Mark Levine & the Latin Tinge

Product Description
It’s that excitement when you hear the first strains of a gig and you just know that something special is about to go down, when the goose bumps emerge and somewhere in the depths of your soul a smile breaks. Mark Levine, along with his crew The Latin Tinge, deliver a superbly groovy and tasteful Latin Jazz set, filled with meaty montunos, muscular solos and the kind of inspiration usually reserved for nights in front of a sold out audience. As the band kicks in after Mark's piano intro of "Airegin," the energy immediately rises, and you know something special is unfolding.

Mark Levine is a jazz maverick whose musical resumé reads like a jazz fan's dream festival. Called "one of the truly fine pianists of our time" (Art Lande), Mark shows on this album that beyond his work with Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo or Poncho Sanchez, he has earned his place in Latin Jazz history. In the early 1960's, Mark attended Boston University, but spent more time on the Berklee School of Music campus, hanging around clubs like the Jazz Workshop since playing jazz in the practice rooms at BU was forbidden. He went on to study with legendary pianist Jaki Byard, and rounded out his practical education on gigs with Woody Shaw, Eddie Henderson, David Liebman and Blue Mitchell. Playing with Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo and Cal Tjader sparked his interest in Latin Jazz. A San Francisco Bay Area resident for many years, Mark is highly revered, whether as guru to young jazz disciples who cling to the Jazz Piano Book he penned in 1990 (referred to by Jazz Pianists as the "bible"), composer to artists like Tito Puente and Nuyorican Soul, or simply as jazz pianist extraordinaire to luminaries like Carmen McCrae or Joe Henderson.

Dizzy Gillespie once said that what he played was rhythm first and from there he filled out the rhythm with pitches. In that vein, there is a ferocious groove underlying everything Mark plays, though his lines are fluid and his harmonies complex. He’s a master at block chord solos, revamping harmonies at a chorus’ notice, and his unique montuno voicings may well be on their way to becoming signature "Levine montunos." On "Hey, It’s Me You’re Talking To," he releases flurries of variations effortlessly and choosing to land softly or come back with definitive rhythmic punches. At moments like the theme for "Lil’s Paradise" he is reflective and poignant; at others, such as the cooking rendition of "My One & Only Love," dangerously swinging.

Mark teams up with a strong assemblage of the San Francisco Bay Area’s finest Latin and jazz musicians: Michael Spiro on percussion, Peter Barshay on bass and Paul van Wageningen on drums. These gentleman have spent decades pushing the Latin Jazz envelope by digging deeper into the Afro- Cuban roots and building upon the foundations of West Coast Latin Jazz. Together, it is their remarkable collective musical instinct and intricate interplay that engages their spirits, resulting in this exceptional session. Unlike a stellar live performance that vanishes into the space and time continuum, the excitement of this album is ours to keep and guaranteed to become a classic in the annals of small group Latin Jazz.

Mark Levine & the Latin Tinge,Mark Levine & the Latin Tinge

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: "Lord, How Come Me Here" WOW! uhm......yeah right!! scadalise my name Broadway takes on the spiritual ...

Spirituals in Concert Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Amazing Grace: Jessye Norman The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs Kathleen Battle · Wynton Marsalis ~ Baroque Duet / Anthony Newman · Orch St. Luke's · Nelson Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening ~ Pleasures of Their Company So Many Stars ASIN: B000001GDC Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

1. In That Great Getting Up Morning
2. Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
3. Over My Head/ Lil' David
4. Oh, What A Beautiful City
5. Lord, How Come Me Here
6. I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
7. Ride On, King Jesus
8. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
9. You Can Tell The World
10. Scandalize My Name
11. Great Day
12. Oh, Glory
13. Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
14. Talk About A Child
15. Gospel Train
16. My God Is So High
17. There Is A Balm In Gilead
18. He's Got The Whole World In His Hand

Customer Reviews:

"Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18

I must add, to the praises above, that Kathleen Battle's "Lord, How Come Me Here" is the best "quick" explanation of the long-lasting effects of slavery that I can think of. The line, "They sold my children away," says it all.

And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!

Alinde O'Malley

WOW!.......2007-03-22

You know, after owning both the CD and VHS of this performance, and having been coached by Sylvia Olden Lee herself, it is no wonder why spiritual mean so much to me. And these two ladies bare their souls and bring these masterpieces to life! WOW!!!

uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21

Clearly you are mistaken. I don't know who that guy is-the person below recommended-but there is NO COMPARISON to JESSYE NORMAN AND KATHLEEN BATTLE!!!! Jessye Norman herself has *30* HONARY DOCTRATES from places like Harvard, Juliard, Yale, Cambridge....I mean HELLO!!!! That guy had no where near the ease, the musicality or even the breath support as these two veterans show!! It is a beautiful CD though it came out in 1991 and I HIGHLY recommend it.

scadalise my name.......2004-10-29

this isn't that good specially after hearing William Warfeild sing it. You can find him at www.wlym.com

Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29

... takes it on and puts it on the canvas by the end of the first round.

