FREE! Music for grown-ups on the BBC in the next 10 days:
Tues 30 Sept
2230, Dazed & Confused: the Led Zeppelin Legacy – BBC Radio 2
2330 Howlin’ Wolf – BBC Radio 2 (rpt) (2/2)
Wed 1 Oct
1200 & 2200 Charles Mingus, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(3/5, continues Thurs-Fri)
Thurs 2 Oct
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 3 Oct
2100 Once Upon A Time In New York (hip hop, disco and punk) – BBC Four
Sun 5 Oct
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (new) – BBC 6 Music
Mon 6 Oct
2315 Dave Holland Sextet, Jazz On 3 - BBC Radio 3
2330 Choo Choo Ch’Boogie: the Louis Jordan Story - BBC Radio 2
Thurs 9 Oct
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
And on commercial TV:
Fri 10 Oct
2420 Elvis Presley, All You Need Is Love (part 13), More 4
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Africa Now! World–class line-up in London in October
London’s Barbican – probably the leading UK venue staging music for grown-ups, from across the spectrum – excels itself next month with AFRICA NOW, featuring giants of African music like Baaba Maal, Oumou Sangare, Amadou & Mariam, Rachid Taha and many more, on 23 October.
It‘s the first time I’ve been aware of so many of Africa's greatest artists performing under one roof. They’ll do solo and ensemble sets.
Tickets: £10-25. Giveaway!
www.barbican.org.uk
Gerry Smith
It‘s the first time I’ve been aware of so many of Africa's greatest artists performing under one roof. They’ll do solo and ensemble sets.
Tickets: £10-25. Giveaway!
www.barbican.org.uk
Gerry Smith
Friday, September 26, 2008
Alex Turner: outpacing Dylan?
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“I'm not sure what readers' stance is on trendy scallywags The Arctic Monkeys, but I find myself somewhat surprisingly commending Monkeys main man Alex Turner's Mercury Prize short-listed side project, The Last Shadow Puppets.
“Turner's way with a word recently led to him rubbing shoulders with such esteemed writers as Cohen, Joni and Dylan himself in the Guardian's Great Lyricists booklet series, and it is a combination of his sharp lyrics and the impeccable classic ‘60s sound textures on the Shadow Puppets' "Age of the Understatement" LP which has set my pulse racing these last few weeks.
“Indeed, perusing the sharp and spiky lyrical twists and turns made me wonder when Dylan, famously held up as the world's greatest lyricist, was able to conjure up such original and poetic word play - not in recent times, I fear.
“This, from the opening title track, is offered as an appetiser for those who might dare to explore further:
"’She's playful/ the boring would warn you/ be careful of her brigade/ in order to tame this relentless marauder/ move away from the parade.
“’She was walking on the tables/ in the glasshouse/ endearingly bedraggled in the wind/ subtle in her method of seduction/ twenty little tragedies begin’."
All lyrics quoted are used for the purpose of criticism or review.
The Last Shadow Puppets, by Alex Turner and Miles Kane, published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd/Deltasonic Music Ltd, Copyright © and (p) Domino Recording Co Ltd 2008.
“I'm not sure what readers' stance is on trendy scallywags The Arctic Monkeys, but I find myself somewhat surprisingly commending Monkeys main man Alex Turner's Mercury Prize short-listed side project, The Last Shadow Puppets.
“Turner's way with a word recently led to him rubbing shoulders with such esteemed writers as Cohen, Joni and Dylan himself in the Guardian's Great Lyricists booklet series, and it is a combination of his sharp lyrics and the impeccable classic ‘60s sound textures on the Shadow Puppets' "Age of the Understatement" LP which has set my pulse racing these last few weeks.
“Indeed, perusing the sharp and spiky lyrical twists and turns made me wonder when Dylan, famously held up as the world's greatest lyricist, was able to conjure up such original and poetic word play - not in recent times, I fear.
“This, from the opening title track, is offered as an appetiser for those who might dare to explore further:
"’She's playful/ the boring would warn you/ be careful of her brigade/ in order to tame this relentless marauder/ move away from the parade.
“’She was walking on the tables/ in the glasshouse/ endearingly bedraggled in the wind/ subtle in her method of seduction/ twenty little tragedies begin’."
