Organ Great

The great Johann Sebastian Bach was the first who arranged famous baroque organ concertos (for example by Vivaldi) for solo organ. Kei Koito’s album “Baroque Organ Concertos” presents a selection of famous baroque organ concertos in transcriptions for organ alone.

The pieces by Joseph Renner presented on this album, played by organist Tomasz Zajac, show to the listener the full spectrum of the harmonic and expressive range of the organ.

The music of Joonas Kokkonen (1921–96), one of the most important Finnish composers after Sibelius, radiates warmth and light. His limited output is largely introvert in character but also contains moments of grandeur and rhythmic energy. Kokkonen’s Requiem (1980–81), written in memory of his first wife, is both a powerful choral symphony and a tender, moving embodiment of consolation. Originally scored for large orchestra, the Requiem is heard here in a new version for organ intended to bring the work within the reach of smaller forces. This first recording is complemented by the first complete recording of Kokkonen’s four works for solo organ.

German composer Andreas Willscher has won many awards for his compositions, which range widely from symphonic forms and oratorio to cabaret jazz and rock. His organ works are especially fine and varied – involving often a mélange of post-tonal modernism, minimalism, and jazz and rock elements. Willscher is also an active writer of literary and scientific articles and as a collector and preserver of ‘lost’ and forgotten music of the past.

The organ can often take a back seat in the pecking order of great Jazz instruments but underappreciate it at your peril. The likes of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Booker T and Ray Charles, to name but a few, made the instrument their own while crafting jazz cuts of dazzling brilliance.

After making a well-deserved comeback as a solid country artist in the late 60's, Jerry Lee Lewis went to England in 1973 and recorded this great album that was a welcome return to his rock n' roll roots. Lewis recorded some good albums throughout the 70's, but most of them were aimed primarily at the country music market. This is pure rock n' roll all the way, with a couple of old blues tunes thrown in the mix as well.
The London Sessions sounds like one big jam session with Jerry Lee Lewis in his prime, pounding his way through a selection of great classic tunes like Johnny B. Goode, What'd I say, Movin' on down the line, No Headstone on my grave, and Baby what you want me to do. The studio band of top British musicians lay down some strong backing to Jerry Lee's great piano playing and singing, and the spontaneous, live in the studio feel of this album is an approach that brings out the best in Jerry Lee.
Highlights include a rockin' version of Johnny B. Goode, a superior remake of his old Sun recording Drinkin' Wine spo-dee-o-dee, and a truly dynamic medley of Little Richard hits that ends it. It is great to see that this has been remastered on CD since this is probably Jerry Lee's most vibrant album and surely one of the best rock n' roll albums of 1973. Any lover of classic rock needs to get their hands on this CD. This is simply the best set of rock n' roll the Killer has recorded since his classic Sun recordings!