Blumenthal Trio

Robert Fuchs (1847-1927), whose pupils included Wolf, Mahler and Sibelius, remains a shadowy yet potent figure in the musical history of late nineteenth-century Vienna. A superficial hearing of his determinedly large-scale First and Second Piano Sonatas can suggest ill-digested influences, notably those of Brahms and Schubert, but closer scrutiny brings its rewards. In both sonatas an outwardly safe teutonic surface discloses much modulatory adventure and many surprising twists and turns in the musical argument. Listen to the First Sonata's Allegro and you will hear how Fuchs's transforming imagination turns a Schubertian bias (more specifically the ghostly presence of the third movement trio from the Op. 42 Sonata in A minor) to such haunting advantage.

Bill Evans Trio - Turn Out The Stars: The Final Village Vanguard Recordings, June 1980 {6CD Box Set Warner 9 45925-2 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.87 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 954 Mb
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© 1980, 1996 Warner Bros. | 9 45925-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

Just three months before his death, pianist BIll Evans was extensively recorded at the Village Vanguard. Originally, one or two LPs were to be released featuring his brilliant new trio (with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe LaBarbera), but after the innovative pianist's death, the project was stalled for over 15 years. Finally, when Warner Bros. got around to it, a definitive six-CD box set was released (although unfortunately in limited-edition form). Evans sounded quite energized during his last year, Johnson was developing quickly as both an accompanist and a soloist, and the interplay by the trio members (with subtle support from LaBarbera) sometimes bordered on the telepathic. The playing throughout these consistently inventive performances ranks up there with the Evans-Scott LaFaro-Paul Motian trio of 20 years earlier.

Blue Note Records has announced an April 26 release of Sonny Rollins A Night at the Village Vanguard: The Complete Masters, a special Tone Poet Vinyl Edition of the legendary saxophonist’s tour-de-force live trio album. The expanded 3-LP set, which can be ordered now on the Blue Note Store, marks the first time Rollins’ complete recorded performances at the Village Vanguard on November 3, 1957 will be made available in a single vinyl package. The collection is also available as a 2-CD set and on all digital formats.