Category Archives: Music

Triakel’s Vintervisor

Originally intended as a Christmas CD, Triakel’s second release developed a broader theme while the trio was in the studio — winter. And not just any winter, a Swedish winter. This beautiful follow-up to 1998’s eponymous Triakel celebrates not just Yuletide, … Continue reading

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Ben E. King’s The Complete ATCO/Atlantic Singles Vol. 1—1960-1966 (2-CD Set)

The release of this comprehensive set of Ben E. King’s complete ATCO/Atlantic singles was, sadly, well-timed. King, who died in April 2015, was one of the great soul singers of his generation. This is the first of two planned sets, … Continue reading

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Grex Vocalis’ Magnum Mysterium

Magnum Mysterium is a collection of choral music around the celebration of the birth of Christ — the Magnum Mysterium that has provided such a rich heritage for Christmas celebrations. Although Grex Vocalis is a Norwegian group, the disc also … Continue reading

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Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Boy Named Charlie Brown

A half-century ago, the Los Angeles-based jazz label Fantasy released an album that was essentially the soundtrack to a film that was never shown. It came out in a beautiful, full-color, double-gatefold jacket and included lots of additional color artwork … Continue reading

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Jenna Moynihan’s Woven

If you like Scottish-style fiddling, Jenna Moynihan’s Woven ought to be on your list of top releases of 2015. This young American fiddler has made an album of traditional and trad-style contemporary fiddle tunes that is bursting with contained energy … Continue reading

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Various Artists, Jul i Folkton

There comes a time every year when anyone with a recording history seems compelled to go into the studio to record an album of Christmas songs, old ones or newly written. The results vary. Sometimes we get brilliant innovative albums … Continue reading

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Claude Debussy’s Noel des Enfants Qui N’ont Plus De Maisons (Christmas Carol for Homeless Children)

Though Claude Debussy is one of my favorite composers, I hadn’t heard “Noel des Enfants Qui N’ont Plus De Maisons” (“Christmas Carol for Homeless Children”) until recently. It’s on soprano Carmen Balthrop’s lovely CD The Art of Christmas, Vol. 1. It’s … Continue reading

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On Charles Ives

Barb has a story worth hearing at length, so get a mug of your favourite libation and she’ll tell her tale: The most memorable concert of my life was one I had the pleasure to be involved with. Fortunately, my involvement … Continue reading

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Jethro Tull’s Merry Christmas from Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull

In the winter of 2003 Jethro Tull issued their first full-fledged Christmas album. It was called, creatively enough, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album and it featured Tullish renditions of some classic carols, along with a selection of songs written by … Continue reading

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John Fogerty’s The Long Road Home: In Concert

Though Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the best bands of the Sixties, I’m more fond of the recordings of post-CCR carrier of vocalist John Fogerty. And his best recordings are by far the concert recordings, both the legit ones … Continue reading

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