All lyrics quoted are used for the purpose of criticism or review.
The Last Shadow Puppets, by Alex Turner and Miles Kane, published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd/Deltasonic Music Ltd, Copyright © and (p) Domino Recording Co Ltd 2008.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Neil Young’s legacy examined in the new issue of WIRE
Thanks to Bryn Wilson:
“I’m excited, like you, by all the new Neil Young stuff. You and your readers might be interested in a lengthy article in the latest issue of WIRE - Adventures in Modern Music, the avant-garde music monthly.
“WIRE #296, October 2008, with the Richie Hawtin cover, has a multi-page feature article in its The Primer slot: The Alternative Neil Young. It’s a comprehensive survey from a WIRE perspective, looking at Young’s discography with an original, leftfield slant – a relief from the normal mainstream entertainment view you get in the heritage rock mags.”
“I’m excited, like you, by all the new Neil Young stuff. You and your readers might be interested in a lengthy article in the latest issue of WIRE - Adventures in Modern Music, the avant-garde music monthly.
“WIRE #296, October 2008, with the Richie Hawtin cover, has a multi-page feature article in its The Primer slot: The Alternative Neil Young. It’s a comprehensive survey from a WIRE perspective, looking at Young’s discography with an original, leftfield slant – a relief from the normal mainstream entertainment view you get in the heritage rock mags.”
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Five new Neil Young products imminent
Like all Neil Young fans still gnashing their teeth at having missed the highly praised European tour earlier this year, I’m looking forward to a slew of new product about to hit the streets, particularly:
* The new release, the oft-bootlegged Sugar Mountain gig, due next Monday
* Don’t Be Denied, a 60-min bio-doc due on BBC Four TV in late October
* The Riverboat, another live gig, from the Archives project, due November
* the multi-disc Archives Volume One, pencilled in for November, but serially delayed.
But I’ll be avoiding the new film chronicling the Living With War tour Young completed in 2006 with CS&N.
Gerry Smith
* The new release, the oft-bootlegged Sugar Mountain gig, due next Monday
* Don’t Be Denied, a 60-min bio-doc due on BBC Four TV in late October
* The Riverboat, another live gig, from the Archives project, due November
* the multi-disc Archives Volume One, pencilled in for November, but serially delayed.
But I’ll be avoiding the new film chronicling the Living With War tour Young completed in 2006 with CS&N.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Led Zep to Mingus, Howlin’ Wolf to Jacqueline du Pre and June Tabor to Bob Dylan
FREE! Music for grown-ups on the BBC in the next 10 days:
Wed 24 Sept
1200 & 2200 Brahms, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(3/5, continues Thurs-Fri)
Thurs 25 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 26 Sept
1930 Jacqueline du Pre/Elgar Cello Concerto – BBC Four
2335 Roots Manuva, Elbow, Later… - BBC2
Sat 27 Sept
1600 Betty Carter, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
2400 Duke Ellington 1940-1974, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
Sun 28 Sept
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
0140 Masked And Anonymous (Dylan – film, with music) – BBC2
Mon 29 September
1200 & 2200 Charles Mingus, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(1/5, continues Tues-Fri)
Tues 30 Sept
2230, Dazed & Confused: the Led Zeppelin Legacy – BBC Radio 2
2330 Howlin’ Wolf – BBC Radio 2 (rpt) (2/2)
Thurs 2 Oct
2255 June Tabor, BBC Four Sessions – BBC Four
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 3 Oct
2100 Once Upon A Time In New York (hip hop, disco and punk)
– BBC Four
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Wed 24 Sept
1200 & 2200 Brahms, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(3/5, continues Thurs-Fri)
Thurs 25 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 26 Sept
1930 Jacqueline du Pre/Elgar Cello Concerto – BBC Four
2335 Roots Manuva, Elbow, Later… - BBC2
Sat 27 Sept
1600 Betty Carter, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
2400 Duke Ellington 1940-1974, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
Sun 28 Sept
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
0140 Masked And Anonymous (Dylan – film, with music) – BBC2
Mon 29 September
1200 & 2200 Charles Mingus, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(1/5, continues Tues-Fri)
Tues 30 Sept
2230, Dazed & Confused: the Led Zeppelin Legacy – BBC Radio 2
2330 Howlin’ Wolf – BBC Radio 2 (rpt) (2/2)
Thurs 2 Oct
2255 June Tabor, BBC Four Sessions – BBC Four
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 3 Oct
2100 Once Upon A Time In New York (hip hop, disco and punk)
– BBC Four
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Monday, September 22, 2008
Jazz Magazine: if only…
Jazz rings my bell. Especially classic jazz from the USA, released between 1945 and 1975… Miles, Coltrane, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Parker are at the core of my collection.
