Missa Mexicana
The Harp Consort; Andrew Lawrence-King, director.
Harmonia Mundi 807293
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

This group is always looking for out-of-the-way repertory, and for this recording chose music of 17th-century Spain that was influenced by African-inspired dances. The chief work is a Mass by Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, with dance interpolations scattered between the larger work’s movements. For much of the disc, four Mexican Baroque guitars, theorbo, viola da gamba, lirone, sackbut, bajon, shawms, positiv organ, and conch shell accompany a nine-voice chorus. The instruments sound good enough on the CD layer of this disc, or in SACD stereo, but when one kicks in the rear channels for reverberance, you could swear the many plucked instruments and drums were in your listening room....Rad Bennett

Nnenna Freelon: Shaking Free
Concord Jazz 1012-6
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

What a voice! What a selection of songs! What a recording! But whatever happened to Nnenna Freelon? Hearing this SACD reissue of her 1996 debut album causes one to think that her name should by now be a household word. Nominated for a Grammy, this CD features the dynamic young singer, backed by a virtuoso band, in unforgettable versions of "Black is the Color of my True Love’s Hair," "Nature Boy," "My Shining Hour," and nine other joyous, adventurous journeys in jazz singing. The multichannel mix puts too many instruments in the rear for my taste, but the outstanding two-channel SACD mix is clean, clear, defined, and warm, making a good case for advanced-resolution sound. There is a very-good-sounding CD layer, too, in case you haven’t upgraded your equipment....Rad Bennett

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto No. 1 in E Minor
Viktoria Mullova, violin; Orchestre Révolutionaire et Romantique; John Eliot Gardiner, conductor.
Philips 470 629-2
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

The joy of music making permeates these bright and sunny performances from beginning to end. Violinist Viktoria Mullova has a rich and radiant sound, assured technique, and an innate sense of lyricism. She is supported well by the period-instrument orchestra. One is reminded in particular that the Beethoven concerto, though constructed on a large scale, need not be the grim affair it often is. The sound (4.1 in the multichannel version) has just enough hall echo in the rear channels to make it warm and appealing without losing a bit of detail. This recording must now be added to the ones by Jascha Heifetz and Hilary Hahn as tops....Rad Bennett

Grieg: Holberg Suite
Dvorák: Serenade in E for Strings
Elgar: Serenade in E Minor for Strings
Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra; Conrad van Alphen, conductor.
Telarc SACD-60623
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

I recently noted, in reviewing some recordings by the Rotterdam Philharmonic, that the orchestra had a wonderful string section. Now here comes the Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra, founded in 2000, with a string sound equaling that of any orchestra in the world. The sound of the RCO is rich, warm, precise, and exciting. Conductor van Alphen leads the brilliant musicians in performances that are robust and lyrical, as good as any I’ve ever heard of these popular pieces, and Telarc’s engineers have provided sound that is spacious and full, yet quite detailed. A winner all the way. Let’s hope it’s the beginning of a long and fruitful association between this ensemble and Telarc....Rad Bennett

Mel Tormé and George Shearing: A Vintage Year
Concord Jazz 1026-6
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

If I had to pick one recording from the many that Mel Tormé recorded for Concord Jazz, it would be Sing, Sing, Sing, which finds the crooner unusually animated and spot on from beginning to end. Second would be this one, a more relaxed, thoroughly polished live set from the Paul Masson Winery that pairs Tormé with veteran pianist George Shearing, and ably assisted by John Leitham on bass and Donny Osborne on drums. If the hard swinging is more subdued than on Sing, Sing, Sing, its loss is more than compensated for by definitive, subtle, free and easy versions of such ballads as "Out of This World," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," and "When Sunny Gets Blue." The recording is entirely natural. The jazz legend’s voice has never sounded better than on the multichannel tracks of this advanced-resolution SACD, with a roundness and three-dimensional quality lacking in his two-channel work. And Concord has wisely chosen to use the rear channels to reproduce ambience, not primary instruments, for a "you are there" listening experience....Rad Bennett