New Anger

1. New Anger

2. I Don't Believe

3. Creatures [Live]

4. I Can't Stop It [Live]

New Anger,Gary Numan,Capitol,Electronic,New Romantic,New Wave,Rock,Synth Pop

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Average customer rating: Reinventing tradition while keeping the vibe organic and stimulating

woodshop Darol Anger & Mike Marshall Manufacturer: Adventure Music America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Similar Items: New Words (Novas Palavras) The Enchantment When at Last Quartet Three Ring Circle ASIN: B000PLCMLE Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

1. Intro
2. Peter Pan
3. Slip and Slide
4. Who Had Whom
5. Borealis
6. Interlude #1
7. The Unbearable Gift
8. Bach, Up
9. Interlude #2
10. Replaceitall
11. Hearts Wait
12. Interlude #3
13. The Creep
14. Outtro

Product Description

Much of this recording was conceived as a twenty-year update and progression from the duos masterpiece Chiaroscuro, released on Windham Hill Records in 1985, which sold over 65,000 copies. As Darol and Mike have both learned so much about life and music since then, they hoped to extrapolate on what would become a lot of folks favorite instrumental recording. The wish to make a musical message from the future that would reflect their present emotional, intellectual and spiritual selves. They tried to not get too hung up on perfection but to communicate a vibe; to showcase the glorious sounds of their string instruments playing music in a space big enough to do it in.

Customer Reviews:

Reinventing tradition while keeping the vibe organic and stimulating.......2007-05-08

Playing Time - 53:28 -- George Harrison once stated, "It doesn't matter if you are the greatest guitar player in the world, if you're not enlightened, forget it." Conceived as a sequel to the monumental 1985 album "Chiaroscuro" (on the Windham Hill label) that sold 65,000 copies in five years, "Woodshop" captures the enlightenment in each and every note, as well as with the silent spaces left between them. "Chiaroscuro" was not their first release together, however. In 1983, they had put out "The Duo" on Rounder Records. And since "Chiaroscuro," Marshall and Anger have collaborated on a 1998 "Christmas Heritage" project and five other fine CDs between 1999-2002 on Alison Brown's Compass Records (New Grange, Anger-Marshall Band JAM, Brand New Can, At Home and on the Range). If you're a musician, there's even a Mel Bay publication ("The Mike Marshall Collection") that includes standard music notation and mandolin tablature for 11 of his compositions (seven drawn from Marshall/Anger albums in the past). Besides proficient musicianship. what's always impressed me about these guys is that everything they've done has creativity, strength, and lasting power. More than just string music on viagra, "Woodshop" is worthy of being heard over and over again to appreciate the nuances of each piece.

The substantive body of Woodshop's 51-minute musical journey is nine instrumental compositions that feature Mike and Darol's violins, mandolins, guitars, mandocello, mandola, and cello. Of particular curiosity is a piece like "Replaceitall" also with Darol's rhythm programming, mystery slap beat, and shakers. It's a "kind of tribute to the Rolling Stones," and the title refers to Keith Richards' 1970s buzz about getting all his blood replaced in Switzerland before going on tour. In a similar vein and arranged with numerous instruments playing the melody in unison, Marshall's "The Creep" has such instruments as bass altered mandocello, hyper-mando, and electro-banjo-creepola. With many other strings in the mix, the folkestra sound is low, eerie and hypnotic. Whether the multi-tracking achieves the sensation of fear, repugnance, and downright creepiness is up to a listener's imagination and perception. As for me, upon initial listens of this disc, I did tend to favor more straightforward compositions that make more traditionally-based and focused statements. These included Hearts Wait, Peter Pan, Slip and Slide, Bach Up, and The Unbearable Gift. Over seven minutes, "Borealis" begins with just mandocello and violin before the song's genesis dynamically takes us into a full sound based on Mike's fantasy of having an entire audience pull out their instruments and jam along while marching towards the stage. Whatever happened to the fantasy of just having teary-eyed teenage girls rushing the stage? In keeping with the need for breathing room and transition, the 51-minute musical journey also has five short (one minute or less) interludes from beginning to end of the CD.

