This record is truly detached from the structured cool of early Konitz albums like Subconscious-Lee (Prestige, 1950), with their formal, if still-swinging approach to melody and improvisation. Konitz's playing is soulful and spare, seemingly embracing Louis Armstrong's admission that in his old age he'd learned which notes to leave out. His blowing loosely slurs through his runs like flowing water.

A new EP released through the Southern Lord label, our 4th EP overall. This is our first release built by making recordings in multiple studios (often not with one another) and compiling the results; an experiment which we think paid off quite nicely and gives some indication on possible working methods for the future.

The orchestral ode to urban life in New York Uptown|Downtown by highly-regarded Dutch composer Richard Rijnvos is given its world premiere recording on Challenge Classics. Its two triptychs, which can be performed independently of each other, are a piano concerto called NYConcerto, and three Manhattan Square Dances for double orchestra, named after squares in the American metropolis. The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic are conducted by Celso Antunes with pianist John Sijders the soloist in the concerto.

Considered to be one of the best modern day interpreters of Gustav Mahler’s music, the Austrian musical director Manfred Honeck began his career as conductor of Vienna's Jeunesse Orchestra, which he co-founded. He went on to become assistant to Claudio Abbado with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra in Vienna. After several highly successful guest appearances as conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra he was appointed its Director of Music in 2008. Honeck conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in a thrilling, acclaimed performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony at last year’s BBC Proms.

So far, most sources indicated that album as a 2nd LP in the discography of this highly underrated UK hard/prog rock band; reportedly released in 1974 - whole year after the great Scruffy Duffy LP. However, looking carefully at the catalog number of the German vinyl edition, it became clear that we are dealing with a debut album - although never published in UK (only in Germany, France and Brazil), but issued a whole year earlier than the excellent and slightly better known predecessor! Anyway, in 1972 the group proposed an equally impressive and freshly-sounding hard rock material (with clear, progressive influences), similar to the early Uriah Heep, Deep Purple and Humble Pie - with some minor Jethro Tull influences, too… Enjoy!

HAIR was the first musical of the Love and Peace generation epitomising the sixties hippy teaching on war, theology, authority and sex. It was a theatrical breakthrough with its contentious opinions, colourful language and nudity combining with a wonderfully original score and lyrics - and these songs gave hit records to Oliver, Nina Simone, The Fifth Dimension, Paul Jones and Three Dog Night. Many established performers launched their careers in HAIR - Oliver Tobias, Paul Nicholas, Annabel Leventon, Julien Clem, Sonja Kristina, Ronnie Dyson, Elaine Paige, Marsha Hunt, Diane Keaton, Diane Langton, Judy Loe, Maxine Nightingale, Tim Curry, Peter Straker, Lynn Kellog and Melba Moore …

George Frideric Handel - Concerti Grossi Op. 3, Nos. 1-6
Northern Sinfonia / Bradley Creswick
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 245 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Naxos # 8.553457 | Country/Year: Europe 2001
Genre: Classical | Style: Baroque

…Bradley Creswick and his colleagues offer straightforward and vital modern instrument readings of these delightful gems… If your preference is modern instruments, there is no reason to pay more than the Naxos price, especially if you're interested in a bright and jaunty interpretation that is also well recorded.

Heinz Holliger - Romancendres & Gesänge der Frühe / Clara Schumann - Romanzen
SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart / Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart / Heinz Holliger
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 224 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: ECM New Series # ECM 2055 | Country/Year: Germany 2009
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Contemporary

…Holliger's homage to Schumann continues with the SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, and their eerie performance of Gesänge der Frühe, a highly contrasting piece to Schumann's work of the same title. The text includes ominous excerpts of letters regarding Schumann's death and even pathology reports. Regrettably, the liner notes do not provide listeners with an English translation of the text. Both of Holliger's compositions on this album are intriguing and credit is due for his innovative bridging of the centuries, but his style of composition may not be suited for the casual listener.

Walk on Water finds the classic mid-'70s UFO lineup – featuring Michael Schenker – reuniting for another go-round. Much has changed in rock & roll since Schenker last played in UFO, but in UFO's world, things remain the same. The group continues to pound out heavy rockers without changing its formula much at all. To the disinterested observer or critic, this means Walk on Water is boring, but UFO diehards may be pleasantly surprised by the record, since it finds the band playing with energy and conviction, even if the music is predictable.