Happy Grammy Friday to everyone who was nominated. Last week the goblins took over for Halloween, so I didn’t get a New In Music column out. New In Music This Week: November 7th has three titles from last week and nine from this week’s releases.
Since there are more than my usual 10 titles and two weeks of releases, I’m not going to make a top pick. Go on this musical journey with me this week and hear it all. There are truly exciting and interesting releases found in Cultural Attaché’s New In Music This Week: November 7th.
CLASSICAL MUSIC: ANDRÉ TCHAIKOWSKY – TWO PIANO CONCERTOS / PIANO SONATA – Peter Jablonski/Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra/Łukasz Borowicz – Ondine
This marks the first recording of Polish composer Tchaikowsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 which was composed in 1956-1957. Jablonski’s album also features the first studio recording of his Piano Concerto No. 2.
Listening to the first piano concerto sounds like a work by a composer influenced by Prokofiev. Yet Tchaikowsky maintains his individuality in all four movements of this concerto. Of the two concerti on this recording, the first is my favorite.
You can listen to the 4th movement from “Piano Concerto No.1” HERE.
Not to diminish my respect for Piano Concerto No. 2. This is also a very intriguing concerto filled with challenging passages for the soloist. It’s also very fascinating. Both works should be considered for inclusion for orchestras and soloists worldwide.
Since Jablonski so expertly plays these pieces, I hope audiences will get to see and hear him do these works. His playing is perfection.
Of absolutely no relevance to this recording, but definitely a curiosity, Tchaikowsky donated his skull to the Royal Shakespeare Company in hopes they would use it in a production of Hamlet. David Tennant used that skull in a 2008 production of the play – 25 plus years after Tchaikowsky passed away.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: CABINET OF CURIOSITIES – Delirium Musicum – Warner Classics/Erato
There aren’t too many albums that would find music by Samuel Barber, Philip Glass, Bernard Herrmann, Jisoo Lee, Arvo Pärt, Florence Beatrice Price, Jean-Féry Rebel, Nicholas Roubanis, Erik Satie, Franz Schubert and Gabriella Smith living side-by-side.
But this delightfully idiosyncratic album is where they do. Delirium Musicum is chamber orchestra with talent to spare and their tongue in cheek. There is no timidity in their approach to music and they relish any opportunity to provide excitement or ecstasy in their performances. Thus, their name.
Many of the pieces performed here will be familiar to you, just not necessarily as chamber works. Like the album’s opening track, Misirlou. If you’ve seen Pulp Fiction, you’ll know that one. You’ll also recognize The Murder from Psycho and Barber’s Adagio for Strings.
You can listen to “Danse Macabre” from “Cabinet of Curiosities” HERE.
Lee’s Jindo Arira, Rebel’s Les Élémens, Glass’s Echorus and Pärt’s Slouan’s Song may be less-well known.
But they all come together in a dizzyingly wonderful album.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: FOUND OBJECTS / SOUND OBJECTS – Marc-André Hamelin – Hyperion Records
I’ll listen to anything pianist/composer Hamelin records and this album is no exception. Found Objects / Sound Objects opens with Ruth Is Sleeping by Frank Zappa. Yes, you read that correctly. That gives you an idea what this album has in store for us.
4 of the 7 works on this phenomenally performed album are from the 20th century. They include the Zappa composition, John Cage’s The Perlious Night from 1944, Stuck on Stella by Salvatore Martirano andPassacaglia by Stefan Wolpe (which I absolutely love.)
The 21st century works are Tip by John Oswald; Refrain by Yehudi Wyner and Hexensabbat by Hamelin. Once again, Hamelin proves just as compelling a composer as he is a performer.
You can listen to “Tip” from “Found Objects / Sound Objects” HERE.
A quick note about Tip. Have fun picking up all the references built in Oswald’s work from 2021. They aren’t all classical works. It’s a fun piece on an album that continually intrigues and delights.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: GAÏA – Gautier Capuçon – Erato Records
Mother Earth is the inspiration for the 17 new compositions on this album by cellist Capuçon. The title comes from name of the Greek goddess of Earth.
