Music Reviews - Stereo Times

Schumann: Fantasy, Kreisleriana, Papillons, Fantasiestuecke, Humoreske

March 10, 2008

Connoisseur CD 4256 March 2008 Every once in awhile, a miraculous musical event occurs, a perfect congruence of music and musician. Cynthia Raim’s two-disc set of Schumann solo piano music is such an [Read More]

Jon Faddis “Teranga” [Koch Records]

June 8, 2007

Jon Faddis “Teranga” [Koch Records] A Joyful Shared Conversation “As far as playing jazz, no other art form, other than conversation, can give the satisfaction of spontaneous interaction.” Stan Getz “They call it [Read More]

The Kennedys, “Positively Live!”

December 13, 2006

The Kennedys, “Positively Live!” [Jiffyjam; available at www.kennedysmusic.com] Joy To You and Yours December, 2006 As the holiday season approaches, my thoughts turn to spreading some simple joy to people everywhere: lining the streets [Read More]

Three SACD Hybrid Releases from Mercury

September 28, 2005

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos 2 & 3, Byron Janis, Dorati, 470 639-2Stravinsky: Firebird, Fireworks, etc. Dorati, 470 643-2 Respighi: Ancient Dances & Airs, Dorati, 470 637-2 September 2005 Three SACD Hybrid Releases from Mercury The [Read More]

Edward Rosser: Piano Music of Chopin, Schubert, Debussy and Schumann

July 22, 2005

Edward Rosser: Piano Music of Chopin, Schubert, Debussy and Schumann [Chetros CD 0805] July 2005 This CD has been challenging and surprising, at first one of the most seemingly naïve and idiosyncratic performances I [Read More]

Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Suite No. 2)

May 4, 2005

Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Suite No. 2), Pavane pour une infante défunte, La Valse, Ma Mère l’Oye, Bolèro Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Paavo Järvi [Telarc SACD-60601]. May 2004 Russell Lichter I spent [Read More]

Blue Mitchell – Blue’s Moods

April 25, 2005

Blue Mitchell – Blue’s Moods [Riverside Records OJCCD-138-2] Richard Allen plays the BluesFollowing in the footsteps of fellow trumpeters, Fats Navarro, and Clifford Brown, Richard Allen Mitchell, most commonly known as “Blue,” made his [Read More]

Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas, Complete Piano Concertos

April 25, 2005

Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas, Complete Piano Concertos, Gerard Willems, Stuart & Sons Piano [ABC Classics 465 077-2, 465 264-2, 465 659-2] April 2005 In a recent issue of Stereophile John Marks wrote at some length [Read More]

Laszlo Gardony – “Ever Before Ever After” & Shelley Neill “Entrée Blue”

April 25, 2005

A Spring Sampling: Jazz and Blues Gem Recordings From Local Boston Artists: Laszlo Gardony – “Ever Before Ever After” [Sunnyside 1107] Shelley Neill “Entrée Blue” (with Laslo Gardony, Yoron Israel and Ron Mahdi) [Cobalt Blue [Read More]

Frank Zappa: QuAUDIOPHILIAC

February 18, 2005

Frank Zappa: QuAUDIOPHILIAC DTS Entertainment 69286-01125-9-9 February 2005 The January 2005 issue of Stereophile features an insightful commentary by Jon Iverson on how the recording industry continues to muck around in the mire of pretend surround [Read More]