Record Reviews

MISHA ALPERIN ~ HER FIRST DANCE ECM 1995 (Barcode: 602517167421) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2006 Released: 2008 This is the 6th album on ECMFind albums on this label by ex-Soviet (now living in Norway) brilliant pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, which finds him in an intimate setting with two other musicians: German cellist Anja LechnerFind albums by this artist and his life-long friend and musical partner Arkady ShilkloperFind albums by this artist, who plays French horn and flugelhorn. The music, composed entirely by Alperin except for one Shilkloper composition, was recorded for the Swiss radio. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!

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MISHA ALPERIN ~ NIGHT ECM 1769 (Barcode: 044001434129) ~ RUSSIA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 1998 Released: 2002 This is the 5th album on ECMFind albums by this artist by ex-Soviet (now living in Norway) brilliant pianist / composer Misha AlperinFind albums by this artist, which finds him in an intimate setting with two other musicians: German cellist Anja LechnerFind albums by this artist and Norwegian percussionist Hans-Kristian Kjos SorensenFind albums by this artist. The music, composed entirely by Alperin, was recorded live at a music festival held in Norway. Alperin´s music is contemplative and deeply moving, complex but also melodic, reminiscent of some contemporary Classical music but with a distinct Jazz connection. It is devilishly difficult to perform and the musicians present here are obviously all virtuosi. I can´t imagine any serious music connoisseur not falling in love with this music immediately and if you´re not familiar with it, now is the time!

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DINO SALUZZI ~ EL ENCUENTRO ECM 2155 (Barcode: 028947638346) ~ ARGENTINA ~ Jazz-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 This wonderful album presents the orchestral works by Argentinean bandeneon virtuoso / composer Dino SaluzziFind albums by this artist. Composed for soloists and a string orchestra, the four compositions presented here introduce Saluzzi as a contemporary Classical composer, who mixes his cultural background and tradition with European Classical Music and Jazz in order to create a new amalgam, both as far as sound and stylistics are concerned. The soloists include Saluzzi on his bandeneon, the wonderful German violoncellist Anja LechnerFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Felix SaluzziFind albums by this artist (Dino´s brother). The orchestral parts are performed by the Dutch Metropole OrchestraFind albums by this artist. The music is very passionate and expressive, often complex and elusive, but always enchanting deeply engaging. This is Culture (with a capital C) at its best and most intriguing, groundbreaking and always searching for new forms of expression. Highly recommended!

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