Reference Recordings

Audiophile Audition reviews From the Age of Swing LP

2012-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Audiophile Audition has a Five-Star review of RR Mastercuts LP release of Dick Hyman's From the Age of Swing.

From Audiophile Audition:

"This collection of music from small and large instrumental groups from the late 1930s was originally released on CD by Reference Recording in 1994. It’s great now to have it on the ultimate analog format of 45 rpm vinyl—well worth the expense for those of us with high-quality turntable systems.

"Of course the original tapes are the very best, from engineer Keith O. Johnson – recorded originally in the Concert Hall of SUNY in Purchase, New York. They were transferred to 176.4K/24-bit digital to cut the master for the vinyl.

"Hyman’s Baldwin piano comes thru cleanly on all the tracks, and the sometimes five-strong front line of reeds and brass often creates a larger sound than one would expect from just nine players.

"Sonics are, of course, fabulous, and getting up frequently to change sides didn’t seem as annoying as with classical material at 45 rpm. Part of this was due to Reference Recordings putting a bit more time on each side than the only seven or eight minutes on most audiophile 45 rpm 12-inchers." - John Henry, Audiophile Audition

Read the full review on Audiophile Audition

Purchase the From the Age of Swing LP directly from Reference Recordings!

THE Show Vegas Recap!

2012-01-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

We've had a whirlwind of activity here at RR dealing with orders, connections and networking that started at the 2012 CES and THE Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. It was great to see old friends and talk with new ones. We welcome several new US audio dealers and a new international distributor for RR in Romania! And we had great meetings about a customized software solution which will greatly improve the metadata available for our HRx recordings- and allow us to offer our high resolution files on other media in addition to DVD-R data discs. More on that soon!!

As always, RR had very productive meetings with industry and press notables about our upcoming releases and recordings. It was exciting to see how much traffic and activity there was at the high end exhibits for CES at the Venetian compared to recent years. Our calculations show this was a good show for us, with better sales than at any of the past 3 Las Vegas shows. It was great to be able to launch our new Rachmaninoff LPs at the show! We are optimistic that the industry is really showing recovery from the recession at last.

Mike Garson With Keyboard Magazine on Improvisation

2012-01-24T08:59:00.000-08:00

Stephen Fortner has a wonderful interview with Mike Garson on the Keyboard Magazine's website talking about jazz, improv, The Bowie Variations and more. read through a sample of the interview here, and read the full thing on KeyboardMag.com!

From Keyboard Magazine:

"'Within 20 notes we knew he was the guy,' said David Bowie about Mike Garson in our January 2004 article. He was recounting Garson’s 1972 audition with the Spiders From Mars, which led to a lifelong collaboration, and further praised the pianist: 'There are very few musicians who naturally understand the movement and free thinking necessary to hurl themselves into experimental or traditional areas of music, sometimes, ironically, at the same time. Mike does this with such enthusiasm that it makes my heart glad just to be in the same room with him.'

Bowie’s words don’t just echo our own feelings about Mike Garson, they perfectly sum up the polymath influences and fearless improvisation that has characterized Garson’s entire career—whether playing with Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, or Smashing Pumpkins, or committing spontaneous jazz and neo-classical compositions to his Yamaha Disklavier piano for posterity. Garson’s solo works have always been artistic tours de force, but his latest, The Bowie Variations, is his most accessible and downright fun yet—without sacrificing one iota of his mind-bending virtuosity. Hearing it makes even an advanced keyboardist go, “How can I even approach this level of fluidity and freedom when I try to improvise?” We wanted to know, too. So we asked him."

...

Were all the songs on the record (The Bowie Variations) improvisations? Did you nail them in one take?
There might’ve been a couple of tracks where I did a couple of takes and then chose my favorite, but for the most part they were straight-ahead improvs because that’s how I play and write. Three or so songs also have overdubs of multiple piano parts.

How and where was the album recorded?
I decided to do it with the Disklavier, which as you know is a modern-day acoustic player piano that Yamaha makes, and it plays back perfectly. I have a nine-foot concert grand version in my studio. I figured if I could capture into the Disklavier, I could play each song I felt when I felt it. So over 30 days—every few days I’d feel like playing a Bowie song and I didn’t even know which one it’d be—I’d do a song in one shot. If instead, I’d had to do it in the concert hall for [record label] Reference Recordings—they like to record in a hall as opposed to in studios—and to have all that inspiration in one or two days because that’s all the time the production budget would’ve allowed, I don’t think I could have come up with 11 songs that felt fresh, so I just did them at home with my Disklavier over about a month. That’s why everything felt pretty good and nothing I recorded was a throwaway.

