Sunday, August 28, 2005
Classics in my book
There are some musical works that I keep coming back to. Time and again, I get this deep, profound visceral appreciation when I hear them. I say to myself, "It is so good to hear you, my old friend."
Here are a few of this summer's re-discoveries:
1) Waltz of the Whippoorwill by Joe Weed and friends (including David Grisman and Todd Phillips). Each of 11 bird songs is taken as a theme and developed. Surprising every time, in its modest way. If you don't have this in your collection, do yourself a favor.
2) "Dark Star," from Live Dead (The Grateful Dead). Sam Whitmore re-plays this magical piece on Closet Deadhead #50. He calls it, "The most seminal piece of Grateful Dead music there is," and I tend to agree. Close behind, though, is Anthem of the Sun, and the second piece of CDH #50 is related: it is an amazing live performance, much cleaned up and digitally enhanced, of "Caution: Don't Stop on the Tracks" featuring Pigpen's harp and early, exploratory proto-Jerry guitar.
3) The six Bach Cello Suites, played by Savely Schuster, engineered and produced by my good friend Dick Campbell; a deeply emotional reading matched by chewy, rich production. Makes Yo-Yo Ma's attempt at this music sound machine-like in comparison.
4) Perpetual Motion by Bela Fleck. Musical polymath Edgar Meyer pushes newgrass banjo master Fleck to new heights. Fleck takes on some amazingly difficult classical pieces, accompanied by other world masters of the violin, guitar, cello, etc. The result has moments that take my breath away, even after twenty-some listenings.
There are other great works of this caliber, to be sure, but these are the four highlights of this summer's listening so far.
Here are a few of this summer's re-discoveries:
1) Waltz of the Whippoorwill by Joe Weed and friends (including David Grisman and Todd Phillips). Each of 11 bird songs is taken as a theme and developed. Surprising every time, in its modest way. If you don't have this in your collection, do yourself a favor.
2) "Dark Star," from Live Dead (The Grateful Dead). Sam Whitmore re-plays this magical piece on Closet Deadhead #50. He calls it, "The most seminal piece of Grateful Dead music there is," and I tend to agree. Close behind, though, is Anthem of the Sun, and the second piece of CDH #50 is related: it is an amazing live performance, much cleaned up and digitally enhanced, of "Caution: Don't Stop on the Tracks" featuring Pigpen's harp and early, exploratory proto-Jerry guitar.
3) The six Bach Cello Suites, played by Savely Schuster, engineered and produced by my good friend Dick Campbell; a deeply emotional reading matched by chewy, rich production. Makes Yo-Yo Ma's attempt at this music sound machine-like in comparison.
4) Perpetual Motion by Bela Fleck. Musical polymath Edgar Meyer pushes newgrass banjo master Fleck to new heights. Fleck takes on some amazingly difficult classical pieces, accompanied by other world masters of the violin, guitar, cello, etc. The result has moments that take my breath away, even after twenty-some listenings.
There are other great works of this caliber, to be sure, but these are the four highlights of this summer's listening so far.
Technorati Tags: GratefulDead, JoeWeed, Music
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