Archive for 'Featured'
Pat Metheney
One of my favorite pastimes is introducing fellow music aficionados to artists who are most likely not familiar to them. I would like to believe that jazz guitarist and composer Pat Metheney does not belong in [...]
Best of Winter 2013
Lawrence Schenbeck selects favorite new classical recordings from those released in the last four months or so.. [...]
Bobby Lyle
I’m sure there are many fantastic musicians that deserve wider public recognition. Keyboardist Bobby Lyle is most definitely in this category. If the reader has been a regular follower of this column, you are aware of [...]
Andy Narell and Steelpans
Any Andy Narell fans out there? How about steelpans? Well, hopefully after you’ve finished reading this article, you will be a fan of both! I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard steelpans played before and [...]
Persuasive Percussion
There's more to modern percussion than the kick drum. If you can hit it, stroke it, or shake it, it'll give your ears a feast and your audio equipment a darn good workout. [...]
Tchaikovsky Begins
Tchaikovsky's first three symphonies are full of color, drama, and great melodies. Two new recorded cycles show just why these works are worth hearing, again and again. [...]
Jazz Vocalists
I trust that you are having a great start to 2013 and will stick to all of your resolutions for the New Year! (Well, at least some of them!) It’s high time to give props to [...]
Bad Girls
Classical music is Not Dead Yet, but did we really need an opera about Anna Nicole Smith? Lawrence Schenbeck reflects on some truly great Bad Girls in opera history. [...]
Vibraphones
In this installment, we will absorb the very mellow and cool vibes of the vibraphone. When I was growing up, those who were, wanted to be or considered themselves as “real cool”, not only listened to [...]
Young Verdi
How Verdi got started as a composer, revealed in new recordings from a surprising source. [...]
The best way to organize music files and folders
As the writer of the Music Library Management blog I get a lot of emails asking for advice. And a lot of those emails concern the best ways of organizing file and folder paths. Should I [...]
Dexter Wansel
If there was ever a list of musicians that don’t get the recognition that they deserve, Dexter Wansel is very high on that list. And it would not surprise me if the majority of the reading [...]
Best Classical Summer 2012
Our quarterly collection of great new classical recordings. [...]
The greatest concert I ever attended
Thirty years ago, a mere lad of 25, I was already a veteran classical music and jazz fanatic. I bought LPs, attended classical concerts with the Miami Philharmonic, recitals by some pretty great pianists, operas, and [...]
Albert Mangelsdorff
As we continue our tour of the bandstand, I submit to you trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff (September 5, 1928-July 25, 2005). “Mangels who,” you ask. Let us briefly delve into how Mr. Mangelsdorff’s journey led him to [...]
Timbre
Also called "harmonics," tone color, or overtones. They're everywhere in music, and they matter enormously. [...]
Quincy Jones
Very few musicians, let alone people in general, are recognizable by the first initial of their first name. Quincy Jones, or Q, is one such person. Even though he started out as a jazz trumpeter, Q’s [...]
Two Russian Masters of the Symphony
Two of the greatest symphonic composers of the 20th century were born and died in Russia. Their music lives on, and for good reason. [...]
Fun With Counterpoint
What is counterpoint, and how does it invigorate all kinds of musical textures? Lawrence Schenbeck offers an introduction plus lively examples. [...]
Chick Corea
This month, I will attempt to serve up a Chick Corea “jazz sandwich”, with thinly sliced commentary “bread” and a healthy portion of musical “meat” (or assorted vegetables for those so inclined) and tasty condiments. Armando [...]
Best Classical Spring 2012
Our quarterly survey of the best new classical recordings. Music by Dvorak, Glazunov, Bach, Bizet, Mahler, and more. [...]
Five essential tools for your music library
Simply playing music on their computer is most people’s first venture into computer audio. That’s unsurprising, after all, it’s all about the music. The software we use to play music, computer music players such as iTunes, [...]
