New In Music This Week: November 21st

The week before Thanksgiving is usually filled with a lot of new releases and this week is no exception. New In Music This week: November 21^st is filled primarily with new releases, but there are two exceptional reissues as well. If you’re a fan of the piano, you’re going to have a hard time choosing what to listen to first.

My top pick for New In Music This Week: November 21^st is:

CLASSICAL: OPUS 109 – Víkingur Ólafsson – Deutsche Grammophon

Pianist Ólafsson makes a mightily persuasive argument that there is thru line from Bach’s music through Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109 to Schubert’s Sonata in E minor, D. 566.

As one of our most passionate and intellectual of musicians, Ólafsson has done the heavy lifting for us. All we have to do is sit back, put on this excellent album, and let the music do the rest.

Opus 109 is not a fully linear album. It opens with Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier I: Prelude before going to Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90. He only offers the first two movements before moving on to Bach’s Partita No. 6 in E Minor. That’s followed by the early two movements of Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 6. 

You can listen to Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: I. Vivace ma non troppo – Adagio espressivo HERE.

Then it’s the piece that anchors this exploration, Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30. As one would expect, it is beautifully performed. But Ólafsson has one more idea to share on Opus 109. He plays Bach’s French Suite No. 6 in E Major II: Sarabande before returning to the final movement of Beethoven’s Op. 109.

One could make the argument that this is a thinking man’s approach to classical music. Certainly, Ólafsson is offering up plenty to think about. This music is performed so stunningly that it is deeply satisfying without needing to know anything more. That you get the opportunity to explore with Ólafsson more than just the performance makes Opus 109 an even richer experience.

Here are the other fine recordings that makes New In Music This Week: November 21st

CLASSICAL: Pur ti miro – Wu Wei/Martin Stegner/Janne Saksala – ECM New Series

Monteverdi and Bach are popular this week. But you probably haven’t quite heard their music performed on a sheng. It’s an ancient Chinese instrument that uses human breath into a reed instrument comprised of upright pipes. The sound it makes is beautiful and suits baroque music just fine.

Wu Wei performs on the sheng. Janne Saksala plays the double bass and Martin Stegner is on viola. Their performance of Bach’s Trio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat Major anchors the record. Monteverdi’s Si dolce è il tormentoand Pur ti mio from L’incoronazione di Poppea are all made more interesting by the addition of the sheng.

In addition to Monteverdi and Bach, this intoxicating new album includes music by Vivaldi and a Norwegian traditional bridal march, Bruremarsj frå Beiarn.

As Stegner says in the press notes, “An entirely new world of sound opened up for me.” I did for me, too as I’m sure it will for you.

CLASSICAL: SCHUBERT 4 HANDS – Bertrand Chamayou/Leif Ove Andsnes – Erato

Fans of Schubert’s Fantasia in F Minor have long chosen their favorite recordings amongst the many pianists who have recorded this emotional and popular work. Now they have another fine recording to add to their contemplations.

Pianists Chamayou and Andsnes have performed this work in concert previously. They clearly have both a shared passion for the Fantasia as well and a symmetrical approach to its performance.

You can listen to Fantasia for Piano Four-Hands in F Minor, Op. Posth. 103, D. 940: I. Allegro molto moderato HERE.

Andsnes is in the primo position for the Fantasia in F Minor. Chamayou is in the primo position for Schubert’s Allegro in A minor, D. 947 and the Fugue in E minor, D. 952 that follow the Fantasia  on this recording. Andsnes returns to the primo position for the final work on the record, Rondo in A major, D. 951.

I’ve never had a favorite recording before of this work. So for now, this is it. I will explore others, but die-hard fans of Schubert’s Fantasia in F Minor will find a worthy challenger to any other recordings they love.

CLASSICAL: TULEVAISUUS – Mackenzie Melemed – Bright Shiny Things

Pianist Melemed is offering up his own take on the relationship amongst very compositions. In the case of Tulevaisuus, he’s selected works by Bach, Liszt and Schumann that have been important to him. Then he’s asked three different composers to write new works in response to the works of those masters.

Stephen Hough’s Prelude and Fugue (Aeolian) was composed in response to Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 22 in B-Flat Minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1. Laura Kaminsky composed Threnody…October 2024 in response to Liszt’s Funérailles from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses. Avner Dorman composed Lament and Variations in response to Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann.

Hough, Kaminsky and Dorman’s works are all first-rate. I’ve long been a fan of Hough, his playing and his compositional skills. My response to his two pieces was not a surprise. They were thoughtful, clever and impressive.

