B.l.u.t

I have several problems with this Gaudeamus release. Firstly, I selected this recording for review on the basis that it was a disc of Domenico Scarlatti’s Sinfonie and concerti and the front cover of the booklet bears that out. This release in fact has three short Domenico Scarlatti scores with two Francesco Durante compositions and a work each from Pergolesi, Barbella and Leo. The music of both Durante and Pergolesi total more than that of Scarlatti’s, so how can the disc be marketed as a Scarlatti release?

This cd brings out some amazing aspects of the Brahms sextets. Brahms playing in general have never been close to this! The instruments are strung with gut strings, as the instruments were at the time it was written, which creates some really unique sounds and gives an amazingly free bowing phrasing. When the steel-string sonorities and the constant vibrato has been removed, a pure and vital sound is created which gives so much to the music of Johannes Brahms, at least in the sextets.

Billboard Chart-Topper Jazz Artist U-Nam is back with a brand new album “Surface Level”. U-Nam says: "I’m very excited about this new album and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it and recording it. The album has a mix of everything I love, Funk, Smooth Jazz, Soul and a little bit of new influences. I had the help of my usual team and friends on this album, plus some new faces: Shannon Kennedy (Sax,Flute), Dwayne “Smitty” Smith (Bass), Denis Benarrosh (Percussion), Ramon Yslas (Percussion), Fran Merante (Drums), JFly (Drums), Bill Steinway (Piano), Christian Martinez (Trumpet), Maria Grig (Violin & Alto), Raymond Gimenes (Strings Arrangement), Kim Chandler (vocals) & Tim Owens (Vocals), but as well my very good friend Bob Baldwin, and my new “Protégé” and Skytown Records new artist Valeriy Stepanov."