Four of the tracks feature some splendid bass or percussion accompaniment by other consummate musicians. Two cuts (Hearts Wait, The Unbearable Gift) have the inimitable Todd Phillips on bass. It brought back memories of New Grange days in the late-1990s when Mike, Darol and Todd played in that band with Tim O'Brien and Alison Brown. Earlier in Woodshop's set, "Peter Pan" includes Phil Aaberg (piano), Todd Sickafoose (upright bass), and Aaron Johnston (shaker, cymbals). "Who Had Whom?" includes Michael Manring (electric bass) and Aaron Johnston (percussion). All guest artists have highly-acclaimed credentials and reputations as virtuosos. Manring had a long association with Windham Hill Records, and he's a gifted composer of experimental music. Manring's collaboration with Anger and Marshall goes back as far as the early-1980s when all three played in Montreux (with Barbara Higbie and Andy Narell). A San Francisco native, the versatile Todd Sickafoose studied and performed in Los Angeles for six years before returning to the Bay Area in 1999. Montanan Philip Aaberg is a world-class keyboardist and composer who is comfortable in many genres and whose 2002 "Live From Montana" album was nominated for a Grammy. A graduate of Wichita State University's music program, Aaron Johnston is a versatile percussionist who also appeared with Anger & Marshall on their 1999 album, JAM. He currently performs with Brazilian Girls.

Marshall and Anger are now on the new Adventure Music label that wants to build a cadre of top musicians from North and South America who play unadorned, rhythmic and raw acoustic music. It's a good fit, and "Woodshop" illustrates the musicians' continual learning, logical progression and development. Marshall sees glimmers of a new musical style emerging that really incorporates many styles into one global sound. Darol and Mike have always been inspired to break down barriers between genres, and to cross boundaries between songwriting and improvisation. "Woodshop" displays elements of jazz, chamber music, folk, bluegrass and experimental music. Discovery and versatility create a fresh acoustic sound rooted in tradition. Mike and Darol continue to show that tradition can be reinvented to keep the vibe organic and stimulating. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Average customer rating: Music and Memory a soundtrack to a vanished past Refreshing Instrumentals for Christmas, or Any Time A Winter's Solstice Excellent CD.

A Winter's Solstice: Windham Hill Artists Philip Aaaberg , Billy Oskay & Michael O Domhnail , and Darol Anger & Mike Marshall Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Compilations | New Age | Styles | Music Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music 1980s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Holiday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1980-1989 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: A Winter's Solstice II A Winter's Solstice III A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 4 A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 6 A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 5 ASIN: B000000NGH Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - David Qualey
2. Engravings II - Ira Stein & Russel Walder
3. New England Morning - William Akerman
4. High Plains - Philip Aaberg
5. Nollaig - Bill Oskay & Micheal O Damhhnail
6. Greensleves - Liz Story
7. Bach Bouree - Darol Anger & Mike Marshall
8. Northumbrian Lullabye - Malcom Dalglish
9. Petite Aubade - Shadowfax
10. A Tale Of Two Cities - Mark Isham

Customer Reviews:

Music and Memory.......2007-01-01

Windham Hill has certainly milked this series for a very long time based on the success of this album in the 1980s. Many of its successors are really very good, but this is the seminal Windham Hill artists' statement about music, memory, and seasonal sentiment. Most of the cuts on this album are so well crafted that they may seem simplistic, but what is so telling for me is that the pieces hold up year after year and they possess a magical quality that allows the music to become a part of one's Solstice/Christmas experience. Will Ackerman's "New England Morning" is especially moving in this sense, and certainly seems to capture something elemental about New England in winter. This quality of the music is a tribute to the pure artistry of the performers/composers. Winter's Solstice II also works well on this level of grace and harmony. While the albums that follow the first two are good in many ways, and certainly contain high quality performances, the series sets a high standard with the first two attempts that is very tough to match. Highly recommended at any price.

a soundtrack to a vanished past.......2005-12-24

In the early months and years of my first marriage, this music was the bridge between two people who were not accustomed to building bridges. The emotional resonances that it triggers in me even now make me wonder whether music should be trusted as a reliable means of communication. The answer is, of course, yes; I just have to learn to remember without regret. Five stars, and more. The first, and probably the best, of the Solstice records.

Refreshing Instrumentals for Christmas, or Any Time.......2005-11-07

The Windham Hill "Winter's Solstice" series is a great way to experience Christmas in a musical way. This series goes well with Regency Music's "Winterlude" series (which I have reviewed here).

I thoroughly enjoy acoustic instruments in the making of Christmas music. While keyboards have their place, acoustic instruments have a unique quality and character that brings out the best in Christmas music, something that synthesized sounds lack. "A Winter's Solstice" accomplishes this while presenting a cornucopia of music ranging from classical pieces and traditional carols to folk melodies. Especially important here is the inclusion of non-traditional music that, although not necessarily seasonal, still blends well in the mix.

I have found that the best way to listen to this CD, for me at least, is in a darkened room with only the lights on the Christmas tree for illumination, and perhaps a scented candle for added emphasis. This permits the melodies to flow through me freely, allowing me to deeply experience the music. The CD is especially helpful for those who are stressed out and in need of relaxation.