So then, did you record the audio by playing back the Disklavier and miking it?
Yeah. Yamaha brought another nine-foot Disklavier to the Oxnard Performing Arts Center where we were recording, I brought the files from home, we pushed “Play,” and boom—a few hours later we had the music. Th e audio engineer, Professor Keith Johnson, is this brilliant guy originally out of Stanford. He won a Grammy last year and he’s been working with Reference Recordings for maybe 30 years. For the tunes that had overdubs, we played back each track separately so the Disklavier piano didn’t trip itself up. Keith set the mics differently for each overdub to get a slightly different spacing when you hear it through speakers.

I heard one of those overdubs on “Heroes.” There’s a counterpoint that, while it doesn’t sound like Steve Reich or Philip Glass, made me think of those composers.
That’s right. That’s the closest I’ll ever get to them because it’s not my style, but I wanted to pay respect to their work—especially because Philip did that album of Bowie music symphonically. It was just my little tribute. But it wasn’t calculated—I realized it afterwards.

“John I’m Only Dancing” and the end of “Let’s Dance” have these utter explosions of stride piano. Where did that come from?
When I was a kid I practiced stride piano for weeks and months, and I listened to stride piano when I grew up, so it has always been there. I played stride on the track “Time” from Bowie’s Aladdin Sane album. So here we are with “Let’s Dance,” and I’m playing it kinda funky, and I’m getting a little note-y, and then I have that strong bass line, and then all of the sudden it hit me to do an overdub of stride. “John I’m Only Dancing,” on the other hand, is the jazziest piece on the album in terms of the straight-ahead jazz vocabulary, although I had a lot of blues licks in there.

How about the beginning of “Changes”? There’s almost a boogie-woogie left hand.
Rick Wakeman played on the original album—I took that figure and I went crazy with it. It has boogie-woogie and all these crazy elements in it, but—if you listen to the original take and then play mine—you’ll see the workings of my insane brain. [Laughs.] Then in the middle of the piece I play very straight, so it’s a great juxtaposition. “Changes” is one of my favorite songs.

Your original “Tribute to David” has a curious call-and-answer that’s sort of like a canon. How was that achieved?
First of all, after doing all his tunes in my own style, I thought it’d be respectful to look inside myself and write something for him, so I just sort of tuned into his world, and it came out in one take. As-is, I felt a harmonic sensibility that might resonate with him, but then Keith Johnson and I did something interesting. We recorded it a second time and off set that track by just the right amount. It was like creating your own delay, except with two live piano tracks. That made it feel more Bowie-esque to me, because when those harmonies start to overlap, you get little clashes and dissonances. Don’t forget—the world isn’t the biggest fan of solo piano, so I was trying to be interesting, especially since I didn’t have bass or drums and many people are used to hearing me play with rhythm sections.

...

And that's just a small sample of the thorough and engaging interview! Read the full feature on KeyboardMag.com!

Doug MacLeod Talks New Recording at NAMM

2012-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Doug MacLeod is at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) convention, and sat down with "Kelly Z" to talk about National Reso-Phonic Guitars, his guitar's names, a book, and an upcoming recording with a certain record label...

Dallas Wind Symphony to Premiere Rhapsody in Blue?

2012-01-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day the Dallas Wind Symphony will give a world premiere performance of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue featuring guest artist George Gershwin on the piano.

Wait...What?

Wonderful Technology Brings Gershwin To Life

The genius of George Gershwin comes to life at the Dallas Wind Symphony’s concert, A Gershwin Valentine, February 14 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. With all-new arrangements of Gershwin’s beloved songbook, and a unique technological partnership that returns Gershwin’s own piano artistry to the stage, this Valentine’s Day concert promises to be a romantic evening for the ages.

The Dallas Wind Symphony has partnered with Zenph Sound Innovations and the Yamaha Corporation of America to recreate Gershwin’s own piano interpretation of Rhapsody in Blue.

The Zenph Re-Performance with the Dallas Wind Symphony is a world premiere. This performance closely resembles what it would be like to go back in time to June 1924 when George Gershwin made his famous audio recording on two 78 rpm sides with the Paul Whiteman band.

Here are the differences between this high-definition re-performance (based on the 1924 audio recording) and those that were made based on Gershwin's low-resolution 1925 piano roll:

Zenph Re-performance with the DWS

This performance is not based on the piano roll. Gershwin’s solo part is re-performed using a Yamaha Disklavier PRO concert grand piano. The data that drives this re-performance has been built by Zenph’s team starting with the June 10, 1924 accoustical recording that Gershwin made with the Paul Whiteman band. The Dallas Wind Symphony is playing from the 1924 parts as originally orchestrated by Paul Whiteman's arranger, Ferde Grofe. Zenph’s data precisely describes, in computer terms, how a musician originally played in a recording. Its software-driven, human-assisted process extracts the musical nuances, gestures, keystrokes, and pedaling of a recorded performance with micro-timing precision. This high-resolution data can be played back on real acoustic pianos fitted with sophisticated computers and hardware, letting the listener “sit in the room” as if he or she were there when the original recording was made.

