Exciting & Inexpensive Live Performances This Week

This is it. You’re packing up your dorm room, storing your notes for further study (or shredding them, depending on how your academic semester went), and saying goodbye to friends for the summer. Maybe you’re graduating, excited to take it easy for the summer or to do just the opposite – jet set.

Before you take off, we recommend you attend any of these awesome live performances in and around DC. From the Millenium Stage to the 9:30 Club to the Bach Sinfonia – there’s something for everyone!

Nuevo Mundo Barocco! (New Baroque), presented by the Bach Sinfonia

Sunday May 5 at 3pm

Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center at Silver Spring

7995 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910 (Directions here)

* Metro accessible via Red Line to Silver Spring! *

“Latin flair meets Baroque majesty on Cinco de Mayo! Over the past three decades researches have uncovered a treasure trove of music in the Cathedral cities and missions of Mexico and South America. Both Jesuit missionaries from the old world Europe as well as native composers produced radiant music for liturgical services and civic occasions. A chance to hear some great 17th and 18th century music of the ‘Other Americas’.”

Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano

Richard Savino, baroque guitar

Daniel Abraham, artistic director

Tickets only $15 for students and can be ordered online or can be purchased at the venue

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Millenium Stage Performances at the Kennedy Center

FREE Performances every day, no ticket required!

All performances are at 6pm

Upcoming Performances include The Old Bay Ceili Band (Tuesday May 7) and a showcase from the Levine School of Music (Wednesday May 8)

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Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra at Bohemian Caverns

Monday May 6,  8:00-11:00pm

2001 11th St. NW

* A necessary DC experience! * $10 cover

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Bela Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio

Friday May 10 at 8:00 pm

The Music Center at Strathmore

5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda MD 20852

Tickets $28 and Up

From Strathmore: “Béla Fleck has been nominated in more Grammy categories than anyone in history, and has taken home 14 of the statuettes, wandering gleefully across genres and bringing together eclectic and utterly amazing groups of musicians. This season, Strathmore favorite Fleck brings a brilliant collaboration with one of today’s most lauded jazz ensembles, with Marcus Roberts on piano, Jason Marsalis on drums and Rodney Jordan on bass. “There was an improvisational, what’s going-to-happen-next feeling to the entire show. After a stunning rendition of ‘Lullaby of Birdland,’ Fleck picked up a microphone: ‘I’ve never been terrified in such a friendly way before.’” (Savannah Unplugged).”

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The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival 2013

Saturday May 11 – Sunday May 12, 10am-6pm

* Located at Woodmont Triangle, less than 6 blocks from Bethesda Metro Station *

It’s not necessarily a musical performance but outdoor craft markets are wonderful!

Cene’s Spring Break picks

While AU students are relaxing at the beach, we’re still hard at work at the Music Library. This week’s picks  have a little of everything from west coast jazz, to west Texas swing, to Japanese pop.

Anita O’Day - Sings for Oscar/Pick Yourself Up (CD 10012)

We recently picked up a couple Anita O’Day CDs (as well as the acclaimed documentary Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer (Music Library DVD 331)) filling a glaring hole in our vocal jazz selection. This particular disc combines two fantastic 1957 releases. The tremendous session with Oscar Peterson’s group – featuring Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and John Poole on drums – is the highlight, but the other sessions are no small shakes; the larger ensembles feature such heavy hitters as Stan Getz, Bud Shank, Barney Kessel, Jimmy Guiffre, and Shelly Manne among others. Anita is at the very peak of her vocal powers, proving that she can hold her own with anyone in the pantheon of jazz singers.

Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys - San Antonio Rose (CD 3264)

Bear Family Records out of Germany isn’t known for doing things half way, and this massive 11-CD plus DVD box set is no exception. Containing everything Bob Wills recorded from 1932-1947, including alternate takes, air checks,  and studio chatter, and an exhaustively thorough 180+ page book, this set is not for the faint of heart. Those willing to wade in will be surprised by the remarkably consistent quality of Wills’ tunes and bands over this time period, leaving little doubt as to the appropriateness of his title “the King of Western Swing.” His bands were forward-thinking and modern, combining big band jazz with popular country and old time fiddle music, and redefining what a country dance band could be by introducing horns, reeds, and drums. The included DVD of Take Me Back to Oklahoma, however, can be safely missed.

Georges Auric - La Belle et la Bête (Complete Film Score, 1946) (CD 10070 or streaming from Naxos Music Library)

Jean Cocteau‘s 1946 film version of the Beauty and the Beast story, besides providing Disney with the source material for their animated version, was notable for its lush, dreamy atmosphere, elaborate camera work, and deliberate, poetic pacing. George Auric‘s score is the perfect complement to the film’s rich visual style, and stands on its own as a wonderful example of 20th century impressionism.

V/A - The Great 1955 Shrine Concert (CD 3250 or streaming from American Song)

One of the best live gospel recordings of the pre-multitrack era, this disc captures several golden-age groups at the peak of their powers, and in an electric atmosphere that is closer to their natural environment than any recording studio. The most recognizable group on the bill for gospel novices is the Soul Stirrers, still featuring a young Sam Cooke. In the live setting they really stretch out; two of the group’s three tracks clock in at about eight minutes. Dorothy Love Coates’ Gospel Harmonettes turn in a 19 minute medley of hits, while the Pilgrim Travelers and the Caravans both turn in impassioned performances.

Yellow Magic Orchestra - BGM (CD 9351)

Japan’s Yellow Magic Orchestra spanned a variety of styles over the course of their career together, from pure pop and crossover electronic disco to experimental, semi-ambient electro-world beat (if such a genre actually exists). Their fourth album, BGM, occupies a place somewhere in between. The songs are less concerned with the dancefloor, and present a more mature, sometimes almost sleepy sound, while remaining catchy and memorable.  The tunes “Cue” and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “1000 Knives” are the standouts.

New Arrivals:

We have two new CDs and a new DVD here in the Music Library.

DVD 350 – The Ladies Sing the Blues – with Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Peggy Lee, & Sarah Vaughan

CD 10063 – Preservation Hall Jazz Band 50th Anniversary Collection (a 4 disc set!)

CD 10070 – La Belle et la Bête (The Beauty and the Beast) complete film score from 1946, by Georges Auric – Axios Chorus, Moscow Symphony Orchestra

 

A Special Blog Post: Music and Multimedia!

Recently, the Music Library has acquired a collection of Sixto Rodriguez’s CDs — check them out by clicking on the links below:

• Coming From Reality
• Cold Fact

Don’t know much about Sixto Rodriguez? Well perhaps it’s about time you should, and the AU Library is here to help. In fact, Sixto Rodriguez has a fascinating story we believe should be shared! He is an American musician whose music never really became popular in the United States, but became extremely famous in South Africa. What is astonishing about his story is that he did not even know he had become famous in South Africa. Searching for Sugar Man is a documentary (available at the AU media services section of the library) that details the story of two of his Cape Town, South Africa fans who go on a quest to discover what had become of Sixto Rodriguez. Haven’t convinced you yet? Perhaps this fact will — this documentary just won the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary as well as the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

 

Speaking of films and music, how about checking out The Buddy Holly Story and Thunder Soul? Both are films that feature the stories of musicians who have truly shaped American music today. And the best part? Both are available at the AU music library!

Last but not least — if these aforementioned musical tastes are not your style, why don’t you check out Wagner’s Der Ring Des Nibelungen, which is also conveniently available at the AU Music Library!

 

So many things to listen and watch, so little time! Hope you enjoyed the blog post and come in to enjoy our selections sometime!

