NEW
MONTEVERDI: VESPRO DELLA BEATA VERGINE (Harmonia Mundi, 2 CDs, $22.98) – Raphäel Pichon directs Pygmalion, his period-instrument ensemble and choir. From David Allen’s New York Times review: “There is a sense of religious devotion to be heard here, as of course there should, but what is so powerful is the expressive urgency that Pichon, his soloists and his Pygmalion ensemble so fervently bring to the music.”
NOTE: Mr. Pichon is the subject of the cover article in the October issue of Gramophone Magazine.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Wine and Peaches, 2 CDs, $20.98) – The new musical, New York, New York, is loosely based on the 1977 movie, directed by Martin Scorcese, with music and lyrics by John Kander and the late Fred Ebb. For the musical, Mr. Kander wrote new tunes with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Mr Greg & Cass McCombs, SING AND PLAY NEW FOLK SONGS FOR CHILDREN (Smithsonian Folkways, $16.98) – Folkways has a long tradition of music for children, starting with Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly and Pete Seeger. The iconic Ella Jenkins recorded many classic albums; there followed younger artists like Elizabeth Mitchell and Dan Zanes honoring the Folkways tradition.
Now, following in their footsteps “songwriter and pre-school teacher Mr. Greg and acclaimed indie chameleon Cass McCombs celebrate the joys of learning and discovery.”
NOTE: This is displayed downstairs in the Kids CD section.
BACH: GOLDBERG VARIATIONS (Deutsche Grammophon, $14.98) – Vikingur Ólafsson returns to Bach…
DOC WATSON CONTINUED
Last week, I wrote about a wonderful compilation, I AM A PILGRIM: DOC WATSON AT 100 (Fli Records, $18.98), with many folk, roots, and jazz musicians paying tribute to the flat-pick guitar pioneer.
WNYC Radio had an episode about this project (with lots of live music on audio and video) with the producer, guitarist Matthew Stevens, and singer/banjo player Valerie June, banjo/guitar player Nora Brown, fiddler Stephanie Coleman, and James Shipp on harmonium.
Listen to Doc’s early concerts on:
DOC WATSON AND GAITHER CARLTON (Smithsonian Folkways, $16.98) – Recorded live in 1962 at Greenwich Village concerts, featuring a rare appearance by Doc’s father-in-law, fiddler Gaither Carlton.
LIVE AT CLUB 47 (Yep Roc, $17.99) – Recorded at Boston’s Club 47 on February 10, 1963.