Detail 2018

Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus features Ensemble Double Up, who first appeared on Old Locks and Irregular Verbs, which was voted the best jazz album of 2016 in both the NPR and Jazz Times Critics Polls. The New York Times declared that release “just as easy to picture in Pulitzer contention” and NPR called it “a masterpiece.” On board are holdovers Davila (tuba), Hoffman (cello), Filiu (alto saxophone, alto flute), Macdonald (alto saxophone), Weinrib (drums, percussion), but this time featuring the remarkable three-concert grand pianos of David Virelles, David Bryant and Luis Perdomo. The interaction between the three pianists lie at the heart of this piece, performing an intricate contrapuntal dance of varying attack, register, and density.

Noted for his exquisite, beautiful playing and a technical wizardry, Accardo is most associated with Paganini. DG are proud to present these legendary Paganini in a deluxe 6CD + Blu-ray Audio package remastered from the original sources. These incredible virtuoso solo violin works are heard in astounding detail in this new 96kHz/24-bit remastering. Accardo's instrument is a Stradivarius dating from 1717.

Michel Lambert was a court composer to King Louis XIV of France, and the father-in-law of Lully. He has been known, if at all, for his court airs setting common French poems of the day. He wrote two sets of Tenebrae Lessons, of which the one recorded here is the earlier. Reconstructing it sounds like a pretty speculative enterprise, which is probably why it hasn't been recorded before; contemporary descriptions mention a vocal trio, but here a single voice is used.

Kotebel's self-released debut, Structures, contained promises – but the production (synthesizer only with programmed tracks) held the music back. This second offering, released by the giant prog rock label Musea, is much more satisfying. Although still very much keyboard oriented, Mysticae Visiones is better programmed (the drums have considerably improved) and features other instrumentalists. The presence of guitarist César Garcia and flutist Omar Acosta provides a lush '70s progressive rock atmosphere not unlike Maneige circa Ni Vent Ni Nouvelle or the instrumental albums of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. Cellist Francisco Ochando and singer Carolina Prieto add more occasional touches. The music of Carlos Plaza (the man behind the moniker Kotebel) remains romantic, symphonic, highly melodious.