 

 

Cene’s Staff Picks

  Austin Peralta – Endless Planets (CD 10056)

The final album from the young jazz pianist – released about a year and a half before his untimely death last fall – is both a melancholy marker of what could have been and a rousing, modern jazz  album, brilliant in parts, and never less than interesting. Peralta wrote all the tunes on the album, and, while he is the leader of the group, his collaborators have lots of opportunity to stretch out, particularly the talented alto player, Zane Musa. It’s not a perfect album, but there aren’t many better jazz albums by 20-year olds in the history of the art.

Morton Subotnick – Silver Apples of the Moon/The Wild Bull (CD 10011)

My man, Morton. “Silver Apples of the Moon” and “the Wild Bull” are both classics of early(ish) electronic composition. While it’s hard to describe either of them as easy to listen to, both are surprisingly engaging, and reward repeat hearings. The synthesized bloops and rapid-fire tape effects take on a structure that’s not necessarily evident on first listening, and after a few times through, you start looking forward to your favorite parts.

Kashmere Stage Band – Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974 (CD 10047)

The Kashmere Stage Band was a high school (seriously!) band out of Houston, that happened to put out some of the funkiest large-group recordings of the era. This release has one disc of the official release versions, a disc of alternate takes and live recordings, and a DVD documentary of the band (a nice corollary to the Thunder Soul doc that came out recently), so it’s about as definitive an overview as you’re likely to get. They run through strong covers of contemporary funk hits like James Brown’s “Super Bad,” Dennis Coffey’s “Scorpio,” and Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft,” but the originals are just as good. It’s an album that will make you regret all the days you wasted in high school not being as superbad as the KSB.

Herbie Hancock - Thrust (CD 10010)

At the Music Library, we’ve been listening to a lot of those funky mid-70s Herbie Hancock records lately, especially Secrets and Head Hunters. Thrust might be the best of that bunch. The album consists of four extended tracks giving the band a chance to stretch out. Hancock plays an extended array of classic synths and electric pianos, and is accompanied by his longtime collaborator and multi-reedist, Bennie Maupin, and the textbook perfect funk rhythm section of Paul Jackson on bass and Mike Clark on drums. Bill Summers handles percussion, adding a relaxed Latin feel to “Butterfly,” the album’s sole ballad.

 

Krzysztof Penderecki - St. Luke’s Passion & Threnody (CD 9973)

This double-disc release combines two of Penderecki’s most famous and affecting works – “St. Luke’s Passion” and “Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima” – and throws in a few more great pieces such as “Dimensions of Time and Silence,” which sounds exactly like you’d expect from the title. My favorite piece is the expansive, atonal, swirling, spooky Passion. Once heard, it’s not easy to forget.

Ella’s Staff Picks: Mostly Folk

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m way into folk music, and my staff picks are no exception. Mostly folk, with a bit of jazz and rock. Without further ado, here we are!

Punch Brothers – Punch

Punch Brothers are a progressive bluegrass band, blending bluegrass instrumentation  and influence with jazz and modern classical structure. Their debut album, Punch, was recorded almost entirely live. It gives this album a raw, wild feeling. Highly improvisational, with every member of the band bringing virtuoso skill to their respective instruments, Punch Brothers are always an unexpected listening experience.

Joni Mitchell - Blue

Blue is deeply personal, stripped down, and very fragile feeling. Joni Mitchell uses open tunings and her Appalachian dulcimer to create jazz inspired chords and unexpected progressions. If you’re looking for some melancholy folk, this is the album for you.

Simon and Garfunkel – Old Friends

Old Friends is a 3-disc anthology of Simon and Garfunkel’s best known works, as well as some previously unreleased recordings. I really love their harmonies and mellow folk-rock feel. Simon and Garfunkel is always a classic, and this collection of hits is a good way to dive in to their catchier, more popular songs.

Yo Yo Ma and Stephane Grappelli – Anything Goes

Yo Yo Ma and Stephane Grappelli are two renowned string players, coming together for a playful, fun album of jazz. As a violinist who veers more into the jazz side of performing and preference, this combination of cello and fiddle playing Cole Porter tunes is very gratifying.