Kaminsky and Dorman have written works that, in their own ways, examine grief and sorrow and the ways one can move beyond those feelings to a place of peace. Both works succeed brilliantly in taking listeners on that journey.

Melemed’s performance is solid throughout. At 30-years old he has the potential for quite an amazing career. I believe this is his first recording. What an impressive way to start.

CLASSICAL: UNCHARTED – Shawn Conley – In a Circle Records

Double bassist Conley tackles one of Bach’s most well-known pieces: Cello Suite No. 1. He plays the complete suite on this album, but weaves in his own improvisations on his instrument throughout the recording. 

It is refreshing to hear so popular a work performed so well and on a different instrument. The impact of the piece is not diminished one iota. It still is a powerful composition.

You can see and listen to Conley perform  “Improvisation – Courante & Sarabande (Bach Cello Suite No. 1)” HERE.

Conley’s improvisations are definitely modern but feel as though one hear see the influence of Bach in each and every one of those six improvisations. For instance, the freneticism of Soaring makes complete sense following the Prelude from Suite No. 1. Likewise, each of the subsequent originals allow listeners to easily feel the kinship between the new and old.

Unchartered is a mighty impressive album.

CLASSICAL: WINNER OF THE 19^th INTERNATIONAL FRYDERYK CHOPIN PIANO COMPETITION 2025 – Eric Lu – Deutsche Grammophon

Once you get beyond the truly awkward title of this album and into Lu’s performance of 8 works by Chopin, you’ll immediately recognize why he was named the recipient of the 2025 award.

Lu opens with Chopin’s Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor. A piece instantly recognizable to just about everyone. He follows with the Nocturne No. 7 also in C-Sharp Minor. Three mazurkas, one barcarolle and polonaise follow before he concludes with Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat Minor.

You can listen to Chopin’s “Waltz No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor HERE.

He has an assuredness to his playing that belies his youth. There is also a maturity and sensitivity that he possesses that makes it no surprise he won this competition. Let’s hope that this is the beginning of a lengthy career. If so, there are many more impressive recordings and performances ahead for us all.

Now about the title of this album…

JAZZ: BURNING WICK – Satoko Fujii Quartet – Libra Records

For those interested in jazz that overwhelmingly colors outside the lines, this thrilling album may be for you. There are elements of rock music here, some distinctly avant jazz components and some beautiful solos amidst some of the carefully constructed chaos.

Pianist/composer Fujii is joined by her quartet of 24 years which includes Hayakawa Takeharu on bass, Natsuki Tamura on trumpet and Tatsuya Yoshida on drums. The music they make is incredible on Burning Wick.

The album opens with Solar Orbit. It’s a track that starts quietly but later explodes into a well-thought-out cacophony of sounds. That’s followed by Rain in the Wee Small Hours (perhaps a nod to one of our other albums on this week’ list?) which is 9 minutes of changing tempos, fascinating solos and incredible conversation amongst the musicians.

The haunting beginning of Walking through the Border Town gives way to one of the more rock-oriented tracks on the album. Fujii’s solo that opens Neverending Summer ultimately becomes a conversation between her and her bandmates, first as a quartet, then followed by individual solos by each musician. Three Days Lateroffers some much-needed calm before the album concludes with the chaotic title track.

Burning Wick is not going to be for everyone. But how will you know if it’s for you unless you try it? I’m glad I did.

JAZZ: HAUNTED HEART: THE LEGENDARY RIVERSIDE STUDIO RECORDINGS – Bill Evans Trio – Craft Recordings

There are those who argue that the need for outtakes or alternate tracks from recording sessions are unnecessary. Leave the original albums alone. There are others, myself included, that love exploring the creative process through those various other takes.

Fans of Bill Evans who find themselves in the latter camp, have plenty to explore in this 5-LP/3-CD and or digital set. The main attraction here are the two legendary albums Evans recorded with bassist Scott LAFaro and drummer Paul Motian.

This includes 1960’s Portrait in Jazz and 1961’s Explorations. Along with these two great albums are 26 alternate takes and outtakes. Only nine of them had previously been released.

Take for example, Come Rain or Come Shine. The alternate takes are measurably different performances of the song. Some takes have fewer differences, but they are all endlessly fascinating.

JAZZ: LIVE AT CLIFF BELL’S VOL. II – Michael Sarian – Shifting Paradigm

This is the second volume of music from trumpeter/composer Sarian’s 2023 tour. He was on the road with his regular musicians: Nathan Ellman-Bell on drums, Marty Kenney on bass and Santiago Leibson on piano.

