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Music
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Highly Recommended Album: BIRD IN KANSAS CITY (Charlie Parker: Rare Recordings from 1941-1951)
KANSAS CITY, BIRD IN KANSAS CITY HERE IT COMES Verve Records is releasing Bird in Kansas City globally on October 25, 2024 on vinyl, CD, and digitally. It’s an album featuring a new set of rare recordings dating from between 1941-1951. Much of this collection has never been heard before and some recordings have never even…
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Concert Review: FANTASIES, EMANUEL AX (Celebrity Series of Boston, NEC’s Jordan Hall in Boston)
FANTASTIC FANTASIAS Emanuel Ax offered a distinctive series of piano fantasia pieces as part of Boston’s Celebrity Series in beautiful wood-paneled Jordan Hall yesterday afternoon (the program also occurred at Groton Hill Music Center on Oct. 10, 2024). The first part of the program presented Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major,…
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Music Review: LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (Edward Gardner, conductor; Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin at Segerstrom Concert Hall)
SHOSTAKOVICH AND TCHAIKOVSKY Under the expert direction of its principal conductor Edward Gardner, London Philharmonic Orchestra recently graced Segerstrom Concert Hall in Orange County with an enthralling performance. Known for his energetic and nuanced interpretations, Gardner masterfully drew out the orchestra’s full expressive capabilities, allowing every note to resonate deeply with the audience. This concert,…
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Album Recommendation: UNITY (Dan Siegel)
Veteran keyboardist/composer Dan Siegel brings together a stellar rhythm section and a roster of ace guitarists for his groove-heavy 23rd album, featuring David “DJ” Ginyard on bass and Oscar Seaton on drums. UNITY also features percussion great Lenny Castro, whose relationship with Siegel dates back to the keyboardist’s self-titled 1982 album, as does that of Tom Scott (sax),…
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Extras | Music: TOP TEN HANDPANS FOR SALE: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELEVATE YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY
The history and origin of handpans The handpan is a beautiful, relatively new entry in the world of percussion instruments that demonstrates what happens when art and creativity mix together. The instrument traces its roots back to the early 2000s with PANArt Hang as a visionary creator from Switzerland was crafting first this kind of…
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Obituary: TRUMPETER/COMPOSER JOHN MCNEIL
TRUMPETER/COMPOSER JOHN MCNEIL MARCH 23, 1948 – SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 John McNeil was a brilliant trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator and producer whose mark on the music world was indelible and whose acerbic sense of humor and dry wit were legendary. McNeil, who built an accomplished and progressive career in jazz despite a genetic disorder that…
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Opera Review: THE HANDMAID’S TALE (San Francisco Opera)
A MAGNIFICENT OPERA OF A DEATHTIME This was not your typical opera, so this will not be the typical review. Like many times before, I entered the War Memorial Opera House basking in luxury and cheer. It’s a magnificent building in a magnificent setting, with the beautifully lit miniature Capitol building that serves as our…
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Opera Review: MADAME BUTTERFLY (LA Opera)
TAKE. CUT. PRINT. A BUTTERFLY IN A 1930 MOVIE STUDIO ENTHRALLS Stage and cinema have merged at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for what may be the most glorious and cogent version of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly you will ever see. Certainly, this is the most inspiring and satisfying version of this oft-produced opera that I have…
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Concerts / Music: GUIDE TO KLANGPHONICS FESTIVAL APPEARANCES AND OTHER GIGS IN 2024
Jacks of all trades, Klangphonics create, edit, mix, produce, curate, and, importantly, play music live. Find out where the trio boasts the results of its amazing creative endeavors in 2024. From Online to Live Experimenting with music can be risky, and the price is the audience. Still, Klangphonics chose to stray off the beaten track…
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Music: HOW TO ARRANGE MUSIC: FROM RAW IDEAS TO POLISHED MASTERPIECES
Arranging music is an art form that transforms a simple idea into a complete and polished composition. The process involves carefully selecting and organizing the musical elements to create a cohesive and impactful piece. Whether you’re working on a single track or a full album, understanding the principles of music arrangement can help you bring…
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Extras | Music: CLASSICAL GUITAR VS. ACOUSTIC GUITAR: WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU PICK?