Windham Hill excels at spotlighting independent musicians without the pomp and vanity forced upon them by the major record labels. Volume 1 is a good starting point, certainly, and is an excellent addition to anyone's Christmas music collection. This volume stands well either alone or with the rest of the series.

If you are looking for a CD that offers something other than the usual "manufactured" commercial, low-quality, over-hyped, cookie-cutter-type Christmas fare, then "A Winter's Solstice" is for you.

A Winter's Solstice.......2005-10-04

If you are a fan of the Winter's Solstice series, than you will enjoy this cd, especially if you like the earlier volumes with the more original pieces rather than mostly traditional christmas music.

Excellent CD........2005-09-04

What a beautiful beginning for the Winter's Solstice collection. I love this music. It drains away all my stress.

Average customer rating: There are two kinds of dominant personalities in the world-- An accomplished master is reborn!

Republic of Strings Darol Anger & the American Fiddle Ensemble Manufacturer: Compass Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Generation Nation Fiddlers 4 Diary of a Fiddler Heritage At Home and on the Range: The Duo Live ASIN: B0001CNQXA Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

1. Lost In The Loop
2. Higher Ground
3. Grigsby's Hornpipe
4. Old Dangerfield
5. Help Me
6. Andre De Sabato Nuovo
7. Sneezin'
8. Ouditarus Rez
9. Where To Now?
10. Evening Prelude
11. Evening Prayer Blues
12. Dzinomwa Muna Save
13. Sand

Amazon.com

Darol Anger isn't the sort of musician who stretches musical boundaries; he's the sort of musician who refuses to concede that such boundaries even exist. On Republic of Strings he and his American Fiddle Ensemble use relatively simple tunes such as Irish fiddler Liz Carroll's "Lost in the Loop" or Bill Monroe's "Old Dangerfield" as a starting point to create harmonically complex, rhythmically rich arrangements. The band consists of guitarist Scott Nygaard, the brilliant young fiddler Brittany Haas, cellist Rashad Eggleston, and Natalie Haas, who takes Eggleston's place on three tracks. Guest artists include Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins, who lends vocals to a slightly spooky version of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground," and Laurie Lewis, who delivers a bluegrass-tinged take on Joni Mitchell's "Help Me." You might call this improvised Afro-Scandinavian Irish old-time string band music, but it would be equally true, and much simpler, to just say they play great music. --Michael John Simmons

Customer Reviews:

There are two kinds of dominant personalities in the world--.......2004-06-20

--those that surround themselves with sycophants and those that associate with their peers or betters.

Darol Anger is distinctly of the latter type. The musicians he has chosen to play with on this altogether remarkable disc are every bit his peers, if not his superiors. The result is a disc of magnificent presence and accomplishment.

Perhaps the standout characteristic of this astounding music is the diversity of material Anger has managed to round up and "break" (as one might a wild bronc) within its purview: everything from Irish traditional ("Lost in the Loop") to Detroit soul ("Higher Ground") to Kentucky bluegrass ("Old Dangerfield") to elay folk-rock ("Help Me" [nearly unrecognizable, it must be said], featuring the eartheral vocals of Laurie Lewis) to Villa-Lobos-like Brazilian-classical ("Andre de Sabato Nuovo") to smart swing ("Sneezin'") to Arabic ("Ouditras Rez") to gospel/blues ("Evening Prayer Blues") to African ("Dzinomwa Muna Save") to Scandinavian fiddle music ("Sand").

Surrounding himself with up-and-coming musicians of the absolute top rank (wildly creative fiddle player Brittany Haas; hugely underregarded flat-picking guitarist Scott Nygard, practically the peer of David Grier; monster cellist Rushad Eggleston), Anger has upped the ante of string-band music almost off the charts, with us, the listeners, being the beneficiaries.

Rhapsodic gloriousness of the first order: You snooze, you lose. Plus, contains a hidden mysterioso track that contextualizes the proceedings with gravitas beyond the call of duty.

Transcendent.

An accomplished master is reborn!.......2004-03-10

Fans of progressive acoustic music think they know Darol Anger, but they won't know what hit them after they hear this! It seems like most musicians of Darol's generation are content to mine existing veins, settling into a cosy twilight. Not Anger -- here he's paired with two amazing young musicians (cellist Rushad Eggleston and fiddler Brittany Haas) and, along with under-rated flatpicker Scott Nygaard, use the techniques he has developed over years of exploration to enliven a new set of music drawn from all over the world. The guitar and cello are an unexpectedly forceful rhythm section, driving Anger and Haas to new levels of invention and intensity. But this isn't all about flash: the slower, more spacious tunes are amazingly empathetic -- bordering on telepathy. It's great to hear someone like Darol still testing the limits of his music...if you're new to his music, or haven't heard him in a while, here's where you pick up.