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.

There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.

The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.

And you know what? It all kills the spirituals stone dead. The spiritual is one of those musical forms where less is more and very little is best of all. That's how they started, after all. That's how and why they worked for their original audiences, and that's why they were powerful enough to make the transition from folk song to art song. If you want to hear Battle sing spirituals that are irresistible, listen to the set on her Salzburg recital CD, also with Levine (ASIN B00000E31B). There, the music speaks for itself and speaks with a strength and a beauty that the tracks on this disk never approach.

Average customer rating: Grammy nominee in the Latin Jazz Category Hot Latin Jazz for the Summer Season: "Isla" is It!

Isla Mark Levine Manufacturer: Left Coast Clave ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Latin Music | Styles | Music Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Serengeti Hey, It's Me The Jazz Theory Book ASIN: B00008PC06 Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

1. Black
2. Ain't Nothing But The Blues
3. Corta Ese Bonche
4. A Free Man
5. Seis Pa' Chuito
6. Hindsight
7. Con Alma
8. Te Para Dos (Tea For Two)
9. You Don't Know What Love Is
10. You Know I Care
11. Isla

Customer Reviews:

Grammy nominee in the Latin Jazz Category.......2004-01-11

This is one of those albums you can play over and over and never tire of. Mark Levine is a master of the piano, always showing great knowledge and respect for the genre, and his group, the Latin Tinge, is on fire. Isla has gotten a lot of airplay on my latin and jazz radio show, and it's the real deal.

Hot Latin Jazz for the Summer Season: "Isla" is It!.......2003-06-03

I love this CD even more than the band's first two which were just great. Anyone who says that non-Latin musicians can't play Latin jazz authentically are wrong, wrong, wrong! Mark and the band turn on the heat to Latin tunes like "Seis Pa' Chuito", a lovely song by Jose Lugo, and play fantastic Afro-Cuban jazz arrangements to jazz standards such as Cedar Walton's "Black" and Kenny Garrett's "Ain't Nothing But the Blues". My personal favorites - aside from "Black" - are Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma", with an intro and interlude based on a traditional Vietnamese (!) song and the bolero "A Free Man" by Donald Brown. "Isla" is definitively a keeper for me.

Average customer rating:

Serengeti Mark Levine & the Latin Tinge Manufacturer: Left Coast Clave ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Brazilian & Latin Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music International Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Isla Hey, It's Me ASIN: B00005NT36 Release Date: 2001-09-04

Tracks:

1. Cha Cha Cha Para Mi Alma
2. Effendi
3. Angola
4. Serengeti
5. Danzon Rio Sumida
6. A Shade Of Jade
7. Assum Branco
8. Mr. Natural
9. Inner Urge
10. Tres Palabras
11. You're My Everything
12. Sugar

Average customer rating: A Beautiful Ring with some casting problems An Ode to Beauty! Musically perfect, dramatically dull. Disappointing performance Outstanding orchestra

Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen Henry Grossman , Linda Kelm , Kathleen Battle , Reiner Goldberg , Helga Dernesch , and James Levine Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Levine, James | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Studer, Cheryl | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ludwig, Christa | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Norman, Jessye | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Upshaw, Dawn | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music ASIN: B000001GMW Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

1. Das Rheingold: Prelude
2. Das Rheingold: Weia! Waga! Woge, du Welle!
3. Das Rheingold: Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin lacht in den Grund
4. Das Rheingold: Der Welt Erbe gewann' ich zu eigen durch dich?
5. Das Rheingold: Wotan! Gemah! erwache!
6. Das Rheingold: Sanft schloss Schlaf dein Aug'
7. Das Rheingold: Endlich Loge!
8. Das Rheingold: Immer ist Undank Loges Lohn!
9. Das Rheingold: Dir's zu melden gelobt' ich den Madchen
10. Das Rheingold: Uber Stock und Stein zu Tal
11. Das Rheingold: Wotan, Gemahl, unsel' ger Mann!
12. Das Rheingold: Hehe! Hehe! hieher! hieher! Tuckischer Zwerg!

Tracks:

1. Das Rheingold: Nibelheim hier
2. Das Rheingold: Wer he mir?
3. Das Rheingold: Was wolt ihr hier?
4. Das Rheingold: Auf wonnigen H
5. Das Rheingold: Ohe! Ohe! Schreckliche Schlange
6. Das Rheingold: Da, Vetter, sitze du fest!
7. Das Rheingold: Gezahlt hab' ich: nun lasst mich ziehn!
8. Das Rheingold: Bin ich nun frei?
9. Das Rheingold: Fasolt und Fafner nahen vin fern
10. Das Rheingold: Freia, die sch schau' ich nicht mehr
11. Das Rheingold: Weiche, Wotan, weiche!
12. Das Rheingold: Halt, du Gieriger!
13. Das Rheingold: Schwedchwebt in der Luft
14. Das Rheingold: Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge
15. Das Rheingold: Rheingold! Rheingold! Reines Gold!