Dapp Theory
Remaining in the realm of fusion, this month’s entry-or entre-features a group that serves up some very tasty tunes for your musical palette-Dapp Theory. Most likely, very few-if any-of the readers have even heard of this [...]
Brahms: The Remix
Once again, someone has "reconsidered" the Brahms Symphonies, but this time the results are more consistently gratifying. [...]
New Old Stock
The best new classical music being created today isn't all that new. Or all that classical. [...]
Weather report
To the uninformed, the term weather report would normally be associated with the Oxford Dictionary definition “the condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time, with reference to the presence or absence of sunshine, [...]
Bagatelles and Dithyrambs
Exploring short piano works, rich in character and expression, from two early-20th-century composers who deserve more attention. Plus: three new recordings you need right now! [...]
A Fond Farewell to Levon Helm…
With the recent passing of the GREAT Levon Helm I’ve been listening quite a bit lately to The Band’s albums. Which is nothing new, as living in the Catskills they are a regular part of my [...]
The Saxophone: From Adolphe to Gerald
In contrast to the instrument that was the subject of my previous article, the saxophone was embraced and engulfed by jazz with little, if any, resistance. Unlike the violin, the instrument that is more apt to [...]
MP3 genres: one size does not fit all
It’s a common problem for owners of large digital music collections, whatever the file format: out of control genres. Too many genres or too few, some too specific, some too broad, some plain wrong. Genres soon become next [...]
To See or Not To See
Does video enhance or distract from the classical music experience for audiophiles? Will Blu-Ray revolutionize recorded opera, or can audio-only formats still hold value? [...]
Jean Luc Ponty
I am fairly certain that if I asked 10 people to name the instrument that they most associate with jazz, very few, if any of them would name the violin. The gentleman who is the subject [...]
Auditing your digital music collection
Auditing is a word that conjures images of accountants, grey suits, briefcases and worst of all…NUMBERS! It’s far and away from the kind of thing you want to think about when considering your music collection. Auditing [...]
Best of Winter 2012
Richard Strauss in the Alps; Bach's Goldbergs arranged for viol consort; the longest, largest symphony ever written; stunning Bach oratorios from Retrospect; a triumphant 20th-century program from the Oregon Symphony. All this and more in our [...]
Bottom Five
Lawrence Schenbeck talks about his favorite music by his least-favorite composers. Some surprising choices, both ways. [...]
Wes Montgomery
In my book, Wes Montgomery is one of the greatest and the most influential jazz guitarist who ever lived. He had a style and a sound that was uniquely his and would influence every jazz guitarist [...]
Chamber Music Magic
Lawrence Schenbeck surveys music for two, three, or four strings, featuring exceptional new recordings from young performers. [...]
Gene Krupa
I have had the privilege of seeing and hearing some incredible drummers in my lifetime. Because of the physicality and endurance required to play the drums, I don’t recall seeing very many drummers smiling, laughing and [...]
Musicians are Occupied Right Now
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the lack of music produced in conjunction with the Occupiers and various social reform movements that characterized the past year. Seeger, Guthrie, Baez, et al. played their way [...]
Schubert. Innigkeit. Discuss.
Lawrence Schenbeck welcomes in the new year with new recordings of Franz Schubert's timeless music and thoughts about his harmonic innovation. [...]
Favorite Independent Label Releases of 2011
Reviews of new releases from Bill Nelson, Cowboy Junkies, A Winged Victory For The Sullen: three of my favorite 2011 recordings. BILL NELSON Fantasmatron Be Bop Deluxe founder Bill Nelson brings fresh potency to the term [...]
Three best guitarists
When you think of bands that produced legendary guitarists, most people automatically default to the Yardbirds. The legendary triumvirate of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page rank in the top ten in Rolling Stone magazines [...]
Golden ears and the golden age
Hong Kong reviewer Wing Cheung helps us enjoy our music, our systems and our hearing more by offering a number of helpful tips to protect our brains audio processor and our ears. [...]