Average customer rating: Unique blend of jazz and classical styles

Turtle Island String Quartet: A Windham Hill Retrospective Turtle Island String Quartet Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Art of the Groove 4 + Four Danzón A Night in Tunisia, A Week in Detroit Love Supreme: The Legacy of John Coltrane ASIN: B000000NMW Release Date: 1997-07-15

Tracks:

1. Who Do You Think You Are?
2. Blue In Green- Seven Steps To Heaven
3. Skylife
4. Stolen Moments
5. Ensenada
6. Thin Ice
7. Crossroads
8. Spider Dreams
9. A Night In Tunisia
10. Grant Wood
11. Jaco
12. Julie-O
13. Senior Mouse

Customer Reviews:

Unique blend of jazz and classical styles.......1999-06-02

I love the Turtle Island String Quartet because of their use of a traditionally classical music ensemble to create a jazz sound. This CD is wonderful because it uses selections from their earlier recordings as well as their latest ones.

Average customer rating: Six stars, at least Keep Copies Everywhere

Chiaroscuro Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sign Language ASIN: B000000NGD Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Dolphins
2. Saurian's Farewell
3. Beneath The Surface
4. Spring Gesture
5. Bach Prelude
6. Piacenza
7. Coming Back
8. Dardanelles
9. Bach Bouree (From The French Suite)
10. Beloved Infidel

Customer Reviews:

Six stars, at least.......2006-10-05

I bought this CD when in first came out in 1985. 20-odd years later, I'm still listening to it. There has not been a time when this album was not in rotation on my player. There isn't any other album I can say that about. It's good, it's still good, it never stales.

Keep Copies Everywhere.......2004-04-09

It's a bit of an embarrassment to admit that the thing that has gotten in the way of reviewing this album is that I keep forgetting to review and wind up just listening. All of the musicians at the heart of this album are remarkable. Darol Anger on violin, Mike Marshall on guitar, Michael Manring and Todd Phillips on Bass, Andy Narell on Steel Drums, Barbara Higbie on synth, and even George Marsh on triangle. Some of the best light jazz players of their time (1985), it is immediately apparent that they respect what each has to add to the mix and have a strong commitment to be something else besides 'yet another new age group.'

Darol Anger needs no introduction. 'Dolphins' and 'Spring Gesture' are hallmark tunes, that get a lot of airtime and inclusion in other collections. Mike Marshall is no slouch either, comfortable trading lines with Anger or stepping out for a short moment of Bach just to show off. These to are regular playing partners and have the entire Windham Hill stable of artists to draw one. This makes the player lists on their albums a catalog of wizardry. As I've already demonstrated, Chiaroscuro is no exception to that rule.

So the next time you are feeling that New Age music is a little to spacey, and that light jazz has vaporized, grab this album and give a listen. This is fun, showing off, and everything from Bach to blues in the blinking of an eye. And not by rote, but with every bit of imagination that they can muster. Anger and Marshall playing 'Piacenza' is something that needs to be experience at least once in every life. Trust me, this album is one of the reasons you have a shelf right next to your CD Player.

Average customer rating: A "roots" music visionary's concept-album masterpiece.

Heritage Darol Anger Manufacturer: Six Degrees ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Bluegrass Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Six Degrees Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Republic of Strings Diary of a Fiddler Fiddlers 4 Generation Nation Now Hear This ASIN: B0007IO6EQ Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

1. Headwaters: Shenandoah (2:24) Sung by Jane Siberry, featuring Michael Manring and Philip Aaberg
2. While Roving On A Winters Night (5:30) Sung by John Gorka and Dar Williams, featuring David Lindley, Bela Fleck and John Jennings
3. Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow (5:49) Featuring Jerry Douglas and Russ Barenberg
4. The Water Is Wide (6:38) Sung by Tim O'Brien, featuring David Grisman, Michael Manring, Bela Fleck and John Jennings
5. Hard Times Come Again No More (3:52) Sung by Willie Nelson, featuring David Grisman
6. La Ville Des Manteau (4:38) Featuring Michael Doucet and Darol Anger
7. Pretty Polly (8:43) Sung by Mary Chapin Carpenter, featuring Edgar Meyer and John Jennings
8. Are You Tired Of Me, My Darling? (4:50) Featuring Paul McCandless and Tony Trischka
9. Oh, Death (4:24) Sung by Mavis Staples, featuring David Lindley and David Grisman
10. Shenandoah: A Quiet Place/Golden Slippers (3:25) Featuring Vassar Clements and John Hartford
11. Talk About Suffering Here Below (6:18) Featuring Edgar Meyer
12. Down In The Willow Garden (4:44) Featuring Paul McCandless and Victor Wooten
13. To The Sea: O Shenandoah! (7:27) Sung by Jane Siberry

