And then there were … Liner Notes:
Penguin Café’s Handuls of Night (Explored). Simon Jeffe’s Penguin Café Orchestra’s albums changed my world. And now his son, Arthur, is not only playing his dad’s music as Penguin Café but also new compositions on this album commissioned by Greenpeace to herald the life and times of various breeds of penguins. The original album was released in October of 2019. This (Explored) version features a track-by-track audio commentary by Arthur Jeffes. Read his quote below:
“Since last year when we released this album, a lot has changed. We’ve moved in to a very different way of working and listening to the album now feels strange – a small window into a different, slightly more benign world. At the same time, it feels good to look back and remember how it felt to write, record and play these pieces. An album takes place over a period of maybe 18 months and becomes a snapshot of our lives during that period, so there’s a nostalgia at work which feels quite bitter-sweet – but the idea holds true I think, at least for me, that given the right space and opportunity creativity will find an outlet. We toured with the new tracks at the end of 2019 and the start of 2020 – and playing the pieces necessarily changed how we hear them – but listening back now to the record is a kind of lovely reminder that despite such a strange year there is a lot that’s still the same – just there under the surface waiting to be re-claimed.“ — Arthur Jeffes
Robin Trower, Maxi Priest, Livingstone Brown’s United State of Mind. I can’t recall the last time Robin Trower’s name last came up in conversation. The unanticipated wait was well worth it.
Fish’s Weltschmertz. I’m a big fan of Fish, ever since his days with Marillion.Singer, songwriter and occasional actor, Fish has always has always had something to say with his spoken word, lyrics and songs. My welcome for the album is indeed bittersweet, as this may well be Fish’s last solo studio project. I hope not, but for those of you who know, just start listening, and for those who don’t, there’s no better time to introduce yourselves.
Aaron Diehl’s The Vagabond. Diehl came to my attention for his work with Cecille McLorin Salvant and now I keep both an eye and ear out for any new music of his coming my way.
The clarinet is a wondrous instrument. And to most of the world it is the province of the Swing-Band, but not so fast. This week two albums prove otherwise:
- András Schiff & JorgWidmann – Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas
- Eric Hoeprich – Weber & Kurpinski: Clarinet Concertos
Frank Zappa’s The Mothers, this 4-disc set in its entirely woke me up and made me regret that I had not payed closer attention growing up. Now I find myself making up for lost time and loving every minute of it.
Kim Wilde had me hopping and bopping in the 80’s. I shall not lie. And then for two of her albums to be re-issued, expanded and re-mastered got me back to those Long Island clubs, bars, mostly dive-bars that I’d frequent.
Sergey Malov’s Bach Cello Suites. This is for those who have NEVER listened to these pieces before. There are countless other recordings out there, but any chance I have to trumpet these works and set you all off on explorations, I will avail myself of the opportunity every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Supertramp’s Concert of the Century was part and parcel of their Crime of the Century. A good number of us got introduced to Supertramp via Breakfast in America, again, no lie, but once I wore out the grooves on that record album, I voraciously tucked in to their back catalogue.
The Doors’ Morrison Hotel, can it be 50 years. Hell, 1970 must have been a banner year, along with 1971 and 1977 for album releases. Hold on to your hats because next year there are going to be slew of 50th Anniversary re-releases, none of which are to be missed.
New Releases
Aaron Diehl – The Vagabond
András Schiff & Jorg Widmann – Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas
Andrea Lucchesini – Schubert Late Piano Works, Vol. 3
Malov – Bach: 6 Suites for Violoncello Solo
Christian Scott a TundeAdjuah – Axiom
Diana Damrau – Tudor Queens
Emmanuel Pahud, Orchestre National de France, Alexandre Desplat – Airlines
Eric Hoeprich – Weber &Kurpinski: Clarinet Concertos
Fish – Weltschmerz
Isaac Karabtchevsky, OrquestraSinfônica do Estado de São Paulo – Guarnieri: Chôros, Vol. 1 &Seresta
Justin Badgerow – Reminiscences of Brazil
Marco Brescia – Zipoli in Diamantina
Penguin Cafe – Handfuls of Night (Explored)
Plamena Nikitassova – Westhoff: Suites for Solo Violin
Robin Trower, Maxi Priest, Livingstone Brown – United State of Mind
Sir Mark Elder & Neal Davies, Hallé – Vaughan Williams: Job & Songs of Travel]
The Mozartists & Ian Page -Sturm und Drang Vol 2
Re-Issues, Re-Masters & Miscellany
Frank Zappa: The Mothers 1970 (4CD)
Joe Gordon – Social Call
Kim Wilde – Kim Wilde (Expanded & Remastered)
Kim Wilde – Select (Expanded & Remastered)
Mariah Carey – The Rarities
Mel Powell – Heart and Soul
Neneh Cherry – Raw Like Sushi (30th Anniversary Edition Deluxe)
Supertramp – Concert of the Century. Live in London 1975
The Doors – Morrison Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Share NARP with your friends, share it your enemies. Now, more than ever, the walls just “gotta’ come down. Music does not discriminate. Let’s be like music.
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