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, May 15, 2018
Olivia Chaney has released a new track, "Roman Holiday," from her forthcoming album, Shelter, due June 15. She has also released a new video of her performing the song, filmed by Matthew Edginton. You can watch it here, and download the new song, along with the previously released track "IOU," when you pre-order the album. Chaney will celebrate the release of the new album with performances in London and NYC in June.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoTuesday, May 15, 2018Mandy Patinkin has shared a video of pianist/producer Thomas Bartlett and him rehearsing "I Have Found My Happiness," one of three songs on their new recording, Diary: January 27, 2018, written by Faroese singer/songwriter Teitur. You can watch the video here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoMonday, May 14, 2018Congratulations to Lake Street Dive, whose new album, Free Yourself Up, has debuted at No. 4 on the Top Album Chart and No. 8 in the Billboard Top 200 Chart—a first for the band, with their highest sales week to date. The band's last album, 2014's Side Pony, debuted at No. 11 on the Top Album Chart and No. 29 on the Billboard 200.
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist NewsFriday, May 11, 2018Congratulations to Rhiannon Giddens, who has won her first Songlines Music Award, for her latest album, Freedom Highway, in the Americas category. The winners were announced in the June issue of the magazine, on sale now. Songlines gave Freedom Highway four stars when it was released, calling the title track "the closing triumph to a wonderful set."
Journal Topics: Artist NewsFriday, May 11, 2018Brad Mehldau Trio tours Europe … Sam Amidon, Rhiannon Giddens play Fiddle Fair in Ireland … David Byrne brings American Utopia tour Northeast … Fleet Foxes play Southwest … Richard Goode joins Netherlands Philharmonic … Tigran Hamasyan, Kronos Quartet perform in France … Gabriel Kahane premieres new work in Portland … Lake Street Dive takes Free Yourself Up to Pennsylvania … Audra McDonald is in California … Stephin Merritt plays Bang on a Can Marathon in NYC … Nico Muhly makes Singapore debut … and more …
Journal Topics: On Tour, Weekend EventsThursday, May 10, 2018Lake Street Dive recently stopped by Brooklyn's Retrofret Vintage Guitars to join NYC public radio station WFUV for a session of NPR's Night Owl. "Watch Lake Street Dive masterfully blend jazz, soul and pop in its performance of 'Baby Don't Leave Me Alone with My Thoughts,'" says the show. You can do so here. The song is the opening track to the band's new album, Free Yourself Up, out now.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoThursday, May 10, 2018Saxophonist/composer Joshua Redman, drummer Brian Blade, bassist Scott Colley, and trumpeter Ron Miles performed songs from their forthcoming album, Still Dreaming, at last year's Jazz in Marciac festival. You can watch a performance of "Unanimity" at Marciac here. Download the album track now when you pre-order Still Dreaming. The project was inspired by the band Old and New Dreams, of which Joshua Redman's father Dewey Redman was an integral part.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoThursday, May 10, 2018The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and Sam Davol were on New Sounds' Soundcheck. Merritt spoke with host John Schaefer about the album 50 Song Memoir, for which he chronicled the first fifty years of his life with one song per year, and he and Davol performed songs from the album and more. You can watch the interview and performance below. The Magnetic Fields will perform 50 Song Memoir on tour in NYC, Pittsburgh, and Toronto in June.
Journal Topics: Artist NewsWednesday, May 9, 2018The first recording of John Adams's 2005 opera, Doctor Atomic, is due June 29 on Nonesuch. The composer leads the BBC Singers and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with a cast led by Gerald Finley and Julia Bullock. Longtime Adams collaborator Peter Sellars created the libretto, drawing from original sources. "A magnificent accomplishment," exclaims the Los Angeles Times. "It contains music of unearthly splendor." Pre-order to download the aria "Batter my heart" and the chorus "At the sight of this" now.
Journal Topics: Album ReleaseTuesday, May 8, 2018Rostam has released a visualizer for the song "Sumer," off his album Half-Light, which you can watch here. He performs at Brooklyn Steel and at the Sasquatch Music Festival later this month. Rostam begins a European tour at Primavera Sound on May 31, with stops in France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland, and UK shows in London and Brighton.
Journal Topics: Artist News, On Tour, VideoTuesday, May 8, 2018Lake Street Dive returned to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS last night to perform the song "Good Kisser," from their just-released album, Free Yourself Up. You can watch it here. The band's tour heads to Burlington, New Haven, and Brooklyn this week.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Television, VideoFriday, May 4, 2018Lake Street Dive's new album, Free Yourself Up, is out now. Today also marks the start of an extensive Free Yourself Up tour, which begins with an intimate show at The Sinclair in the band's original home of Boston tonight. And Lake Street Dive has released the official music video for the album track "Good Kisser," directed by Bianca Giaever, which you can watch here. The band will perform on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday, May 7.
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist News, On Tour, Video