A Quick Delivery of Yuletide Joy

At only 18 minutes in length, BALSAM RANGE's 2017 Christmas EP, IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME, is memorable, moving and succinct.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Aesthetically Unified as One Romantic Brotherhood

On RHEINMÄDCHEN, France's all-female vocal chorus ENSEMBLE PYGMALION, conducted by RAPHAEL PICHON, assays, with an invigorating twist, Wagner, Schubert, Schumann, Johannes Brahms and others.
by David McGee
 

 

 

If the Magnificent Landscapes of Wales Sang…

JOSEPH NEWSOME of VOIX DES ARTS takes stock of a fine new setting of composer ALAN HODDINOTT's SONG CYCLES AND FOLK SONGS featuring NICKY SPENCE and CLAIRE BOOTH, among others.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Musical Wings to Transport the Soul

Considering the transportive effects of music, especially during a pandemic.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Feeling Nature’s Rhythms, Mystery and Spiritual Beauty

So Scottish composer/pianist ALEXANDER CHAPMAN CAMPBELL went for a long walk through Norway and lo! A beautiful album materialized...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Christmas Beyond the Blue

BLUES, BLUES CHRISTMAS VOLUME 3 leads this revised and updated review of four essential blues Christmas albums, including last year's DEATH MIGHT BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS
by David McGee
 

 

 

Randall Goosby: Style, Soul, Virtuosity

Young violinist RANDALL GOOSBY's debut album, ROOTS, is one of this year's most exciting classical music events. Herewith a sampling of the across-the-board plaudits album and artist alike are receiving for this most striking r...
by David McGee
 

 
 

The ‘Circular Music’ of Pellingmans’ Saraband

On its new album, TWENTY WAIES UPON THE BELS, PELLINGMANS' SARABAND explores 'circular music' from the 16th and 17th centuries, including a tune with verses written by imprisoned Anne Boylen.
by David McGee
 

 

 

From Earth’s Caves, A Better Understanding of Mars

Dr. Penny Boston is exploring some of the most extreme environments on earth--the Snowy River Cave, the Cave of Crystal Giants--both in New Mexico, n the land where Billy the Kid once roamed--on the educated guess that those re...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Springing Into Spring with Leslie Evans

Spring has sprung, and so has some fine new work by illustrator LESLIE EVANS, in Carole Gerber's new book, Spring Blossoms. Stop in as JULES chats with Leslie and shows off her latest seasonal illustrations.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Rossini on Rossini, Byron on Rossini

From his 1886 book From Mozart to Marvio V1: Reminiscences of a Half Century, Louis Engel discloses the composer Giochino Rossini's slightly jaundiced view of his own legacy; in correspondence to two friends in 1818, Lord Byron...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Equal Opportunity Vibe

Vintage Calypso is alive and well...in Berlin, where LORD MOUSE AND THE KALYPSO KATZ are packing 'em in with their swaying beats, hot horns and bold lyrics. Go Calypso is the group's new album, explained herein by Lord Mouse hi...
by David McGee