When you first start looking for guitars, the main dilemma begins when you are introduced to classical and acoustic guitars. The reason is they all look similar at first sight. So, if you are eager to know which is the best classical guitar for beginners and the acoustic guitar as well? Keep your worry aside…
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Extras | Music: 7 PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR GETTING DISCOVERED AS A MUSICIAN
Being a musician is challenging, and getting discovered is one of the hardest aspects. It can be a long and winding path, but keep in mind that many artists have done it before! This article will help you get discovered and achieve your dream of being a successful musician. Whether you’re a singer, songwriter, or…
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Extras: PROXIES FOR MUSIC LOVERS: HOW TO UNLOCK GEO-STREAMING SERVICES
Geo-restrictions on music streaming limit access to content based on your location, frustrating listeners seeking diverse libraries and exclusive tracks. So, I’d say that rising interest in proxies stems from their ability to bypass these barriers, unlocking global music access and enabling users to enjoy a richer, unrestricted listening experience. Below, I’ll provide some helpful…
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Concert Review: SAMARA JOY & HER BAND (Town Hall, NYC)
ODE TO JOY Is there such a thing as an accessible diva? An earthbound angel? A human being not made of flesh and blood but solely of musical tones and vibrations? If such other-worldly entities exist, then three-time Grammy winner Samara Joy must qualify as at least one if not all. The twenty-four year old…
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Opera Review: INNOCENCE (San Francisco Opera)
THE CAPTIVATING INNOCENCE AT SAN FRANCISCO OPERA IS KAIJA SAARIAHO’S MASTERPIECE San Francisco Opera is offering the hauntingly beautiful U.S. premiere of Innocence, a contemporary opera that is destined to be a staple of the modern operatic repertoire. Composed by the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, the opera delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and…
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Opera Review: PARTENOPE (San Francisco Opera)
HANDEL MEETS GATSBY IN CHRISTOPHER ALDEN’S VIBRANT PRODUCTION OF PARTENOPE Baroque opera enthusiasts are in for a treat with San Francisco Opera‘s recent production of Handel’s comic opera, Partenope, which opened last weekend at War Memorial Opera House for five performances only. Composed in 1730 during a period of intense competition and innovation in London’s…
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Highly Recommended Concert: WILLOW WITH ORCHESTRA (presented by LA Phil at The Ford on October 25, 2024)
Hey, Los Angeles, a trailblazer is coming to town. An L.A. native and the child of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Camille Reign Smith, also known mononymously as Willow, is coming to The Ford with the Color of Noize Orchestra conducted by Derrick Hodge to reimagine hits like “Whip My Hair,” “Wait a…
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Opera Review: THE COMET/POPPEA (MOCA and The Industry at the Geffen Contemporary Museum at MOCA)
What do you do when the world is on fire and you are only one of two people seemingly left alive? How do you learn to survive when your backgrounds pull you apart? Or how does a powerful woman survive the patriarchy of ancient Rome? No, it’s not an episode of The Twilight Zone; it’s…
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Opera Review: IPSA DIXIT (Long Beach Opera and Martha Graham Dance Company)
WHISTLING DIXIT Last week, Long Beach Opera concluded the west coast premiere of its new production of Kate Soper’s 2016 lecture with musical notes, Ipsa Dixit, self-described in the program as “an artistic revelation,” “profound,” “bold,” and “mesmerizing.” Smart critics lavished praise on previous productions of it. It got nominated for a Pulitzer. Therefore, it…
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Film Review: THEY ALL CAME OUT TO MONTREUX (directed by Oliver Murray | Tribeca Film Festival)
Festivals promote diversity, they bring neighbors into dialogue, they increase creativity, they offer opportunities for civic pride, they improve our general psychological well-being. In short, they make cities better places to live. — David Binder, Artistic Director of BAM in Brooklyn Montreux July 14, 2008 MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL 75th Anniversary Celebration Claude Nobs with Quincy…
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