New In Music This Week: November 3rd

Welcome to the weekend. Welcome, too, to Cultural Attaché’s list of the best of what’s New In Music this Week: November 3^rd.

My top choice this week is:

JAZZ: undaunted – Lafayette Gilchrist – Morphius Records

I wasn’t familiar with Gilchrist before getting information about this album by the pianist and composer. As a result of listening repeatedly to the five tracks on this superb album, I’m a fan!

Gilchrist is a master of combining a multitude of styles to make it all fresh and alive. It is modern jazz that fully understands the long history that preceded him from New Orleans to Duke Ellington to hard bop.

Joining Gilchrist are bassist Herman Burney; trombonist Christian Hizon; drummer Eric Kennedy; percussionist Kevin Pinder and saxophonist Brian Settles.

undaunted is being released digitally, on CD and a limited-edition vinyl (which I bet sounds amazing). It’s impossible not to enjoy this album.

Here are my other selections for New In Music This Week: November 3^rd

CHORAL: PENDERECKI: SACRED CHORAL WORKS – Latvian Radio Choir/Sigvards Klava – Ondine 

Polish composer Penderecki’s music gets a gorgeous performance in this album by the Latvian Radio Choir. This recording assembles eight of the composer’s works dating from 1965 – 2012. This album opens with his O gloriosa virginum from 2009 and closes with Missa brevis from 2012.

All of the works are performed a cappella and most of them are written, all or in part, in Latin. This is simply a beautiful album. 

CLASSICAL: PENITENCE & LAMENTATION – Byrd Ensemble – Scribe Records

First there is no relation that I’m aware of between myself and composer William Byrd. To acknowledge the 400^th anniversary of composer William Byrd’s death, the ensemble that takes its name from him has released a terrific new album that includes four of his works; 2 works by Thomas Tallis (whom you might know from Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis); one work each by Robert Carver; Thomas Crecquillon; Nicolas Gombert and Robert Ramsey.

The highlight of the album to me is the world premiere recording of Fallings by Nico Muhly. 

This is a beautifully performed album.

CLASSICAL: KRONOS QUARTET PERFORMS PHILIP GLASS – Kronos Quartet – Nonesuch Records – Vinyl Only Release

First released in 1995, this album by Kronos Quartet features four string quartets written by Glass. The album opens with his String Quartet No. 5 which was composed for Kronos Quartet.

That work is followed by his String Quartet No. 4 (Buczak); String Quartet No. 2 (Company) and String Quartet No. 3 (Mishima) which is an adaptation of his score for the 1985 film, Mishima.

The line-up in 1995 that appears on this wonderful album is Hank Dutt on viola; David Harrington on violin; Joan Jeanrenaud on cello and John Sherba on violin.

For those who aren’t sure about the music of Philip Glass, this album will convince you of his brilliance. 

CLASSICAL: WAVES – Bruce Liu – Deutsche Grammophon

Pianist Liu was the winter of the 18^th Chopin Piano Competition in 2021. After releasing an album of Bach’s French Suite No. 5 earlier this year, Liu returns with a convincing program of music by French composer Charles-Valentin Alkan; Jean-Philippe Rameu and Maurice Ravel.

My favorites on this recording are the 5 Miroirs, M.43 by Ravel and his performance of seven of Alkan’s 12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys. Two of them run barely over half-a-minute but are showstoppers.

CLASSICAL: PINES OF ROME – San Francisco Symphony/Esa-Pekka Salonen – SFS Media

Conductor Salonen and the SF Symphony performed this work in a concert in June of 2022. It is the latest in their partnership with Apple Music Classical. But here’s the good news: these recordings are only exclusive to Apple Music Classical for six months. After that they will be made available on other streaming outlets.

Ottorino Respighi’s tone poem was composed in 1924 and debuted the same year. It’s a four-movement work that runs approximately 21 minutes. It is part of a trilogy of compositions celebrating Rome. The other two are Fontane di Roma and Feste Roma. It happens to be one of my favorite works by Respighi.

I heard Salonen conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a performance of this work in 2019. It was wonderful and no doubt this recording is, too.

CLASSICAL: INFINITE REFRAIN: MUSIC OF LOVE’S REFUGE– Randall Scotting and Jorge Navarro Colorado– Signum Classics

Countertenor Scotting and tenor Colorado pair up for an album of music by composers Boretti, Castrovillari; Cavalli; Legrenzi; Monteverdi; Monteverdi and Stradella that explore gay love in the 17^th century.

In the album notes Scotting writes about Venice as a city that by 1650 was “notable for over a a century for its freedom from religious fanaticism with several accounts of outed or persecuted people finding sanctuary amongst its more permissive culture.”

Scotting reveals these songs without any of the religious or social baggage that was present at the time. He allows these songs to be heard with fresh ears in a fascinating way.
Of course, none of this would matter if it weren’t beautifully performed…and it is.

