Two CDs of the real deal blues recorded by the legendary and mysterious George Paulus - these tracks are hard, tough, real deal Chicago Blues sessions from the 1970s. Disc 1 has studio tracks by Billy Branch (his first session), slide guitarist Joe Carter, harmonica player John Wrencher, Mac Thompson rarely recorded as leader, Kansas City Red with Eddie Taylor and many others. Disc 2 contains solo recordings from the backroom of a barbershop and other informal settings.
Francesco Maria Veracini (1690-1768) is today best known as an eccentric violin virtuoso and composer of instrumental music, but he has also successfully operated as an opera composer during his time in London. His first opera Adriano in Siria was created in 1735 for the London Opera of Nobility, the rival company to Handel's opera troupe. The company had only a few years earlier (including the soprano castrato Senesino and Francesca Cuzzoni) poached all singing stars from Handel. Even worse: since 1734, it could also score with the castrato legend Farinelli. Veracini's Adriano in Siria is, in every respect, a spectacular and fascinating opera. The recording of Fabio Biondi and an appropriate illustrious singers ensemble is based on a highly successful concert performance series of the work at the Vienna Konzerthaus in 2013, which made alive again the spectacular opera event of 1735.
This is a reissue of a disc originally released in the 1990s, performed on period instruments. The difference in pitch with modern instrument recordings is notable and gives a darker feeling to the sound than the brightness one has become accustomed to with the modern flute. In this recording, Konrad Hünteler uses an instrument made by Jacob Denner, which was approximately ten years old when these works were composed. The recording is made using only the natural acoustics of the space with no added technological trickery, and as such, it serves to provide an interesting example of what this music may have sounded like at the time Vivaldi composed it.
In 1998, Collectors' Choice released Voices in Love/Love Lost, which contained two complete albums - Voices in Love (1958, originally released on Capitol) and Love Lost (1959, originally released on Capitol) - by the Four Freshmen on one compact disc.
The Four Freshmen were one of the top vocal groups of the 1950s, and formed the bridge between '40s ensembles like the Mel-Tones and harmony-based rock & roll bands such as the Beach Boys as well as groups like Spanky & Our Gang and the Manhattan Transfer…
Over the past few years Sayce has built quite a cult following and Steamroller continues his ascension towards stardom. Philip is strongly influenced by icons like Hendrix, Clapton, Page and Vaughan and his fourth album 'Steamroller' reflects that. However, Sayce is no clone of his examples, but throws new elements in the mix. Unlike many contemporaries he does not play predictable blues rock, but adds Brit rock, funk and modern pop music flavours to his compositions.
This convenient program brings together Anton Arensky's three charming suites for orchestra, all of them vintage examples of Romantic Russian music. The spirit of the dance invigorates these works, from the Spanish swagger of La Danseuse in Suite No. 2 to the Polonaise that concludes the Third Suite, an inventive theme and variations lasting half an hour. The "Basso ostinato" movement from the First Suite was quite popular in its day, and no wonder! It's very clever and remarkably well made.
This 2 disk set is actually culled from 3 later Wishbone Ash efforts. It consists of all the tracks from 1996's "Illuminations", 5 tracks from 2002's acoustic effort "Bare Bones", and 3 tracks from "Bona Fide", also from 2002. How does it sound? The record label Talking Elephant is the home of Wishbone Ash and releases continually compilations, but this one does not add much to the already existing albums for the the fan. For those who till now do not own any of them it can be a good release.
An incredibly gifted vocalist whose warm and sometimes gruff bass-baritone has been heard often, Vicksburg, Miss. native Terry Evans has a list of recording and performing credits that many session singers would kill for.
Evans and his one-time partner, Bobby King, were a murderously good soul duo, laying down old school Stax/Volt grooves that were certainly in a league with Sam & Dave. Eventually they hooked up with Ry Cooder, and their astounding tandem vocals became a featured part on four of the guitarist's albums.
Running the gamut of the harp-spiced "The Story of My Life," the spiritual tone of "Don't Give Up" and the wailing "Credit Card Blues." Rounding out the CD is raspy covers of "A Stone's Throw Away," "Dancin' With Your Belly" and "Let's Have a Ball"…