Album Description

Heritage is a unique concept album, which explores the expanse of American Roots music. These folk tunes, which run the gamut from Appalachian gospel to African-American chants to "heart songs" and fiddle tunes from every part of this country, all have the distinction of being crucial to the cultural development of this nation, and still musically relevant: they're so strong as purely musical entities that they can take just about any kind of setting and not lose their meaning and identity. From distilled reportage to pure musical flight, these songs speak directly to matters of deep immediacy and relevance: Love, poverty, despair, joy, death, after-death. Nobody wrote them; Everybody wrote them. Listening to them is experiencing cultural geology.

The vocalists include: Mary- Chapin Carpenter, John Gorka, Willie Nelson, Tim O'Brien, Jane Siberry, Mavis Staples and Dar Williams

Instrumentalists on Heritage include: Phil Aaberg, David Balakrishnan, Russ Barenberg, Sam Bush, Joe Craven, Vassar Clements, Jerry Douglas Michael Doucet, Stuart Duncan,Tony Elman, Bela Fleck, David Grisman John Hartford, Barbara Higbie, John Jennings, David Lindley, Michael Manring, Mike Marshall, Paul McCandless, Edgar Meyer, Andy Narell Barry Phillips, Todd Phillips, Tony Trischka and Victor Wooten;.

Customer Reviews:

A "roots" music visionary's concept-album masterpiece........2002-03-02

My eariest recollection of Darol Anger as one of the world's most unique fiddlers goes back nearly two decades, with the Windham Hill release of "Live at Montreux," featuring the Darol Anger/Barbara Higbie Quintet. To this day, I still pull this CD out, if only to play "Near Northern," a true classic of its genre. But that album had been released in the early, "good" days of Windham Hill, when the label had been the pet project and unique vision of Will Ackerman and Anne Robinson. Absent their subsequent leadership, the label veered off-base as far as my musical tastes were concerned. And, consequently, I lost track of Darol for more than a decade.

Then, about four years ago, while in the evening "commuter rush," I had the opportunity to hear samples of "Heritage," with commentary by Darol, on NPR's "All Things Considered." With those musical snippets bouncing around in my head, I couldn't find my own copy of the album fast enough. And, once I had my own copy in hand, and had heard it through, I later ended up purchasing the better part of a dozen copies, both for friends in the music industry who had done something similar and for other friends who I also figured would like it. (They all did.)

In a way, this turned out to be a "musical reunion" album for me, with session work by Paul McCandless of Oregon (and formerly the Paul Winter Consort), the best oboist on the planet, Edgar Meyer (now, already, a legend), Béla Fleck (ditto), Mavis Staples (ditto), Willie Nelson (ditto), Michael Doucet (ditto), Mike Marshall (ditto), David Grisman (ditto), Andy Narell (ditto), and on and on...

To me, "Heritage" will always be the ultimate "roots" album, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (OBWAT) and others of its ilk notwithstanding. A full story of the musical roots of the album can be found at the "Heritage" page at the Six Degrees Records label website. (In fact, it was through an Amazon link at this website that I just recently found that this "Heritage" page at Amazon exists; earlier efforts to find it were unsuccessful.) The full story is very interesting, but I'd rather simply state that the concept is to tie together all of the roots of American folk music, with the famous folk song "Shenandoah" as its unifying thread, and move on to the music itself, touching on what are the highlights for me.

The album both opens and closes with statements of the "Shenandoah" theme as sung by Jane Siberry, first with a nicely understated introduction by Phil Aaberg on piano, and then, in the closer (where the "oral" tradition of passing down roots music from one generation to the next is depicted in a "mother teaches daughter" way), with beautifully shaded steel pan work by Andy Narell. And in between these two "album covers" are some incredible gems. I won't be granted the webpage space to describe all of them, so I'll just say a sentence or two about my own personal favorites.

Mary Chapin Carpenter singing "Pretty Polly": Some of the greatest recording effects I've ever heard. And Chapin Carpenter's voice, and the arrangement, are splendid here.

Paul McCandless ripping on penny whistle and bass clarinet in "Down In The Willow Garden": A delightful romp that puts the lie to the statement that this guy's "merely" the best oboist on the planet.

Willie Nelson singing "Hard Times Come Again No More": This is vintage Willie. (Interesting, as an aside, is the fact that James Taylor sings the same song on the O'Connor/Meyer/Ma "Appalachian Journey" album.)