The Smiths – Meat is Murder

Meat is Murder was The Smiths second studio album, and also their only album to chart number one in the UK charts. This album and era of The Smiths was more political than previous material. When I’m tired of folkin’ it up, The Smiths are always a solid go-to for me. I’m always a fan of Morrisey’s melancholy vocals and the solid 80′s rock sound they bring to the table.

MORE New Arrivals!

The Opera America Song-Book  ~  M1507.O64 2012

The G. Schirmer Piano Collection: 33 Works by 25 Composers from 20th and 21st Centuries  ~  M21.G25 2012

Michael Daugherty  ~  Trail of Tears for flute and chamber orchestra (2010)  ~  M1020.D38 T73 2012

Gyorgy Ligeti  ~  Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1985-88)  ~  M1010.L54 C66 2005

Gyorgy Ligeti  ~  Concerto for Violin and Orchestra  ~  M1013.L54 C66 2002

Franz Liszt  ~  Etudes D’Execution Transcendante  ~  M25.L25 E88 2004

Matthias Pintscher  ~  Funf Orchesterstucke (1997)  ~  M1045.P56 S78 1997

Matthais Pintscher  ~  tenebrae for viola, small ensemble and live electronics  ~  M1014.P56 T46 2001

Matthias Pintscher  ~  Thomas Chatterton, opera (1994-8)  ~  M1500.P56 T56 1998

Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians  ~  M1528.R45 M87 2000

Heitor Villa-Lobos  ~  Douze Etudes pour guitare seule  ~  M127.V55 E88 2011

Paul Chihara: Viola Concerto and Music for Viola, Vol. 2  ~  CD 10054

Advent at Ephesus: Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles ~  CD 10050

Kurtag 80, conducted by Zoltan Kocsis  ~  CD 10052

Gabrieli: Sacred Symphonies  ~  CD 10049

Starfucker  ~  CD 10055

True Blugrass Banjo  ~  CD 10051

Austin Peralta: Endless Planets  ~  CD 10056

The Complete Atomic Basie  ~  CD 10057

We just got Eighth Blackbird’s GRAMMY NOMINATED “Meanwhile” (and other scores, CDs, DVD)

Get excited about our newest acquisition, Eighth Blackbird’s recent release “Meanwhile”: CD 10048.

“Is there an ensemble anywhere that conveys the sheer exuberance and joy of contemporary music like Eighth Blackbird? To listen to this brilliant young American sextet is to be constantly reminded of just how exciting, funny and ingratiating new work can be – especially when it’s delivered with these players’ characteristic blend of breakneck virtuosity and charm.”

- Joshua Kosman for the San Fransisco Chronicle

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The Kashmere Stage Band: Texas Thunder Soul, 1968-1974 - CD 10047

Paul Winter Sextet: Jazz Meets the Bossa Nova/Folk Song – CD 10046

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DVD

Chops – Music Library DVD 55

Follows a group of high school students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, a public school in Jacksonville, FL, as they try to win a competition where the prize is being able to play at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Festival at New York’s Lincoln Center and an opportunity to work with famed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.

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JOHN CAGE

Bird Cage  -  M1473.C34.B57 1972

Chess Pieces for Piano  -  M25.C34 C54 2005

 Nocturne for Violin and Piano  -  M221.C34 N63 1972

Radio Music  -  M1473.C34 R33 1961

Sonata for Clarinet  -  M72.C34 S66 1963

Sonata for Two Voices  -  M298.5.C34 S66 1979

String Quartet in four parts  -  M452.C32 S77 1960

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MORE NEW SCORES!

