STUDIO: Spectral Characteristics of Popular Commercial Recordings 1950-2010

In this work the long-term spectral contours of a large dataset of popular commercial recordings were analyzed. The aim was to analyze overall trends, as well as yearly and genre-specific ones. A novel method for averaging spectral distributions is proposed that yields results that are prone to comparison. With it, we found out that there […]

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A SHINING BEACON FOR THE ART OF RECORDING

‘The finest hallmark of a great label is its relationships with its artists, in which unfailing support is rewarded by life-enhancing performances. Chandos Records exemplifies exactly this. The past year’s diverse riches include Imogen Cooper’s deeply personal recital “…Le temps perdu…”, benchmark-setting Mendelssohn from the Doric Quartet, the sonic splendour of St Paul’s cathedrals organ […]

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MILES DAVIS: Nefertiti (Vinyl 180g Limited 45RPM 2LP)

Numbered Limited Edition 180g 45RPM 2LP from Mobile Fidelity Final All-Acoustic Outing from Davis’ Classic Second Quintet Mastered from the Original Master Tapes: Record’s Tonal Shadings, Gradations, and Textures Come Alive Confident 1967 Effort Steeped in Inquisitive Interplay and Subconscious Impressionism Nefertiti will always be known as the final all-acoustic record made by Miles Davis’ classic second […]

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AMERICANA: Ray Davies and the new rock memoir

Says Record Collector magazine: Music autobiographies are bigger business than ever before. Johnny Rogan, a man who knows a thing or two about writing a great rock book, analyses the current trend and talks to Ray Davies about his acclaimed new publication, Americana Like stockmarket shares, rock music autobiographies and memoirs from the legends of […]

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WAGNER: Dame Gwyneth Jones hits back in bitter Wagner Society feud

Patrick Sawer writes: One of Britain’s most distinguished singers has accused fellow devotees of Richard Wagner of repeated attempts to undermine her position and “rewrite history”. Dame Gwyneth Jones has spoken out for the first time about the long running feud which has riven the Wagner Society, of which she has been president for nearly […]

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ART GARFUNKEL: Why did his solo career fail, while Paul Simon’s was very successful?

A member writes: I agree with everyone who said it’s wrong to say that Art Garfunkel’s career is a failure. The way i understand the question is that it’s asking about why Paul has been more successful than Art. It’s not a criticism of Art. It’s unavoidable, i guess, for any comparison as solo artists […]

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BILLIE HOLIDAY: Her 10 top songs?

BILLIE HOLIDAY, who died at 44, was born on April 7, 1915, and became one of the most influential singers of all time. Jazz trumpeter Trumpeter Bill Coleman said: “Billie Holiday sounded different from any female singer that I had heard before.” It’s an almost impossible task to pick out her 10 best songs. To […]

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MILES DAVIS: At Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (4CD)

Miles Davis’ 20-year association as an artist at impresario George Wein’s renowned Newport Jazz Festival is a thriving tradition that will be celebrated with the release of MILES DAVIS AT NEWPORT 1955-1975: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 4. The four-CD box set, comprised of live performances by Miles’ stellar band lineups in 1955, 1958, 1966, 1967, […]

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WYNTON MARSALIS: Best of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Galas

Wynton Marsalis’ exuberant 2018 concert collection United We Swing: Best of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Galas brings together a handful of live performances the trumpeter gave on behalf of Jazz at Lincoln Center between 2003 and 2007. Recorded first at New York’s Apollo Theater and later at JALC’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, these previously […]

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THE MONKEES: Why did Michael Nesmith stop playing his own instruments on many of the Monkees’ recordings starting from 1968?

R E writes: Nesmith was not hired as a musician. He was hired as an actor. His role was to play a musician, not be a musician. And to sing. The first records were cut by the best studio musicians in LA. Later the guys in the band got to play on some recordings, but […]

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Ted Gioia Talks “Love Songs: The Hidden History”

Steve Provia (allaboutjazz.com)  interviews: “Just as jazz had played a key role in ending segregation in earlier years, rock performers now took the lead in introducing mainstream society to outside the mainstream conceptions of gender and sexual self-definition. —Ted Gioia” Ted Gioia is a prolific writer and a good one. Readers probably know him through […]

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