Darol and Michael Doucet sawing (and singing) away on "La Ville des Manteau": Simply the best Cajun two-step I've ever heard.

Mavis Staples singing "Oh, Death": The version on OBWAT has to take its place in line behind this authoritative rendition.

The Nashville Lumberyard (Darol, Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Tim O'Brien, Matt Glaser) with yet more "sawing away" on the classic "Golden Slippers."

Tim O'Brien singing another classic, "The Water Is Wide," in a style that can best be described as "antidotal if not antipodal" to the version that Pete Seeger sings on his "Pete" album (on the Living Music label).

I know I've missed some folks, and some good tracks, here, in picking my faves, and to them I apologize. But "space is space" and "a thousand words or less" it needs to be.

This whole album is a labor of love, an act of integrity, and, far more importantly, a uniquely personal vision of its creator. All of the roots tunes here, after having been refracted through Darol's musical prism, emerge transmogrified but otherwise unscathed.

The best roots album ever? Well, it gets my vote. Thanks, Darol.

Bob Zeidler

Average customer rating: Fine reissue of a classic set

Purcell: Theatre Music Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Hogwood, Christopher | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Cantatas for Solo Countertenor Purcell: The Fairy Queen Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs Lawes: The Consort Setts for 5 & 7 viols and organ ASIN: B0001Y4JHA Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Fine reissue of a classic set.......2006-05-24

Think about the stupidest, most formulaic Hollywood movies you can think of: cheesy action pictures, fluffy, unfunny comedies, big but stiff epics. Now imagine that one of the greatest living composers was working in Hollywood, turning out astonishing, hauntingly beautiful and stirring musical scores for these throwaway movies. That's what you get with this set: music Henry Purcell composed for some two dozen often utterly forgettable plays (trust me--I've read a number of them!) Occasionally, when he teams up with a playwright worthy of his stature, such as John Dryden, Aphra Behn, or William Congreve, the results are even better, but for the most part you can enjoy the music here without knowing anything about the original plays.

This set originally appeared as separate LPs in the 70s and 80s, and has been long out of print. That's a pity, since Purcell spent a good deal of his short professional life in the theatre, either writing the incidental music contained on these CDs, or the music for his larger works, the semi-operas (King Arthur, The Fairy Queen, and the like). Almost all of these works are enjoyable gems; certainly, they represent a pinnacle of English 17th century music. Purcell had a genius for spinning musical gold out of the most leaden lyrics (check out his Odes and Welcome Songs on Hyperion if you don't believe me), and he does the same with the song texts in these plays.

Hogwood and the AAM offer clean, listenable performances, and the sound on these old analog discs has been cleaned up and brightened--although they were pretty good, even in the late 70s. As with most Hogwood, emotional extremes are kept to a minimum, so the "otherworldly" nature of late 17th century music, so often emphasised in more recent Baroque performances, doesn't come across here. It would be interesting to see what a group like The King's Consort would do with this music, but this set fills the major gap in the Purcell canon quite nicely.

My only beef with the reissue, as with many reissues, is that the liner notes are rather thin for a 6-cd set--the lyrics to the songs, for example, are especially missed. Still, it's a worthwhile set, and a must for fans of Purcell, English Baroque music, or anyone who just wants to experience a taste of the last days of the Restoration stage.

Average customer rating: A Really Great Album My first fix of Anger. Major Windham Hill release from the 1980s

Live at Montreux '84 Darol Anger Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Let Them Say Sign Language ASIN: B000008IL6 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Egrets
2. The Lights In The Sky Are Stars
3. Daughter Of Cups
4. Egypt
5. Brann St. Sonata
6. In What Hour
7. Pumpkin Time
8. Tideline
9. Duet
10. Near Northern - Darol Anger/Barbara Higbie Quintet

Customer Reviews:

A Really Great Album.......2007-04-17

This is one of the best albums Windham Hill ever produced. It features Barbara Higbie, Darol Anger, Andy Narell, Mike Marshall and Todd Phillips playing in a live performance that is pure magic. A friend of mine described it as "happy music" because it is impossible to listen to it without smiling.

My first fix of Anger........2004-09-21

Once upon a time, there was a new start-up label called Windham Hill. A small west coast enterprise that had been the shared vision of Will Ackerman and Anne Robinson, its founders, it boasted a stable of fresh talent the likes of which few such new labels did. And, to keep operational matters under control, rather than dilute its own efforts, Windham Hill partnered with A&M Records to handle its distribution in those early days. A smart move at the time.

Some years later, Windham Hill became "the Windham Hill Division of BMG" and, for those who know the BMG entertainment conglomerate (Bertelsmann Music Group) story, it is, in microcosm, the story of "how not to run a music enterprise." In time, most of the talent in that stable moved on, some to find happy homes elsewhere and some not.