Find out more about Zenph Re-Performances on their website!

San Francisco Ballet 2012 Gala

2012-01-17T06:39:00.000-08:00

We aren't too far away from our San Francisco Ballet Orchestra release, so we thought you might want to take a look and (more importantly) a listen to their trailer for the upcoming 2012 San Francisco Ballet Gala:

Pictures from T.H.E. Show

2012-01-13T08:20:00.001-08:00

Enjoy some pictures from The Home Entertainment Show in Vegas! Click "Fullscreen" at the bottom to view the pictures larger!

First Customer Review for the Rachmaninoff LP!

2012-01-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

Our new Rachmaninoff LPs are going fast at The Home Entertainment Show, and we're excited to already see some good feedback from customers!

From the What's Best Forum:

"I just recieved a new Lp of the RR Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances. This recording has been a reference in CD since it came out in 2001, and I also have it on my server in the HRx 176-24 version. I've likely listened to this recording many hundreds of times...but never like this..." - Mike Lavigne, What's Best Forum

Thanks for the great feedback!

For those not at T.H.E. Show, make sure to stop by ReferenceRecordings.com to order yours today!

Quick thoughts from T.H.E. Show

2012-01-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

We're having a great time at The Home Entertainment Show, so we thought we'd fill you in with some quick snippets!

We were very excited to get so see Reference Recordings distributors from Germany, Thailand, and Korea!
We were also excited to see many of RR's audiophile dealers!
Did we mention the food? T.H.E. Show set us up with a fantastic lunch buffet - show manager Richard Beers knows how to take care of us!
We're looking forward to a concert tonight at 6 of Noel Paul Stookey from Peter, Paul and Mary.
We also saw that Monster is presenting the band Chicago at CES tonight. So a great night of music in Las Vegas
And lastly, people seem to be excited about our new Rachmaninoff LPs 'cause they're going fast!

More soon...

Come See Us Today

2012-01-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

Come see us today at The Home Entertainment Show in Las Vegas!

We will be in T.H.E. Marketplace during the convention hours, and we have the new Rachmaninoff LPs!

RR at T.H.E. Show!

2012-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

The Reference Recordings team is currently at The Home Entertainment Show in Las Vegas!

This year’s 14th Annual T.H.E. Show at the famous Flamingo Hotel, and high-end exhibits at CES in the Venetian, should prove to be a turn-around year for the industry. Already there are signs this may be the best “Industry” show in years. Strip hotels are sold-out for the entire week (or offering ludicrous pricing for what few rooms they have left)

If you're going to the show, make sure and stop by the Reference Recordings booth and tag us on Facebook or Twitter telling us you were there!

Rachmaninoff on RR Radio

2012-01-09T10:17:00.000-08:00

We recently launched RR Radio, and we're happy to present an all new track for you to listen to!

Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances – finale 4:28
Eiji Oue / Minnesota Orchestra
from RR-96/RM-1504 Rachmaninoff [with Etudes-Tableaux; Vocalise]

RM-1504 RACHMANINOFF: Symphonic Dances; Vocalise
Eiji Oue/ Minnesota Orchestra
Single 331/3 rpm LP, 200-gram disc from Quality Record Pressings, in gatefold jacket

FIRST TIME EVER ON LP!
Widely believed to be the finest orchestral recording RR has ever made.

Sergei Rachmaninoff was one of the most beloved composers of the twentieth century. His music is redolent of his Russian homeland, and it sings long, lush melodies that define the term "romantic." Everyone who knows and loves his piano concertos will enjoy these lyrical and dynamic works for orchestra. The "Symphonic Dances" in recent years have become one of Rachmaninoff’s most-performed scores. "Vocalise" is one of the great classical melodies, and is hummable by everyone. Grammy® Nominated 2002– Best Engineered Album – Classical; Keith O. Johnson, engineer

Purchase at ReferenceRecordings.com!

New Reference Mastercuts Release - Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances;Vocalise

2012-01-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

Reference Recordings is thrilled to present the next LP release in the Reference Mastercuts series:

RACHMANINOFF: SYMPHONIC DANCES; VOCALISE (RM-1504)

Eiji Oue/ Minnesota Orchestra

33 1/3 rpm, Half-Speed Mastered, 200 gram virgin vinyl from Quality Record Pressings in gatefold jacket

FIRST TIME EVER ON LP!

Widely believed to be the finest orchestral recording RR has ever made.

Sergei Rachmaninoff was one of the most beloved composers of the twentieth century. His music is redolent of his Russian homeland, and it sings long, lush melodies that define the term "romantic." Everyone who knows and loves his piano concertos will enjoy these lyrical and dynamic works for orchestra. The "Symphonic Dances" in recent years have become one of Rachmaninoff’s most-performed scores. "Vocalise" is one of the great classical melodies, and is hummable by everyone. Grammy® Nominated 2002– Best Engineered Album – Classical; Keith O. Johnson, engineer

We will showcase this and other recent RR Titles at THE Show, January 10-13, The Marketplace, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas. Please visit if you can!

