Music
Soviet Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, at his best, was compelling. Granted, he wasn’t working at this level in every piece. But most of his bigger works are better than not.
For Derek Bermel fans, Intonations is a must. For new music enthusiasts and the otherwise curious – ditto.
“I remember playing the Rathskeller. I think that was the second gig we had in the US. I remember what a dive that was. I remember how really exciting it was to be there. Just the promise, the potential.”
Given Keith Jarrett’s current disability, this new ECM recording is an unexpected gift to his fans.
Get out there and hear some live music. It’s the best gift you can give to your ears.
The caliber of Richard Thompson’s voice is undiminished. His always expressive, frequently soothing timbre was perfectly intact.
The pandemic clouds over the Boston / Cambridge jazz scene are breaking up – not completely by any means – but at last you have a broad menu of live music here to pull you away from your TV bingeing.
Sometimes Pharoah Sanders came back and played like a primordial saxophone deity, cutting into the rhythm section like an act of penetration.
Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds is a testament to her impressive compositional chops. Let’s have more from her here, and often.
Once the original Roxy Music core took the stage with their nine supporting musicians, most concerns melted into 100 sublime minutes of music.
Arts Commentary: In Memoriam, Michael Tilson Thomas (1944-2026)