Trumpet Decca

This fabulous five disc set is replete with some of those old Stokowski warhorses all recorded in absolutely mind boggling Phase 4 sound, overblown perhaps but astounding for its time. Decca's remastering is absolutely magnificent and the discs are jam packed with almost six hours of music. This is another fine memorial to a great conductor who remained astonishingly vital until the very end of his life.

How do you describe Leopold Stokowski in one word? Showman, impresario, visionary, firebrand, agent provocateur, magician? Take your pick as he all that and more. It’s 40 years since the passing of one of the most colorful characters in Decca’s roster and one of the most indefatigable innovators in music performance history. His complete recordings for Decca/Phase 4 are presented together for the first time, with a bonus audio documentary featuring an interview with the maestro himself, in a handsome Limited Edition 23-CD boxed set.

This set brings together for the first time Britten's complete Decca recordings as pianist and conductor in which he performs music by other composers - an astonishing variety of music that ranges from large-scale choral works by Bach and Purcell to Schumann and Elgar, as well as orchestral works by Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. Solo vocal repertory is generously represented with important works by Schubert and Schumann and early twentieth-century English song. Chamber music features Britten the pianist in partnership with two of Britten's closest collaborators: Mstislav Rostropovich and Sviatoslav Richter.

How do you describe Leopold Stokowski in one word? Showman, impresario, visionary, firebrand, agent provocateur, magician? Take your pick as he all that and more. It’s 40 years since the passing of one of the most colorful characters in Decca’s roster and one of the most indefatigable innovators in music performance history. His complete recordings for Decca/Phase 4 are presented together for the first time, with a bonus audio documentary featuring an interview with the maestro himself, in a handsome Limited Edition 23-CD boxed set.

Zubin Mehta and Los Angeles Philharmonic - Complete Decca Recordings (2020) {38CD Box Set, Decca 485 0374}
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© 2020 Decca Records | 485 0374
Classical / Orchestral

Zubin Mehta’s tenure of over 16 years as the musical director of the ‘LA Phil’ marks an important chapter in the orchestra’s history. The recorded portrait of the musical partnership between the first American orchestra to be exclusively contracted by a British recording company and the dynamic maestro is explored here in this new edition.

George Russell - Jazz In The Space Age (1960) {Decca–GRP GRD-826 rel 1998} (featuring Bill Evans)
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© 1960, 1998 Decca / GRP / Universal | GRD-826
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Jazz

George Russell's third release as a leader combines two adventurous sessions. The first features two pianists, Bill Evans and Paul Bley, and a large ensemble including Ernie Royal, Dave Baker, Walt Levinsky, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, and Don Lamond, among others. The three-part suite "Chromatic Universe" is an ambitious work which mixes free improvisation with written passages that have not only stood the test of time but still sound very fresh. "The Lydiot" focuses on the soloists, while incorporating elements from "Chromatic Universe" and other Russell compositions.

Louis Armstrong - The Complete Decca Singles 1935-1946 Collection (2017) {6CD Set, Verve Reissues, Digital Only Issue}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Digital Download -> 1.64 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.06 Gb | Cover | 5% repair rar
© 1935-46, 2017 Decca / Verve Reissues / UMG | Digital Only Issue
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Swing / Early Jazz / Big Band / Trumpet

To celebrate what would have been the late great Louis Armstrong’s 116th birthday today, Verve Records/UMe have released the digital collection, The Complete Decca Singles 1935-1946. A prequel of sorts to The Complete Decca Singles 1949-1958 issued at the end of 2016, this new comprehensive collection not only spans many of Pop’s singles and B-sides during that fruitful decade with Decca, but brings with it many of Armstrong’s tracks to the digital format for the very first time.

Louis Armstrong - The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions 1935-1946 (2009) {7CD Box Set Mosaic MD7-243}
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© 1935-46, 2009 Decca / Mosaic Records | MD7-243
Jazz / Swing / Early Jazz / Big Band / Vocal Jazz / Trumpet

This is the first-ever major retrospective of this period. For the most part, the recordings represent Louis Armstrong leading the big band. Never had Louis sounded more secure, more hip, or more like a star. His example was an important beacon that popular standards were a legitimate repertoire for significant jazz recording stylists.

This set brings together for the first time Britten's complete Decca recordings as pianist and conductor in which he performs music by other composers - an astonishing variety of music that ranges from large-scale choral works by Bach and Purcell to Schumann and Elgar, as well as orchestral works by Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. Solo vocal repertory is generously represented with important works by Schubert and Schumann and early twentieth-century English song. Chamber music features Britten the pianist in partnership with two of Britten's closest collaborators: Mstislav Rostropovich and Sviatoslav Richter.

Hal McKusick - Cross Section: Saxes (1958) {Decca Japan, Cardboard Sleeve, UCCC-9104 rel 2004}
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© 1958, 2004 Decca / Verve / Universal Japan | UCCC-9104
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Saxophone / Clarinet

24bit/96kHz digitally remastered reissue. Comes housed in a cardboard sleeve which is a mini replica of the original LP sleeve. Hal McKusick's final recording as a leader mixes three separate sessions with contributions by four great arrangers. The cast of musicians varies from onedate to the next, although McKusick and pianist Bill Evans are present on every track, while Art Farmer, Milt Hinton, and Barry Galbraith also make strong impressions.