Sacd 2019

Jochum's version of Carmina Burata leaves the rest behind. Jochum's baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in particular is the best baritone soloist for this work. The soprano, Gundula Janowitz, finds a quiet dignity for her contribution and this is finely done. The chorus are best when the music blazes, and the closing scene is moulded by Jochum with a wonderful control, almost Klemperian in its restrained power. The sound might be mid 1960's DG analogue but the performance leaves the rest way behind. Jochum's version was recorded in the presence of Carl Orff and is authorised by Carl Orff.

A pair of very unusual albums – back to back on a single SACD! "Stolen Goods" is a totally cool, totally groovy album from the 70s – one that features large orchestral arrangements of themes from the classics – but all augmented with plenty of wild contemporary touches. Next up is "Viva Vivaldi", served up by Italian conductor Ettore Stratta – who you'll know from both sound track and easy instrumental modes – getting a lot of hip help here from arranger Chico O'Farrill.

This is easy listening Henry Mancini, not jazzy “Peter Gunn” Henry Mancini, but darn good easy listening. As with the other Vocalion surround Mancini releases, what really makes this worth the listen is the nicely balanced surround mix. There are no gimmicks. Surround is used here to spread out the music and give it depth, which makes it perfect for easy listening (and perhaps, an accompanying martini at the end of a hectic day).

After a successful early career in Hollywood as a jazz musician and arranger, André Previn transitioned into the world of classical music, making a name for himself in London for his innovative programming and refreshing reappraisals of many warhorses, in particular in English and Russian music. Tchaikovsky was one of the composers that Previn was good at. The 1812 orchestral songs are also known as well-known recordings and have been reprinted several times in the CD era. "Manfred Symphony" is a great performance that shed light on this work that had not been recorded much before, and LP has long been known for its excellent recording audio files.

"Booger Bear" was an album released by The Buddy Miles Express in 1973. It made the Billboard charts in 1974. "Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles! Live!" is a live album by Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles. It was recorded during the "Sunshine '72" Festival. In 2019, the UK label Dutton Vocalion released a double CD/SACD hybrid of "Booger Bear" and "Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles! Live!" with the CD content in stereo and the SACD layers offering the original multichannel quadraphonic mixes of each album.

Standard Coltrane consists of tracks recorded in 1958 but only released in 1962 to capitalize on Coltrane's growing popularity throughout the 60s. The material on the album consists of well known music from Broadway or films, mostly ballads, recorded with the bulk of the Miles Davis band of the day: Wilbur Harden on trumpet and flugelhorn, Red Garland on piano, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. This is a prime example of Coltrane in the middle of his signature "sheets of sound" period.

Another Dutton Vocalion's reissue combines a pair albums of Charlie Rich, remastered from the Original Master tapes by Michael J. Dutton. "Behind Closed Doors", from 1973, received the Country Music Association award for Album of the Year and Rich was named Best Male Vocalist for his performance on the album. Rich won the 1974 Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance Male and also took home four Academy of Country Music awards for this album. "Everytime You Touch Me (I Get High)" was released in 1975, and the title track peaked at number three on the country chart.

This Japanese Venus Records' release features timeless lullaby tunes to relax with and enjoy. A wonderful Italian pianist Massimo Faraò united with Laura Klain and Nicola Barbon to perform a classical works by Brahms, Schubert, Mozart, Grieg, Chopin, and some traditional native compositions.

Steve Nelson is an American vibraphonist, and has been a member of Dave Holland's Quintet and Big Band for more than a decade. He graduated from Rutgers University with both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in music, and his teaching activities have included a position at Princeton University. He has appeared at concerts and festivals worldwide and has made recordings as the leader of his own group. This release for Japanese Venus Records features Massimo Farao’ on piano behind the others.