Now I like a lot of London-based musos and have paid to see many deliver engaging gigs – Stan Tracy, Andy Sheppard, Alec Dankworth, Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore and the like are all very fine musicians but I don’t think even they would claim to be world-class.
I buy music mags and have tried the various London jazz monthlies. Jazzwise comes nearest to satisfying my needs, but I baulk at its bias towards Anglo jazzers. Countries tend to excel in different musics. England for the best in poprock. Germany for the best classical. Italy for opera. And America, not England, for jazz.
I am, though, deeply impressed by Jazz Magazine, published monthly in Paris: it focuses on the postwar US giants with a healthy leavening of contemporary European artists. The current issue has a Wayne Shorter cover, and recent months have seen Zappa and Hendrix, as well as Miles, Keith Jarrett and Steve Coleman on the cover: a very agreeable mix.
If I lived in France, I’d pick up most issues from my local papetiere, j’en suis sur!
www.jazzmagazine.com
Gerry Smith
Now I like a lot of London-based musos and have paid to see many deliver engaging gigs – Stan Tracy, Andy Sheppard, Alec Dankworth, Guy Barker, Alan Skidmore and the like are all very fine musicians but I don’t think even they would claim to be world-class.
I buy music mags and have tried the various London jazz monthlies. Jazzwise comes nearest to satisfying my needs, but I baulk at its bias towards Anglo jazzers. Countries tend to excel in different musics. England for the best in poprock. Germany for the best classical. Italy for opera. And America, not England, for jazz.
I am, though, deeply impressed by Jazz Magazine, published monthly in Paris: it focuses on the postwar US giants with a healthy leavening of contemporary European artists. The current issue has a Wayne Shorter cover, and recent months have seen Zappa and Hendrix, as well as Miles, Keith Jarrett and Steve Coleman on the cover: a very agreeable mix.
If I lived in France, I’d pick up most issues from my local papetiere, j’en suis sur!
www.jazzmagazine.com
Gerry Smith
Friday, September 19, 2008
A feast of Roxy Music: encore…
The two main Roxy Music programmes on BBC Four tonight were a mixed bag.
The Roxy Music Story, a new documentary, successfully evoked Ferry’s genius – he had the vision for a wholly original new rockpop combo and the talent, drive and organization to execute it.
Roxy were one of the most important English rock bands. More enduring, to this writer at least, than the Beatles.
The programme mixed delicious performance clips with all the talking heads you’d hope for. The story was well told. The judgments were sound. Recommended.
Roxy Music: Frejus, turned out to be most of The High Road, the long-available video of the 1983 gig on the French Riviera. By then, the joins were showing.
“Roxy Music” had been watered down into Bryan plus backing musicians – a pity because Andy Mackay delivers a solo which demonstrates what a superior alto sax he could blow when the spirit moved him.
But when an American blues-rock anthem – Like A Hurricane – is the gig highlight, you knew that the Roxy magic had long gone. And – final indignity - one of the musos was wearing jeans!
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE
Here’s a reminder to (fellow) fans of English art rock: tomorrow sees a feast of Roxy Music, with three different programmes on BBC Four:
2100 The Roxy Music Story – a new documentary
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – interview and gig from the 1970s
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – presumably clips from BBC shows like Old Grey Whistle Test.
They should be viewable online for a week via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Rumours of a new Roxy album that abound don’t interest this Roxy/Ferry fan. The legacy is the quartet of early 1970s masterpieces: Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded and Country Life. The Best Of Roxy Music (2001) is a fabulous compilation, widely available at about £5.
Roxy Music bridged the gap between pop and high culture. That’s why their art lives on, true music for grown-ups, while the work of most of their poprock contemporaries is best avoided.