He was able to commission new works by a veritable who’s who of contemporary composers: Armand Amar, Jasmine Barnes, Olivia Belli, Michael Canitrot, Bryce Dessner, Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Ludovico Eindaudi, Savier Foley, Joe Hisaishi, Missy Mazzoli, Gabriela Montero, Nico Muhly, Max Richter, Abel Selaocoe and Ayanna Witter-Johnson. Quenton Blache, whose Of Wind and Rain is one of the final four tracks, was selected blindly selected by Capuçon from the 2023 Emerging Black Composers Project.
There are solo works and others that find Capuçon joined by a few of the composers and others with pianists, a vocalist and a cello ensemble. Throughout the compositions are alluring, thoughtful and emotional. As is Capuçcon’s playing.
You can watch Capuçon’s video for “Sequence” by Max Richter from “Gaïa” HERE.
This is a wonderful project fully realized.
Gautier Capuçon will be performing Gaïa at San Francisco Symphony’s Davies Symphony Hall on November 16th. It is the only date on his schedule where he will be doing this program. For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: POLYPTYCH: EMOVERE – Camilla Caldwell – Imaginary Animals
Violinist/composer Caldwell explores her own neurodivergent life in this 5-track album whose titles tell you everything you need to know: The Sound of Space Between Us, Heart Unheard, The Illusory Nature of Unbearable Optimism, Dark Torment and Catharsis.
Annie Nikunen composed The Sound of Space Between Us and the arrangement is by Caldwell. The other four pieces were composed by Caldwell.
You can listen to “Heart Unheard” from the album HERE.
She deftly combines acoustic violin with electronics and a multi-tracked electro-acoustic violin. She creates music that functions as a soundscape and a soundscape that functions as music. Like Alice in the looking glass, she tempts us to go beyond what is known and into something new and less familiar.
The website for the album says “listeners are encouraged to discover their own meaning and resonance within each piece.” That is completely unavoidable. That’s what makes this recording one of this week’s picks.
JAZZ: BOP CONTEST – Mark Sherman – Miles High Records
To understand the depth of Mark Sherman’s talents, one need look no further than the last track on Bop Contest.
Best-known for his killer skills on the vibes, Sherman has been taking time out in recent albums to explore his craft as a pianist. Bop Contest closes with Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer’s Skylark. It’s a duet for vibes and piano and Sherman plays both.
Before he gets there, he’s giving listeners a ride through two originals, two Cedar Walton tunes, My One and Only Love as a bossa nova and Oliver Nelson’s 111-44 (one of my favorite tracks on this album).
You can listen to 111-44 from “Bop Contest” HERE.
Why is this wonderful? Look at the musicians who have joined him for Bop Contest: drummer Carl Allen, legendary bassist Ron Carter, guest trumpeter Joe Magnarelli and pianist Donald Vega. That line-up is going to happen for just anyone.
JAZZ: BY ALL MEANS!! – Aaron Parks – Blue Note Records
This has been a great year for jazz pianists (and even those who use exclamation points in their titles – see Paul Cornish’s You’re Exaggerating!).
Pianist/composer Aaron Parks wrote all seven tunes on this sublime album. He’s joined by drummer Billy Hart and bassist Ben Street, as they have been part of his trio for years. This album finds tenor saxophonist Ben Solomon joining to make this an acoustic quartet album. Solomon’s tasty playing adds another level to Parks’ already impressive music.
Like several of his contemporaries, Parks knows the legacy of music behind him and uses that to explore how he and his bandmates can take that into the present day and beyond.
Those who know a bit about Parks will discover that there are some autobiographically inspired songs on By All Means!! The second track, Parks Lope, is certainly a reference to his many years in Brooklyn. For María José was composed for his wife.
You can listen to “Parks Lope” from “by all means!!” HERE.
Simply put, this is a gorgeous album filled with new music that, by all means, will become jazz standards for generations of musicians who follow.
JAZZ: HIKMAH – Pat Thomas – TAO Forms
Certain albums just grab you from the first few seconds. Hikmah is one of those albums. Pianist/composer Thomas is alone with his piano. His relationship with his instrument is deeply personal on Hikmah.
The eight tracks, a combination of improvised and composed pieces, take listeners on a journey that is deeply spiritual, certainly personal and ultimately bordering on transcendent.
You can listen to the title track from “Hickmah” HERE.
