Anette Maiburg , Alexandra Carvero , Emmanuel Ceysson , Wen Xiao Zheng – Classica Francese (2013) [SACD / MDG – MDG 910 1825-6]

Anette Maiburg , Alexandra Carvero , Emmanuel Ceysson , Wen Xiao Zheng - Classica Francese (2013)

Title: Anette Maiburg , Alexandra Carvero , Emmanuel Ceysson , Wen Xiao Zheng – Classica Francese (2013)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Yves Montand and Claude Debussy, Jacques Brel and André Jolivet -Anette Maiburg is taking us on another conducted tour, bringing musical worlds together.
“Classica francese” gives the enterprising and exceptional flautist the opportunity to show us that high-calibre chamber music and deeply expressive chansons need not be worlds apart. She is joined by Alexandra Cravero, whose remarkably flexible voice leaves these well-known songs haunting us, and Emmanuel Ceysson, whose sensitive harp playing has delighted audiences and reviewers alike. prestoclassical Viele der sogenannten „Crossover“-Experimente der letzten Jahre und Jahrzehnte hinterließen einen zwiespältigen Eindruck, vor allem wohl, weil meist so getan wurde, als ob alle Musikformen, jene der Kunstmusik und jene der Populärkultur, irgendwie gleichwertig wären. Interessanterweise unterscheidet auch Anette Maiburg, der spiritus rector dieses Albums „Classica francese“, in ihrem Beihefttext zwischen „klassischer Ausbildung“ und „anderen Musikstilen“: Auf dieser fünften Folge einer Reihe von nationalstilistischen CD-Programmen (es gibt auch „Classica Cubana“ und anderes) stehen französische Chansons besonders der 1950er und 60er Jahre den vier Kunstkompositionen von Debussy, Jolivet und Jean Cras gegenüber. Das Nebeneinander von Chanson und klassischer Kammermusik erweist sich hier jedoch als harmonisch. Dies liegt daran, dass sowohl die Komponisten Debussy, Jolivet und Cras auf je eigene Weise auch auf die Popularmusik ihrer Zeit anspielten, die sehr guten Arrangements der Chansons für das siebenköpfige Kammerensemble von Andreas N. Tarkmann aber ihrerseits starke Anleihen an klassischer Instrumentationskunst machen. Schön etwa die vereinzelten Tupfer von Harfe und Xylophon in „Elle fréquentait la rue Pigalle“, das durch die Piaf berühmt wurde, oder „Ces gens là“ von Jaques Brel, dessen Besetzung lange sehr reduziert gehalten wird. Alexandra Cravero singt diese Chansons, die von der Authentizität der Passionen leben, schlichtweg wundervoll. Zwischen den Kompositionen und den Chansons treten die Qualitätsbrüche aber auch deswegen nicht störend hervor, weil die sieben Musiker um die Flötistin Anette Maiburg alle Stücke mit einer begeisternden Sensibilität spielen. Die sieben Solisten sind sämtlich bereit, gleichsam auch ihrem eigenen Klang nachzulauschen sowie den zauberhaften Verbindungen, die dieser mit dem der anderen Instrumenten eingeht. So übertreffen die Musiker in Debussys Sonate für Flöte, Viola und Harfe sogar die bisherige Referenzaufnahme des Ensembles Wien-Berlin aus den späten achtziger Jahren (Deutsche Grammophon 429 738-2) an Raffinesse; die Sonate und auch das Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune in einer kammermusikalischen Fassung werden mit einem akuten Sinn für deren klanglichen Wunder präsentiert. Den kompositorisch avanciertesten Akzent setzt Jolivets Chant de linos von 1945, der neben den magischen und den melancholischen Stimmungen auch ein wenig Dunkelheit hören läßt. Wenn ein Programm so ausgewogen zusammengestellt ist und so hochkonzentriert musiziert wird, dann läßt man sich „Crossover“ gerne gefallen. Nicht zuletzt auch wegen der glasklaren Akustik sehr hörenswert. 10/10 Michael B. Weiß Klassik Heute

