We put a short pause on New In Music as there weren’t enough new releases to feature. From feast to famine. We have more new releases this week than ever (plus a few that were released very recently). So here is what’s New In Music This Week: July 21st.
Our top pick is:
OPERA: IN A GROVE – Opera by Christopher Cerrone and Stephanie Fleischmann (In a Circle Records)
In February of 2022 I published my interview with composer Cerrone and librettist Fleischmann about this opera which is based on the same short story that inspired Akira Kurosawa’s classic film Rashomon.
Opera News said of In a Grove, “An opera that will linger long in my memory.” Now it can find a place in your memory with the release of this album. I love it and can’t wait to see a full production (hopefully sooner as opposed to later.)
Here’s what else is New In Music This Week: July 21st:
CLASSICAL: YSAŸE: 6 SONATAS FOR VIOLIN SOLO, OP. 27 – Hilary Hahn (Deutsche Grammophon)
This recording by violinist Hahn is the Gramophone Magazine Recording of the Month and for good reason. This isn’t commonly recorded music and Hahn performs it here as it it was music she had been performing her whole life.
Composer Eugène Ysaÿe lived from 1858 to 1931 and was born in Belgium. He composed numerous works for solo violin including cadenzas for concerti by Beethoven, Brahmas, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.
If this is your first introduction to Ysaÿe’s work, you are going to be richly rewarded.
CLASSICAL: SLEEP & UNREMEMBRANCE/THE RITE OF SPRING – San Francisco Symphony (Apple Music Classical)
If you are a fan of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s work as a conductor, you’ll want to check out these two new recordings from concerts performed by the SF Symphony in March 2022.
The first is Elizabeth Ogonek’s Sleep & Unremembrance. The composer was inspired by Wislawa Szymborska’s poem While Sleeping for this work.
The second is a work I’ve heard Salonen conduct several times with the Los Angeles Philharmonic: The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. It’s a work that seems just a powerful and modern today as it did when it was first performed 110 years ago.
No matter how many recordings you’ve heard of The Rite of Spring, I find there’s always something fascinating about hearing the way individual conductors and different orchestras perform this groundbreaking work.
Both of these recordings are only available on Apple Music Classical.
JAZZ: A.R.C. – Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Barry Altschul (ECM Records Digital Release)
This 1971 trio album from pianist/composer Corea is notable for the way they start the album: Wayne Shorter’s Nefertiti. That’s a ballsy way to start an album. And it only gets more interesting from there.
Holland plays bass and Altschul is the drummer for this album which was recorded in 1971 and came out the same year. All three musicians composed the second track, Ballad for Tillie and Holland composed Vedana. The rest of the compositions were written by Corea.
JAZZ: ILLUSION SUITE – Stanley Cowell (ECM Records Digital Release)
There are quite a few digital releases from ECM’s early years being released this week and this album by pianist Cowell may be my favorite. Bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Jimmy Hopps join Cowell for the six tracks on this album that was released in 1973.
This was Cowell’s third album as a leader, his second album as a trio. I think you’ll find a lot to love on this album and will probably find yourself listening to more of Cowell’s music as a result of the joy Illusion Suite brings.
JAZZ: INFLATION BLUES – Jack DeJohnette’s Special Edition (ECM Records Digital Release)
This album was recorded in 1982 and released in 1983. Drummer/pianist DeJOhnette composed all five songs: Starburst, Ebony, The Islands, Inflation Blues and Slowdown. He’s joined on this album by Chico Freeman on tenor and soprano saxophone plus bass clarinet; John Purcell on baritone and lato sax, flute and clarinet and Rufus Reid on bass. Trumpeter Baikida Carroll joins for all but Ebony.
Inflation Blues received great reviews upon its release. It’s well worth your time.
JAZZ: THE GOLDEN SÈKÈRÈ – Douyé (Rhombus Records)
The songs on this album by vocalist Douyé are much better known than she is. But one listen to her renditions of Cherokee, Speak Low, My Funny Valentine and more will prompt repeated listens.
Then you’ll do as I did and look up her other albums which includes 2019’s Quatro and 2017’s Daddy Said So (which includes an incredible version of Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life).
JAZZ: SOL DO MEIO DIA – Egberto Gismonti (ECM Records Digital Release)
Gismonti is a guitarist, pianist and composer from Brazil. If you’re expecting Brazilian jazz or music in the style of Gilberto Gil, this album isn’t for you. There is some improvisation here that could be right at home in jazz clubs today (particularly by Jan Garbarek on soprano saxophone on the last track of the album). There’s also some of the most beautiful music to be heard as well, particularly Coração.
All tracks were composed by Gismonti.
JAZZ: CONCEPTION VESSEL – Paul Motian (ECM Records Digital Release)
This 1973 album was the first album by drummer/composer Paul Motian as a bandleader. He was joined in this album byguitarist Sam Brown, flautist Becky Friend, bass player Charlie Haden, pianist/flautist Keith Jarrett and violinist Leroy Jenkins.
There’s a topicality to the titles on this album which serve as a signpost to the era in which it was written and performed. They include Ch’i Energy, American Indian: Song of Sitting Bull and Inspiration from a Vietnamese Lullaby. Motian composed all six tracks on Conception Vessel.
JAZZ/FUNK: EN MEDIO – Garrett Saracho (Impulse! Records/Ume)
If you don’t know this album from 1973, don’t be surprised. In spite of tremendous critical response and the support of artists from Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, Saracho’s album failed to get the attention it deserved.
For the album’s 50th anniversary the album is getting a wide vinyl release (it’s also available digitally.) When you hear the work of the then 23-year-old Saracho, you’ll be amazed at the fusion of styles and how prescient his work actually was.
JAZZ: THE COLOURS OF CHLOË – Eberhard Weber (ECM Records Digital Release)
This was the first record by double bassist and composer Weber. The album was released in 1974. There are four tracks on this album which is Weber’s best known: More Colours, The Colours of Chloë, An Evening with Vincent Van Ritz and the epic No Motion Picture.
Is it true jazz? Symphonic jazz? Is this album a product of its time or a truly ambitious work that stands the test of time? There’s only way to find out. Listen to it!
VOCALS: IN A BROADWAY BAG – Bobby Darin (Direction Records)
The Bobby Darin estate has released five albums from his Bespoke Label. This album from 1966 finds Darin singing some of Broadway’s best-known songs including Mame, Don’t Rain on My Parade and Feeling Good.
Darin’s style is a throwback to a different time, but his passion for the material is present in this recording.
Those are our picks of the best of What’s New In Music This Week: July 21st.
Enjoy the music and enjoy your weekend.
Main Photo: Extraction from the cover for In a Grove