Produced by the team of Brian Brinkerhoff, Dave Roe and Jared Tyler, 'Tricks of the Trade' finds Malcolm's trademark growl and impeccable lyrics surrounded by a great studio band that includes Roe on bass and longtime musical cohort, Tyler on electric guitar, dobro, and background vocals. With Holcombe's uncanny ability to tap into the collective consciousness of a nation that is currently starving for anything that can latch onto and help soothe its soul, these songs are among the best in his illustrious catalog. Adding to the depth and beauty of the album are special guest vocalists, Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris.
Magdalena Kozena, one of the most acclaimed recitalists of today, presents a personal collection of songs she has known since childhood and that form some of her earliest musical influences. A haunting collection of songs by Czech composers such as Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu, Schulhoff and Eben, all deeply rooted in the rich Czech folk song tradition. Like Magdalena explains about the songs on the album: They are just the sort a mother would sing to her baby. My mother is not a professional singer, but she loved to sing and knew a lot of songs!
Leading dramatic soprano Susan Bullock offers a stunning recording for Avie’s innovative Crear Classics series with a recital of songs which are linked by the theme of love and aspects of love. Covering a vast period from 1880 to the 1950s, the 19th century is represented by Richard Strauss in his youthful and flirtatious three early Lieder, and Wagner in his mature romance with Mathilde Wesendonck which resulted in the songs bearing her name. Prokofiev’s wistful and woebegone love songs are a fascinating complement to Britten’s Pushkin settings. Selections by the quintessential song composers Roger Quilter and Ned Rorem round out the eclectic programme.
Acclaimed North Carolina-based singer-songwriter Malcolm Holcombe, "a troubadour seemingly from another age" (Elmore), released 'Come Hell or High Water'. Featuring collaborations with celebrated roots-music couple Iris DeMent and Greg Brown, the 13-track album is trademark Malcolm. Chiseled out of a life abundant in both hard times and sweet ones, with an ache of loveliness and loneliness, of torment and hope, woven throughout, his songs paint vivid portraits, turning them into haunting, brooding, moving affairs. Recorded at Dagotown Recorders in Boston, MA, 'Come Hell or High Water' was produced by Marco Giovino and Jared Tyler. Holcombe was joined in studio by Jared Tyler (mandola, dobro, classical guitar, harmony vocals), Marco Giovino (drums, percussion), Iris DeMent (harmony vocals) and Greg Brown (harmony vocals).
It is to be hoped this release will reawaken interest in the music of William Sterndale Bennett, for it contains much to delight the senses. Juxtaposing the D minor and C minor concertos is a wise move on Lyrita’s part, for they are in many ways complementary works. The most immediately noticeable feature of the First Piano Concerto is that it ends with a Scherzo – the composer was persuaded to omit the finale from his intended four-movement plan!. Although still a student at the time of composition, it is clearly written by a fairly mature composer, as can be heard in the depths plumbed by the Andante sostenuto or by the vividly evoked storm-clouds of the first movement.
If your ideal vocal recording places the performer next to your seat and your ideal vocal performance has the performer singing directly into your ear, this disc by mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozená will be just about ideal. No matter what the repertoire – and Kozená performs everything from Bach to Gounod to Shostakovich – and no matter what the context – and Kozená takes on everything from song to opera to oratorio – Kozená is right next to the listener, singing straight into his/her ear. Given her exceedingly warm tone, her extremely rich delivery, and her extraordinarily sibilant pronunciation, Kozená's intimate delivery may be too much for those with heart conditions or those all too easily affected by singers. But for those made of sterner stuff, Kozená's performances here will be the stuff dreams are made of.