Compact disc (RR-96) and HRx high resolution DVD (HR-96) also available.

A few of the dozens of reviews of this recording (original CD release) are quoted below!

"Picked by THREE reviewers of The Absolute Sound magazine for a GOLDEN EAR AWARD (best releases of 2001):

"Even by the exalted standards one has come to expect from Reference Recordings, this is something extraordinary. . . This is the kind of recording that gives one renewed faith in the possibility of reproducing the power and beauty of an orchestra in a home environment, the kind of thing that makes audio worthwhile. Not to be missed." -- Robert E. Greene, TAS

"Keith Johnson's HDCD recording captures the sound of Orchestra Hall with stunning impact. Like the best EMI recordings of the 1960s, the musical and technical qualities of this release are linked inextricably to its success. Quite a remarkable achievement." – Lawrence Vittes, GRAMOPHONE

"The playing by the Minnesota Orchestra is simply stupendous: tremendously unified ensemble, immaculate balances that let you hear all the important lines, and a palpable sense of enjoyment from the players (those trumpet players rule!)." --Victor Carr, Jr., ClassicsToday.com

"I must admit to a thrill when RR packages arrive at the office. . . Once again, Keith Johnson has raised the bar of excellence in the recording of a symphony orchestra. . . It's a fabulous recording and a super performance of the SYMPHONIC DANCES, and a testament to the brilliance of Keith Johnson and his associates." -- Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia.com

"Other versions I know . . . lack the energy, excitement, the involvement and conviction of Eiji Oue's performance. Keith Johnson's engineering, mastering and production have, in this case, produced the finest orchestral recording I have ever heard. It is instantly among that handful of CDs I will carry with me to audition sound systems, or that I will play to show off my own. Listening to this recording is one of those exultant musical experiences that will remind you why you got into the audiophile game in the first place." -- Russell Lichter, Soundstage.com

JazzTimes Reviews The Bowie Variations

2012-01-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

Colin Fleming gives an insightful review to Mike Garson's latest RR release The Bowie Variations in the January/February 2012 edition of JazzTimes!

From JazzTimes:

"Having immersed yourself in an album that purports to be an extension on assorted musical themes by rock composer David Bowie, you might be surprised to find yourself not thinking about Bowie at all. Albums of this nature sometimes function as glorified tributes, adding a dollop of original artistry to go along with artistry that has long existed. Pianist Mike Garson's achievement, though, is to have created something that is quite nearly autonomous, save that it owes its inspiration to the good Mr. Stardust...We go from one vista to another, sans checkpoints and borders, which was Bowies preferred mode of music travel, s Garson well knows." - Colin Fleming

Read the full review in the January/February 2012 edition of JazzTimes!

MIKE GARSON
The Bowie Variations
RR-123

“Whatever Mike lends his hands to invariably becomes something magical.”–David Bowie.

Beginning in 1972, super-versatile pianist Mike Garson performed, toured internationally and recorded with one of the most creative figures in popular music, David Bowie.

Having played the Bowie songbook in concert countless times, Garson always had the ambition to record his own original variations on these well-known themes. This is the year it came to fruition!

Track Listing:

Space Oddity
John, I’m Only Dancing
Life On Mars
Heroes
Ashes To Ashes
Variations on “Changes”
Let’s Dance
Battle For Britain/Loneliest Guy/Disco King
Tribute to David
Wild is the Wind
Bonus Track: Space Oddity–take 2

Purchase RR-123HDCD - Mike Garson - The Bowie Variations Securely from Reference Recordings!

Coming Soon to LP...

2012-01-04T07:50:00.000-08:00

"The recording is once again absolutely stunning, brilliant and plushy at the same time, unequaled by another label in this piece." –Peter Aczel, THE AUDIO CRITIC

"Overall,the sound is the best I’ve ever heard from Reference Recordings. That also means that overall there’s none better that you can currrently purchase. You don't need any more details, just trust me and run out and buy it." – Karl Lozier, www.enjoythemusic.com

Selected by SoundStage!.com as one of the "Best Recordings of 2001"

"Picked by THREE reviewers of The Absolute Sound magazine for a GOLDEN EAR AWARD (best releases of 2001):

"This may be some of the best sound Keith Johnson has ever gotten out of Symphony Hall in Minneapolis, and certainly Oue's most convincing work with the Minnesota players, who sound for all the world more like the Philadelphia than that orchestra does these days . . . how Johnson got that huge climax at the end of the Dances cleanly onto tape transcends engineering and goes into the realm of magic." -- Harry Pearson, TAS

