One change of note for New In Music, I am limiting the list to no more than the ten best releases of any given week. 

Here’s my top pick for New In Music: November 15^th:

TOP PICK: CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: LAND OF WINTER – DONNACHA DENNEHY – Nonesuch Records

The late actor John Hurt once told me that the best time to visit Ireland would be in May or late September. I hadn’t thought of his recommendation in quite some time until I heard this arresting new album from composer Dennehy.

Land of Winter is a 12-part composition with each part reflecting a month of the year. The composition begins in December and ends in November.  The first video is from July (the eighth section.) You can watch it HERE.

I wasn’t familiar with Dennehy’s music prior to hearing Land of Winter. I was, however, familiar with Alarm Will Sound and Alan Pierson who perform on this recording. They are masters of performing new music.

You don’t often hear of tone poems anymore, but Land of Winter is, to me, a contemporary tone poem. One that makes me want to book my trip to Ireland regardless of what month I go. I hope you’ll book time to hear this record!

Here is the rest of New in Music: November 15^th:

CLASSICAL MEETS JAZZ:  BEETHOVEN BLUES – JON BATISTE – Verve Records / Interscope

This is the first of two releases this week that has one feet in the classical realm and the other in jazz/blues. Pianist/composer Jon Batiste brings his unique musical expression to the works of Beethoven.

These are all solo piano variations on Beethoven’s music including such popular works as Für Elise (ask any piano student which composition that is), Ode to Joy (from the 9^th Symphony); Moonlight Sonata, the 5^th Symphony and my personal favorite of this collection, Waldstein Wobble which takes the Piano Sonata No. 21 as its inspiration.

It isn’t uncommon for musicians to re-imagine classical works. Amongst my favorites is the way pianist Marcus Roberts put a new spin on George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on his Portrait in Blue album.

Batiste is a fine musician and a smart composer. This is a thoroughly enjoyable album that will be a safe space for people who are afraid of classical music. The hope is once they are engaged with Beethoven Blues they might listen to some of the originals. Which may be Batiste’s goal in the first place.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL:  PLAYFAIR SONATAS – ETHAN IVERSON – Ulricht Audiovisual

This is second of two new releases that blurs the lines between classical music and jazz. Iverson, long known primarily as a jazz musician (and one of the most intelligent jazz musicians), composed works within the sonata form.

There’s a violin sonata , a marima sonata, a sonata for clarinet, one for trombone, another for alto saxophone and yet another for trumpet. Almost all are instruments strongly associated with jazz.

To further his playing around with genres, Iverson (who plays piano on this recording), called on classical musicians to join him: Miranda Cuckson on violin; Tim Leopold on trumpet; Mike Lormand on trombone; Carol McGonnell on clarinet; Makoto Nakura on marimba and Taimur Sullivan on saxophone.

The album cover makes you think this will be a playful album. And I suppose on some levels it is. But it’s also a solidly written, produced and performed addition to the contemporary classical music canon – one filled with plenty of references to legendary jazz musicians which you can hear throughout. And if you can’t, he’s written notes to explain each piece and its inspiration.

Playfair Sonatas is an album I will return to over and over again.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL: NGWENYAMA: FLOW – TAKÁCS QUARTET – Hyperion Records

In the opening 30 seconds of Flow, I was questioning whether or not I would be able to go with the flow of Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s music. But go with it I did and I couldn’t be happier.

This is an incredible composition performed brilliantly by Takács Quartet. This is a short recording. It’s just under 22 minutes. But I strongly recommend listening to it with no distractions. Just put on the music and let it wash all over you. I guarantee you’ll be surprised by how compelling and beautiful it is.

You can watch Takács Quartet perform the third movement from Flow HERE.

JAZZ:  CHASING SHADOWS – ZACC HARRIS – Shifting Paradigm Records

Guitarist Harris is one of the most revered jazz musicians in Minnesota. But the rest of the world caught up with him upon the release of his album, Small Wonders. 

This tight album of eight original tracks finds Harris joined by Chris Bates on bass; Pete James Johnson on drums; Bryan Nichols on piano and Brandon Wozniak on tenor saxophone.

The absolute stand-out tracks for me on this album are Worlds Apart which truly showcases all four musicians and the last track, This Day, a beautiful ballad.

JAZZ:  CITY LIGHTS: THE OSCAR PETERSON QUARTET – LIVE IN MUNICH, 1994 – OSCAR PETERSON QUARTET – Mack Avenue Records

Who doesn’t like a comeback story? This album is documentation of pianist/composer Oscar Peterson’s comeback after a stroke the previous year which left him unable to use his left hand.

Like any hero of a comeback story, his persistence and countless hours of physical therapy allowed Peterson to return to live performance. This 78-minute recording was his second concert after his recovery.

The album opens with There Will Never Be Another Year in a performance that is lively  – to say the least. No sign of weakness here. Amongst the remaining 8 tracks are five original Peterson compositions.

Peterson is joined by Martin Drew on drums; Lorne Lofsky on guitar and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on bass (who composed Samba Petite which appears on the album as a solo for him.)

I love the theme to Rocky, but I’ll take Peterson’s redemption as much more inspiring.

MODERN OPERA:  THE ROMANCE OF THE ROSE – KATE SOPER – New Focus Recordings

Composer Soper sums up her opera best when she said that it “is a good receptable for the messy complexity of the human condition in general.” This is a work that grabs you by the throat with all the trials and tribulations that being alive offers.

Joining Soper, who sings the role of “Shame,” are Ty Bouque, Phillip Bullock, Ariadne Greif, Anna Schubert, Devony Smith and Lucas Steele. The Wet Ink Ensemble (of which Soper is a member) also performs.

Certainly, this is not going to be a recording for those who aren’t willing to go there. Soper asks that audiences go there from the outset of most of her works. This first video, Meet Shame, is no exception.

But those who do will understand why Soper is one of the most daring composers working today and why she receives accolades and commissions on a regular basis. 

MUSICAL ADJACENT:  AMERICAN RAILROAD – SILKROAD ENSEMBLE with RHIANNON GIDDENS – Nonesuch Records               

This isn’t a musical. But it is a song cycle performed as a sung-through work by the Silkroad Ensemble. One that tells a specific story about the building of railroads in America and the people who did that work – people history doesn’t remember.

It’s a deeply powerful work that, I believe, is more successful than many a musical. You can watch them perform Mahk Jchi HERE.

Contributing to American Railroad are newly commissioned songs by Suzanne Kite, Wu Man and Cécile McLorin Salvant. The rest of the recording came from various members of Silkroad Ensemble and Giddens.

Hearing this recording makes me regret not having seen the show when I had the chance. Simply put, this is not just great music, it’s important work.

That’s all for New In Music This Week: November 15^th.

Enjoy your weekend!

Enjoy the music!

Main Photo: Album art for Ethan Iverson’s Playfair Sonatas (Courtesy Ulrich’s AudioVisual)

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