Happy Friday!
For musical theater fans, the big news came out today that four cast albums from Stephen Sondheim’s musicals have been remixed an remastered in Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos. Here are more details in our Top Pick of what’s New In Music This Week: August 11th
TOP PICK:
BROADWAY: COMPANY, SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET; INTO THE WOODS and ASSASSINS – Sony Masterworks Broadway
The 1970 production of Company, the 1979 production of Sweeney Todd; the 1987 production of Into the Woods and the 1990 original production of Assassins are the remastered recordings which are available from all streaming platforms that offer either Sony 360 or Dolby Atmos (which means you won’t be able to get them on Spotify.)
Sondheim was consulted on these projects and involved with them prior to his death in 2021. Wouldn’t it be great if vinyl reissues of these would be next?
Here are my other choices of what’s New In Music This Week: August 11th that you should heck out:
CLASSICAL/CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: DEPENDENT ARISING – Rachel Barton Pine – Cedille Records
Sometimes the most fascinating pairings are the most unlikely. Take, for example, violinist Pine’s latest album in which Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor is paired with Dependent Arising: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra written by Earl Maneein.
If you don’t know Maneein, let me use words from his own website to tell you about him: “I’m a violinist/violist/composer/arranger whose personal work stands at the somewhat unlikely crossroads of Western Classical music, Heavy Metal and Hardcore Punk.”
I personally am not a fan of heavy metal nor hardcore punk, but I really like this album. Pine plays incredibly on these two very different works and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, led by Tito Muñoz, is equally adept at both works.
This won’t be for everyone, but everyone should give it a try.
BROADWAY (adjacent): HERE LIES LOVE – David Byrne & Fatboy Slim – Nonesuch Records
Some musicals begin as concept albums (Evita) and sometimes the albums serve as inspiration for a musical (Tommy). In 2010 David Byrne and Fatboy Slim recruited and all-star line-up of talent to sing their song cycle about Imelda Marcos: Tori Amos; Steve Earle, Cyndi Lauper, St. Vincent, Florence Welch and more.
Three years later the album become a hit musical for the Public Theater in New York. That production finally made it to Broadway just recently and that serves as the inspiration for the first-ever release of the original recording on vinyl.
I saw the musical back in 2013 and loved it. This album is just as enjoyable as the show and definitely something new and old fans of the musical will want to hear. (To say nothing of fans of Byrne and Fatboy Slim.)
JAZZ: JUSTIN KAUFLIN TRIO: LIVE AT SAM FIRST – Sam First Records
Sam First is a great jazz club near Los Angeles International Airport. It’s an intimate space in which jazz music is the venue’s top priority. This album by pianist Justin Kauflin is the first in a series recordings the club is issuing on their own label. These are 180-gram vinyl releases and are limited to 200 copies. You can also purchase a download on their website.
Joining Kauflin for this live recording at bassist David Robaire and drummer Mark Ferber. This is a talent musician you’ll want to hear.
For more information on this album, please go here.
JAZZ: LA STORIES: LIVE AT SAM FIRST – Josh Nelson – Sam First Records
Pianist/bandleader Josh Nelson performed with bassist Luca Alemanno, guitarist Larry Koonse, drummer Dan Schnelle and saxophonist Walter Smith III in two shows that were recorded from February 18th and 19thof 2022. Nelson was also joined by vocalist Gaby Moreno for a brief appearance.
The music on this album was written with little-known stories of Los Angeles as its inspiration. Nelson also wrote the music with these specific musicians in mind.
For more information on this album, please go here.
JAZZ: WORLD TRAVELERS – Joe La Barbera Quintet – Sam First Records
Fans of pianist Bill Evans should immediately recognize drummer La Barbera’s name as he recorded multiple albums with Evans late in his career.
For this album, also recorded at Sam First, La Barbera is joined by pianist Bill Cunliffe, trumpeter Clay Jenkins, bassist Jonathan Richards and tenor saxophonist Bob Sheppard.
For more information on this album, please go here.
Late summer is traditionally a bit slow for new releases, but in the weeks ahead there will be more new music than you’ll know what to do with.
In the meantime, enjoy these selections that make up New In Music This Week: August 11th.
Have a great weekend.