"No one can approach Reference Recordings' unparalleled sound in this music. The sweet liquid presence of the high end, especially the critical massed strings, approaches perfection when it blends with RR's characteristic ambient soundstage, fine inner detail and bass impact." -- Arthur B. Lintgen, TAS

RACHMANINOFF: SYMPHONIC DANCES; VOCALISE (RM-1504)

Eiji Oue/ Minnesota Orchestra

33 1/3 rpm, Half-Speed Mastered, 200 gram virgin vinyl from Quality Record Pressings in gatefold jacket

Release Date: Friday, January 6, 2012

Mastercuts Review

2012-01-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

Musicangle.com has a thorough review of the Reference Mastercut Series release Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite/The Song of the Nightingale, and considering we are just a few days away from the third Mastercuts Series release, we think it's a great time to share what people think of the first one!

"Reference Recordings Returns to Vinyl With a Bang!"
by Michael Fremer of musicangle.com

"With the advent of high resolution digital downloads and USB DACs, Reference was able to market full resolution, master quality recordings with its HRx series but the company was built upon a vinyl foundation and the folks at Reference always hoped they could find a way back if only...

If only demand returned and if only a reliably quiet pressing plant could meet their needs.

Well, that time is now, with the release of this album (Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite/The Song of the Nightingale) and another one, a reissue of Dick Hyman's From the Age of Swing (RM-1501), which was originally pressed on vinyl back in 1994...

"So in typical Keith O. Johnson fashion, this Firebird plays out on an enormously wide soundstage that you'll experience from a comfortably mid-hall seating position that will allow you to experience the grand sweep of Stravinsky's ballet. You're not going to be watching it, but you might as well be, so evocative is the piece. The rhythms are erratic, the instrumentation and harmonic structure unusual, and the orchestral dynamics explosive. Even if you think you don't iike classical music, you'll be able to pull a film score out of your head listening to this and if you read the annotation that describes what you're hearing, so much the better.

Assuming your system does deep bass, there's a big bass drum hit that will scare the shit out of you and once the adrenalin flows, the piece will snap into focus. It also has the advantage of being a short twenty minute or so ride since this is the revised "suite" version and not the original longer ballet. "The Song of the Nightingale" is equally evocative and short. It's also a gorgeous piece of music...

"As for the pressing, it's a 200g record pressed at Chad Kassem's Quality Record Pressings using the plant's completely refurbished and rebuilt FineBuilt hand press. Yes, these are pressed by hand and the results are incredible. My copy was not "hand selected". It was sealed like all of them.

The opening section is extremely quiet musically—and the first minute or so of a 200g LP is the most difficult to press quietly—yet the copy I got was absolutely dead, black silent...just like Japanese pressed records were back in the "old days."

Highly recommended..." - Michael Fremer, MusicAngle.com

Read the full review on MusicAngle.com!

Order RM-1502 Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite/The Song of the Nightingale Securely from Reference Recordings!

And stay tuned for another Reference Mastercuts Series release coming out on Friday!

Announcing RR Radio!

2012-01-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

Introducing - RR Radio!

We are excited to announce a new avenue for you to listen to Reference Recordings Music — RR Radio via SoundCloud!

Where to listen:

RR Radio on Facebook
RR Radio on the Blog (Look to your left)
RR Radio on SoundCloud!

RR Radio will feature one full track from each of our new releases, added after each album is released. RR Radio will also bring you a full track from a featured release from Reference Recordings' 30+ year history. RR Radio will stay fresh, and will rotate tracks in and out as we go on, so make sure you’re listening often!

Top Reference Recordings Moments of 2011

2011-12-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

We're really looking forward to a great 2012, but we can't completely move on without wrapping up what has been a great 2011 for Reference Recordings!

Top Moments of 2011:

Britten's Orchestra Wins the Grammy Award for the Best Surround Sound Album!

Category 94
Best Surround Sound Album
For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.

BRITTEN'S ORCHESTRA
Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony
Keith O. Johnson, surround mix engineer; Keith O. Johnson, surround mastering engineer
David Frost, surround producer
[Reference Recordings]

To order RR-120SACD or to order RR-120HDCD or HR-120 (HRx)

We wish to extend our congratulations to all who were instrumental in bringing this outstanding album to life:
Kansas City Symphony Conductor: Michael Stern; Executive Director: Frank Byrne
Producer: David Frost (also Grammy winner for Producer of the Year, Classical)
Engineer: Keith O. Johnson
DSD Transfer and SA-CD Authoring: Graemme Brown, Zen Mastering
Reference Recordings Staff: Tam Henderson, Marcia Martin, Sean Martin, Bill Roarty, Janice Mancuso

And very special thanks to all the Sponsors of the Kansas City Symphony
without whom this recording could not have been made.

Doug MacLeod

What a year it's been for Fresh! From Reference Recordings and new artist Doug MacLeod!