Gerry Smith
The Roxy Music Story, a new documentary, successfully evoked Ferry’s genius – he had the vision for a wholly original new rockpop combo and the talent, drive and organization to execute it.
Roxy were one of the most important English rock bands. More enduring, to this writer at least, than the Beatles.
The programme mixed delicious performance clips with all the talking heads you’d hope for. The story was well told. The judgments were sound. Recommended.
Roxy Music: Frejus, turned out to be most of The High Road, the long-available video of the 1983 gig on the French Riviera. By then, the joins were showing.
“Roxy Music” had been watered down into Bryan plus backing musicians – a pity because Andy Mackay delivers a solo which demonstrates what a superior alto sax he could blow when the spirit moved him.
But when an American blues-rock anthem – Like A Hurricane – is the gig highlight, you knew that the Roxy magic had long gone. And – final indignity - one of the musos was wearing jeans!
Gerry Smith
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EARLIER RELATED ARTICLE
Here’s a reminder to (fellow) fans of English art rock: tomorrow sees a feast of Roxy Music, with three different programmes on BBC Four:
2100 The Roxy Music Story – a new documentary
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – interview and gig from the 1970s
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – presumably clips from BBC shows like Old Grey Whistle Test.
They should be viewable online for a week via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Rumours of a new Roxy album that abound don’t interest this Roxy/Ferry fan. The legacy is the quartet of early 1970s masterpieces: Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded and Country Life. The Best Of Roxy Music (2001) is a fabulous compilation, widely available at about £5.
Roxy Music bridged the gap between pop and high culture. That’s why their art lives on, true music for grown-ups, while the work of most of their poprock contemporaries is best avoided.
Gerry Smith
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A feast of Roxy Music
Here’s a reminder to (fellow) fans of English art rock: tomorrow sees a feast of Roxy Music, with three different programmes on BBC Four:
2100 The Roxy Music Story – a new documentary
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – interview and gig from the 1970s
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – presumably clips from BBC shows like Old Grey Whistle Test.
They should be viewable online for a week via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Rumours of a new Roxy album that abound don’t interest this Roxy/Ferry fan. The true legacy is the quartet of early 1970s masterpieces: Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded and Country Life. The Best Of Roxy Music (2001) is a fabulous compilation, widely available at about £5.
Roxy Music bridged the gap between pop and high culture. That’s why their art lives on, true music for grown-ups, while the work of most of their poprock contemporaries is best avoided.
Gerry Smith
2100 The Roxy Music Story – a new documentary
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – interview and gig from the 1970s
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – presumably clips from BBC shows like Old Grey Whistle Test.
They should be viewable online for a week via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Rumours of a new Roxy album that abound don’t interest this Roxy/Ferry fan. The true legacy is the quartet of early 1970s masterpieces: Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded and Country Life. The Best Of Roxy Music (2001) is a fabulous compilation, widely available at about £5.
Roxy Music bridged the gap between pop and high culture. That’s why their art lives on, true music for grown-ups, while the work of most of their poprock contemporaries is best avoided.
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Cream of BBC radio relegated to the graveyard shift
Music for Grown-Ups highlights BBC radio’s varied output and spares few superlatives in praising the best of its programmes.
Two particular favourites here are Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour (series 2) and Jazz Library. There have been few radio series as good as these - ever.
Until recently, both series were broadcast from 10pm on Friday night: I know I’m not the only listener who regarded them with gratitude as the reward for a week of toil.
So what did BBC radio do? Moved them both to midnight - Theme Time Radio Hour on a Sunday (BBC 6 Music), Jazz Library on Saturday (Radio 3).
Who in their right mind will listen to them in those slots? I’d wager that the small audiences for this delightful pair of programmes has dwindled to virtually zero. I’m an enthusiast, but even I forget to tape the bl**dy programmes at these times.
Anglo Dylan/jazz fans are badly served by these new schedules.
Gerry Smith
Two particular favourites here are Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour (series 2) and Jazz Library. There have been few radio series as good as these - ever.
Until recently, both series were broadcast from 10pm on Friday night: I know I’m not the only listener who regarded them with gratitude as the reward for a week of toil.
So what did BBC radio do? Moved them both to midnight - Theme Time Radio Hour on a Sunday (BBC 6 Music), Jazz Library on Saturday (Radio 3).