Open up CES!
CES is a closed venue and customers aren't allowed in - but writer Ken Kessler opines that's a mistake and one that would help the industry if it were corrected. We couldn't agree more. [...]
The history of music and hi fi part 1
Here we are a decade beyond the new century. Where we are today in the enjoyment of music. The steps taken to get here have taken over a century. In the beginning, listening to music could only [...]
Have you ever considered stereo?
The contractor eyed the room, figured he'd have to tear much of it out to add the 5.1 surround system and then turned to the customer and said, "have you considered just stereo instead?" A [...]
Stanley Clarke-Living Bass Legend
Stanley Clarke is perhaps one of the best bass players to have ever lived. Anyone interested in the Jazz artform should read this article by Keith Copeland on one of our greatest living legends of [...]
The forgotten albums from the summer of love
The summer of love was a huge one for music but we'll bet you didn't know half the story then or now. Charles Albert jumps in from personal experience in this fascinating article. [...]
High-end audio in Hong Kong
Life in the high-end in Hong Kong is something to behold. Perhaps no other city in the world is so obsessed with high-end Audio. Reviewer Wing Cheung gives us a bird's eye view. [...]
Passion
Passion, it's what people are interested in and it's what's missing with a growing number of high-end dealers. Brad Paulson lays it on the line for us. [...]
$100K turntables?
Who is going to buy it? Ken Kessler delivers a strong opinion on the state of the high end, the dealers and why high-end audio products are struggling. [...]
An Ives Geography
Lawrence Schenbeck explores New England and Noo Yawk City with "maverick" composer Charles Ives. [...]
Gone Too Soon: Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown was one of the best trumpet players to ever grace the stage and his life ended tragically and too soon. Here's the amazing story. [...]
Jazz for TV and film
Mission impossible? You bet, jazz composers have written many TV and film scores you're familiar with. [...]
Tune-up with Pink Floyd
Tune-up your home theater system with Pink Floyd? You bet, and Joe Adams tells us how in this, part 1, of his series on home theater. [...]
Getting all your system has III
French Audiophile Florent Duchateau finishes the last article in his three part series on getting the most out of your system without spending any money. [...]
Classical Corner: Mahler 101
Gustav Mahler is featured in this month's Classical Corner. A fascinating look at a modern composer that you'll enjoy. [...]
The Outsider Sound That Will Save Pop Music
Classical music may be the “highest” genre -speaking in terms of music as an art form- but Pop, accessible to all, with a simple, easily digested structure uniquely conducive to the concise and pleasurable expression of [...]
Sound and the brain
Can we convince the ear/brain that we are in a real concert hall? Here's a great article about how it's being handled. [...]
Why simple is better
Crossovers for speakers range from the simple to the overly complex, breaking the sound apart in ever smaller parts. Brad Paulson expounds on his views about it. [...]
What is an Audiophile?
Remember the term Lunatic Fringe? Why would that be attached to someone who wants better sound? [...]
The quest for the objective ear
If people the world over can find faith in that which they cannot taste, smell, or hear, why can’t we believe in the thoroughly subjective musical experience? [...]
Classic Rock Corner
What is it that makes a piece of rock music "Classic"? What is it that can make a bar full of complete strangers start to bob their heads in unison and sing along upon hearing the [...]
Classical Corner Mystery Composers
Lawrence Schenbeck introduces three "Mystery Composers" whose music should be more widely enjoyed. [...]
The story of cover art
If you’ve ever fallen in love at first sight with an album, you owe a huge debt of gratitude to Alex Steinweiss, who died last week at the age of 94. Steinweiss has been called the [...]
Building a sound room
Moving from one home to another can sometimes afford us the luxury of starting fresh for our sound rooms. Here's a great journey with stunning results. [...]
Turntables in the movies!
Ken Kessler finds a glimmer of hope for high-end audio while watching a remake of the Mechanic while in flight. Great how he finds something high end in everything he does! [...]