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3 min read

Clark Terry & Max Roach – Friendship (2002) [Japan] [SACD / Eighty-Eight’s – VRGL 8805]

Clark Terry & Max Roach - Friendship (2002) [Japan]

Title: Clark Terry & Max Roach – Friendship (2002) [Japan]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Friendship is a very special album Clark Terry and Max Roach recorded together in 2002. At that time, Terry was 82 years old and Roach 78, and as it turned out to be one of the last recordings Roach made before passing in 2007. The bulk of this unique album consists of six duo performances by the two principals, two solo performance by Terry, one solo performance by Roach, and the remaining four are trio and quartet performances with pianist Don Friedman and bassist Marcus McLaurine.

Friendship is a recording of fresh, swinging music with broad but intelligent appeal to committed Terry or Roach fans as well as new listeners just coming to an appreciation of these great musicians. Clark Terry demonstrates the flawless technique, buttery sound, and elegant, good-natured, witty improvisation for which he is famous. Roach offers, as always, a powerful conception of the drums, using a wide and creative sound palette. His approach on this recording is so unassuming that it is easy to lose sight of how complete his playing is in itself. “Lil’ Max,” for example, is a musical whole. It takes a bit of attention to realize that it is also an unaccompanied drum solo. Both Don Friedman and the inexplicably under-recognized Marcus McLaurine have long been associated with Terry. Everyone sounds comfortable with themselves, each other, and the straightforward, but demanding quartet setting. Friendship also has an eclectic side. The album begins with “Statements,” a free jazz duet between the co-leaders. The set includes Monk’s “Let’s Cool One” and the standards “But Beautiful,” “When I Fall in Love,” “Makin’ Whoopee,” “The Nearness of You,” and “I Remember Clifford.” By continuing to perform at this level, Terry and Roach, who for decades have had nothing to prove to anyone, not only enrich us musically yet again—they also teach important lessons about artistic integrity. We are lucky to have their example.

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2 min read

Clark Tracey – Stability (2001) [Reissue 2003] [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 196]

Clark Tracey - Stability (2001) [Reissue 2003]

Title: Clark Tracey – Stability (2001) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Clark Tracey has gathered a group of top-of-the-list UK jazz artists for a session that incorporates hard bop, some smooth jazz, and pretty ballads with a string quartet in attendance. For his debut solo album drummer Clark Tracey has brought together a range of musicians, each hand-picked as a result of who he thought best suited the mood of each piece. With connections borne of years in the industry Clark was able to have his first choice of performer on each instrument resulting in unbeatable interpretations. The guests musicians include Andy Sheppard, Tommy Smith, Tim Garland, Iain Ballamy, Nigel Hitchcock, Guy Barker, Christine Tobin, Gareth Williams, Arnie Somogyi, Laurence Cottle and the Locrian String Quartet.

Scion of foremost English jazz pianist Stan Tracey, drummer Clark Tracey has gathered a group of top-of-the-list U.K. jazz artists for a session that incorporates a variety of playing modes, including a contribution by Irish avant-garde singer Christine Tobin. There’s hard bop, some smooth jazz, and pretty ballads with a string quartet in attendance. Tracey has found a successful and accommodating method to solve the conundrum drummer leaders often find themselves faced with, viz., to dominate and run the risk of overwhelming or to lie back and be the main rhythm. He provides rhythmic support, adding well-timed drum breaks and short but telling solos. The drummer adopts a broad definition for “support.” Tracey is quite active on such cuts as “Giant Steps,” where he and pianist Gareth Williams offer a much more straight swinging version of John Coltrane’s classic than usually heard, likely because of the strong involvement of Tracey’s drums. On tunes as “Black Coffee”,,the drummer lays back as Tim Garland’s sax takes the lead with the Locrian String Quartet on hand to provide the bulk of the musical background. Tracey also contributes well conceived, melodic originals such as “Lounge Blues,” a tune that exudes an exotic aura which Iain Ballamy’s soprano sax helps create with Tracey’s cymbals and Arnie Somogyi’s bass. Irish singer Christine Tobin provides a vocal recitation of the moving poetic lyrics for Tracey’s “Stability.” The lieder recital mood is set by the Locrian String Quartet, the only instrumentation on the track. One of the more intriguing cuts is a pensive piano solo by Tracey, giving a rare airing of Duke Ellington’s “Melancholia.” Stability is a seminar on eclectic musical styles and is recommended.