Who in their right mind will listen to them in those slots? I’d wager that the small audiences for this delightful pair of programmes has dwindled to virtually zero. I’m an enthusiast, but even I forget to tape the bl**dy programmes at these times.
Anglo Dylan/jazz fans are badly served by these new schedules.
Gerry Smith
Roxy Music, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Anne-Sofie von Otter, Oscar Peterson, Brahms, Roots Manuva, Elbow, Howlin’ Wolf, Jacqueline du Pre and The Streets
FREE! Music for grown-ups on the BBC in the next 10 days:
Wed 17 Sept
1900 Joan Baez, Mike Harding show – BBC Radio 2
2100 Anne Sofie von Otter, Performance on 3 - BBC Radio 3
Thurs 18 Sept
2300 PJ Harvey, BBC Four Sessions – BBC Four
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 19 Sept
2100 The Roxy Music Story – BBC Four
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – BBC Four
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – BBC Four
Sat 20 Sept
2400 Oscar Peterson, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
0025 The Roxy Music Story – BBC Four
Sun 21 Sept
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
Mon 22 Sept
2200 Brahms, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(1/5, continues Tues-Fri)
Tues 23 Sept
2200 Roots Manuva, Elbow, Later Live… - BBC2
2330 Howlin’ Wolf – BBC Radio 2 (rpt) (1/2)
Thurs 25 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 26 Sept
1930 Jacqueline du Pre/Elgar Cello Concerto – BBC Four
2335 Roots Manuva, Elbow, Later… - BBC2
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
And on commercial TV:
Sun 21 Sept
2315 The Streets, South Bank Show – ITV1
Gerry Smith
Wed 17 Sept
1900 Joan Baez, Mike Harding show – BBC Radio 2
2100 Anne Sofie von Otter, Performance on 3 - BBC Radio 3
Thurs 18 Sept
2300 PJ Harvey, BBC Four Sessions – BBC Four
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 19 Sept
2100 The Roxy Music Story – BBC Four
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – BBC Four
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – BBC Four
Sat 20 Sept
2400 Oscar Peterson, Jazz Library – BBC Radio 3
0025 The Roxy Music Story – BBC Four
Sun 21 Sept
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
Mon 22 Sept
2200 Brahms, Composer Of The Week – BBC Radio 3
(1/5, continues Tues-Fri)
Tues 23 Sept
2200 Roots Manuva, Elbow, Later Live… - BBC2
2330 Howlin’ Wolf – BBC Radio 2 (rpt) (1/2)
Thurs 25 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 26 Sept
1930 Jacqueline du Pre/Elgar Cello Concerto – BBC Four
2335 Roots Manuva, Elbow, Later… - BBC2
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
And on commercial TV:
Sun 21 Sept
2315 The Streets, South Bank Show – ITV1
Gerry Smith
Monday, September 15, 2008
Delightful London revival of Don Giovanni
The new London run of Don Giovanni, the third revival of this production since the Millennium, is an unalloyed delight.
Singing and acting by the principals was outstanding. Simon Keenlyside – magisterial, dominant, Joyce DiDonato – rich, powerful, and Ramon Vargas – subtle, delicate, in particular, delivered world-class performances. It’s rare to see such talents together on the same stage. The lesser principals were formidable, too.
You can’t go far wrong with a good production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni – the score is relentless, engaging, the sections of musical genius seemingly queuing to follow each other, with hardly a let-up, for three hours. Da Ponte’s libretto, by turns comic and tragic, drives the action, remorselessly.
The Royal Opera House band, purposefully conducted by Charles Mackerras, brought out the glory and the subtlety of this great work.
Chorus, direction, staging, lighting, sets, dancing – all were exhilarating.
Friday’s Don Giovanni was one of the musical highlights of my life: music for grown-ups doesn’t come much better than this.
Great art: bravo Mozza, bravo Covent Garden!
Gerry Smith
Singing and acting by the principals was outstanding. Simon Keenlyside – magisterial, dominant, Joyce DiDonato – rich, powerful, and Ramon Vargas – subtle, delicate, in particular, delivered world-class performances. It’s rare to see such talents together on the same stage. The lesser principals were formidable, too.
