ea Lam of VTL made an interesting suggestion, and one that showed insight into how audiophiles were spending their time during shelter-in-place orders in effect in some states here in the US and in other countries. She asked that we provide our personal listening lists, perhaps giving insight into our states of mind during these uncertain times. So here is what we at TAB have been listening to recently. Mark Blackmore Here’s my used-vinyl playlist for today. I have been going through some recent flea-market finds that I hadn’t had an opportunity to hear yet. Ravel • Bolero, Daphnis et Chloe, Pavand pour une infante defunte [Telarc DG-10052] - I know some of the brass players from that era (1980) of the St. Louis Symphony, and I’ve performed with some of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus members in church jobs over the years. This music was recorded in Powell Symphony Hall, known for warm acoustics that are sympathetic to string sections. Malcolm Frager Plays Chopin [Telarc DG-10040] - Another St. Louis connection in that Frager was born here and made his debut with the SLSO at the age of ten. This performance is played on a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand, which was touted as “the world’s largest piano” when this record was released. The University of Missouri-Columbia owned one, and it certainly was a beast to move across the stage. Victor Borge Presents His Own Enchanting Version of Hans Christian Andersen [Decca DL 734406] - I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t a fan of Victor Borge. This was recorded at Borge's home in Connecticut and also Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. One odd point: this was a custom recording by Decca and was distributed by Eastern Airlines in 1966. Quincy Jones • You’ve Got It Bad Girl [A&M Records SP-3041] - Quincy Jones assembled an all-star group of musicians for this recording: “Toots” Thielemans on harmonica; Ernie Watts and Phil Woods on saxes; Dave Grusin, George Duke, and Bob James on piano; and my favorite, Cat Anderson on trumpet. Listen to Cat screaming over the choruses in Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and try not to smile. This recording can sound mid-fi with a tipped-up cartridge, but a Denon '103 or Ortofon SPU puts some meat on the bones, transforming the sound. Another memorable performance is the bass harmonica work on “Sanford and Son.” John Crossett I’ve been going through the six-CD set Stanley Clarke • The Complete 1970s Epic Album Collection [Epic/Legacy 8869731222]. These albums, along with ones from Brian Auger, Billy Cobham, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Return To Forever, were this dyed-in-the-wool rock-'n-'roller’s intro to jazz. Dennis Davis I've been listening to lots of Charles Mingus, spurred on by Mobile Fidelity's One-Step Mingus Ah Um [Columbia/Mobile Fidelity UD1S 2-010] and Speakers Corner's Mingus At Antibes [Atlantic/Speakers Corner SD 2-3001]. Also, I've been listening to Impex’s 45rpm Friday Night in San Francisco with Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia [Columbia/Impex IMP6031-45], the new reissue of Carly Simon’s No Secrets [Speakers Corner/Elektra 75049]. Finally, I'm working my way through the Beethoven Symphonies with Karajan [Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft SKL 101/8]. Roy Gregory Beethoven • Complete Piano Concertos, Jan Lisiecki, Academy Of St Martin In The Fields [Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft 483 7637] Beethoven • The Last Three Sonatas, Opp. 109-111, Maurizio Pollini [Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft 48384730] Beethoven • Complete Sonatas For Piano and Violin, Sayaka Shoji and Gianluca Cascioli [Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft UCCG 90824/7] Mozart • Piano Sonatas, k.331, 310, 545 and 570, Maria Joao Pires [Denon UCCG 85349] Nielsen/Sibelius • Violin Concertos, Baiba Skride, Santuu-Matias Rouvali, Tampere P.O. [Orfeo C896 152 A] Sibelius • Symphony No.1 and En Saga, Santuu-Matias Rouvali, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra [Alpha 440] Sibelius • Symphony No. 2 and King Christian II Suite, Santuu-Matias Rouvali, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra [Alpha 574] Chopin • Klavierkonzert Nr.1, Liszt • Klavierkonzert Nr.1, Argerich, Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra [Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft UCCG 40077] Prokofieff • Klavierkonzert Nr.3, Ravel • Klavierkonzert in G-Dur, Argerich, Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker [Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft UCCG 40086] Michael Kiwanuka • Kiwanuka [Polydor 7795277] Vampire Weekend • Father of the Bride [Columbia 19075930141] Guy Lemcoe LPs: Joni Mitchell • Song to a Seagull [Reprise RS-6293] Burial • Untrue [Hyperdub HDBLP002] Townes Van Zandt • Rearview Mirror [Fat Possum Records FP1107-1] Thelonious Monk • At the Five Spot [Milestone M-47043] Arca • Arca [XL Recordings XLLP834] Jordi Savall • Lessons For the Lyra-Violl [Astree AS 51] Billie Eillsh • When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? [Interscope Records B0031105-01] Kenny Burrell • Introducing Kenny Burrell [Blue Note/Tone Poet B0029974-01] Various Artists • Bethlehem's Best [Bethlehem Records EXLP-6] Tyler, the Creator • Igor [Columbia 19075965221] Chick Corea • Now He Sings, Now He Sobs [Blue Note/Tone Poet B0029363-01] The Modern Jazz Quartet • Patterns [United Artists Records UAS 5072] Alt-J • An Awesome Wave [Atlantic 532346-1] Sons of Hawaii • The Folk Music Of Hawaii [Panini Records KN1001] Gurdjieff/de Hartmann • The Music Of Gurdjieff/de Hartmann [Light In the Attic LITA 158] Emmylou Harris • All I Intended To Be [Nonesuch 480444-1] CDs: Satie - Ciccolini • Œuvres Pour Piano/Piano Works [EMI Classics CZS 7 67282 2] John Coltrane • A Love Supreme [Impulse GRD-155] Marin Marais, Jordi Savall, Ton Koopman, Hopkinson Smith, Christophe Coin, Anne Gallet • Pièces De Viole Des Cinq Livres (1686 - 1725) [Alia Vox AVSA 9872 A/E] Yello • Touch Yello [Polydor 7640161960251] Streaming: With relatively unlimited access to music of all types of music via high-res streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz and Amazon, I find myself using those services to expand my awareness and understanding of the world’s music. Also, I tend to focus on specific genres or artists and listen comprehensively. Currently, I’m diving into the catalogues of Thelonious Monk and post punk/industrial groups such as The Fall, Gang of Four, Cabaret Voltaire, Devo, Heaven 17, Joy Division, The Slits, Throbbing Gristle, Wall of Voodoo and Wire, all of which have held my attention.
Marc Mickelson I've been listening to a lot of CDs found at local thrift stores before sheltering in place. Musically interesting CDs are now as plentiful as LPs were a decade ago and cost as little -- usually 25 or 50 cents each. (Yes, the two boxed sets listed below cost more than that). Frank Kimbrough, Scott Robinson, Rufus Reid and Billy Drummond • Monk's Dreams: Thelonious Sphere Monk [Sunnyside SSC 4032], six CDs Clifford Jordan • Live at Ethell's [Mapleshade 56292] Mark Knopfler • Screenplaying [Warner Bros. 9 45457-2] Beck • One Foot in the Grave [K Records KLP 28] Bob Dylan • More Blood, More Tracks: The Bootleg Series Vol.14, Deluxe Edition [Columbia/Legacy 19075858962], six CDs Dwight Yoakam • 3 Pears [Warner Bros./Via Records 531777-2] Kevin Whitehead I'm trying to keep up with my usual work, so I'm listening to recent releases, in particular: Dayna Stephens Trio • Liberty [Contagious Music CGM004] - This trio shows us how to mesh well working in close quarters -- a good life lesson. Guus Janssen & Wim Janssen • Home made music [Geestgronden GG27] - Prodigiously talented Dutch composer/pianist plays a house concert with his longest-running collaborator, his drummer and brother Wim (a terrific painter too). Mats Gustafsson, Wendy Gondeln, Wolfgang Voigt • The Shithole Country & Boogie Band [Corbett vs. Dempsey CD062] - Spooky atmospheres, goofy sampler excursions, low sax bleats and twiddly bits; whimsical soundscapes from the digital scrap heap. Comforting old faves: ICP Orchestra • Bospaadje Konijnehol II [ICP 029] - Dadaist composer Misha Mengelberg’s unclassifiable pocket orchestra, in its early prime. Susan Alcorn • Soledad [Relative Pitch RPR1032] - A change of pace for new music’s premier pedal-steel guitarist; solo arrangements of Astor Piazzolla compositions -- stately music to stay calm to. Bob Dylan • Planet Waves [Columbia CK 37637] - Garth Hudson’s organ always gets me. Good songs too. Irrational earworm: this
flyweight Tex Ritter theme has been stuck in my head since I saw the Joel McCrae
western on cable last week. |