Tracks:

1. Die Walkure: Vorspiel
2. Die Walkure: Wes Herd dies auch sei, hier muss ich rasten
3. Die Walkure: Einen Unseligen labtest du
4. Die Walkure: Mud am Herd fand ich den Mann
5. Die Walkure: Friedmund darf ich nicht heissen
6. Die Walkure: Die so leidig Los dir beschied
7. Die Walkure: Ich weiss ein wildes Geschlecht
8. Die Walkure: Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater
9. Die Walkure: Schlaefst du, Gast?
10. Die Walkure: Winterstuerme wichen dem Wonnemond
11. Die Walkure: Du bist der Lenz, nach dem ich verlangte
12. Die Walkure: O suesseste Wonne! Seligstes Weib!
13. Die Walkure: Siegmund heiss ich und Siegmund bin ich!

Tracks:

1. Die Walkure: Vorspiel - Nun zaume dein Ross, reisige Maid!
2. Die Walkure: Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
3. Die Walkure: Der alte Sturm, die alte Muh!
4. Die Walkure: So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Gottern - Heraus sagt' ich's; traf ich den Sinn?
5. Die Walkure: Heiaha! Heiaha! Hojotoho!
6. Die Walkure: Schlimm, furcht ich, schloss der Streit
7. Die Walkure: Als junger Liebe Lust mir verblich
8. Die Walkure: Ein andres ist's: achte es wohl
9. Die Walkure: So nimmst du von Siegmund den Sieg?
10. Die Walkure: So nimm meinen Segen, Niblungensohn!

Tracks:

1. Die Walkure: So sah ich Siegvater nie - Raste nun hier; gonne dir Ruh
2. Die Walkure: Hinweg! Hinweg! Flieh die Entweihte!
3. Die Walkure: Siegmund! Sieh auf mich!
4. Die Walkure: Erdenluft muss sie noch atmen
5. Die Walkure: Weh! Weh! Sussestes Weib
6. Die Walkure: Zwei Leben lachen dir hier
7. Die Walkure: Zauberfest bezahmt ein Schlaf
8. Die Walkure: Wehwalt! Wehwalt!

Tracks:

1. Die Walkure: The Ride of the Valkyries - Hojotoho! Hojotoho!
2. Die Walkure: Schutzt mich und helft in hochster Not!
3. Die Walkure: Nicht sehre dich Sorge um mich
4. Die Walkure: Steh, Brunnhild'!
5. Die Walkure: Hier bin ich, Vater: gebiete die Strafe!
6. Die Walkure: War es so schmahlich, was ich verbrach
7. Die Walkure: Deinen leichten Sinn lass dich denn leiten
8. Die Walkure: Du zeugtest ein edles Geschlecht
9. Die Walkure: Leb wohl, du kuhnes, herrliches Kind!
10. Die Walkure: Der Augen leuchtendes Paar
11. Die Walkure: Loge, hor! Lausche hieher!
12. Die Walkure: Feuerzauber

Tracks:

1. Siegfried: Vorspiel
2. Siegfried: Zwangvolle Plage! Mueh ohne Zweck!
3. Siegfried: Hoiho! Hoiho! Hau ein! Hau ein!
4. Siegfried: Nun tobst du wieder wie toll
5. Siegfried: Vieles lehrtest du, Mime
6. Siegfried: Ans Leben gehst du mir schier!
7. Siegfried: Und diese Stuecke sollst du mir schmieden
8. Siegfried: Heil dir, weiser Schmied!
9. Siegfried: Auf wolkigen Hoeh'n wohnen die Goetter
10. Siegfried: Verfluchtes Licht!

Tracks:

1. Siegfried: Was ist's mit dem Furchten?
2. Siegfried: Notung! Notung! Neidliches Schwert!
3. Siegfried: Schmiede, mein Hammer, ein hartes Schwert!
4. Siegfried: Den der Bruder schuf, den schimmernden Reif
5. Siegfried: Vorspiel
6. Siegfried: In Wald und Nacht vor Neidhoehl' halt' ich Wacht
7. Siegfried: Durch Vertrages Treuerunen band er dich Boesen mir nicht
8. Siegfried: Wir sind zur Stelle! Bleib hier stehn!
9. Siegfried: Dass der mein Vater nicht ist

Tracks:

