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Subtitled "Piano Lullabies," Art Lande's new recording for Blue Coast Records consists of 14 relatively well-known songs and a few originals. While not exactly in the jazz vein I expected, Lande skillfully and beautifully renders old chestnuts like Tenderly, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Old Man River and In A Sentimental Mood and two Beatles songs, Fool on The Hill and Norwegian Wood with haunting evocations. The real star here is the breathtakingly captured piano sound (albeit in STEREO only) which transformed my listening area into a Grand Piano....as though I was inside Mr. Lande's head. My very favorite Art Lande masterpiece was a collaboration with the saxophonist Jan Garbarek entitled "Red Lanta" which was released on ECM Records in the seventies (obviously in the CD format, but nonetheless extremely well-recorded). But for now, if one is in the mood for superior New Age music (with a tinge of jazz), look no further than this very beautiful SACD.
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Post by Claude January 30, 2009 (2 of 5)
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rammiepie said:
My very favorite Art Lande masterpiece was a collaboration with the saxophonist Jan Garbarek entitled "Red Lanta" which was released on ECM Records in the seventies (obviously in the CD format, but nonetheless extremely well-recorded).
For older analogue recordings on ECM, it's worth finding the LPs, which sound quite a lot better than the CDs. The CDs were competently mastered (no obvious sound problems), but like many early CD transfers the sound is a more distant and lacks dynamics.
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Claude said:
For older analogue recordings on ECM, it's worth finding the LPs, which sound quite a lot better than the CDs. The CDs were competently mastered (no obvious sound problems), but like many early CD transfers the sound is a more distant and lacks dynamics.
Come to think of it, Claude, I did own Red Lanta on Vinyl and I believe in those days, ECM was distributed by Polygram and the pressings were not as quiet and precise as the 180g mastered vinyl currently being produced. My favorite selection on the record, Awakening Midweek, had annoying ticks and pops which forced me to seek out the CD (and now I own it in a remastered Japanese import which sounds incredible on my Meridian 808). If any label cries out for remastering onto SACD, ECM tops my list! Manfred Eischer, do you hear ME?
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Post by Claude January 31, 2009 (4 of 5)
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Alas, ECM has recently opted for vinyl as an audiophile alternative to the CD releases.
The two new albums by Keith Jarrett and Enrico Rava will be available on 2LP sets in addition to the CD version.
ECM is also offering lossless downloads through the store HDtracks store, but currently in 16/44 quality only.
http://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=browse_music&type=label&id=130
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Post by Cookie May 10, 2009 (5 of 5)
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I've known Art as my teacher, friend and an incredible musical force since the Red Lanta days. It was a pleasure to be able to capture the 'ballad' side of his playing. Few pianists have the control it takes to pull off such a subtle performance.
Cookie
producer
Blue Coast Records
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