Recording News

Could CD Quality Downloads Be an Answer to the Sales Slump?

Source: HypeBot
December 16, 2008

Is it possible that super-high quality lossless music downloads could play a role in bringing consumers back to the habit of paying for music? Some evidence may point in that direction; particularly among the tech savvy crowd that were among the first adopt file-sharing and can be the hardest to please.

Ian Rogers reports that two of his Topspin Media's most famous clients found surprising success with FLAC and Apple Lossless formats. “12% of all David ...

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The Resurrection of Frank Zappa's Soul

Source: All About Jazz
December 15, 2008

Two of the iconic Southern California artist's classic compositions, Lumpy Gravy and We're Only In It for the Money, will get the grand reissue treatment. Fifteen years ago last Thursday, American iconoclast Frank Zappa died at age 52; on December 21, he would have been 68. He left an impressive body of musical work, both on his commercial recordings and on various unreleased media, enough material to keep several people employed for years to come in preserving his legacy. His ...

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Free Music Only Has Value If...

Source: HypeBot
December 14, 2008

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eMusic Retools with Nod to Indie Retail

Source: HypeBot
December 14, 2008

As they continue their serach for a new CEO, eMusic has promised to stay competitive with a series of upgrades.  It unveiled two recently: a home page redesign and a new recommendation engine that combines human analysis with computer algorithms designed by MediaUnbound.

The new design attempts to solve what has always been a vexing problem for me (and I suspect others) on eMusic, finding how to  best use my monthly download allotment. When I visit Amazon or iTunes, it's ...

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Lindsey Brier to Release "Waiting For the Sun" on February 10, 2009

Source: Muse Media
December 14, 2008

Here’s a popular truism about extraordinarily talented musicians: They begin as child prodigies and then blossom into their full artistry as young adults. Think composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, cellist Yo-Yo Ma or fictional character August Rush. Real-life jazz singer/pianist Lindsey Brier, whose extraordinary album, WAITING FOR THE SUN, will be released on Golden Thread Music February 10, 2009, took another path. Brier didn’t even think seriously about becoming a jazz musician until he was 25 years old. Life, as they ...

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The Stephen Wood Ensemble: Inaudible

Source: All About Jazz
December 13, 2008

Inaudible is an impressive full-length record featuring an orchestrated nonet masterfully improvising over Stephen Wood’s evocative compositions. Wood’s strengths lie in his versatility, attention to nuance, and thorough understanding of many styles and genres – from the classical to contemporary. Committed to expanding traditional forms, Wood continues to push the relationship between groove and sound-scape in his compositions. His creative voice reveals a detailed attention to harmony and rhythm, and a great passion for the expressive power of sound. Stephen ...

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Hot House Swing Ensemble Got Tube

Source: All About Jazz
December 12, 2008

The Hot House Swing Ensemble, a favorite of Marin County for their vintage jazz, bringing the classic sounds of early jazz to contemporary audiences.

With a 7 piece band and harmony vocals, they reprise the best loved tunes of the big band era including seldom heard renditions of the jive, hep and hot music of the 1930's. Bossa novas, sambas, tangos rhumbas and waltzes complete the picture.

In their singing you'll hear echoes of the great vocal groups of the ...

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CD: Alexander String Quartet

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
December 12, 2008

Alexander String Quartet, Retrospections (Foghorn Classics).

The ASQ plumbs the seriousness, assertiveness and sense of glee in quartets 1, 2 and 3 of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wayne Peterson. Peterson draws on inspiration from sources as varied as samba, bluegrass, the bebop of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, and predecessors including Bartok and Ives. He integrates those influences in spirit, not letter. Played by the Alexander String Quartet with deep understanding, Peterson's pieces take the listener to unanticipated places. This ...

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