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O Brother, Where Art Thou. A twenty-year old movie soundtrack, with music written a century ago, is once again relevant today. What a World It is gray out, but the birds are singing and my children are sleeping soundly during these early hours of a Sunday morning. I am watching steam lazily rope out of my... Read More »

This edition of my Perfect Song series is sub-titled: The Coronavirus Edition. Many of us find ourselves self-isolating, or social distancing. We have been told the only way to flatten the curve is to stay at home, because we're "safer at home." For someone like me, a cancer survivor and lung surgery survivor, it makes... Read More »

Photo by John Marks The above photo was not taken in Ireland, but it perhaps could pass; and in any event, it will have to do. For St. Patrick's Day, here are Nathaniel Rosen (cellist), Doris Stevenson (pianist), and Arturo Delmoni (guest violinist) playing Fritz Kreisler's trio arrangement of "Londonderry Air," also known as "Danny... Read More »

The Berlin Philharmonic has just made a really classy move:  in view of the coronavirus pandemic, they have removed the paywall on their archived content. To put it another way, you can now binge-watch exceptional classical music performances for free. While hunkering down under the electric blanket and waiting for the wine-store delivery person to... Read More »

This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 126. Zoot Sims and Al Cohn with Cecil Collier, Either Way. Fred Miles – FM-1 (1961), Classic Records JP 1006 (1998) 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: jazz, small combo swing, cool jazz, West Coast, jump blues. Tenor saxophonists Zoot Sims and Al Cohn head a cool swinging rhythm... Read More »

In April 1997, jazz magazines published numerous ads of the re-edition of Verve Records, bearing the common name "Verve Master Edition:" HIGHER STANDARD "Verve Master Editions" - the ultimate sound quality and releases for serious collectors. "Verve Master Editions" are new releases of the groundbreaking Verve discs from the 1950s and 1960s, using the best... Read More »

MAHLER: Des Knaben Wunderhorn; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen* Lucia Popp, soprano; Bernd Weikl, baritone; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Klaus Tennstedt; *Thomas Allen, baritone; English Chamber Orchestra/Jeffrey Tate. EMI Red Line 7243 5 69862 2 0.  TT: 70.08 This issue is now quite venerable—the EMI Classics labels, including the low-priced Red Line, disappeared after the company's 2013 acquisition by Warner... Read More »

"Hey Danny, are you familiar with Hemiolia Records?" asked Kerry St. James, YG's formidably friendly European sales director late last year. "No," I replied. "Well, you should and I'll put you in touch with them, I know you love tape and they have some really cool stuff out that I think you'll dig." Fast forward... Read More »

Our good audio brother John Marks, he who shepherds his site, The Tannhauser Gate, sends along another smoke signal about a fine recording of a nowadays-obscure composer, Louise Farrenc. I have not yet found a single recommendation of John's that wasn't very worthwhile.  To borrow and adapt John's phrasing, "pause and listen." Amen! Dr. David... Read More »

The Thelonious Monk Quartet, Monk's Dream. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UD1S 2-011, Columbia 19075930421, Limited Edition, SuperVinyl, Box Set (2019, Sept.), # P001 of 6000. Originally released on Columbia – CS 8765 (1963, March). Ratings Global Appreciation: 9.9 Music: A+ (10) Recording: 9.6 Remastering + Lacquer Cutting: 10 Pressing: 9.8 Packaging: Deluxe Category: jazz, mostly cool with... Read More »

By now, readers of this series have realized that it's a means for me to discuss songs I really like. In previous articles, these are songs that send a shiver down my spine, and I have outlined many times what I mean by that. I've also discussed the fact that these songs aren't "favorite" songs,... Read More »

Here's the latest from our good audio friend and brother who writes and edits at The Tannhauser Gate, John Marks. He draws our attention to a very promising stereo/multichannel SACD from BIS. I have found John's recommendations to be trustworthy always, and have thus already ordered mine from Amazon. You can do the same! David... Read More »

David Elias:  self-portrait at the Kilauea volcano crater, Hawai'i; Mauna Loa is in the distant background David Elias is a Musician-in-Residence here at Positive Feedback, and a longtime contributor to our magazine. He is a very early adopter of DSD, and worked with the renowned DSD master engineer Gus Skinas to produce several albums recorded in... Read More »

Here's the latest from our good friend and fellow audio voyager, John Marks, he of The Tannhauser Gate. As always, John's sensibilities are exceptional, and his commentary is always both educational and a delight to read. Enjoy! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor There are times when I think that a music-business story is... Read More »

Yuja Wang, courtesy of Medici TV This is a first—I can't ever remember reading an article in The Economist that brought tears to my eyes… . The article in question is, to use academic terminology, a "reception history" of the piano in Chinese culture from the mid-19th century to the present. Here's the vignette from China's 1966-1976 "Cultural Revolution" that... Read More »

WOLF-FERRARI: Piano Trios: No. 1 in D, Op. 5; No. 2 in F-sharp, Op. 7. Trio Archè. Brilliant Classics 95624.  TT: 70.15 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948) is best remembered for his operas—I quattro rusteghi, Le donne curiose, Il segreto di Susanna—which are still performed from time to time, mostly in Italy. (A famous Barcelona performance of his Sly,... Read More »

This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 121. Various, Thank God It's Friday - Collectors Gift Series. Chocolate City – CCD 20014 DJ + Casablanca – NBD 20116, 20117, 20119, 20120, 20121, 20122, 20123, 20124, 20129 DJ (1978), 10x12", 33 1/3 rpm, single-sided, promo, compilation. Genre: disco Following the immense success of Saturday Night Fever... Read More »

Herein, the latest from the Master of The Tannhauser Gate, John Marks, with a musical movie recommendation to make to us.... Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Center: Dovidl (played by Luke Doyle). © Sabrina Lantos. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics. Classical-music fans, especially fans of the violin and its literature, will want to know... Read More »

Blue Note Tone Poet Series Donald Byrd, Chant. Blue Note Stereo LT-991 Stanley Turrentine With Shirley Scott, Hustlin'. Blue Note Stereo 84162 Blue Note 80 Series Lonnie Smith, Think! Blue Note 80 Stereo 7753113 Bobbi Humphrey, Blacks and Blues. Blue Note 80 Stereo 7752697 Grant Green, Alive. Blue Note 80 Stereo 84360 Donald Byrd, Ethiopian Knights.... Read More »