Michael David O'brien

La-La Land Records, Warner Bros. and WEA celebrate Warner Bros.' 90th Anniversary, with the LETHAL WEAPON SOUNDTRACK COLLECTION - an 8-CD BOX SET featuring Michael Kamen, Eric Clapton, and David Sanborn's iconic film scores from all four LETHAL WEAPON films. Each LETHAL WEAPON score is contained in its own 2-CD jewel case, and all four scores, along with a 40-Page booklet, are housed in an attractive slip case.

Old Folks is a collaborative album between Kenny Garrett, John Scofield, Michael Brecker and David Friesen. However, as one website indicates, this is not really an album as such but a series of grouped-together sessions recorded over a nearly seven-year stretch. This was released by West Wind,

Violinist Michael Barenboim makes his second appearance on Linn, this time with pianist and partner Natalia Pegarkova-Barenboim. Together they have recorded some of Mendelssohn’s beloved Songs without Words. Beginning their life as a musical game between Mendelssohn and his older sister Fanny Hensel, these songs were arranged into piano pieces to pass the time during their childhood. The album showcases a selection arranged for violin by violinist and composer Ferdinand David. Hardly known today, David was to become a close friend of Felix and the dedicatee of his famous Violin Concerto Op. 64. These arrangements always remain true to Mendelssohn’s musical aesthetic, and their intimate character calls for a closely shared musicianship, undoubtedly a distinctive quality which the duo has aplenty.

Violinist Michael Barenboim makes his second appearance on Linn, this time with pianist and partner Natalia Pegarkova-Barenboim. Together they have recorded some of Mendelssohn’s beloved Songs without Words. Beginning their life as a musical game between Mendelssohn and his older sister Fanny Hensel, these songs were arranged into piano pieces to pass the time during their childhood. The album showcases a selection arranged for violin by violinist and composer Ferdinand David. Hardly known today, David was to become a close friend of Felix and the dedicatee of his famous Violin Concerto Op. 64. These arrangements always remain true to Mendelssohn’s musical aesthetic, and their intimate character calls for a closely shared musicianship, undoubtedly a distinctive quality which the duo has aplenty.

I made up a definition, solely for myself, a highly subjective description of the result of a truly spontaneous musical interaction. I call it “pure music”. It’s not some term that musicologists might use to analyze musical phenomena. It’s personal. It describes a feeling I get in an ideal improvisational setting. It defines what happens to me when I feel that certain spark of creative excitement beyond the material, structure, form, harmony, etc.

I made up a definition, solely for myself, a highly subjective description of the result of a truly spontaneous musical interaction. I call it “pure music”. It’s not some term that musicologists might use to analyze musical phenomena. It’s personal. It describes a feeling I get in an ideal improvisational setting. It defines what happens to me when I feel that certain spark of creative excitement beyond the material, structure, form, harmony, etc.