Reviews

Any release spunky enough to embrace Ligeti’s and Finnissy’s Second Quartets..is OK by me. These films are edited to mirror something of the composer’s approach to structure but, more significantly, to allow viewers to see the physical interaction between player and instrument. Stravinsky was right: we hear these moves, see the sounds differently.

An apt verdict on the Kreutzer readings is that of veteran music commentator Peter Graham Woolf, He said of Metier’s DVD: ‘The performances of all this music are riveting and have captivated listeners who would normally find engagements with some of this music far from easy. Recommended for essential purchase.’ Regarding the entire DVD we are informed [by Metier] that it is: ‘a valuable and rewarding tool for observing how the players of an ensemble communicate and interact, especially in works like that of Lutoslawski which allow performers a degree of choice.’ Statements in the sales pitch are self-evident.

[The Kreutzers’] playing is vivid, technically assured and strongly characterful throughout, and there’s a real sincerity to the performances with no sense of acting up for the camera. There are times where watching the performer really adds to the musical experience.

Baily’s fingerwork – on dutars of different kinds – is superb, and they’ve roped in Abdul Wahab Madadi, a Herati singer who really is the biz. The lyrics are drenched in youthful sensuality and the melodies have great charm. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

… beautiful album of folk songs from Herat in Afghanistan. Their… restrained and refined versions stand up to repeated listening and hearing these exquisite performances you can understand why Baily and Doubleday have become honorary Afghans at concerts around the world.

Katin has … established himself among the leading British virtuosos, on a plane with Solomon and Clifford Curzon … the pianism remains direct, inflected and stylistically effective.

A feast for Katin admirers… a rare example of Katin’s Bach

Katin infuses his personal digital prowess and magic… A veteran’s seamless security Katin brings to the Chopin table and that combination wins the berries.

Continual intrigue of creative improvisation… the ensemble keeps their sound close and controlled, the interaction is mild and unpretentious. Particularly because of the bassoon, the album assumes the role of a story-telling device. With the saxophone… Carter creates tender moments that are highlighted.

DeBrunner’s bassoon is an unlikely ingredient that works exceptionally well. It’s hard to focus on any one player for very long… one begins to appreciate the subtlety and brilliance of this work. This is an album about texture, how instruments-as-chemicals interact with one another to form new substances. If listeners are reluctant to name it one of 2010’s best releases, one must admit that it is one of the most intriguing.

Overflowing with ideas, this music is often dream-like with consistently tight interaction between all four members, sometimes simmering way below the boiling level.

The theme… is the universality of music, expressed as group improvisation by four superlative musicians. A thought-provoking work of powerful improvisation that draws on various influences to create a unique identity.

Silverman’s unconventional guitar playing and Zlabinger’s often hypnotic bass playing are really good. The way [DeBrunner] uses her bassoon is highly unusual yet at the same time a kind of revelation. The album is rewarding for its openness, subtlety and adventurous lyricism.

Chamber music sounds with an enigmatic character and tempo. Although the title might suggest the appreciation and enjoyment of the work in general, it is also a pleasure to focus on the delight of the little details.

Exploring the sound of sound as well as the texture of sound, this is head music for the open eared.

Jonathan Lorentz has really got it: a great style, an explorative mind, and a concept for this album that goes beyond the usual fare you hear from jazz sax trios… he definitely has his own thing going—simultaneously lyrical and surreal. This one will stay with you for a long, long, time. Phrases from it will play in your mind like a tape loop from space.

Taking it to the next plane, as well as the next level, Lorentz is a real genre splicer that serves it hot for left leaning tastes.

Really heady stuff…stellar musicianship. This is a CD that clearly requires your advertent attention. You cannot let any distraction divert your attention or you will miss the fine tuning of Lorentz’s creative journey.

An interesting program mostly of very rarely heard works. This could be very satisfying for someone seeking something classical but off the beaten path. Skaerved and Shorr … know their way around classical scores better than most big-time soloists, and this is a very satisfying, intelligent interpretation of [the Sonata].

This is a splendid start for what appears to be an ongoing project. These first-rate performers clearly love and deeply understand the music, their rapport is impeccable and the insights they provide into Beethoven’s mid-period style are fascinating. The recording quality is admirable.