Alliage Quartett: Saxophone Plus
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Schumann: Piano Quintet, Op.44.
Alliage Quartett; Jang Eun Bae, piano.
MDG 903 1396-6
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

In audio and music, the proof of the pudding is in the listening. On the surface, the prospect of hearing four saxophones play these works, originally composed by Mendelssohn and Schumann for, respectively, full orchestra and piano quintet, seems a stunt or musical joke. It is anything but. The Alliage Quartet, comprising soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, plays this music straight, with incredible lyricism and meticulous attention to phrasing. In the Schumann, Jang Eun Bae performs the part written for the original version for piano and string quartet, in which the piano is more of a solo instrument. In the Mendelssohn, the piano fills in some of the gaps four wind players simply can’t cover. These players ideally capture, better than many orchestral performers, the playfulness of A Midsummer Night’s Dream’s Scherzo, the mercurial serenity of "Ye Spotted Snakes," the ghostly, moonlit romanticism of the famous Nocturne. The sound is rich, warm, and detailed, with a good sense of presence and space. I guarantee that, on a hot night in August, this disc will go in my player to soothe the soul of this sometimes savage beast....Rad Bennett

Round-Up: Favorite Western Themes
Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra; Men of the May Festival Chorus; Frankie Laine, vocals.
Telarc SACD-60141
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

This album, first released as a two-channel CD in 1986, has been one of Telarc’s most popular, and was one of the releases that put Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops on the recording map. Through clever manipulation and tireless effort, producer-engineer Michael Bishop has been able to go back to the master recording and fashion a most successful multichannel mix. In the process, he also completely remixed it for two channels; if you really like this album, and even if you have that early CD and no SACD capability, you might want to consider upgrading to this edition. The sound is rich and full; the men’s chorus singing "Shenandoah" accompanied by full orchestra, in Richard Hayman’s Western Medley, is so beautiful it gives me goose bumps. Iconic standards of Western movies, such as the main titles from The Magnificent Seven, Big Country, and Silverado, sound better here than they ever have, and the digital sound effects of multichannel cattle that serve as interludes are a lot of fun. Frankie Laine’s vocals are confined to the center channel, which works out well; it frees the other channels to reproduce the orchestra more clearly. Whether you’re trucking down Route 66 with the top down or basking in the sun, this is a perfect summer release to accompany your activities....Rad Bennett

Mahler: Symphony No.8, "Symphony of a Thousand"
Ileana Cotrubas, Heather Harper, Hanneke van Bork, sopranos; Birgit Finnilä, Marianne Dieleman, contraltos; William Cochran, tenor; Hermann Prey, baritone; Hans Sotin, bass; various choruses; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; Bernard Haitink, conductor.
PentaTone 5186 166
Format: Hybrid Multichannel SACD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

Voices had proved vital in three of Mahler’s earlier symphonies. No.2 called for soprano and alto soloists and a full chorus, No.3 was scored for contralto soloist and boy choir, and the last movement of No.4 featured a soprano soloist. But nowhere were voices more important than in the composer’s Symphony No.8, nicknamed "Symphony of a Thousand" because it requires so many performers. Bernard Haitink’s recording was one of the first in modern sound, and it still sounds very good. Tempos are wisely judged and everything moves to a logical climax without pushing. The phrasing is excellent, and at all times Haitink seems in control of his massive forces. The sound is clean and clear, with tremendous impact in the tuttis. This recording has exceptionally wide dynamic range, and the eight vocal soloists are in correct balance with the chorus and orchestra, and can be clearly heard without being spotlit. The organ is also more clearly heard than in any other recording I know. The two-channel version is impressive; the multichannel borders on the awesome....Rad Bennett

Spirits of Mozart
Andrey Boreyko, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
EuroArts 2055178
Format: DVD-Video

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Picture Quality
Overall Enjoyment

Mozart was born 250 years ago, but his music continues to enlighten, inspire, and astound us today. A trip to any record or video store will give you varied opportunity to immerse yourself in his music, but a listener who wants to think outside the proverbial box might want to hear this EuroArts DVD of a live performance from Vienna. The artists range from violinist Benjamin Schmid and soprano Christine Oelze to jazz diva Dee Dee Bridgewater (the only performance that doesn’t work) and rocker Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull (whose performance does). They use various Mozart works as jumping-off points for seeing how far into today’s diverse musical landscape they can be taken. The DVD’s exquisite sound conveys superb music. The picture quality is vivid if a bit dark, with good color saturation and attention to detail. Think outside the box yourself and buy or rent this, then sit back and enjoy, knowing that Mozart’s music will continue to be with us long into the future....John Crossett

Slammin All-Body Band
Crosspulse CPCD0005
Format: CD

Musical Performance
Sound Quality
Overall Enjoyment

Using only their voices and bodies, the Slammin All Body Band makes the most of what they were born with to create a completely original, fresh, creative sound. Hailing from Berkeley, California, this sextet has earned praise and garnered a following with their intriguing live performances. Now, with the release of this eponymously titled album, they are sure to be embraced by an even wider audience. Drawing influences from a broad spectrum of music, Slammin will appeal to fans of jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and a cappella styles. Singing like a half-dozen Bobby McFerrins, the group stops you in your tracks and makes you listen more closely. Multichannel tracks such as "Body Music/Slammed" and Toots & the Maytals’ "Pressure Drop" best reveal the many nuances of the unbelievable sounds this talented group creates with the most magical instrument of all: the human body....Shannon Holliday