The ball got rolling with a great performance from Doug at our U.S. Distributor (Allegro)'s Sale Conference, and has just continued to gain momentum. With not one, but TWO nominations from the Blues Foundation, Doug MacLeod and Brand New Eyes have been raking in the headlines! And most recently, Blues411.com awarded Brand New Eyes a "Jimi Award" for best Acoustic Blues album of 2011!

Mike Garson

It's always fun to learn new things about our artists, and one of the highlights for Reference Recordings this year was all of the great interviews that surfaced with Mike Garson for his new The Bowie Variations release!

First was the great interview from BowieZone.com, and then came the multi-part archival interview sessions from Independent Ethos! These interviews coupled with all of the wonderful reviews and excitement from David Bowie fans made for a great 2011 for RR!

A look to the future in Dallas

Another highlight of the year was our recording trip to Dallas! It was a tremendous success with the warm, welcoming, and wonderful Dallas Wind Symphony and the fantastic Jim Cullen Jazz Band! Not only did we have fun with the recording, but we also had a blast sharing pictures, video, and more from behind the scenes! We'll have even more great footage from the sessions closer to the actual releases, but for now, you can get a taste with some of the videos on our YouTube Channel!

T.H.E. Show - Newport

In June, we had a great time participating in the first T.H.E. Show! It was a great beginning for a new U.S. consumer audio show, and we have some fun plans for the 2012 show, so make sure to get the details here, and join us!

Holiday Sale!

And Don't Forget that the Holiday Sale goes through NOON (Pacific) January 2nd!

2011 New Release Recap

2011-12-29T06:19:00.000-08:00

New Release Recap!

As we head into an exciting 2012, let's take a look at the new releases from 2011!

BRAND NEW EYES
with Blues Master
Doug MacLeod
FR-703

MacLeod has been a beacon of unquestionably honest roots-music since the 1970s. On Brand New Eyes, he presents 11 original songs. He is the rare artist who writes and sings songs that are based on his own life and experiences. A 2011 Blues Music Award nominee and an American troubadour. Glenn Nishida at Pacifica Studios was the recording engineer, and our own Keith Johnson did the final mastering. Keith states it has very good sonics and sends it out with his blessing! Doug's music and recordings are beloved by blues fans and by audiophiles alike (he had several hits in past years on the Audioquest label) and we are proud to present Brand New Eyes to you!

Don't forget, you can get the Blues Music Awards nominated album Brand New Eyes for 20% during our Holiday Sale when you buy two or more items! Buy Securely from Reference Recordings!

Brubeck, Gandolfi and Foss
RR-122

The prestigious Concord Chamber Music Society, featuring musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, mark their debut on Reference Recordings with two premiere recordings. These new works by Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, two of America's most-commissioned composers, are both accessible and adventurous. Rounding out the program, the Lukas Foss duo for violin and piano, Central Park Reel, hints cheerfully at a kind of musical twin bill. "Central Park" suggests a scene in New York but "Reel" hints at a characteristic dance often accompanied by a bluegrass band. Grammy award winning engineer "Prof." Keith Johnson did an outstanding job of recording this music in the superb natural acoustics of Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts.

BRUBECK - danza del soul: I. Introductions and Flirtations; II. The Loneliness of Secrets; III. Celebraçion de Vida. Artists: Wendy Putnam, violin; Thomas Martin, clarinet; Vytas Baksys, piano; Owen Young, cello; Lawrence Wolfe, bass; Daniel Bauch, percussion

GANDOLFI - line drawings: I. Canon, Cut and Paste; II. A Farewell to Old Friends; III. Hidden Variable; IV. Obbligato Aria; V. Chickens. Artists: Wendy Putnam, violin; Thomas Martin, clarinet; Vytas Baksys, piano

FOSS - central park reel; Wendy Putnam, violin; Vytas Baksys, piano.

RR-122 HDCD Compact disc official release date June 14.
ORDER NOW and get 15% off through NOON -Friday June 17, 2011

Order RR-122 Securely Online! www.ReferenceRecordings.com

MIKE GARSON
The Bowie Variations
RR-123

“Whatever Mike lends his hands to invariably becomes something magical.”–David Bowie.

Beginning in 1972, super-versatile pianist Mike Garson performed, toured internationally and recorded with one of the most creative figures in popular music, David Bowie.

Having played the Bowie songbook in concert countless times, Garson always had the ambition to record his own original variations on these well-known themes. This is the year it came to fruition!

Track Listing:

Space Oddity
John, I’m Only Dancing
Life On Mars
Heroes
Ashes To Ashes
Variations on “Changes”
Let’s Dance
Battle For Britain/Loneliest Guy/Disco King
Tribute to David
Wild is the Wind
Bonus Track: Space Oddity–take 2

Purchase RR-123HDCD - Mike Garson - The Bowie Variations Securely from Reference Recordings!