1. Siegfried: Haha! Da hatte mein Lied mir was Liebes erblasen
2. Siegfried: Ist mir doch fast als sprachen die Voglein zu mir
3. Siegfried: Wohin schleichst du eilig und schlau
4. Siegfried: Was ihr mir nutzt, weiss ich nicht
5. Siegfried: Neides Zoll zahlt Notung
6. Siegfried: Nun sing! Ich lausche dem Gesang
7. Siegfried: Vorspiel
8. Siegfried: Wache, Wala! Wala, erwach!
9. Siegfried: Stark ruft das Lied
10. Siegfried: Dir Unweisen ruf'ich ins Ohr
11. Siegfried: Dort seh' ich Siegfried nahn

Tracks:

1. Siegfried: Bleibst du mir stumm, stoerrischer Wicht?
2. Siegfried: Zieh hin! Ich kann dich nicht halten!
3. Siegfried: Selige Oede auf sonniger Hoeh'!
4. Siegfried: Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!
5. Siegfried: So starb nicht meine Mutter?
6. Siegfried: Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich

Tracks:

1. Gotterdammerung: Einleitung
2. Gotterdammerung: Welch Licht leuchtet dort?
3. Gotterdammerung: Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde
4. Gotterdammerung: Lass' ich, Liebste, dich hier
5. Gotterdammerung: Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt
6. Gotterdammerung: Nun hoer, Hagen, sage mir, Held
7. Gotterdammerung: Hoiho! Wohin, du heitrer Held?
8. Gotterdammerung: Willkommen, Gast, in Gibichs Haus

Tracks:

1. Act One: Gutrune - Sind's gute Runen
2. Act One: Was nahmst du am Eide nicht teil?
3. Act One: Hier sitz' ich zur Wacht, wahre den Hof
4. Act One: Altgewohntes Geraeusch
5. Act One: Hoere mit Sinn, was ich dir sage!
6. Act One: Welch banger Traeume Maeren
7. Act One: Blitzend Gewoelk
8. Act One: Brunnhild'! Ein Freier kam

Tracks:

1. Gotterdammerung: Vorspiel
2. Gotterdammerung: Schlaefst du, Hagen, mein Sohn?
3. Gotterdammerung: Hoiho, Hagen! Mueder Mann!
4. Gotterdammerung: Hoiho! Ihr Gibichsmannen, machtet euch auf!
5. Gotterdammerung: Bruennhild', die hehrste Frau
6. Gotterdammerung: Bruennhild', kuehne Frau
7. Gotterdammerung: Heil'ge Goetter, himmlische Lenker!
8. Gotterdammerung: Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe!
9. Gotterdammerung: Gunther, wehr deinem Weibe
10. Gotterdammerung: Welches Unholds List liegt hier verhohlen?
11. Gotterdammerung: Vorspiel - Frau Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen

Tracks:

1. Gotterdammerung: Ein Albe fuehrte mich irr
2. Gotterdammerung: Mein Schwert zerschwang einen Speer
3. Gotterdammerung: Hoiho!
4. Gotterdammerung: Bruennhilde, heilige Braut!
5. Gotterdammerung: Siegfrieds Trauermarsch
6. Gotterdammerung: War das sein Horn?
7. Gotterdammerung: Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Ring with some casting problems.......2006-07-10

First of all, I want to say that I am simply amazed with what James Levine did with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. What he did is tantamount with what Karajan did with his Berlin Philharmonic and Solti with the Chicago Symphony. It is so beautifully articulated in orchestral terms that the score just sings. Some people say that Levine has plodding tempos. Perhaps his tempi are slower than many a conductor, but they are dramatically rich and beautifully played. Saying that, I have to say that this has to be one of the best conducted Rings, coming only below those of Solti, Karajan, Bohm, Krauss, and Janowski.

The cast is on a whole very good, with special mention going to James Morris' Wotan. Morris did a Wotan for Haitink, which in my opinion, was captured in a bigger tone than was in this recording, but his interpretation here is one of the jewels of modern day Wagnerian singing. His way with declamations, the quality of his voice, the Rheingold narration, the Abschied at the end of Walkure, the riddle scene with Mime, and the Siegfried confrontation are all magnificent, and perhaps constitute some of the best excerpts of the Ring. This has to be one of the greatest Wotans ever.

Christa Ludwig repeated the part of Fricka that she had sung with Solti about twenty years earlier, but her voice is surprisingly fresh here for her age. One can detect the lack of firmness and creaminess, but it is still the work of a supreme artist. Kurt Moll, as usually is with this great artists, makes great roles out of Hunding, Fafner, and Fasolt. He is partnered in Rheingold by Jan-Hendrik Rootering, who makes a very good Rheingold Fafner. Siegfried Jerusalem's heroic character tenor reminds us of Set Svanholm's magnificent portrayal with Solti, only better. He is probably one of the best sung Loge's on disc. Birgitta Svenden's amazing alto voice floods Erda's music beautifully, albeit sounding slightly young for the portrayal of mother earth. The Rhinemaidens on this recording, even if they don't reach the youthful musicality of Karajan's Rhinemaidens (with special mention going to Helen Donath as Woglinde), sound youthful and playful compared to other Rhinemaidens. The Valkyries are very well tuned in this recording, sounding robust, lusty, and young, and the Norns are simply sensational, with former Brunnhilde Helga Dernesch, Tatiana Troyanos, and today's Turandot of choice, Andrea Gruber. Another asset to this recording is Cheryl Studer's radiant Gutrune. It is perhaps the best portrayal of the role next to Janowitz's version with Karajan. I am also a fan of Bernd Weikl's Gunther and Hanna Schwarz's Waltraute. Both artists do amazing things with these secondary characters, especially Schwarz. Th

