The Swordsman (1948) Joseph H. Lewis, Larry Parks, Ellen Drew, George Macready

Haydn’s Masses form an extremely significant part of his huge output, just as important as the symphonies and string quartets. His very first work seems to have been the little Mass in F, and the last piece he completed was the great ‘Harmoniemesse’. As with the symphonies, it is the final group that are the finest; six major masterpieces, which show Haydn at his most creatively fertile. Indeed, it seems clear that his London experience greatly enriched Haydn’s mass composition in his late years; the approach is ‘symphonic’, often with elements of sonata-form, and the orchestra is used with striking resourcefulness. There is absolutely nothing formulaic in these works; he has clearly set about each mass with a fresh mind and a fresh response to the text.

Jennifer Vyvyan is the star of Handel’s Semele in an early recording of the opera conducted by Anthony Lewis and recorded for L’Oiseau-Lyre in 1956; this pioneering Handel recording of the 1950s in a new digital remastering, released on Decca CD for the first time.

We’re lucky enough to be having rather a clutch of important Handel recordings emerge at the moment. This latest is the first recording to use the version of Tamerlano performed at its premiere. And George Patras’s Greek forces do the opera proud. In a real ensemble achievement, Nicholas Spanos is outstanding in the title-role, surmounting the vocal hurdles with ease.

- Gramophone

Larry Young - The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Larry Young (1964-69) [6CD BoxSet] {1991 Mosaic Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.20 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 865 Mb
Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964-69, 1991 Mosaic Records / Blue Note | MD6-137
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Hammond B-3

Larry Young, one of the most significant jazz organists to emerge after the rise of Jimmy Smith, is heard on this limited-edition six-CD set at the peak of his creativity. Formerly available as nine LPs, the set includes the original Larry Young albums Into Somethin', Unity, Of Love and Peace, Contrasts, Heaven on Earth, and Mother Ship, while drawing from the compilations 40 Years of Jazz, The History of Blue Note (Dutch), The World of Jazz Organ (Japanese), and The Blue Note 50th Anniversary Collection Volume Two: The Jazz Message, and also including guitarist Grant Green's Talkin' About, Street of Dreams, and I Want to Hold Your Hand.