A New RR Recording

Reinaldo Brahn
Brasileiro Soul

This collection of fourteen original songs penned by this new artist is rich and complex music, with gorgeous lyrics in Portugese (with one song in English). We think you'll love the killer band playing with Reinaldo, and the exotic percussion from RR favorite (and album producer) Jim Brock who refers to Reinaldo Brahn as "the new voice of Brasil." Great sonics from Grammy-winning engineer Keith Johnson!

Track Listing (click play button for samples): Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress); A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason); Paisagem Ancorada (Anchored Landscape); Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love); Onde Está (Where is It ?); As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console); Anjo de Julho (Angel of July); So Nos Dois (Two of Us); Toda Mulher (Every Woman); Tarde (Dusk); Out of the Blue; Wondering; No Colla da Serra (In the Lap of the Mountain); Tempo (Time)

Available in HDCD Format AND HRx!

Order RR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com
Order HR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

Holiday Sale Reminder and Giveaway!

2011-12-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

Christmas is over, and all of your shopping for others is over. But what about you? It's time to get yourself the gifts you really wanted — MUSIC!

Well, we've got good news! You still have until NOON (Pacific) on January 2nd to get in on our Holiday Sale where you'll save 20% off your ENTIRE order when you purchase two or more items! But that's not the only extra gift we're giving — to help you remember, and to help you share the news with your friends, we've created a GIVEAWAY! Enter to win by tweeting about the sale & giveaway and connecting with us on your favorite social media outlets. Three lucky winners will receive one Reference Recordings CD of their choice!

Enter today:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit ReferenceRecordings.com today!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Holiday Sale Reminder

2011-12-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

Holiday Sale Reminder!

You STILL have time to get in on the best Reference Recordings sale of the year! Starting NOW until NOON (PST) on Monday, January 2, 2012 — Order Two or more items and receive a 20% discount on EVERYTHING in our catalog (except already discounted sets).

As always...

THE MORE YOU ORDER - THE MORE YOU SAVE!!!

Visit ReferenceRecordings.com today!

LP News!:

Our Reference Mastercuts LPs (RM-1502 & RM-2502) are back in stock! Order securely on ReferenceRecordings.com

Two more new LP titles will be released in 2012: RM-2503 Yerba Buena Bounce featuring the Hot Club of San Francisco and RM-1504: Symphonic Dances/Vocalise featuring the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Eiji Oue!

So, skip the hustle and bustle of Holiday shopping, and head over to ReferenceRecordings.com for great savings!

RR LP News

2011-12-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

In January we will be releasing another new Reference Recordings Mastercuts LP — Rachmaninioff!

RACHMANINOFF

Symphonic Dances
Études-Tableaux (orch. Respighi)
Vocalise

Eiji Oue, Conductor
Minnesota Orchestra

Grammy® Nominated 2003
Category 90– Best Engineered Album - Classical
Keith O. Johnson, engineer

Selected by SoundStage!.com as one of the "Best Recordings of 2001"

Chosen by THREE reviewers of The Absolute Sound magazine as one of the best releases of 2001.
Sergei Rachmaninoff was one of the most beloved composers of the twentieth century. His music is redolent of his Russian homeland, and it sings long, lush melodies that define the term "romantic." Everyone who knows and loves his piano concertos will enjoy these lyrical and dynamic works for orchestra. The "Symphonic Dances" in recent years have become one of Rachmaninoff’s most-performed scores. The five "Ètudes-Tableaux" were orchestrated by Ottorino Respighi from the brilliant originals for piano. "Vocalise" is one of the great classical melodies, and is hummable by everyone. Initial response from renowned reviewers is amazingly positive. Two have said this is the finest orchestral recording RR has ever made!

Read the Many Review Quotes Here!

New Mastercuts LP Series Review!

In the January 2012 issue of The Absolute Sound Magazine, Harry Pearson wrote about our first two Mastercuts LPs. Here are some great quotes from his "HP's Workshop" column:

"Reference Recordings' recent re-entry into the LP market was big news... The RR team could not have picked a better album to start with than the Stravinsky. Eiji Oue's Minnesota musicians play the Song of the Nightingale as well as the Chicago did under Reiner in the legendary Living Stereo issue, and with, to these ears, considerably more tenderness and poetry than Reiner got from Chicago. Incredible? Ah, listen for yourself.....Keith Johnson's recording is his very best of all that I've heard him do.... Johnson has captured a unified soundstage that is most coherent in depicting layered levels of space fore and aft, each with its own dynamic truth. It is amazing to hear instruments, some quite delicate, playing deeper in the soundstage with as much dynamic realism in their range of contrasts as the louder instruments closer to the lip of the stage...There are some transient bursts on the LP that will make you jump, so great and unstrained are they."

Purchase the first two Mastercut LPs and the Rachmaninoff CD at ReferenceRecordings.com and save 20% on your entire order during our Holiday Sale!

