Two Tone

Flesh Tone is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kelis, released on May 14, 2010 by Interscope Records. Recorded while the singer was an unsigned artist and while pregnant with her first child, the record is an ode to motherhood and is a distinct departure from the R&B sound of her previous albums. The album features production from David Guetta, Boys Noize, Jean Baptiste, and Benny Benassi, amongst others.

The power and intensity of Mutter’s performance of the concerto emerges immediately in the opening phrases. Where most violinists treat them as a deep meditation, Mutter with comparable intensity makes them tougher than usual, using momentarily a vibratoless tone, slightly steely, establishing this more clearly as an llegro moderato first movement rather than a lyrical slow one. Even if one misses some of the raptness of Mullova or Chung, it is a very valid view, and the power of the reading is reinforced by the relatively close balance of the solo instrument, relating this version more to Perlman’s than to any of the others I have listed.

The majority of trumpeter Joe Magnarelli's leader dates have been no-nonsense, straight ahead quintet outings, so on the surface, it might appear that he's settled into something of a rut. But appearances can be deceiving. Only those who haven't heard Magnarelli's albums would think such a thing. For with each one, he's managed to peel back another layer, revealing new aspects of his artistic persona while also building on his previous work. Magnarelli is living proof that you don't need to chase trends or get caught up in haughty conceptualizing in order to prove your worth in the jazz universe…

The title of this CD Bellezza Crudel means ‘beautiful cruelty’ and the music reflects the Venetian tradition of masquerade and intrigue. This is undoubtedly Vivaldi’s world, one of heartfelt, musical intensity ably realised by Tone Wik on this delightful collection of four Cantatas, interspersed with two Concertos.