Vincent & Weir, 2012

Britain's Dame Gillian Weir is one of the world's foremost musical artists. Her unique career as an internationally acclaimed concert organist, performing worldwide at the great festivals and with leading orchestras and conductors, has established her as a distinguished musician. She is known for her virtuosity, integrity and outstanding musicianship, which combined with a notable personal charisma, have placed her in the forefront of her profession and won her the admiration of audiences and critics alike.

There is a long tradition of "saxophone battles" in jazz with duos such as Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray or Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane performing together in a kind of sporting joust of abilities, a gentleman's contest for who is the better player. On the 2012 concert album Friendly Fire: Live at Smoke, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander and alto saxophonist Vincent Herring join in this tradition with a swinging, passionate set of standards recorded live at the respected N.Y.C. venue. The album is actually a re-pairing of the duo, who first sparred on 2005's Battle: Live at Smoke. This time around they spar over such numbers as Hank Mobley's "Pat 'N' Chat," McCoy Tyner's "Inception," the standard "You've Changed," as well as Herring's own "Timothy," among others. Backing the saxophonists here are pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Carl Allen. This is a lively and exciting session of adventurous and old-school straight-ahead jazz.

The organ music of Charles Tournemire (1870–1939) is a revelation… The Triple Choral (1910) is a key work in his journey to individuality. Organist Vincent Boucher’s performance is well paced and his expressive rubato is tasteful… Boucher employs to full advantage the magnificent Casavant organ and acoustics of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Montreal; the sound on this recording is glorious… Boucher captures the improvisational feel of Tournemire’s style in the second [selection from L'Orgue mystique] — music that is unearthly at times, seemingly in-the-moment explorations conveying striking visions… Three brief Postludes for antiphons of the Magnificat round out this deeply reflective disc.

Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound is a six-CD live album by the Jerry Garcia Band and by Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman. It was recorded on September 5 and 6, 1989, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut and the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. It was released by ATO Records on December 17, 2013.

Fall 1989: The Long Island Sound is a six-CD live album by the Jerry Garcia Band and by Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman. It was recorded on September 5 and 6, 1989, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut and the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. It was released by ATO Records on December 17, 2013.