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CD Reviews: Lara Downes’ “America Again,” Gerstein’s Liszt, and Melnikov plays Prokofiev

December 20, 2016
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Lara Downes’ America Again is a great album, and one with multiple layers of meaning.

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Theater Review: “Fingersmith” — A Complaisant Thriller

December 19, 2016
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Bill Rauch and company keep the superficial contrivances hurtling along at a fast enough pace so we aren’t given much time to think.

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Film Commentary: Black Lives Matter, Cinematic Expressions

December 19, 2016
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One of the heartening trends in film during 2016 has been an increase in the number of quality films that focus on African-Americans.

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CD Reviews: Berio’s “Sinfonia,” Joshua Bell’s Brahms, and Yevgeny Kutik’s “Words Fail”

December 19, 2016
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Three CD reviews, including a disc featuring Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis, and Jeremy Denk teaming up to play less-than-barn-burning favorites by Brahms.

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Commentary: Best Jazz Recordings of 2016

December 18, 2016
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Several of these discs, including the sublime Jim Hall-Red Mitchell collaboration, are unexpected pleasures.

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Jazz Gift Recommendations: The Test of Time, 2016

December 18, 2016
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I think any one of these releases would be received gratefully by a person who listens with both ears.

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Commentary: Top Classical Recordings of 2016

December 17, 2016
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I make no claims to have listened to everything released in 2016; here are my picks for the top classical recordings of the year.

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Commentary: Best Classical Performances of 2016

December 16, 2016
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Picks for the top live classical performances of 2016. Feel free to agree, disagree, add to them, come up with your own list, etc.

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Jazz Review: Sheila Jordan with the Yoko Miwa Trio at Thelonious Monkfish

December 16, 2016
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Sheila Jordan, to the club crowd in Central Square: “What do I care? I’m still alive.”

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CD Reviews: Orchestral Music by Mason Bates — A Welcome Addition to the Canon.

December 16, 2016
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Mason Bates’ music isn’t afraid to smile. If it doesn’t always run deep, it’s at least always engaging and pleasant to encounter.

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