You might want to beware the Ides of March, but not New In Music This Week: March 14th. There’s some great music, new and old, for you to enjoy.
My top choice this week is:
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL/MUSICALS: LIAISONS II: ALL THINGS BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL – Anthony de Mare – AVIE Records
When I first heard that pianist Anthony de Mare had commissioned additional composers for his project of Re-Imaginging Sondheim from the Piano, I was excited to hear the line-up included many of my favorite contemporary composers.
I got a chance to hear some of the new adaptations of music composed by Stephen Sondheim when de Mare performed a concert at Royce Hall in April of 2022.
Three years later we have an album and oh, can that boy play the piano. None of this work is easy, but it is all utterly compelling.
The composers contributing arrangements for Liaisons II are Timo Andres, Jon Batiste, Jeff Beal, Mark Bennett, Christopher Cerrone, Ted Hearne, Stephen Hough, Meredith Monk, Paola Prestini, Kevin Puts, Max Richter, March Schubring, Conrad Tao and de Mare himself.
What’s also impressive about this album is that it isn’t filled with just the songs you’d expect. I was very happy to hear interpretations of three songs from Assassins; two songs from Pacific Overtures and Goodbye For Now written for Warren Beatty’s film Reds.
I feel just as strongly about this album as I did the first volume (which you should check out if you haven’t already.)
Here are the other fine releases that are New In Music This Week: March 14th:
CLASSICAL: BOULT’S ELGAR – Adrian Boult/BBC Symphony Orchestra – Somm Recordings
Conductor Sir Adrian Boult was renowned for his approach to British composers. Makes sense since he was British. Amongst the composers whose music brought out the best of him was that of Edward Elgar. Boult was one of Elgar’s fiercest advocates.
This 2-CD set* (remember CDs?) includes performances from 1944 up through 1967. Included is Elgar’s In the South; Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major; ten unaccompanied choral songs which feature the BBC Chorus and about 51 minutes of interviews with Boult talking about Elgar.
This is certainly of interest to fans of Elgar’s music and the man who believed passionately in the composer’s work. *It is also available for streaming.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: WITNESS – Kronos Quartet/Mary Kouyoumdjian – Phenotypic Recordings
I challenge anyone not to be immediately moved by Groung (Crane) on this powerful record featuring the music of composer Mary Kouyoumdjian. WITNESS lives up to its name in the second track, Bombs of Beirut.
Kouyoumdjian combines unsettling music with the sounds of war along with interviews with her loved ones discussing what it’s like to be living in a country during a time of war.
Other tracks reflect her response to the pandemic, George Floyd’s murder and the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
It isn’t all beautiful, but it is, in my opinion, thought-provoking, moving and necessary.
As one would expect, the Kronos Quartet performs brilliantly.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: BLUES SYMPHONY – Wynton Marsalis/Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Pentatone
Throughout Wynton Marsalis’s career he was explored the American experience and its history through music. His 2009 Blues Symphony is one prime example of his approach to music and storytelling. With each movement of this work you know where you are and what’s going on.
The music is exciting, emotional and evocative. The 7-movement work opens with Born in Hope and concludes with Dialogue in Democracy. I can’t speak for Marsalis and his politics, but I felt this music reflects a world which, in some ways, we sorely need right now.
This is the first commercial recording for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with their music director Jader Bignamini. This recording was done over three days in their Orchestra Hall. Great start!
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: COLLECTED WORKS – Steve Reich – Nonesuch Records
What are you doing for the next 24 hours? One thing you can do is listen to every track of this 27-disc box set. The runtime is 22 hours, but I’m allowing a little time to use the bathroom and grab some food.
Nonesuch has compiled all the recordings of Reich’s music the label has made in 40 years with them. Two new works are included in their first-ever recordings: 2020’s Traveler’s Prayer and 2023’s Jacob’s Ladder.
For those who purchase the box set (versus streaming it) there are numerous essays and appreciations from Timo Andres, Nico Muhly, Michael Tilson Thomas and more.
It’s quite an impressive journey from 1966’s Come Out to Jacob’s Ladder. The full scope of Reich’s work is right here for you to explore.
JAZZ: BLUES FOR SMOKE – Jaki Byard – Candid Records
This is a reissue of pianist/composer Byard’s 1960 album – one that was never released in the US on vinyl. (It’s re-issued today in all formats). It surprises me that this album wasn’t released here until a CD release in 1988.
Byard is on his own here. It’s just this incredible musician and his piano performing all songs he wrote. 39 minutes of pure musical joy in a variety of jazz styles.
Byard was influential to a whole generation of artists including Fred Hersch who studied with him.
Simply put, this album is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and lighten up even the darkest days.
JAZZ: RENAISSANCE – Nicolas Masson – ECM Records
It’s been seven years since tenor saxophone player Masson recording an album for ECM. He is once again joined by Lionel Friedli on drums; Patrice Moret on double bass and Colin Vallon on piano.
The close-knit relationship these four musicians have is beautifully expressed on Renaissance. It’s an album that goes from very quiet and contemplative to more propulsive music that has some groove.
Masson says in the press notes that he entitled the album Renaissance because, “It feels like the beginning of something new in my artistic endeavor.” I’m looking forward to what that something new becomes over the years and hope it won’t be another seven years!
MUSICALS: MAYBE HAPPY ENDING – Original Broadway Cast Recording – Ghostlight Records
This recording of the Will Aronson and Hue Park musical is going to be embraced by people who have already seen this musical and those who haven’t.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen star as two different models of robots who go from one small interaction into a possible serious relationship. Robot love at its finest.
Critics have raved about Maybe Happy Ending and one listen of this recording lets you in on why: the performances are terrific and the songs are clever and entertaining. Jesse Green, in his review for the New York Times, said of the songs that they are, “stylistically landing somewhere between Bacharach and Sondheim. That’s a very nice place to land.”
The best cast recordings don’t just serve as a souvenir of a show you’ve seen and loved; they work as enticement to go see the show. This recording of Maybe Happy Ending has put the show high on my list of ones to see next time I’m in New York.
That’s all for New In Music This Week: March 14th. Enjoy your weekend! Enjoy the music!
Main Photo: Part of the album art for Anthony de Mare’s Liaisons II: All Things Bright and Beautiful (Courtesy AVIE Records)