Concerts

The renowned artists, violinist Jascha Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, joined forces in 1949 at Chicago's Ravinia Festival. Twelve years later, and now good friends, both artists were in semi-retirement from the concert stage, yet enjoyed their evenings of chamber music with friends. This first ever complete collection of The Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts includes Dvorak's Piano Quintet No. 2 and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. The 21 CDs are packaged in mini-sleeves with the original album artwork and feature a new introduction by Heifetz expert John Maltese.

After the compulsory Gymnopédies, this turns out to be an above average Satie collection. Parade is performed with relish and a healthy dose of anarchy, with no attempt being made to blend the pistol shots into the texture of the orchestra. Rather than the more usual companion pieces of Mercure and Relâche, Yutaka Sado builds the remaining programme around La belle excentrique and Le piège de Méduse, opting for some of the music - hall - inspired works in between. Pieces like Je te veux and Poudre d ’ or are familiar in their piano or vocal versions, but rarely get outings in the arrangements for brasserie orchestra, making this a most desirable disc for Satie devotees.

Wie wundervoll, ja berauschend die Musik Paul Hindemiths sein kann, zeigen seine Kammermusikwerke auf dieser CD. Das Ausdruckspotential der Klarinette wird von dem in Hanau geborenen Komponisten in leidenschaftlicher, tief bewegender und humorvoller Art in jedem Stück mit diesem Soloinstrument ausgeschöpft. Hindemith, dessen Musik von den Nationalsozialisten als entartet verfemt wurde, verließ Deutschland 1938 und ging zunächst in die Schweiz, 1940 übersiedelte er in die USA. Trotz der überaus schwierigen Umstände gelang Hindemith auch in dieser Zeit ein in Quantität und Qualität beeindruckender Output.

John Coltrane - Stockholm Concerts, The Complete November 19, 1962 (2011) {3CD Set, Domino Records 891216}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 936 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 475 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 28 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2011 Domino Records | 891216
Jazz / Modal Music / Hard Bop / Saxophone

Three CD live archive release from the Jazz great. John Coltrane embarked on an ambitious European tour with his classic quartet in 1962. Fortunately, a number of these performances were recorded. This release presents the two complete concerts given by the group at the Konserthuset, in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 19, 1962. This is the first time that these two shows are presented in their entirety and on a single set. The sound quality is good in both sets and, although some titles are repeated, Trane and his band are heard here at the pinnacle of their genius. Includes 16-page booklet.

All tracks recorded live at The North Sea Jazz Festival, 1985, Tuinpaviljoen, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Duke Ellington - Carnegie Hall Concerts (1943-1947) {Prestige 8CD Box Set, Joe Tarantino Remaster rel 2010}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 989 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 943 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 287 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1943-47, 2010 Prestige / Universal | 0600753232491
Jazz / Big Band / Early Jazz / Swing

2010 eight CD box set from the legendary Jazz pianist, composer, arranger and Big Band leader. This box set contains a plethora of material that Ellington recorded at the legendary venue, Carnegie Hall, during the height of the Big Band movement. Spanning the years 1943-47, this box set features 85 performances by Ellington backed by some of Jazz's greatest musicians including Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Junior Raglin, Al Hibbler, Claude B. Jones, Harry Carney, Oscar Pettiford, Sonny Greer, Ray Nance, Jimmy Hamilton, Al Sears and Ellington himself.

This release presents, for the first time on a single set, Louis Armstrong’s two long out of print 1951 concerts at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. For the first performance, taped on January 30 and originally issued (partially) on Satchmo at Pasadena (Decca DL8041), Louis is backed by the classic All Stars featuring Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Earl Hines, Arvell Shaw, and Cozy Cole, plus Velma Middleton on vocals for a few songs.

Songs For Groovy Children assembles all four historic debut concerts by Jimi Hendrix’s newly assembled Band of Gypsys at New York’s Fillmore East on New Years Eve 1969 and New Years Day 1970. Presented in their original performance sequence and encompassing 43 tracks across 5 CDs or 8LPs, the set boasts over two dozen tracks that have either never before been released commercially or have been newly remixed plus the full extended versions of songs originally released on the 1970 Band of Gypsys album. Measured alongside his triumphs at Monterey Pop and Woodstock, Hendrix’s legendary Fillmore East concerts illustrated a critical turning point in a radiant career filled with indefinite possibilities. Earlier in 1969, The Jimi Hendrix Experience had closed a musical chapter and the guitarist assembled a new trio dubbed Band of Gypsys, consisting of Hendrix, his longtime friend Billy Cox, on bass, whom he had befriended when both were serving with the 101st Airborne Division Cox and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles, who would also contribute occasional lead vocals.