One of the merits of this recording is the singing of Heinz Zednik as Mime. I have never heard such a witty, funny, annoying little dwarf who sang the part (unlike Stolze's acid-voiced interpretation) with Zednik's combination of character-like vocalization. He is probably one of my favorite Mime's on disc. Another great singer in this recording is Mime's brother, Alberich played by Ekkehard Wlaschiha. In my opinion, his performance is on par with Gustav Neidlinger's portrayal of Alberich, even surpassing him in some instances. His curse in Rheingold has to be heard, and his confrontation with Mime and Wanderer are such funny moments in Siegfried. Of course, one of his most revealing moments happens in the beginning of Gotterdammerung's second act. His interaction with Hagen in the watch is simply brilliant. Speaking of Hagen, I believe the best singer after Morris in this recording is Matti Salminen in the role of Hagen. I have never heard a more malevolent, more sinister, yet conniving singer to the part of Hagen with an almost inhuman touch of evil due to his lack of vibrato. It is an amazing portrayal. He is probably the best Hagen in the discography, the equal of Gottlob Frick's evil interpretation on Solti's ring. He had recorded the part a few years earlier with Marek Janowski before he transformed the part into the diabolical role that we hear in this recording. Salminen would probably be another reason to buy this set after Morris' Wotan.

The Walsungen pair in this recording is well sung by two American artists, Gary Lakes and Jessye Norman. On paper, they offer very voluptuous, luxurious vocal performances, but they could have hyped the scenes they are in by adding a bit more drama. This could be said of Norman, but Gary Lakes' Siegmund is so beautifully vocalized that I can't help but love his performance.

Of course, a Ring would not be complete without a Brunnhilde or a Siegfried, and that is where this set fails. Hildegard Behrens has a most radiant upper extension that is only matched by Nilsson's, but the rest of her voice takes a weaker, more guttural quality once things get lower. Her immolation scene is amazing, and her hojotohos are brilliant. The love duet is gorgeous when she gets to top notes, but when expressing Brunnhilde's angst and anger, things get to get underplayed. She is a very interesting and youthful Brunnhilde though, and she is quite riveting to watch on stage.

Reiner Goldberg as Siegfried though, is much more problematic. Solti once called him as the ideal heldentenor voice, and the instrument is a very ideal one for this kind of repertoire, but he isn't as a great a singer as his vocal specifications would like us to think. I find it a very uneven performance. There are moments where you would find a true Siegfried, but a few moments later he gets into his ugly vocal mannerisms, of which there are many. His vocalizing is very rough, and the performance as a whole does not please the ear. He can also be a bore in the repertoire, and while this is acceptable with vocally nice Siegfried's, he could have made it better by using a better technique.

Overall, this Ring is an amazing account of Wagner operas in the 1980's. It is not going to be one of the essentials like Solti or Karajan's, owing that to the lack of a Siegfried and a Brunnhilde, but it has several interesting points that would make it a very well-balanced Ring.

An Ode to Beauty!.......2004-10-02

I decided to add another Ring to my collection (I have Solti's and Bohm's recordings) and the choice was between a more historical recording or Levine's (I once had Karajan's desperate mess and sold it). I am not a digital whore, but I ultimately decided on Levine's because of what I've read about the superb orchestral playing! Now, on to my thoughts...

There's been a lot of talk about Levine's "plodding tempos" on here and reviews I've read through other sources. This morning, I did some research and compiled a timing list for some of the more popular Ring's. Levine's Ring is 90 minutes SHORTER than Goodall's. It is only 24 minutes longer than Karajan's, 34 minutes longer than Solti's, and 103 minutes longer than Bohm's. We're talking 24, 34, and 103 minutes over the course of 14 to 15 hours. Yes, the slower tempos are noticeable compared to Bohm, but they are certainly not noticeable compared to Karajan and Solti. 24 and 34 minutes over 14 to 15 hours amounts to seconds when it comes to each individual track. Not noticeable - a non-issue!

What is said about the orchestral playing is superb. I am absolutely floored by the stunning beauty with which the Met orchestra plays. It's breathtaking, from the first note of Rheingold until the last note of Gotterdammerung! The sound is clear, beautiful, and lush. Gorgeous!

