Her mother was Norwegian. Blossom was her nickname. Her actual given name was Margrethe. That enough? Good!

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Qobuz continues introducing me to excellent Swiss composers and works I otherwise probably never would have known about. Here's an album focused on composers from the eastern Canton of the Grisons. How's that for niche programming?

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Definitely not easy listening. But definitely worth hearing. Heart rending.

 

 

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The Ravel is a highlight, with the soloist chewing the scenery in a most remarkable, edge of the seat performance. But the rest of the album also is very much worth your time.

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On 9/25/2021 at 2:32 AM, Musicophile said:

New on Qobuz. 

As marvelous as the performance is on this album, is anybody other than me a bit disappointed with the SQ? Piano to me sounds constricted, like it's in a box. Bass is  a bit lumpy and flabby; just a bit. I don't think it is POOR sound quality, just sort of below the level I might have expected.  I am listening to the 24/96 version on Qobuz.

[jiminlogansquare]

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[jiminlogansquare]

Not sure I ever before heard a chamber reduction of Till Eulenspiegel, and not sure this rendition fully satisfies, but it is an audacious and entertaining effort filled with virtuoso performances. The Françaix pieces are totally on point, no questions here, and I love Francaix. Poulenc is Poulenc. A very good album.

 

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