An impressively original release from violinist Lara St. John and pianist Matt Herskowitz; a tremendous Ligeti performance from the Jupiter String Quartet; Justin Badgerow releases a finely curated and played survey of mostly 20th-century solo piano music from Brazil.
Music
Pop Album Review: Arca’s “KiCk i” — Enjoyable Transgression
Arca’s first solo foray into pop music is as infectious as it is strange.
Classical CD Review: “Janáček: Solo Piano,” Schumann & Mendelssohn Chamber Music, Philip Glass Piano Works
Pianist Thomas Adès proves himself a sympathetic champion of Czech composer Leoš Janáček; it’s not often that a Schumann-Mendelssohn album focuses on the music of Clara and Fanny (rather than Robert and Felix); Jenny Lin’s performances of piano pieces by Philip Glass don’t lack for style or technical command.
Classical CD Reviews: Beach & Elgar Piano Quintets, Mark Abel’s “The Cave of Wondrous Voice,” and Ibragimova plays Shostakovich
It took more than a century, but Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet has finally got the recording it deserves; it would be hard to beat the all-star line-up featured in The Cave of Wondrous Voice; and ready for some flawless Shostakovich?
Album Review: Deerhoof and Wadada Leo Smith — Electrical Soul Music
That this assemblage works so well is a tribute to the big ears and hearts — and collective intelligence — of all the players here.
Music Review: Heavy Metal Round-up — Lamb of God, Cro-Mags, and Living Gate
A superior new Lamb of God disc was not entirely unexpected; an excellent new Cro-Mags record, well, I didn’t see that coming.
Jazz Album Review: The Ultimate Peggy Lee — A Woman in Control
Peggy Lee’s career took her far from the bifurcated sexual image expected of a canary — 40% coy seductiveness and 60% “I just want to settle down but will entertain you until the right guy comes along.”
Performing Arts Series: Stories of Surviving COVID-19 — New England Conservatory
What lies beyond COVID-19 for the arts community?
Music Album Review: Phoebe Bridgers’s “Punisher” — A Stunning Sophomore Album
Phoebe Bridgers has crafted a disc filled with pristine, meditative songs that carry a brutal emotional weight.
Jazz Album Review: Pianist Erroll Garner — The Best Tunes Played with Mucho Gusto
Thanks to Octave and Mack Avenue Records, a significant section of pianist Erroll Garner’s storied career is back, sounding better than ever before.