You can’t go far wrong with a good production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni – the score is relentless, engaging, the sections of musical genius seemingly queuing to follow each other, with hardly a let-up, for three hours. Da Ponte’s libretto, by turns comic and tragic, drives the action, remorselessly.
The Royal Opera House band, purposefully conducted by Charles Mackerras, brought out the glory and the subtlety of this great work.
Chorus, direction, staging, lighting, sets, dancing – all were exhilarating.
Friday’s Don Giovanni was one of the musical highlights of my life: music for grown-ups doesn’t come much better than this.
Great art: bravo Mozza, bravo Covent Garden!
Gerry Smith
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Brian Eno at 60
Few recent radio broadcasts have promised as much as tonight’s Late Junction at 2315 BST on BBC Radio 3: “Robert Sandall celebrates Brian Eno at 60, with music from four decades of Eno’s career.”
As most grown-ups regard Eno as a seminal musician, this could well be a landmark broadcast. Presenter Robert Sandall is an expert commentator on the artier end of rock and other contemporary musics. Watch this space.
And listen online for seven days at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
As most grown-ups regard Eno as a seminal musician, this could well be a landmark broadcast. Presenter Robert Sandall is an expert commentator on the artier end of rock and other contemporary musics. Watch this space.
And listen online for seven days at:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Yet more new Dylan work set for release this autumn
The flow of new Dylan product shows no sign of abating just yet.
Hot on the heels of next month’s new album, Tell Tale Signs, and new children’s book, Forever Young, comes news of yet more previously unpublished Dylan work.
Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric: The Lost Manuscript, by Dylan & photographer Barry Feinstein (due from Simon & Schuster on 17 November, hardback, 160 pages) has two dozen of Dylan’s “prose poems” - written at the request of Feinstein, to accompany his mid-‘60s photos documenting Hollywood’s downside.
Barry Feinstein also photographed Dylan many times, of course - his best-known piece is the cover of The Times They Are A-Changin’, and he recently published his Dylan portfolio as Real Moments, a large format photobook.
Gerry Smith
Hot on the heels of next month’s new album, Tell Tale Signs, and new children’s book, Forever Young, comes news of yet more previously unpublished Dylan work.
Hollywood Foto-Rhetoric: The Lost Manuscript, by Dylan & photographer Barry Feinstein (due from Simon & Schuster on 17 November, hardback, 160 pages) has two dozen of Dylan’s “prose poems” - written at the request of Feinstein, to accompany his mid-‘60s photos documenting Hollywood’s downside.
Barry Feinstein also photographed Dylan many times, of course - his best-known piece is the cover of The Times They Are A-Changin’, and he recently published his Dylan portfolio as Real Moments, a large format photobook.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Brian Eno, Roxy Music, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Anne-Sofie von Otter, Joan Baez
FREE! Music for grown-ups on the BBC in the next 10 days:
Thurs 11 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
2315 Brian Eno at 60, Late Junction – BBC Radio 3
Sun 14 Sept
1200 Private Passions - BBC Radio 3
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
Wed 17 Sept
1900 Joan Baez, Mike Harding show – BBC Radio 2
2100 Anne Sofie von Otter, Performance on 3 - BBC Radio 3
Thurs 18 Sept
2300 PJ Harvey, BBC Four Sessions – BBC Four
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 19 Sept
2100 The Roxy Music Story – BBC Four
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – BBC Four
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – BBC Four
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Thurs 11 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
2315 Brian Eno at 60, Late Junction – BBC Radio 3
Sun 14 Sept
1200 Private Passions - BBC Radio 3
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
Wed 17 Sept
1900 Joan Baez, Mike Harding show – BBC Radio 2
2100 Anne Sofie von Otter, Performance on 3 - BBC Radio 3
Thurs 18 Sept
2300 PJ Harvey, BBC Four Sessions – BBC Four
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 19 Sept
2100 The Roxy Music Story – BBC Four
2155 Roxy Music: Frejus (live) – BBC Four
0125 Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music – BBC Four
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Monday, September 08, 2008
John Martyn: new career retrospective and tour dates
Thanks to Martin Cowan:
“The great John Martyn celebrates his 60th birthday on 11 September and I would suspect that there are many - including Martyn himself - who are surprised to find him reaching this milestone, given the years of Hell-raising and health issues.