One of the casualties of the various Windham Hill "catalog shakeouts" that were part of BMG's "corporate pain" over the years was this early Darol Anger effort, "Live at Montreux: Darol Anger/Barbara Higbie Quintet." It was among my initial Windham Hill acquisitions virtually two decades ago. (Shortly afterward, I acquired another Darol Anger effort, "Chiaroscuro," featuring a near-identical artist complement, but a studio production rather than a live concert.)

In fact, this album *was* "my first fix of Anger," a fact for which I'm grateful to Will Ackerman, since I've subsequently become a Darol Anger completist. And, although this album may no longer be in the Windham Hill catalog, it is listed here, copies from Amazon marketplace partners are available, and that is good enough for me to write about this "first fix."

The quintet, recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (in Montreux, Switzerland at an "Evening with Windham Hill"), includes Darol on violins, Barbara Higbie on piano, Mike Marshall on guitar and mandolin, Todd Phillips on acoustic bass and Andy Narell on steel drums. For its time, this ensemble instrumentation produced a totally fresh and unique sound, not least of which was due to Andy Narell's steel drum work, in addition to Darol's totally fresh approach to fiddling.

Some of the highlights of this collector's item:

The lead-off track, "Egrets," features great steel drum work by Andy Narell and acoustic bass by Todd Phillips.

"The Lights In The Sky Are Stars" has nice piano work by Higbie, guitar work by Marshall, and swinging violin by Anger, with more great steel drum back-up work by Narell. This track, as much as any, defined a new steel drum style that wasn't calypso. It's improvised - and totally acoustic - jazz. Period.

"Daughter of Cups" is a nicely lyrical Higbie piano work. "Egypt" opens with Marshall on mandolin, with Higbie, Narell and Phillips setting a good rhythm line; then Anger comes swerving in with his violin, with a chorus that is full of his quirky offbeat rhythms, jazzy ornamentation and soaring lines. Higbie then takes the melody from Anger; makes a nice improvisatory run with it, and hands it off to Narell for his solo, to close out the track.

"In What Hour" starts with a piano/guitar intro; then Darol swinging away on his violin. Once again, there is excellent bass support from Phillips and percussion from Narell. The piece bridges to an upbeat tempo in the final 2 minutes or so, nicely swinging, everyone getting their licks in. Nice warm audience reaction at the end.

"Tideline" has a nice hard-driving pulse set up by Higbie and reinforced by Phillips; this time Anger takes it up into the higher strings, swapping licks with Marshall on mandolin.

"Near Northern" may be my favorite "early Windham Hill track" irrespective of artist(s). Simply put, this track is a trip that rips! Great acoustic bass and guitar support from Phillips and Marshall; great piano work by Higbie; soaring double-stops by Anger. The ultimate feel-good high!

At a few minutes under an hour (typical for early CDs), this album may, to some, seem too short. But I measure my albums by the quality of their content, and the content here is all first class. Not to mention the fact that it (and its "Chiaroscuro" stablemate, listed elsewhere at Amazon as ASIN B00000AF3J) got me started on two decades' worth of subsequent Darol Anger albums of such eclecticism that he almost defies categorization. I'd call that an wise investment, not a profligate purchase!

Bob Zeidler

Major Windham Hill release from the 1980s.......2003-04-28

This is, according to the liner notes, the entire concert played on July 19th, 1984 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, in Montreux, Switzerland. Musicians are: Darol Anger, violins; Barbara Higbie, piano; Mike Marshall, guitar, mandolin; Todd Phillips, up-right bass; and Andy Narell, steel drums. 55 minutes running time, there are 10 tracks in all, not 8 as listed here. As the samples demonstrate, this is not 'new age' but acoustic-based music, with a jazz/classical/contemporary sensibility (no synthesizers are used).

Average customer rating: Indie Pop that delivers in the catchy department A Rose By Any Other Name

All Songs Written by: Human Television Human Television Manufacturer: Gigantic ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Look at Who You're Talking To As Far as the Eye Can See The Black Magic Show Citrus Carnavas ASIN: B0002VEQW0 Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

1. Saw You Walking By
2. Tell Me What You Want
3. I Forgot
4. Yeah Right
5. Automoblie
6. Cars Are Weird
7. Sick With Redundancy Check

Customer Reviews:

Indie Pop that delivers in the catchy department.......2006-07-04

These songs are really catchy. It takes me back to a lot of my favorite indie pop of the 80's and 90's. I hear early REM, The Feelies, The Barnabys, The Wedding Present, The Connells, The Bats, The Chills and other great bands when I hear this album, but Human Television really makes the sound their own at the same time. Jangly guitar is prevalent, but they also can rock. The vocals aren't very unique but are just sour enough to complement the poppiness of their songs perfectly.