That’s not to say this is just a quiet album. Thomas uses every part of the 88 keys available to him. From the low rumble of the lowest notes to the grace of the highest, Thomas and his piano offer something sorely needed today – an opportunity to take a breath, tune out the world and explore something otherworldly.
JAZZ: LIVE IN SAINT LOUIS, SENEGAL – Raphaël Pannier – Miel Music
Amongst the original songs on this electrifying live album by drummer/composer Pannier and his band are songs by Dave Brubeck, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane. I can assure you that you’ve never heard Take Five, Lonely Woman and Naima like they are performed here.
Pannier, who is 35, worked with sabar master Khadim Niang for a year before the concert captured here from May of 2024. This traditional Senegalese drum is prominently featured throughout this album.
Joining Pannier for these concerts (and on this album) are pianist Thomas Enhco, bassist François Moutin and saxophonist Yosvany Terry. Niang also performs with a group of eight other percussionists: Cheikh Ndiaye Baba, Bathie Gueye, Fallou Gueye, Mouhamed Niang, Papa Madiodio Niang, Yoro Niang and Abdou Salam Sy.
You can listen to “Take Five” from “Live in Saint Louis, Senegal” HERE.
I often find that live albums lack the ability to fully capture the energy that the audience experienced. Live in Saint Louis fully documents what those in attendance for the two concerts used to make this album witnessed.
I hope they filmed it, too, so we can see all this great music as it happened.
JAZZ: LOVE AND ANGER – Theo Bleckmann – Sunnyside Communications
I think this record joins Cabinet of Curiosities as a collection of strange bedfellows. But it does so in just as fascinating a way.
Vocalist Bleckmann has recorded songs by The Beatles, Kate Bush (not a surprise if you know his album Reason), Janis Ian, Sheila Jordan, Frank Ocean, Henry Purcell, Sylvester and a couple traditional gospel songs.
But nothing is traditional here and that’s what makes Love and Anger so interesting. You may not immediately recognize songs you know (You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away and Mighty Real are prime examples of that), but you’ll certainly fall, as I did, for his performances and these arrangements.
You can listen to Theo Bleckmann sing “Mighty Real” from “Love and Anger” HERE.
With this album Bleckmann offers a truly satisfying emotional rollercoaster that ultimately gives way to acceptance and peace.
JAZZ: OLD KNEW – GREGORY GROOVER, JR. – Criss Cross
Saxophonist/composer Groover wrote 10 of the 11 tracks on this outstanding record. The lone cover is of Jason Moran’s Retrograde. Along with his fellow musicians (pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Harish Raghavan, vibraphonist Joel Ross and drummer Kendrick Scott), Groover has created an album that offers musical insights into his upbringing.
His father is a pastor in Boston and several of the tunes reference him and their church. They include Good Sir, 551 and Go For Broke. There is a tune about his grandfathers and a separate one for his grandmothers. There’s also a tune about the street where he lived as a child.
You can listen to “551” from “Old Knew” HERE.
If this fine music is any indication, he had an amazing upbringing. This is not the music of a tortured soul, but rather of a deeply soulful man who, at the tender age of 32, is making music that betrays his youth.
It doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded himself with great musicians and a great producer in Walter Smith III.
MUSICALS: DEATHLESS – Original Studio Cast Recording -Ghostlight Records
This musical by Zack Zadek was performed in June of 2017 at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut. What, if any, work has been done on this musical in the years that followed, I couldn’t tell you.
But I will let you know that this quiet musical certainly has a lot going for it.
The premise is a half-family drama/half-futuristic tale. The press notes begin the synopsis by stating that “In a world where the cure for aging and natural death has been released in America…” There’s the futuristic tale half of it.
The family drama involves the Serlings who, after the death of the mother, take a road trip to Niagara Falls. Along the way they do some significant soul-searching that involves the futuristic part of the story.
You can listen to “A Life” from “Deathless” HERE.
The songs are mostly quiet. Who wants a big boisterous number about death in a show like this? They are sung beautifully by Kevin Atwater, Jeremy Jordan, Sara Kays, Maia Reficco and Nicolette Robinson.
I think fans of musicals like Fun Home might find much to appreciate here.
That’s all for New In Music This Week: November 7th. Enjoy your weekend! Enjoy the music!
Main Photo: Part of the album art for Camilla Caldwell’s Polyptych: Emovere (Courtesy Imaginary Animals)