CLASSICAL (adjacent):  PHOENIX RISING – Silkroad Ensemble – self-released

This EP comes from a July 28, 2022, live performance at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. There are four tracks beginning with the traditional, O, Death arranged by Rhiannon Giddens. That is followed by Ekla Cholo Re (arranged by table musician and ensemble member Sandeep Das) and Ho-Oh, composed by ensemble member Kaoru Watanabe. The recording closes with a beautiful performance Peter Gabriel’s Biko arranged by Colin Jacobsen.

The members of Silkroad Ensemble are Jeffrey Beecher on bass; Das on table; Haruka Fujii on marimba/caxixi/djembe; Giddens on banjo and vocals; Maeve Gilchrist on Celtic harp; Mario Gotoh on viola; Joseph Gramley on multiple percussion instruments; Yo-Yo Ma on cello; Wu Man on pipa; Karen Ouzounian on cello; Mazz Swift on violin and vocals; Kojiro Umezaki on shakuhachi; Watanabe on Japanese flutes and percussion and Reylon Yount on yangqin.

The ensemble is joined by Francesco Turrisi on accordion and frame drums.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC:  KINETIC – Kinetic Ensemble – Bright Shiny Things

Anyone who thinks that contemporary classical music is atonal, non-melodic and built mostly on atmosphere should listen to Kinetic. This 16-piece string orchestra from Houston makes a persuasive argument for the work of four composers on this mesmerizing debut release: Patrick Harlin; Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn and Daniel Temkin.

All of the compositions on this 12-track release revolve around themes of nature. The album opens with Harlin’s The Wilderness Anthology which is probably my favorite of all the works on Kinetic. The combination of string orchestra and pre-recorded audio from remote eco-systems from around the world is incredible.

Equally impressive are Novak’s A String Quartet is like a Flock of Birds; Sohn’s What Happens if Pipes Burst” and Temkin’s Ocean’s Call for String Orchestra (a close second for my favorite composition on this album).

JAZZ:  CONTINUANCE – Joey Alexander – Mack Avenue Records

Pianist Alexander showcases his compositional skills on Continuance. Four of the seven tracks were written by him. His choice of covers is led by I Can’t Make You Love Me, best known for Bonnie Raitt’s version (though it has also been recorded by George Michael, Adele and others.)

Of Alexander’s original compositions, I’m most impressed by Why Don’t We.

Joining Alexander on this album are John Davis on drums and Kris Funn on upright bass. Trumpeter Theo Croker joins for four of the seven tracks.

JAZZ: THE FUTURE IS NOW – The Chick Corea Elektric Band – Candid Records

Pianist and composer Chick Corea toured with his Elektric Band throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018. This album runs nearly two hours and features nine tracks. All but one of these songs were composed in whole or in part by the late Corea.

The members of The Elektric Band (all original members) are Frank Gambale on guitar; Eric Marienthal on saxophone; John Patitucci on bass and Dave Weckle on drums.

This recording – compiled by Corea before his death in 2021, comes in a 3-LP set and a 2-CD set in addition to being available for streaming.

MUSICALS (adjacent):  CATCH A FIRE 50^th ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS – Bob Marley – Ume

The London musical Get Up Stand Up! closed at the beginning of this year. But it is inevitable the musical (whether in its current form or revised) will find its way to American theaters. Before it does, this deluxe re-release of Marley’s 1973 album that exposed the world to the song of that musical, has been released in massive package of music Marley fans will want to devour.

The 3LP vinyl edition includes the original studio album, a concert from the Paris Theatre in London from May 24, 1973, a third LP with extended and/or alternate versions of the songs, plus an EP with three live performances from The Sundown Theatre in Edmonton, England from May of 1973. The 3 CD edition contains all the same music. The digital release does NOT include the Paris Theatre concert.

VOCALS:  MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING – Stephanie J. Block – Club44 Records

Okay, it’s official. I’ve succumbed to holiday music. But who can resist the ever-inspiring Stephanie J. Block? There are songs you’d expect (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; O Holy Night) and songs you might not know (Manhattan in December; Winter White) and one new song, When You Hold Me in Your Arms (It’s Christmas) written by David Zippel and Wayne Haun. The latter is a duet with Block’s husband, Sebastian Arcelus.

The family affair continues on Little Drummer Girl in which their daughter, Vivienne Arcelus, contributes vocals as well. 

I put up every possible resistance to this (and every other Christmas album that crosses my computer) and this was just impossible not to love. 

VOCALS: CHRISTMAS WISH – Gregory Porter – Blue Note/Decca Records

Porter just has one of those voices that makes you pay attention. Porter wrote three new songs for this album: Christmas Wish (which mixes some Gospel traits with the same energy that Revival has) plus the ballads Everything’s Not Lost and Heart for Christmas.

Joining Porter for What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve by Frank Loesser (composer of Guys and Dolls) is Samara Joy. Their voices meld together beautifully. Most surprisingly, Porter takes one Christmas songs that, for me, ranks as traditionally one of the most depressing songs ever – Christmas Time Is Here and makes it compelling.

That’s my list of the best of what’s New In Music This Week: November 3^rd!

Enjoy the music and enjoy your weekend.

Main Photo: Francesco Clemente’s art as used on the cover of Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass (courtesy Nonesuch Records)