The cast does have some issues. Solti provides the only near perfect cast IMO (save Hotter in Walkure). Bohm features the same two major players (Windgassen and Nilsson) as Solti. Of course Goldberg and Behrens don't measure up to these two giants, but they are both more than sufficent for their roles. Vocally, Goldberg is good, but something is missing. Behrens seems to struggle at moments, leaving me vocally disappointed during the finales of Siegfried and Gotterdammerung! However, it's nice to have another Brunnhilde and Siegfried on disc.

James Morris is a triumph as Wotan! The best I have ever heard, bar none! I literally listened to his final passage in Walkure about 15 times in a row. It will light your heart on fire. Norman is wonderful as Sieglinde! It's true her voice is perhaps a bit too large for the role, but what a treat it is to hear Sieglinde sung so powerfully and beautifully. It's a nice change, and the ACT I of Walkure is breathtaking. Studer is great as Gutrune and I love Zednik's Mime. Battle as the Woodbird and Moll as Fafner represent two other roles that are wonderfully sung.

All in all, the Walkure is the best I have heard, and the Gotterdammerung falls short of Solti's, however, it's definitely worth owning! Solti has the definite edge in Siegfried and Rheingold.

In short, would I recommend Levine's Ring to someone who is approaching the work for a first time? NO! I would certainly recommend Solti's, for many reasons. However, if someone already had Solti's and was looking for another (recent) Ring, I would absolutely recommend Levine's over both Bohm's and Karajan's, which is saying a lot, because while I loath Karajan's effort, I love and applaud Bohm's!

On a side note, Deutsch Grammophon has repackaged this Ring at mid-price (also found on Amazon), with no librettos. Although there are several used recordings for sale here, with librettos, you'd be better off buying the newly repackaged set and use the money you save to purchase Rudolph Sabors commentaries on the Ring as a whole and each of the four operas individually. Not only does he include the original text, with English translation side-by-side, he also includes a running commentary with loads of interesting information, including pointing out the motifs. These 5 volumes can be purchased used (on Amazon.com) very cheaply.

Musically perfect, dramatically dull........2004-03-30

I became introduced to the Ring through this version. I did not think it bad at all at first. In fact, I thought it was unsurpassably beautiful, and that no other conductor could come close to Levine's achievement. I still do not think it a bad recording. Musically, it is nearly flawless. As a matter of fact, no member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra plays a single wrong note in the course of this fifteen-hour work. Some of the singers stand out above the rest and make this a worthwhile listen, namely Salminen, Studer, and Ludwig. However, now that I have managed to familiarize myself with the story of the Ring as well as with the music, I have many more criticisms of this rendition than I once did. Wagner was all about drama. One could even argue that he was more about drama than he was about music. The "whole tragedy of human history" is contained within the Ring Cycle, but one does not become convinced of this in listening to this version. As musically perfect as it is, one does not experience the effects that Wagner intended when he composed this grandiose epic. As pleased as one's ears may be with this rendition, one cannot possibly sense what one is supposed to sense--the world burning to ashes before him--nor can one become convinced of the feelings and emotions of the main characters, for nearly all of the voices lack the power necessary for an ideal Ring production. Hildegard Behrens, though always in tune, seems to be running out of steam in spots, and I was never once convinced of the pain that she was experiencing in Act II of "Gotterdammerung." Reiner Goldberg is not my first choice for the role of Siegfried. His voice is simply too weak, even though it provides the cheeriness that is one of the main aspects of Siegfried's personality. His intonation is off at times, usually in places where he cannot afford inaccuracy. Siegfried Jerusalem, though not a perfect singer, is better suited to this role. His voice is stronger and more dramatically convincing. The Immolation Scene does not build up as it should. Again, Behrens sounds like she is growing tired, and there are no tempo variations, dynamic changes, or sound effects. This scene, the climax, where Brunnhilde gives her life to redeem the world from the ring's curse, is treated no differently than any of the other scenes in the production. It is treated with the same smooth, mellow, dramatically unconvincing tone. When we consider Birgit Nilsson in this same role in Solti's rendition, we see a marked difference. Her voice brings drama and intensity to the work, and holds out till the very end, never once missing a note or sounding lethargic.

To conclude, Levine's is not a bad recording of Wagner's Ring, but also nowhere near astounding. If one wants to hear an ideal Ring recording, I recommend Solti's. Solti's recording does everything Levine's does not--focuses much more heavily on drama and as a result convinces us that we are experiencing something far more than mere music.

Disappointing performance.......2003-10-22

Frankly, the performance disappoints in many aspects. I have great reservations on Levine's plodding tempo, and the singing is generally much below expectations. Above all, the entire performance never manages to take flight, and it sound all so earth-bound. I don't think this can be a good introductory to the Ring.

