Michael Ullman
Marian McPartland, who died on August 20 at the age of 95, was many things: a charming, gracious, and also tough-minded woman, an educator and mentor to many, an author, a business woman, and, lest we forget, a powerhouse musician.
According to Chick Corea, this recording contains first impressions of the compositions that he’ll be playing with his band on upcoming tours. It’ll be interesting to hear how these tunes and this group develops.
The late Cedar Walton was part of some of the most potent bands in the history of jazz, most famously Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.
This attractive, inexpensive box set dedicated to Claudio Abbado contains a rich gathering of lucid, colorful recordings, among the most accomplished modern performances of symphonies that are absolutely central to the repertoire.
Over five extended compositions, composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith leads a new large ensemble, TUMO, creating a challenging but engaging world of sound that combines composed elements with strong soloists and group improvisation.
Classical Music Commentary: What’s Next for the Boston Symphony? — Lessons from the Past