“This momentous event coincides with a superb 4CD career retrospective released by Universal, appropriately entitled ‘Ain't No Saint’.
“Further details about the box set are available from the John Martyn website here:
http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/no%saint
“Happily, Martyn appears to be in better health these days. He has a new album nearing completion and will shortly be going on the road for a winter tour of the UK.
“Tour dates here”:
http://johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/tour
“The great John Martyn celebrates his 60th birthday on 11 September and I would suspect that there are many - including Martyn himself - who are surprised to find him reaching this milestone, given the years of Hell-raising and health issues.
“This momentous event coincides with a superb 4CD career retrospective released by Universal, appropriately entitled ‘Ain't No Saint’.
“Further details about the box set are available from the John Martyn website here:
http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/no%saint
“Happily, Martyn appears to be in better health these days. He has a new album nearing completion and will shortly be going on the road for a winter tour of the UK.
“Tour dates here”:
http://johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/tour
Friday, September 05, 2008
New Neil Young album – promising
Sugar Mountain, the new Neil Young album due for UK release on 29 September, sounds promising: speculation abounds that it’ll be an official version of a long-popular live bootleg with a similar title.
Shakey sources also tell me that the long-awaited, oft-delayed Archives vol 1 is still (still!) set for release in November; we live in hope…
Recent gigs suggest that Young has finally shaken off his eco-politico concerns to focus on celebrating his great legacy. Amen.
Gerry Smith
Shakey sources also tell me that the long-awaited, oft-delayed Archives vol 1 is still (still!) set for release in November; we live in hope…
Recent gigs suggest that Young has finally shaken off his eco-politico concerns to focus on celebrating his great legacy. Amen.
Gerry Smith
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Dessay, Kozena, Villazon: a trio of quality operatic releases
Classical buffs bemoan the dramatic decline in the number of CD releases; some buffs are already tolling the bell for the classical recording business.
As a casual buyer of classical CDs I see it differently - why bother buying everything when you can hear a lot of what you fancy on the remarkable BBC Radio 3?
And I just don’t see the need for endless recycling of the repertoire: who on Earth needs yet another recording of Beethoven’s Ninth or Verdi’s La Traviata?
The kind of CDs I tend to buy – operatic extracts and recitals by favourite sopranos, mezzos and tenors – keep me well sated.
Favoured recent releases include:
* Natalie Dessay - Italian Opera Arias
* Magdalena Kozena – Ah! Mio Cor: Handel Arias, and
* Rolando Villazon – Cielo e Mar.
Three magnificent voices captured at the peak of their powers - should keep me happy for a while.
Gerry Smith
As a casual buyer of classical CDs I see it differently - why bother buying everything when you can hear a lot of what you fancy on the remarkable BBC Radio 3?
And I just don’t see the need for endless recycling of the repertoire: who on Earth needs yet another recording of Beethoven’s Ninth or Verdi’s La Traviata?
The kind of CDs I tend to buy – operatic extracts and recitals by favourite sopranos, mezzos and tenors – keep me well sated.
Favoured recent releases include:
* Natalie Dessay - Italian Opera Arias
* Magdalena Kozena – Ah! Mio Cor: Handel Arias, and
* Rolando Villazon – Cielo e Mar.
Three magnificent voices captured at the peak of their powers - should keep me happy for a while.
Gerry Smith
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes: recommendations
Deeply impressed by last Tuesday’s Conor Oberst gig (reviewed here on Music For Grown-Ups last week), I’ve been exploring the compelling indie-rocker’s back catalogue to ID the pick of the crop.
The first two big albums, from 2005, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, were already firm favourites. They’ve now been joined on my playlist by the breakthrough CD, Lifted (2002) and the live set, Motion Sickness.
Last year’s Cassadaga (2007) is also a fine record. The recent switch from Bright Eyes, resulting in the admirable Conor Oberst CD (August 2008), completes the list.
Half a dozen fine albums, all Music For Grown-Ups hot recommendations: there are few more interesting artists than Oberst in contemporary music.
Gerry Smith
The first two big albums, from 2005, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, were already firm favourites. They’ve now been joined on my playlist by the breakthrough CD, Lifted (2002) and the live set, Motion Sickness.