My hifi journey
Andy Stoneman gives us his blow-by-blow description of building his music system from the ground up - getting connected - a journey many of us can relate to and be envious of, all at the same [...]
Classical Corner Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers of all time. In this edition of Lawrence Schenbeck's Classical Corner, we learn about this composer and enjoy his music. [...]
Why I left TAS
Magazines about the high-end like Stereophile and TAS have been around for years but do they still live up to their promise? Here's an insider's viewpoint. [...]
Recent Comments
- Get that mole! (3)
petewilson: As suggested above, it’s a Good Idea to fix the cause(s). But, in general with real-world rooms,...
Soundminded: In response to the question about treating the cause or the symptom in medicine it’s my...
jb4: Thank you for very interesting posts and video’s. I totally agree with your approach, cure the cause,...
- Treat the cause or the symptoms? (9)
oliver T. Finch: Simple. Treat the cause and there won’t be any symptoms.Regards.
Brooklyn: A listener’s ears adjust to the room. If you were to walk with me from one room to another as I...
stimpy2: I like Dennis’s suggestion very much.
Dennis Penner: What would be really interesting would be to have speaker/room response measurements before and...
Paul McGowan: That is correct and worse – when you’re not in the position there’s suckouts and...
- Jelly rolls (3)
oliver T. Finch: Excellent posts. I look forward to them everyday. Very informative too.I am being convinced more...
Paul McGowan: Oh my goodness yes, depending on the capacitor type the inductance is certainly an issue – for...
coppy: Great articles, Paul, Thanks. And thanks also to all those knowledgeable folks who add their comments as...
- If you have to ask ….. (1)
demeter: “…You cannot hear 1Hz – but you can hear 20Hz and you can feel 16Hz and even...
- Capacitors (1)
Bassman23: It’s been a very long time since I earned my Third Class broadcasting license. Thanks for the...
- Direct coupling (3)
Paul McGowan: The 20 year period between 1973 and 1993 peaking in the early 80′s
oliver T. Finch: What is the second golden era of audio? This a new term to me. Regards.
Soundminded: The purpose of capacitors in the signal path in amplifiers and preamplifiers is to allow independent...
- Gas pedals and plucks (9)
Soundminded: Yes as I pointed out in another thread some time ago the sound of the string itself is barely audible...
Paul McGowan: Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest “more energy” in a literal sense – I guess...
Soundminded: If you could get more energy out than you put in without an external power supply or built in stored...
Paul McGowan: I’d have to agree with Mark on this one – it really depends on whose hands to instrument...
Paul McGowan: You are absolutely correct about resonance build up – just think about how a whistle or a pipe...
- Ringing (3)
Soundminded: I don’t agree. One way to measure frequency response is one frequency at a time. The input and...
Paul McGowan: Well, correct me if I am wrong but those frequency response peaks won’t occur without...
Soundminded: “We don’t see this added energy in typical audio measurements such as THD and IM because these...
- Just pluck it! (1)
Soundminded: Bowing a string is just like plucking it many times a second. As the taught rosined horsehair on the...
- Music loving animals (5)
Mike48: Our late cat listened with me often. I always thought he enjoyed the music, and he especially seemed to...
oliver T. Finch: In yesterdays post it was mentioned that if the leading transients were removed the sustained...
Newk Yuler: When my cat was younger he would look around the room when I played something atmospheric with birds...
- Lion’s roar (9)
Soundminded:
Oh but I am horrified. I went into the wrong profession. Had I only known I could have this...Paul McGowan: Mark, don’t be horrified – and please don’t feel anything other than welcome here....
Get that mole!
As suggested above, it's a Good Idea to fix the cause(s). But, in gene
Get that mole!
In response to the question about treating the cause or the symptom in
Get that mole!
Thank you for very interesting posts and video's. I totally agree wit
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
Simple. Treat the cause and there won't be any symptoms.Regards.
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
A listener's ears adjust to the room. If you were to walk with me fro