Outstanding orchestra.......2002-06-12

The Metropolitan Orchestra under the direction of James Levine gives an outstanding performance throughout the four 'Ring' cyle operas. The often slower tempi adopted by Levine in my opinion, brings out the beauty in Wagner's music because every note and all the harmonies can be heard. Note that tempi should not be at the detriment of the drama. Fortunately I find Levine's tempi undetrimental to the drama and for this, his interpretation gets a thumbs up from me. At times, I found that the brass section was down in the mix (e.g. the opening of Act 2 of 'Die Walkure'). Overall, the digital recording was superb: the strings sounded great and the low double bass sounds from the recording should scare anybody who's in a dark room!

I turn my attention now to the singing. Having gone through some other reviews to seek some alternative viewpoints before writing down my own, I was shocked at the complaints about the singing in this recording. But unfortunately, I must agree and may I also add that other 'Ring' recordings have singers who are also not up to the task or rather are overrated and don't sound as good as people describe them. The biggest dissapointment for me first up was Gary Lakes - listen to 'Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond' towards the end of Act 1 of the 'Die Walkure' - Gary Lakes is seemingly out of breath and unable to sing in tune (literally), there is no other way to describe it but a singer grasping for air and with this, the phrasing and dynamics go and ultimately, musically inadequate. Another thing, Jessye Norman is not a good Sieglinde, her singing is very good (in fact, the best out of the female cast) BUT, Sieglinde is not a Brunnhilde and thus, should not be sung like one. Norman's volume was just too loud and insensitive to the character of Sieglinde for me at times. Remember, Sieglinde is an innocent little girl, not a warrior. I think Norman is more suited to the role of Brunnhilde.

Hildegard Behrens, unlike other reviewers, I like quite a lot. At times, she struggles greatly with the part of Brunnhilde but fortunately, this negative aspect enhanced somewhat the drama of the opera (not all the time though!), I could feel the pain that Brunnhilde was going through in 'Gotterdammerung', literally!

Last comment is of James Morris, I think he is the perfect Wotan. His tone is authorative and unlike other reviewers, I think the drama that he injects into his singing is great. But once again, this is only my opinion.

Overall, the fantastic orchestral display cancels out all the negatives of the singing (I can already hear people beating me down for saying this!). For me, adequate singers I can stand but a bad orchestra, I can't, especially for a work like the 'Ring' which depends so much on the music. I would love to give 5 stars for the stunning orchestral playing but unfortunately, I can't because of the dissapointing singing. So I give it 4 because the orchestral playing alone takes it above a 3!

Average customer rating: "change of pace for our composer...David Arnold"

Baby Boy: Original Motion Picture Score Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005NGXJ Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

1. Waiting...
2. Meet Melvin
3. Jody's Nightmare
4. Talking Commerce
5. Juanita
6. Home Truths
7. Guns and Butter
8. I Hate You
9. Sweetpea's Yard
10. I Wanna Be Saved
11. Nasty Girl
12. Jody and Yvette
13. Let Us Pray
14. Jumped
15. Rodney Takes the Car
16. Drive By
17. Finish It
18. Melvin Takes the Gun
19. Family

Customer Reviews:

"change of pace for our composer...David Arnold".......2001-10-11

This latest venture from David Arnold has given the "film-score-buff" a change of pace, known for his past scores of action and adventure...this one has short cues, but with counterpoints that leave you satisfied...a few stand outs ~ "JODY AND IVETTE", beautifully done..."DRIVE BY", gives the music collector their moneys worth.

Hats off to ~ Nicholas Dodd (orchestration/conductor), Shirley Caesar (vocals) and Varese Sarabande for doing what they do best...give "film-music-collectors" something to sink their teeth into!

Total Time: 41:09 on 19 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066- 280-2 ~ (2001)

Average customer rating:

Smiley and Me Mark Levine Manufacturer: Concord Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000006H3 Release Date: 1994-12-22

Tracks:

1. Our Delight
2. (When Your Heart's On Fire) Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
3. Stablemates
4. Daydream
5. Stompin' At The Savoy
6. My Little Brown Book
7. Social Call
8. Now

Average customer rating:

At Home on the Road Manufacturer: JazzMission Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B0007M8CWY

Average customer rating: Schoenberg y la música del siglo 20

Schoenberg: Erwartung; Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Schoenberg | Schoenberg, Arnold | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Norman, Jessye | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Vocal Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle Berlioz - Béatrice et Bénédict / S. Graham · Viala · McNair · Cachemaille · C. Robbin · Bacquier · Le Texier · Opéra de Lyon · Nelson Poulenc - La Voix humaine · La Dame de Monte-Carlo / Felicity Lott · Suisse Romande · Jordan Schoenberg: Pierrot lunaire - Lied der Waldtaube - Erwartung / Minton, J. Martin, J. Norman, Zukerman, Harrell, Barenboim; Boulez Béla Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle ASIN: B000AC5AYY Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

