Music
In the hands of some, Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto can be tame and traditional. As conducted by Karina Canellakis, and performed by the BSO and violinist Nicola Benedetti, the piece came off as bold, colorful, and urgent.
For people who grew up on his music in the ’60s and ’70s, David Crosby’s passing, especially on the heels of Jeff Beck’s death last week, is tough to take.
Ted Olson continues bringing important location recordings of early American music back to light.
Justin Dello Joio’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, written especially for pianist Garrick Ohlsson, creates an emotionally satisfying canvas out of thorny harmonies and astringent lyricism.
Jeff Beck didn’t play the fastest runs but wielded dynamic emotion in every deftly spaced note – and didn’t even use a pick.
MJQ pianist John Lewis would have loved to have had an orchestra this well rehearsed and recorded so beautifully.
A roll call of some of the notable musicians who passed away lat year.
This most recent poll also proves the worth of the poll itself — that it doesn’t so much confirm consensus as create it.
There exists a worldwide community of journalists and critics who depend on each other to keep tabs on the ever-expanding universe of jazz and it’s more-or-less-affiliated fringes and fusions, and this poll is one of our most effective — and most anticipated — resources.
Arts Remembrance: David Crosby — One More Link to Rock ’n’ Roll’s Golden Era Lost
When I glorify or romanticize an artist like David Crosby it is because the performer has a gift for alchemizing songs into something huge, powerful, spiritual, and communal.
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