Yellow Hair 2 (2001) Yu Min Kim, Ri su Ha, Lee Shin

This album is the culmination of an extraordinarily fruitful artistic collaboration that took place at the 2022 Boulder Bach Festival in Boulder, Colorado. The recordings were made immediately after the public concerts concluded. They document four of the many memorable musical interpretations at the Festival, which occurred not just because of the many talented artists, but also thanks to the kindness and generosity of countless members of the community and region. Although many musicians converged on Boulder from all over the globe, the Festival also featured several remarkable local artists. The entire project took place against the backdrop of some of the most majestic natural scenery in the world.

The Dutch are way too hard on themselves. So far, Chandos has released three discs (including this one) in its ongoing Dutch composers series featuring the Residentie Orchestra of The Hague, and all three have been excellent. And yet, the writer of the booklet notes treats this music as if listening to it were some kind of penance. He should take a lesson from his English colleagues, who indiscriminately promote any piece of native trash as God’s gift to the world of music. Well, maybe he needn’t go quite that far.

This immensely satisfying release features two of Gade's most likeable symphonies coupled with an overture of exuberant warmth and vitality. Hogwood's clinically recorded performances are a joy to listen to and, in my opinion, he comfortably supersedes earlier versions such as those on DaCapo and other obscure labels.

"Break 4 Love" is a song written, produced and recorded by Vaughan Mason, the principal member of house music group Raze, the song's original credited performer. It is still considered a classic of the early house music genre.
"Break 4 Love" was covered by Peter Rauhofer and Pet Shop Boys, released under the name "Peter Rauhofer + Pet Shop Boys = The Collaboration".

Trained as a violinist, Andreas Romberg (1767-1821) began touring Europe at age 6 with his cousin Bernard who was a cellist. Well regarded during his lifetime, he took Haydn’s mature works as his model for his 30 string quartets. But as Beethoven became more popular, Romberg‘s reputation declined. That inverse relationship is dramatically revealed by the number of his public performances, which decreased in direct proportion to the string quartet performances of his more famous contemporary. All written in minor keys, the three quartets were composed at different times during his lifetime and follow the usual 4 movement pattern with the minuet as the 2nd section.

This disc finishes the Nymphs cycle, with equally stunning results. These 12 sonatas for two violas da Gamba are some of the most original and esoteric works you could ever ask for–incredibly brief, but haunting duet suites filled with gorgeous lyricism and counterpoint, and bearing the influence of German, Italian, and French composing techniques. Schenck (1660-c. 1712) may have been a Dutch court composer, but it sounds as though he heard his share of Marais; just like the better-known French composer, he showcases the singing quality and tonal range of the da Gamba with incredible effectiveness. Susie Napper and Margaret Little, members of Les Voix Humaines, deliver stirring performances on these last six sonatas.

In the liner notes to the initial CD SuperBass, Ray Brown assured that the next SuperBass release would be twice as good. He lives up to the promise, as he and John Clayton are joined by the young bass sensation Christian McBride this time. Although Brown is the senior statesman of the trio and hatched the conception of SuperBass, all three men equally share the solos, as well as the arranging and choosing of songs. Brown's contributions include a trio of imaginatively arranged, time-tested standards from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess as well as the group's lively signature theme and the campy "Taco With a Pork Chop" (which adds percussionists George Gludas and Larry Fuller). McBride's chart of "Get Happy" is a delightful swinger, while his pulsating rendition of the Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" is a definite crowd pleaser that inspires the audience to sing along…