Journal
- Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Composer Donnacha Dennehy, whose piece Land of Winter, performed by Alarm Will Sound and conductor Alan Pierson, was released earlier this month on Nonesuch, shares some insight on the work, which explores the subtleties of Ireland’s seasons via twelve connected sections representing the months of the year, in a new essay. "It is the varying quality of light that truly demarcates the seasons," he says, "from the shorter days of grey or piercing light in the winter to the warmer but mercurial light of summer days that at solstice stretch almost to midnight. I like this play between light and time, and it is the major inspiration behind the piece."
Journal Topics: Artist Essays, Artist News
- Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Guatemalan-born singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno and American musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer Van Dyke Parks mark US Independence Day with the release of their heartfelt interpretation of Trinidadian artist David Rudder's 1998 song "The Immigrants." "It's a powerful message of courage, love and faith that resonates to this day and should be spread wide across the entire nation and beyond," says Moreno. "We all share the same dreams, and we came here to fulfill them and to prosper, together." Parks adds: "'The Immigrants' has a political punch, while also being joyful and underscoring how our culture is refreshed by immigrants like Gaby, and how those who arrive here can really redefine, and help build America." Proceeds will be donated to CARECEN, which empowers Central Americans and all immigrants by defending human and civil rights, working for social and economic justice, and promoting cultural diversity.
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist NewsMonday, July 2, 2018The Brad Mehldau Trio begins a tour of Europe in support of its new album, Seymour Reads the Constitution!, with a set at the Montreux Jazz Festival tonight. The month-long tour includes shows in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland, concluding back in France at Jazz in Marciac on July 29.
Journal Topics: Artist News, On TourFriday, June 29, 2018The first recording of John Adams's 2005 opera, Doctor Atomic, is out now. Peter Sellars created the libretto, drawing from original sources. The composer leads the BBC Singers, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and a cast led by Gerald Finley as Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. "A magnificent accomplishment that easily takes its place alongside the other Adams-Sellars triumphs," exclaimed the Los Angeles Times. "It contains music of unearthly splendor." "Musically exhilarating," says the New York Times. "This is one of Mr. Adams’s most sophisticated scores, with some of his finest choral music." "Grippingly vivid," exclaims the Financial Times in a five-star review; "one of his most far-reaching scores."
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist NewsFriday, June 29, 2018Gabriel Kahane has released a new song from his forthcoming Nonesuch debut album, Book of Travelers, called "Model Trains," and a new video here. The song is available to download now with pre-orders of Book of Travelers along with the recently released album track "November." Bandcamp and the Nonesuch Store pre-orders also include a limited-edition signed print.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoFriday, June 29, 2018Chris Thile, Punch Brothers, Lake Street Dive are on Live From Here from Tanglewood; Emmylou Harris, Ry Cooder perform there too … David Byrne brings American Utopia to the Netherlands … Rhiannon Giddens plays ROMP fest … Kronos Quartet is at Caramoor … Pat Metheny continues quartet tour in Portugal … Robert Plant takes Carry Fire tour to Vancouver … Joshua Redman plays Still Dreaming in Midwest … Rokia Traoré performs in France …
Journal Topics: On Tour, Weekend EventsThursday, June 28, 2018Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood, and the Rajasthan Express, who begin a North American tour of music from their album Junun as guests of Radiohead next week, will take part in a screening of Paul Thomas Anderson's 2015 film Junun documenting the recording of the album. They will be at a screening and Q&A at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn on July 9, simulcast at Alamo Drafthouse theaters across the US. While Junun is on tour, the film can also be seen at theaters in Houston, Chicago, Columbus, and Boston.
Journal Topics: Artist News, FilmWednesday, June 27, 2018Lake Street Dive stopped by the Spotify Studios in NYC to perform "Good Kisser," from the album Free Yourself Up, and to offer a new spin on the Annie Lennox song "Walking on Broken Glass." Both are available now as exclusive Spotify Singles, which you can hear here. Lake Street Dive has begun the summer leg of its tour and will perform on the season finale of Live From Here with host Chris Thile and fellow guests Punch Brothers at Tanglewood on Saturday.
Journal Topics: Artist News, WebTuesday, June 26, 2018Punch Brothers performed "Three Dots and a Dash," from their forthcoming album, All Ashore, at Nashville's Layman Drug Company for a new video made by Alex Chaloff; watch it here. Get the album track now, along with the song "It's All Part of the Plan," when you pre-order the album. The band performs on the season finale of Live From Here, along with Lake Street Dive, this Saturday, and kicks off a summer tour on July 12.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoMonday, June 25, 2018Artist Shepard Fairey has shared a video featuring Robert Plant's song "New World," from his new album, Carry Fire, and images by Fairey and fellow artist Ernesto Yerena inspired by photographs by Aaron Huey. Watch the video and read what Plant had to say about it here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoFriday, June 22, 2018Emmylou Harris and Punch Brothers return to Telluride Bluegrass Festival, where Chris Thile also hosts Live From Here … Laurie Anderson is artist in residence in Surfers Paradise, Australia … Tyondai Braxton is in Calgary … David Byrne brings American Utopia to Prague … Rhiannon Giddens brings Freedom Highway to New England … Lake Street Dive plays Ottawa Jazz Fest … The Magnetic Fields take 50 Song Memoir to Toronto … Robert Plant, Joshua Redman are out West …
Journal Topics: On Tour, Weekend EventsFriday, June 22, 2018Robert Plant was on CBC's Q. He spoke with host Tom Power about his new album, Carry Fire, traveling the world, his beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers football club, musical influences, eight-year-old drummer Yoyoka Soma's take on Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times," and more. Watch the conversation here. Plant's North American tour continues out West this weekend and heads to the Pacific Northwest next week.
Journal Topics: Artist News, RadioThursday, June 21, 2018David Byrne's American Utopia tour made its way to the UK for a week of sold-out shows, all met with rave reviews, starting with the NME's declaration: "The American Utopia tour may just be the best live show of all time." "An unforgettably unique, imaginative, and kaleidoscopically entrancing spectacle of music, dance, and theatre," exclaims the Telegraph. "This was something special." "One of the most mind-blowingly meticulous and awe-inspiring productions you could ever hope to see," says the Independent. "Perfection." "Daringly ambitious and full of joy," says the Evening Standard. "Mass exposure to his glorious, life-affirming American Utopia show alone would make the world a better place," says the Scotsman. "An extraordinary, ecstatic show."
Journal Topics: Artist News, On Tour, Reviews