1. Spectateurs - Peter Schreier
2. Caedit Nos Pestis - Peter Schreier
3. Liberi, Vos Liberabo - Peter Schreier
4. Voici Creon - Peter Schreier
5. Respondit Deus - Peter Schreier
6. Non Reparias Vetus Scelus - Peter Schreier
7. Oedipe Interroe La Fontaine - Peter Schreier
8. Delie Exspectamus - Peter Schreier
9. Dicere Non Possum - Peter Schreier
10. Invidia Fortunam Odit - Peter Schreier
11. Gloria! - Peter Schreier
12. La Dispute Des Princes - Peter Schreier
13. Gloria! - Peter Schreier
14. Nonn' Erubescite, Reges - Peter Schreier
15. Trivium, Trivium - Peter Schreier
16. Le Temoin Du Meurtre Sort - Peter Schreier
17. Adest Omniscius Pastor - Peter Schreier
18. In Monte Reppertus Est - Peter Schreier
19. Et Maintenant - Peter Schreier
20. Divum Jocastae - Peter Schreier
21. Ecce! Regem Oedipoda - Peter Schreier

Tracks:

1. Hier Hinein? - Jessye Norman
2. Ist Das Noch Der Weg? - Jessye Norman
3. Da Kommt Ein Licht! - Jessye Norman
4. Er Ist Auch Nicht Da - Jessye Norman
5. Das Mondlicht - Jessye Norman
6. Aber So Seltsam Ist Dein Auge - Jessye Norman
7. Du Siehst Wieder Dort Hin! - Jessye Norman
8. Fur Mich Ist Kein Platz Da - Jessye Norman
9. Liebster, Liebster, Der Morgen Kommt - Jessye Norman
10. Galathea - Jessye Norman
11. Gigerlette - Jessye Norman
12. Der Genugsame Liebhaber - Jessye Norman
13. Einflaltiges Lied - Jessye Norman
14. Mahnung - Jessye Norman
15. Jedem Das Seine - Jessye Norman
16. Arie Aus Dem Spiegel Von Arkadien - Jessye Norman
17. Nachtwandler - Jessye Norman

Customer Reviews:

Schoenberg y la música del siglo 20.......2007-03-09

Estoy encantado de conseguir TODA la música del mundo a través de Uds.

Average customer rating: Amazing Grace is Amazing!

Oklahoma City Relief: A Time of Healing Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rachmaninov | Rachmaninov, Sergei | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000002N33 Release Date: 1995-09-12

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 7, Movement ll - Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra
2. Air - Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra
3. Pavane For A Dead Princess - Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra
4. Soli Deo Gloria - Children's Choral Society Of Oklahoma...
5. Bist Du Bei Mir - Children's Choral Society Of Oklahoma...
6. Sheep May Safely Graze - Susan Powell, Oklahoma City Philharmonic
7. On Eagle's Wings - Susan Powell, Oklahoma City Philharmonic
8. Alleluia - Canterbury Choral Society
9. Amazing Grace - Mark O'Connor, Oklahoma City Philharmonic
10. Symphony No. 2, Movement lll - Oklahoma City Philharmonic
11. Not Too Far From Here - Kim Boyce
12. God Bless America - Ernestine Dillard, Oklahoma City Philharmonic

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Grace is Amazing!.......2007-05-19

I heard Mark O'connor's performance on this CD before it was released. A friend of mine had Mark and myself over for dinner and Mark shared this track with us. He said the original idea behind the arrangement was one of hope and redemption, but after meditating on the true nature of the songs inclusion on this compilation, he charged the Orchestra and it's director with a different task. It is the saddest musical moment I have ever heard. The Orchestra plays a low peddle while Mark's violin becomes a mournfull bag-pipe suffering the losses of the lost and their families. We stood in the living room and cried. Sometimes it's just not proper to look ahead and press on. Sometimes suffering is the correct response.

Average customer rating:

One Notch Up Mark Levine Manufacturer: Heavywood Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music New Orleans & Dixieland Jazz | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music Dixieland | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Jazz Piano | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000I9TJ Release Date: 1999-04-20

Tracks:

1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
2. Up Jumped Spring
3. If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You
4. Ask Me Now
5. Pensativa
6. Low Key Lightly
7. Linda Chicana
8. One Notch Up
9. You Know I Care
10. After You

Album Description

This is 66" of hard-swinging, well-crafted, exuberant jazz trio brought to you by the best of the San Francisco bay area musicians.

Jazz Music:

1. On the Road
2. Papa Gato
3. Ragtime Guitar
4. Relentless
5. Sabor Flamenco
6. Searchin' for the Truth
7. Something Borrowed, Something Blue
8. Something Borrowed, Something Blue
9. Sometime Yesterday
10. Soul Junction

Jazz Music

jazz music