The Whole Music Experience

Pandit Shivnath and Deobrat Mishra The Lincoln Theatre Mount Vernon, Washington May 29, 2008 I do not know why it was not front page news that internationally renowned Sitarists--father and son duo, Pandit Shivath and Deobrat Mishra were making a special appearance in town. Certainly folks here could get an eyeful of positive news, of a music that spreads peace and love instead of fear, but sadly, even with the wonderful efforts of the concert promoters, Elfa Gisla and Diane Light, this concert did not receive the fanfare it so deserved. Imagine playing second fiddle to rising gas prices and other gloom. However, for those who did attend the concert held at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Old Town, Mount Vernon, there was plenty of fanfare in the guise of fiery rhythms, and melodic phrases that brought chills to my spine due to the sheer beauty they possessed. The audience for the most part, appeared educated in regard to classical Indian music, many of them having come of age...

Sondre Bratland This Dream We Have Kirkelig Kulturverksted Now in his 70s, Sondre Bratland released a new recording, This Dream We Have . The recording features simple instrumental arrangements that provide a light backdrop for Bratland's signature vocals. Bratland also surfs through a variety of musical genres which he has grown fond of over the years, ballads, folk songs, a little bit of Latin music ( Dream and reality ), and country western. However this CD also has been spiced with a jazz element. Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge's poems provide the text for this recording. Multi-instrumentalist Knut Reiersrud, fiddle player Annbjorg Lien, drummer Helge Norbakken and multi-instrumentalist Matthias Eick (double-bass, trumpet and vibraphone), bring a palette of vibrant colors and textures to the recording. I Always Expect to Find features understated guitar, sultry trumpet, and the chime of vibraphone. In fact, this is the second Norwegian recording in the past weeks in...

Conjunto Jardìn Yerba Buena Trova Recordings California-based Conjunto Jardìn has released its third son jarocho recording, Yerba Buena . Led by vocalists and lute-playing sisters, Libby and Cindy Harding, this group does not just deliver the traditional Mexican jarocho, but Pan-American music complete with Andean pipes on La Culebra , salsa rhythms on Fandanguito de los Muertos , and Colombian rhythms on El Ahualulco . You might not call it pure traditional, but this music is purely delightful. La Vieja features lush call & response vocals with added guest vocalists, Mari Riddle and Ericka Verba. And following that song, is the groovy cover of Procol Harum's Conquistador with Gary Johnson's 70s psychedelic organ booming throughout. Fandanguito de los Muertos (mentioned earlier), offers two musical genres for the price of one, ending out with rousing salsa. Just as other journalists have noted, this music does present a lot of twists and turns, as well as, ...

Various Artists Sanger Om Sarbarhet (Songs of vulnerability) Kirkelig Kulturverksted Music once again lends itself to healing emotional, physical and spiritual issues. Twelve Norwegian artists contribute their healing songs to the compilation album Songs of vulnerability which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the baths at Modum--a residential psychotherapy, education and research center in Norway. "While Modum Bad specializes in helping people with psychological problems, it is also a cultural institution with a 40 year history of arranging public concerts where these two aspects of their activities are combined." The Grand Hall and Olav's Church have served as concert venues and some of the performers that have performed in those venues include many KKV artists such as: Ketil Bjornstad, Randi Stene, Aage Kvalbein, Sondre Bratland, Tone Hulbaekmo, Elias Akselsen and Lars Bremnes… Those same artists reappear on this live recording. Highlights include Lars B...

Andràs Schiff Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas Vol. VI ECM New Series Hungarian classical pianist Andràs Schiff took up the gauntlet of recording the Beethoven cycle (piano sonatas) in order. Ludwig van Beethoven The Piano Sonatas, Volume VI brings us up to the period between 1804 and 1810, during which the infamous "Appassionata" was composed. The works on this recording, Sonatas #22 through #26, explore a vast range of emotions, colors and textures--a range that seems like a piece of cake in Schiff's expressive hands. I have reviewed volumes II and III of this series and have been astounded by Schiff's immense gift as a pianist. While he fits into the realm of virtuoso, he does not appear to be showing off. His playing is absent of bravado and full of humanity, not to mention curiosity towards Beethoven's life and music, since one informs the other. Not only that, one of my favorite things to do is to crank up the volume on these recordings so...