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3 min read

Clark Terry – Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD / Supreme Jazz – 223279-207]

Clark Terry - Supreme Jazz (2006)

Title: Clark Terry – Supreme Jazz (2006)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Clark Terry, who is said to be one of “Jazzdom’s finest educators”, is also recognized to be one of contemporary music’s greatest innovators – and as a musician of great technical virtuosity and soloist of distinction and quality…

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1 min read

Clark Terry – Portraits (1989/2014) [SACD / Chesky Records – SACD267]

Clark Terry - Portraits (1989/2014)

Title: Clark Terry – Portraits (1989/2014)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Flugelhornist Clark Terry recorded quite frequently in the 1980s, and his consistency was very impressive. A DR winner in its genre! Terry’s good humor, joyful and immediately distinctive sound, and creative, bop-oriented ideas combined to form a very accessible style. This Chesky CD finds C.T. joined by pianist Don Friedman, bassist Victor Gaskin and drummer Lewis Nash for a variety of superior standards and Terry’s lone original “Finger Filibuster.” The songs all pay tribute to various trumpeters, and some, such as “Pennies from Heaven,” “Little Jazz” and “I Don’t Wanna Be Kissed,” were not performed by the flugelhornist all that often; the resulting music is fresher than usual and often quite inspired. Recommended.

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1 min read

Clair Marlo – Let It Go (1989) [Reissue 2003] [SACD / Cisco Music – SCD 2033]

Clair Marlo - Let It Go (1989) [Reissue 2003]

Title: Clair Marlo – Let It Go (1989) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Jazz, Pop
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Clair Marlo is a composer, performer arranger and record producer. Her music could be categorized as a combination of pop neo-classical jazz with an ethnic flavoring to it. Her vocals have an ethereal quality to them, while her instrumental and film compositions span many different styles from electronic, to orchestral, to rock. Her music spans wide ranges of emotions just like she does. Here is the ‘Cisco Music’ label reissue, of her highly acclaimed album, with three extra cuts, a different cover photo, and improved sound.

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1 min read

Claire Martin with The Montpellier Cello Quartet – Time & Place (2014) [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 423]

Claire Martin with The Montpellier Cello Quartet - Time & Place (2014)

Title: Claire Martin with The Montpellier Cello Quartet – Time & Place (2014)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Claire Martin has long been among the most versatile and wide-ranging of singers. Her latest venture, with the Quartet, is no exception. The listener marvels at Claire Martin’s ability and determination to create a wholly new pad of repertoire from zero.

‘Time and Place’ perfectly sums up Claire Martin’s jazz roots beginnings and the inventive, forward-thinking repertoire choices that have framed her enviable career. The majority of arrangements feature The Montpellier Cello Quartet, with whom Claire has developed a unique partnership since they first performed together in 2012. Together Claire and the quartet create a magical sound fusion of jazz-chamber music that encompasses new arrangements from an eclectic group of songwriters including Lennon & McCartney, George Gershwin, David Bowie and Thelonius Monk. With the connections borne of twenty-five years in the business Claire has commissioned imaginative new arrangements, including Joni Mitchell’s ‘Two Grey Rooms’ by renowned composer Mark Anthony Turnage. Pianist Joe Stilgoe guests on his own track ‘Lost For Words’ and delivers a distinctive arrangement of Lennon & McCartney’s ‘She’s Leaving Home’. There are also echoes of The Beatles’ ‘Eleanor Rigby’ on a new arrangement of David Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold The World’. Claire’s long-time partnership with Richard Rodney Bennett is acknowledged with both songwriting and arranging credits. ‘Early To Bed’ is quintessential Bennett and Claire gives a heartfelt performance. From album opener via Claire’s own hugely catchy arrangement of ‘Catch Me If You Can’ to the album closer, ‘Goodbye For Now’, ‘Time and Place’ sees Martin return with renewed vigour to pop-crossover territory, a trend she championed long before Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux made this style an accepted genre. Known as The First Lady of British Jazz, Claire Martin has previously won Best Vocalist at the British Jazz Awards on six separate occasions, an award she was nominated in 2013. Claire Martin has been a driving force behind the UK jazz scene for the past 25 years and in 2011 was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to music. The Montpellier Cello Quartet performs and inspires a truly eclectic range of music. They bring the rich, warm sound of four cellos to a diverse mixture of classical music, pop, tango and jazz, performing existing quartet repertoire alongside new works written for them by living composers.