As someone born and raised in Los Angeles, I jumped straight to the penultimate track, Regarding Kobe. It’s a beautiful original by Sarian that inspired me to do the right thing and start at the very beginning. Someone once told that’s a very good place to start.

The more mellow Regarding Kobe is not reflective of the whole album. Tomasz Stańko’s First Song is the first song on the album and that sets the tone for what to expect.

You can listen to “First Song” from the album HERE.

They guys know how to swing, they know how to bop and they know how to improvise. 

Having been to Cliff Bell’s before, but not to hear a concert, I can picture in my mind what this quartet sounded like and felt like in that unique space.

JAZZ: MEMORIES OF HOME – John Scofield/Dave Holland – ECM 

After two tours it was perhaps inevitable that guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland would ultimately record an album together. Not that they haven’t been on albums together before. This would be the first time it would be just Scofield and Holland.

From the first minute of Icons at the Fair, the song that opens this exquisite album, you know you’re in for great music. It would be impossible for it to be otherwise. These are two guys at the pinnacle of their skills, creating great music. The entire album lives up to the promise of that opening minute.

You can listen to the title track HERE.

Scofield wrote five of the songs and Holland wrote four. Some might be familiar to die-hard fans, but these arrangements are different than any previously recorded versions.

The word sublime was created for albums like this.

JAZZ: MULTIDIRECTIONAL – Billy Hart – Smoke Sessions Records

Here’s another veteran musician showcasing his incredible musicianship. Drummer Hart, who began his recording career with Wes Montgomery back in 1961, is a legend. At almost 85 (next week) he’s earned the right to do what he wants.

Multidirectional tells us one key thing about Hart: he doesn’t want to rest on his laurels and take it easy. He continues to explore, experiment and examine all the intricacies of the music he plays. As he does on this live album.

Hart is joined here by pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Ben Street and tenor saxophonist Mark Turner. Imagine being in the room when this music was played. Wow!

You can listen to “Showdown” from “Multidirectional” HERE.

The opening track, Song for Balkis, begins with Hart alone. It’s a stunning solo that sets the tone for the entire recording. Once all four men are performing, it’s a master class in independently playing together. If that sounds oxymoronic, listen to this album.

They have played together for years and this is a quartet for the ages. Multidirectional is an album that proves that lengthy relationships can often lead to the best possible music.

OPERA: ORFEO SON IO – Rolando Villazón/L’Arpeggiata/Christina Pluhar – Deutsche Grammophon

Greek mythology is explored through the works of composers Bonfá, Brunelli, Caccini, Gardel, Gluck and most importantly Monteverdi on this robust and thrilling new album from tenor Villazón.

He’s front and center in this recording that documents his collaboration with Pluhar and L’Arpeggiata. There’s a reason this was successful for them. Thematically it works and the performances of this music bring a vibrancy to the 22 pieces selected.

The opening track, Antonio Brunelli’s Scherzi, Arie, Canzonette e Madrigali, Op. 10: Non avea Febo ancorasets the tone for the entire album. Even in more serious moments, such as Monteverdi’s Tu se’ morta from Act II of L’Orfeo, this is an utterly compelling recording.

You can listen to Brunelli: Scherzi, Arie, Canzonette e Madrigali, Op. 10: Non avea Febo ancora HERE.

None of the works is presented as a museum piece. They are presented as important parts of the canon composed by Monteverdi and his contemporaries. Bravo indeed!

VOCALS: IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS – Frank Sinatra – Blue Note Tone Poet – VINYL REISSUE

Easily considered one of Frank Sinatra’s finest albums, In the Wee Small Hours, gets a 70^th anniversary Audiophile Vinyl Series release from Blue Note Records. With arrangements by Nelson Riddle, this album is a cycle of songs about heartbreak and love that could never be.

Amongst the songs are Mood Indigo, I Get Along Without You Very Well, Last Night When We Were Young and Ill Wind.

This vinyl release used the original analog master tapes. According to the press release, this was one of the first “pop albums to be released on 12-inch LP.” 

Now that it’s being reissued, you can hear exactly why Tom Waits put this album on the top of his 20 most cherished albums of all time in a column in The Guardian in March of 2005. He said, “The idea being you put this record on after dinner and by the last song you are exactly where you want to be.”

That’s all for New In Music This Week: November 21^st.

Enjoy your week! Enjoy the music!

Main Photo: Part of the album art for Víkingur Ólafsson’s Opus 109 (courtesy Deutsche Grammophon)