Another Holiday Music Essential

Written by Robert Baird for Stereophile – January 2025 Jazz Record Reviews Donald Vega, pianoClovis Nicolas, bassPete Van Nostrand, drums It’s easy to hear why performers of all stripes are drawn to Christmas music: The tunes are irresistible. The challenge lies in how every known Christmas tune has been played live and recorded umpteen times. […]

Hungarian and proud of it!

I got hooked on Miklos Rozsa’s music as a high school kid, when I saw Ben Hur in a newly-remodeled theater in it’s first “roadshow” run. The Sound system in that theater was excellent, and I was blown away. I played the soundtrack album so often I imagine I was driving my parents crazy! I […]

Don’t Miss These! Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra debuts its own label with these two releases. I was thoroughly impressed by each one, and I want to be sure that they get the attention they deserve. First, Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg and the MSO’s chief conductor, Jaime Martin in song suites by Debussy and Strauss. Ariettes Oublidees, the Debussy songs […]

David Briggs Pulls All the Stops

In Admiration of one of France’s Most Famous Organists, David Briggs Pulls all the Stops. Notre Dame de Paris … This latest release of Jake Purches’ is special on more than one count. Base 2 Music, being a respected organ music label, has released something that not only marks the centenary of one of France’s […]

Telemann’s Barbaric Beauty by Holland Baroque with Milos Valent

Available now for 25% Off! If you’re not a big fan of Baroque Music, I’ve got the perfect “discovery” for you… Barbaric Beauty! At least, this is how Telemann described the pieces he wrote after discovering the music played along the Polish-Hungarian border. “If you were to write down all that was played there, after […]

One For The Piano Lover’s Collection

Available now for 25% off! If you love great piano works and superb musicianship, check out the various albums by the young Dutch pianist, Hannes Minnaar. This one, his debut album, features Rachmaninoff’s Sonata No.1, and Ravel’s Sonatine and Miroirs. You might be surprised to find these in one program, but Rachmaninoff and Ravel were very […]

Amazingly BIG sound from five people

The Pacific Quintet, players from all over the world, make a joyful noise, presenting music from their home countries of Japan, Honduras, South Korea, Germany and Ukraine/Turkey.  No, it doesn’t sound like world music as much as it seems like…just music. In fact, as a salute to Leonard Bernstein the last three pieces are arrangements […]

‘Espansiva’ is Fascinating Listening

OUR Recordings specialise in Danish music and performers, usually recorded in very high-definition sound, and here we have Denmark’s greatest composer’s own arrangements of three of his works played by Danes. Those used to being able to access multiple recordings of the works might ask why he bothered; forgetting that back then it was usually […]