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3 min read

Claire Martin – Too Darn Hot (2002) [SACD Reissue 2004] [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 243]

Claire Martin - Too Darn Hot (2002) [SACD Reissue 2004]

Title: Claire Martin – Too Darn Hot (2002) [SACD Reissue 2004]
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Claire Martin concentrates on her core jazz-based strengths, delivering pithy, worldly-wise lyrics with warmth and intelligence, interacting with a sparky, vigorous band. In 2004, Claire Martin’s bestselling album, ‘Too Darn Hot!’, has been re-issued on SACD. From an exciting new arrangement of Something’s Coming from Bernstein’s West Side Story, to Joni Mitchell’s Blue Motel Room arranged by jazz singer Ian Shaw, the album mixes jazz standards with new arrangements to create an original showcase for Claire’s clever musicality and superb vocals. Too Darn Hot! features an enviable line-up of some of Britain’s top jazz talents plus the Tapestry String Quartet.

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1 min read

Claire Martin – Secret Love (2004) [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 246]

Claire Martin - Secret Love (2004)

Title: Claire Martin – Secret Love (2004)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Claire celebrates her jazz roots with a splendid line-up of some of Britain’s top jazz talents. Originally released in 2004 ‘Secret Love’ features Gareth Williams and Richard Rodney Bennett on piano, Laurence Cottle on bass, Clark Tracey on drums and Nigel Hitchcock on saxophone. Re-issued on CD in 2011 and in Studio Master quality in January 2007. Claire explores the classic songbook with a mature set of standards from Irving Berlin’s Cheek To Cheek to Bacharach and Costello’s God Give Me Strength, taking in Harold Arlen and Jimmy Van Heusen along the way.

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1 min read

Claire Martin & Richard Rodney Bennett – Witchcraft (2011) [SACD / Linn Records – AKD 359]

Claire Martin & Richard Rodney Bennett - Witchcraft (2011)

Title: Claire Martin & Richard Rodney Bennett – Witchcraft (2011)
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Since their first meeting in Glasgow in the early 1990s, singer Claire Martin and composer/pianist Richard Rodney Bennett have been what Martin calls ‘firm friends’, their relationship cemented by a common interest in the subtleties of songwriting and jazz singing. Witchcraft is the result of their dynamic collaboration. On this album, they perform as a (delightfully informal but consistently musicianly) duo, her intimate, deceptively unfussy vocal style perfectly complemented by his flawlessly eloquent piano. Their material is all mined from the Cy Coleman songbook. Together, this collection weaves together the opposing talents of the sultry jazz sensation Claire Martin and the polished, savvy keyboard skills and compositional insight of Richard Rodney Bennett. Martin’s strength as one of the best interpreters of the Great American Songbook shines through in this recording. The smoky elegance of her vocal sculpts itself around the smooth flowing textures of the piano accompaniment and the occasional vocal repartee of Bennett. The result of this established partnership is mesmerising music that takes you back to a wonderful and simpler time of yesteryear.

It’s hard to believe that it was almost six years ago that they first got together. It seemed so unlikely at the time, this song-and-piano partnership between a notably feisty jazz vocalist and an esteemed composer. But now it’s accepted that their albums and shows set the standard for classic interpretations of popular songs. This time the work of Cy Coleman gets the treatment – touching, clever, beautifully poised and deceptively casual-sounding. Despite the huge success of songs such as the title number, Coleman’s name is the least well‑known of the great songwriters. This classy selection should help to put that right.

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2 min read