A Rose By Any Other Name.......2005-02-06

With a name like Human Television, you might think this Philly-by-way-of-Gainsville quartet sounds like the Human League or Television. But what's in a name anyway? On their debut EP, they sound more like REM--minus Michael Stipe's vocals--or the Wedding Present--minus (some of) the speed. If you like jangle: they're the band for you. At times, they even remind me of New Zealand's Chills, one of the best jangle bands of all time. That said, I think I prefer their harder-edged material to the soft. Here's hoping their first full-length has more songs like the driving "Sick With Redundancy Check" than poppy "Saw You Walking By."

Average customer rating: psychotic bluegrass Awesome acoustic interplay

Now Hear This Psychograss Manufacturer: Adventure Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Like Minds Live: Duets The Best Kept Secret Tone Poets How to Grow a Woman from the Ground ASIN: B0009GX2IW Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

1. High Ham
2. Look What the Dog Brought Home
3. Looks Like A Duck
4. In the Lion's Den
5. One Foot in the Gutter
6. Road to Hope
7. Stroll of the Mudbug
8. Scary
9. Little Bases
10. Not, Yet Not

Product Description

This new recording bears the unmistakable stamp of a mature group of artists at the top of their game. The all-original tunes ring with the authority of musicians who have mastered a vast swath of American music styles, yet are still exploring. Bluegrass music forms the grounding for a subtle and kaleidoscopic blend of seasonings which include jazz, rock, classical, and various international flavors, flavors that are not pasted over the music but woven into the sound of each player, expressed as a conversation, sometimes earthy, sometimes highfalutin, always totally present in the moment. Psychograss is a band of musicians who are indelibly written into the history of acoustic music. NOW HEAR THIS is both a signpost and a guidepost.

Customer Reviews:

psychotic bluegrass.......2007-04-08

I have been a fan of Darol Anger, Todd Phillips and Mike Marshall since the old days with David Grisman. When they got together with Tony Trischka and David Grier to form Psychograss they became one of my favorite performing bands, especially when Darol would get down on the stage and play fiddle horizontially just like the real lunatic he is. I have had their first album since 1996 when it was new and it has always been a favorite so was very pleased to see that after 11 years they had gotten together to record another. In addition, I have been following the careers of each of these musicians and love it when they get together. "Now Hear This" is good. It doesn't have the balls-out energy and creativity of the first, and because they were always a performing band it doesn't quite carry through to a non-immediate, semi-personal experience. Now don't get me wrong, it's a great album and I do recommend it. After all these guys are at the very top of their classes in each of their instruments. I don't think they could produce a bad album if they all had strokes and were unconscious. The music would still come streaming "psychically" out of their pores irregardless of their autonomic nervous systems. So give it a try.

Awesome acoustic interplay.......2005-08-12

When it comes to "new acoustic" -- the swinging blend of bluegrass, jazz, baroque, and Celtic pioneered by mandolinist David Grisman under the rubric of dawg music -- it doesn't get any better than Psychograss. Flatpicker extraordinaire David Grier and his mates Mike Marshall (mandolin), Tony Trischka (banjo), Darol Anger (violin), and Todd Phillips (upright) play with a relaxed virtuosity that inspires and astounds, yet remains fun and inviting. Phillips, Anger, and Marshall are Grisman Quartet alumni, and they reflect his original vision without letting the band sound derivative. Salting his 'grass with bluesy double-stops and jazzy voicings, Grier plays with thrilling clarity -- even at top speed. His Jim Merrill flat-top yields warm, ripe tones that sit beautifully below Marshall's tinkling mandolin and Anger's sweetly searing violin. In Grier's "Look What the Dog Brought In," his 6-string rings with piano-like clarity and sustain, recalling Grisman's original dawg flatpicker, Tony Rice.

Meditation Music:

1. On a Winter's Night
2. Over Seas
3. Passion Flute
4. Pinnacles
5. Poet: Romance for Cello
6. Primalvision
7. Radio-Activity
8. Radioactivity [CD-single]
9. Remembering
10. Rendez-Vous

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Fallen

actoractressgallery.com Music: Bach: Chorale Preludes [Box set]

Kreisleriana Opus 16

Music: Heart & Soul

Lemon Orange [Import]

Heaven's Dust

Foto Van Vroeger [Import]

Journey into Bass

Instumental [Import]

Elogio de la Guitarra

Halovox

Entre Deux Rêves [Import]

Hustler's Convention

Blues Music blues-music-15

Once to Every Heart