David Amram  -  Cancion de Verano: A Piano Quartet for Young Musicians  -  M412 A47.C36 2012

J.S. Bach  -  Sechs Partiten for Klavier, 1-3  -  M24.B115 S8 1958 v. 1

Ludwig van Beethoven  -  Three Equali for four Trombones WoO 30  – M457.4.B44 D74 2012

Luigi Carvelli  -  Serenata Napolitana for Violoncello and Piano  -  M233.C37 S47 2012

Richard Danielpour  -  Spirits in the Well for Soprano and Piano  -  M1621.4.D36 S65 2012

Michael Daugherty  -  Elvis Everywhere for String Quartet and Tape  -  M585.D38 E48 2010

Jacob Druckman  -  Dance with Shadows for Brass Quintet  – M557.4.D78 D36 2012

Beat Furrer (yes that is a name)  -  Phasma for Piano  -  M25.F87 P53 2005

David Friedman  -  Mirror from Another: A collection of solo pieces for vibraphone  -  M175.X6 F75 1987

Osvaldo Golijob  -  Tenebrae (Version III) for String Quartet  -  M454.G65 T46 2011

Aram Khachaturian  -  Double Fugue for string quartet  -  M452.K53 D68 2011

Lowell Lieberman  -  Six Songs on Poems of Nelly Sachs, Op. 14 for Soprano and Piano  -  M1621.L54 op.14 2012

Steve Mackey  -  Fusion Tone for Electric Guitar and Violoncello  -  M295.M33 F87 2012

Steve Reich  -  Know what is above you for Three Soprano Singers, One Alto Singer, and 2 Small Tuned Drums – M2019.5.R45 K66 2012

Igor Stravinsky  -  Circus Polka composed for a Young Elephant, for saxophone quartet  -  M459.S77 C57 2011

Just Keep on Doin’ It! ~ New CD’s ~

Well hello there! You came just in time, we have some new CDs to show you

Look! There they are:

The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Vol. 1 ~ CD 10027

The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Vol. 2 ~ CD 10028

Santa’s got Mojo 2 ~ CD 10029

Jeff Holmes Quartet ~ Of One’s Own ~ CD 10030

Michael Feinberg ~ The Elvin Jones Project ~ CD 10031

Dream Girls ~ Original Broadway Cast Album ~ CD 10032

Benny Andersson ~ Kristina ~ CD 10033

Herbie Hancock ~ Secrets ~ CD 10034

Dan Visconti ~ Lonesome Roads ~ CD 10035

Black Manhattan Vol. 2 ~ CD 10036

Eva’s Eclectic Picks

Hello dear friends of the Music Library and happy first day of class!

The last 5 months I have been studying at Trinity College in Dublin, which has been an absolutely wonderful experience. Ireland eats, sleeps and breathes music and you can find live singers and musicians at any time on any day in any pub. I am very excited to be joining the Music Library team again and can’t wait for all of the new music this semester!

Here is a crazy eclectic mix to satisfy whatever mood you are in this first week of school…thrilled/anxious/exhausted and so on (I’m a combination of all three):

• Les Misérables (CD 5356) ~ The film version just won 3 Golden Globes awards last night…enough said.

• Mumford & Sons – Babel (CD 9963) ~ One of my all-time favorite bands and this CD never gets old.

• Acoustic Brazil (CD 5027) ~ I traveled around Brazil this past summer and fell in love with their vibrant folklore music.

• Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series (CD 9058) ~ I’m a firm believer that a little Bob Dylan can fix anything. This is the most recent addition to the Music Library’s extremely thorough Dylan collection.

• Wicked Musical Soundtrack (CD 3128) ~ Seeing Wicked has been on my musical to-do list for years and I was finally able to see it this winter. It was amazing and I ended up having the entire soundtrack stuck in my head for a week. This CD features the original cast members Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth who are Musical Theater legends.

• Frank Sinatra in Hollywood (CD 5222) ~All of Frank’s movie gems in one CD…what could be better?

I warned you it would be eclectic….!

Have a great first week of school and be sure to swing by the Music Library to stock up on new musical goodies.