Burda Patchwork 5 2019

James D. Hicks continues his exploration of organ literature by Nordic composers with a 25-track recording made upon the Tostareds pipe organ of Kalmar Cathedral, Kalmar Sweden. James D. Hicks lives and works in Bernardsville, New Jersey, and holds derees in music from the Peabody Institute of Music, Yale University, and the University of Cincinnati. Other studies include instruction at the Royal School of Church Music in England. He is an associate of the American Guild of Organists. Hicks held liturgical positions throughout the eastern United States, and in 2011 retired after 26 years of service at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, New Jersey. He has recorded seven collections of music on the Pro Organo label.

It was when the young Haydn was appointed Kapellmeister to Prince Nikolaus Esterházy that he composed his Missa Cellensis, a work of vast proportions, whose popularity is demonstrated by the many surviving copies.
In this interpretation full of vivid contrasts, the RIAS Kammerchor and the Akademie für Alte Musik confirm their extraordinary ability to reveal every subtlety of a composition that possesses almost operatic energy.

Formed in Tokyo, the jump blues & swing band, BLOODEST SAXOPHONE has been playing old-school vintage sounds since 1998. The groups leader, Young Corn Shintaro, established the band with the ambition to rule the world with the saxophone. Over the years they have gotten together with the likes of sax icon Big Jay McNeely and vocalist Jewel Brown, and established themselves on international stages.

Seven Days Walking could be Ludovico Einaudi’s masterwork. Seven albums released over seven months throughout 2019 – variation after variation on a theme, all of them inspired by a winter’s walk he repeated over a period of time in the Alps. It’s a complete world, dreamed up in seven days.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Marc Bolan was one of the major glam rock figures of the early '70s, especially in England. After releasing his debut solo single, "The Wizard," and its follow-ups, "The Third Degree" and "Hippy Gumbo," on Decca Records in the U.K. in 1965-1966, he joined the band John's Children in 1967. The same year, he and percussionist Steve Peregine Took formed Tyrannosaurus Rex, an acoustic duo. They made three albums, My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair but Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows (1968), Prophets, Seers and Sages, the Angels of the Ages (1968), and Unicorn (1969), then split, with Bolan retaining the band name and teaming up with Mickey Finn on the electric Beard of Stars (1970).

There is hardly a better way to approach Ludwig van Beethoven than through his piano concertos. Beethoven’s own instrument was the piano, and in his improvisations – which made him the darling of the Viennese salons – he merged virtuosity and unbridled expression. The piano concertos give a clear idea of these performances. At the same time, they are prime examples of Beethoven’s ability to create large orchestral works with seemingly endless arcs of tension.The complete recording of all five works with Mitsuko Uchida and Sir Simon Rattle was one of the most spectacular projects of the Berliner Philharmoniker during the Rattle era – and at the same time the highlight of the collaboration between the orchestra and the pianist, which began in 1984.

Beethoven: Unknown Masterworks, Vol. 5 by Eva Ander, Staatskapelle Weimar, Staatskapelle Berlin, Kammerorchester Berlin, Friedemann Batzel, Günther Herbig & Peter Gülke was released on 2019-12-27 in USA. The Classical album has 24 tracks.

The Norwegian singer/songwriter/guitarist KERSTIN BLODIG presents her debut-album on Stockfisch. The recordings took place in a clearing in one of Germany’s largest forest areas - in Solling. The rich natural atmosphere - including birdsong & sounds from the vegetation - fits wonderfully to Kerstin’s haunting Norwegian songs and soulful acoustic-guitar playing. We have already had the pleasure of experiencing guitar legend DON ROSS as accompanist for Brooke Miller in Northeim, and now he has played in his own solo-CD. This is virtuoso guitar music coupled with a warm voice, including a cover of Sting’s “If You Love Somebody”. Stockfisch is particularly proud and happy to welcome the famous American singer-songwriter CARRIE NEWCOMER to the fold. Her rich velvety voice and heartfelt songs captivate audiences world-wide. A further international star was in Northeim: TONY CHRISTIE - yes the Tony Christie! He came to the Stockfisch studios together with the musicians from RANAGRI to make an album of Irish songs. Tony has strong Irish roots and interprets the songs with his very individual voice supported by wonderful acoustic arrangements.

Gears 5 is an upcoming third-person shooter video game being developed by The Coalition that will be published by Xbox Game Studios for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One as part of Xbox Play Anywhere. The sixth installment of the Gears of War series, it is the sequel to Gears of War 4 (2016) and is scheduled to be released on September 10, 2019.