David Six

David Grimal’s first recording for La Dolce Volta contains the Six Sonatas for unaccompanied violin by Eugène Ysaÿe, an extraordinary violinist who played in his era a role compa- rable to that of Niccolò Paganini. They constitute peaks of virtuosity that few violinists can even contemplate tackling.

Unless you frequent Los Angeles clubs like The Baked Potato and La Ve Lee, chances are you haven't heard of keyboardist David Garfield. But you've heard him. Appearing on over a hundred albums, Garfield has worked with artists like trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and guitarist Larry Carlton. He's a co-founder of Los Lobotomys and Karizma, two fusion-based jam bands that have included drummers like Vinnie Colaiuta and Simon Phillips, as well as guitarists Steve Lukather and the perennially-underrated Michael Landau. No recording dates are listed on The State of Things, but Garfield's clearly been working on it for years, given that a third of the tracks feature Carlos Vega—a versatile drummer who appeared on literally hundreds of albums before passing away tragically in 1998. This fusion-centric effort features many of LA's best session players, but in many ways it's as much Landau's disc as it is Garfield's. He pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix on a version of "If Six Was Nine that—as blasphemous as this may sound—might actually be an improvement on the original. While his tone says rock, his lines say jazz as he demonstrates complete facility navigating changes on the swinging version of Miles Davis' "Milestones and a more delicate mainstream take on John Coltrane's "Naima. He exhibits his more textural side on "Me and kicks things into extreme high gear on the greasy funk of "Five Storks and the more overtly rocking "Black Cadillac.

On their sophomore release, Illuminate, the members of the David Crowder Band leave no one in the dark regarding their collective talents. This 16-song set rides a sonic edge that is helping lead modern worship into new, uncharted territory. The six-man group is unabashed in putting 21st century, Christ-centered optimism to a brilliant innovative sound.

Performances of the Bach keyboard partitas are not uncommon but interpretations by insightful and erudite performers are always worthy of attention. Musicologist and harpsichordist, Dr. David Ponsford, made these recordings in 2000. He performs on an instrument by Andrew Garlick after Jean-Claude Gujon.

Indie rock superstars salute one of the most deeply revered and profoundly influential artists in modern rock, David Bowie! Features all new and exclusive performances by Kittie, Dum Dum Girls, Electric Six, Rogue Wave, Heartless Bastards, The Muffs, and more! Includes riveting versions of “Heroes,” “Ashes To Ashes,” “Space Odity,” “Changes” and many more!

The Gesualdo Six literally made its name with performances of Carlo Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsories, but that's not the British vocal consort's only specialty. Each of the singers was trained in the English choral tradition, and sacred works of the 16th and 17th century are close to their hearts. This 2018 Hyperion release is a brief survey of motets by Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Thomas Tomkins, John Sheppard, Robert White, John Dunstaple, Thomas Morley, John Taverner, William Cornysh, Orlando Gibbons, and Robert Parsons, which represent the changing theological and liturgical aspects of English religion in the Renaissance. The ensemble, conducted by Owain Park, sings with evenly blended tones and an extraordinary harmonic richness, notwithstanding the assignment of one voice to a part and the exposed polyphony that sometimes creates an austere effect. Also quite noticeable are the cross-relations that add poignant dissonances to the counterpoint, as in Tallis' Loquebantur variis linguis, Taverner's Quemadmodum, Gibbons' O Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not, and Parsons' Deliver me from mine enemies. This album was recorded in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, where The Gesualdo Six gave its first performances, and the sound is enhanced by vibrant acoustics that give the group a radiant aural halo.