Last year’s Cassadaga (2007) is also a fine record. The recent switch from Bright Eyes, resulting in the admirable Conor Oberst CD (August 2008), completes the list.
Half a dozen fine albums, all Music For Grown-Ups hot recommendations: there are few more interesting artists than Oberst in contemporary music.
Gerry Smith
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
FREE! Music for grown-ups on the BBC in the next 10 days
Music for grown-ups on BBC radio/TV in the next 10 days:
Thurs 4 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 5 Sept
2100 They Came From Manchester – BBC4
2230 Billy Strayhorn, Jazz On 3 – BBC Radio 3
2250 Factory: Manchester From Joy Division to Happy Mondays – BBC4
Sat 6 Sept
2230 Kings of Rock and Roll – BBC2
Sun 7 Sept
1930 Berlin Phil (inc Shostakovich Symphony 10), Proms – BBC4
2350 They Came From Manchester – BBC4
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
0050 Factory: Manchester From Joy Division to Happy Mondays – BBC4
Thurs 11 Sept
2315 Brian Eno at 60, Late Junction – BBC Radio 3
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Thurs 4 Sept
2300 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (rpt) – BBC Radio 2
Fri 5 Sept
2100 They Came From Manchester – BBC4
2230 Billy Strayhorn, Jazz On 3 – BBC Radio 3
2250 Factory: Manchester From Joy Division to Happy Mondays – BBC4
Sat 6 Sept
2230 Kings of Rock and Roll – BBC2
Sun 7 Sept
1930 Berlin Phil (inc Shostakovich Symphony 10), Proms – BBC4
2350 They Came From Manchester – BBC4
2400 Bob Dylan, Theme Time Radio Hour (s2) – BBC 6 Music
0050 Factory: Manchester From Joy Division to Happy Mondays – BBC4
Thurs 11 Sept
2315 Brian Eno at 60, Late Junction – BBC Radio 3
Online access: many BBC radio programmes are broadcast online, streamed. Please see the channels’ web sites for details. Archived BBC radio and TV programmes are accessible online for a short period via:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Gerry Smith
Monday, September 01, 2008
Ape! - record retailers fight back
I decided long ago that bricks and mortar record retailers were finished. Free downloads and online CD sales have killed off virtually every shop I used to patronise. My own CD consumption has held up, but increasingly I buy online.
So imagine my surprise at the weekend when I was lured into a tiny CD shop in Brighton town centre by a sign outside promising “CDs for £5”. They certainly know how to attract passing cheapskates, I thought, let’s give ‘em a chance… It’s a while since I’ve had the pleasure of a good browse…
Inside Ape! (lovely name, that), I could hardly believe the range of modern popular musics stocked – indie to electronica, rock to dance – or the depth and choice of catalogue they’d achieved in such a small retail space. A helpful, knowledgeable lad at the till completed a compelling retail offer.
Intending to stock up on Bright Eyes albums, following the tumultuous Conor Oberst gig last week, I found myself buying a handful of CDs.
If I lived in Brighton, I’d be visiting Ape! - and flashing the plastic - far too often for my own good. Record retailers this good deserve to succeed in the face of online competition.
Ape! also supply online:
www.awasteofpixels.com/apeshop/index.php
Gerry Smith
So imagine my surprise at the weekend when I was lured into a tiny CD shop in Brighton town centre by a sign outside promising “CDs for £5”. They certainly know how to attract passing cheapskates, I thought, let’s give ‘em a chance… It’s a while since I’ve had the pleasure of a good browse…
Inside Ape! (lovely name, that), I could hardly believe the range of modern popular musics stocked – indie to electronica, rock to dance – or the depth and choice of catalogue they’d achieved in such a small retail space. A helpful, knowledgeable lad at the till completed a compelling retail offer.
Intending to stock up on Bright Eyes albums, following the tumultuous Conor Oberst gig last week, I found myself buying a handful of CDs.
If I lived in Brighton, I’d be visiting Ape! - and flashing the plastic - far too often for my own good. Record retailers this good deserve to succeed in the face of online competition.
Ape! also supply online:
www.awasteofpixels.com/apeshop/index.php
Gerry Smith
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