HiFi News Reviews The Bowie Variations

2011-12-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

UK's HiFi News published a review of Mike Garson's The Bowie Variations in their December issue.

"What will either delight or shock Bowie's hardcore following is the way their hero's material can sound as if it was composed by Erik Satie...there's gorgeous sound, an exquisite recording and an intellectual challenge." - HiFi News

Get The Bowie Variations and more for 20% during our Holiday Sale when you buy two or more items! Visit ReferenceRecordings.com today and save!

HD Tracks features Reference Recordings!

2011-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

In HDtracks' newest newsletter, we were excited to see quite the presence of our recordings! Many thanks to HDtracks!

First was the feature of Joel Fan's album West of the Sun now available as an 88kHz/24bit Audiophile Download! Visit HDtracks.com for more information!

HDtracks is getting into the Holiday Spirit with a "Classic 100" list!

HDTracks presents its Classic 100 list of high-resolution recordings, compiled from our amazing collection of albums featuring the most popular artists and genres in our catalog. These albums represent the absolutely best available recordings available anywhere for download in full master-quality from archival and preservation transfers re-mastered from the original recordings.

We're proud to say, our Grammy Award-winning Britten's Orchestra release made the list! It's quite the honor to see your recording next to great releases from all genres! Find the full list on HDtracks.com and get in on their "Classic 100" sale that lasts through December 21st!

Mike Garson for Christmas!

2011-12-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

Still looking for Christmas ideas? We've got one - Mike Garson!

Not only is "Bowie Variations" a great idea for the Bowie fan in your life, you can also get the Sheet Music from Mike Garson for that pianist in your life! What's better than sheet music and a recording from the arranger? Plus, if you order now, you could still get in on our Holiday Sale and get it the Bowie Variations in time for Christmas! You'll have to visit Mike Garson's site for the sheet music though.

But what if you're wanting something a little more Holiday-esque?

Reference Recordings artists Jim Walker (flute) and Mike Garson teamed up to bring you "Jazzy Holidays" for Flute and Piano (ranging from intermediate levels to advanced)!

Jazzy Holidays comes with a CD and includes:

Auld Lang Syne
O Holy Night
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The First Noel
Silent Night

And don't forget that you can also get the Jim Walker and Mike Garson Collaboration, Pied Piper in our current Holiday Sale as well!

Holiday Sale!

It's time for the best Reference Recordings sale of the year! Starting NOW until NOON (PST) on Monday, January 2, 2012 — Order Two or more items and receive a 20% discount on EVERYTHING in our catalog (except already discounted sets).

As always...THE MORE YOU ORDER - THE MORE YOU SAVE!!!

ReferenceRecordings.com

Doug MacLeod and Brand New Eyes Nominated For Blues Music Awards

2011-12-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday The Blues Foundation announced their 2012 Blues Music Awards Nominees, and it was a great day for RR and Doug MacLeod!

Fresh! From Reference Recordings release Brand New Eyes featuring Doug MacLeod was nominated for the Award for Acoustic Album of the Year, and Doug MacLeod himself was nominated for the Acoustic Artist of the Year award! Nominations in Two Categories!

If you are a Blues Foundation Member (or want to be), you can vote for Doug right on their site!

And don't forget, you can get the Blues Music Awards nominated album Brand New Eyes for 20% during our Holiday Sale when you buy two or more items! Buy Securely from Reference Recordings!

RR Holiday Sale!

2011-12-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

Holiday Sale!

It's time for the best Reference Recordings sale of the year! Starting NOW until NOON (PST) on Monday, January 2, 2012 — Order Two or more items and receive a 20% discount on EVERYTHING in our catalog (except already discounted sets).

As always...

THE MORE YOU ORDER - THE MORE YOU SAVE!!!

Visit ReferenceRecordings.com today!

LP News!:

Our Reference Mastercuts LPs (RM-1502 & RM-2502) are back in stock! Order securely on ReferenceRecordings.com

Two more new LP titles will be released in January 2012: RM-2503 Yerba Buena Bounce featuring the Hot Club of San Francisco and RM-1504: Symphonic Dances/Vocalise featuring the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Eiji Oue!

So, skip the hustle and bustle of Holiday shopping, and head over to ReferenceRecordings.com for great savings!

Meet Sanch Electronix and Pete the Panstick

2011-12-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Sanch Electronix Managing
Director, Simeon Sandiford

For quite some time Reference Recordings has been distributed in Trinidad by Sanch Electronix. Managing Director Simeon Sandiford is a great friend of RR and especially of “Prof” Keith O. Johnson’s.

Beyond distribution, Sanch also specializes in Steelpan music and is offering some exciting new educational software to teach Steelpan playing and history. With early releases from world percussionist Jim Brock to our latest release Brasileiro Soul featuring Reinaldo Brahn, RR has always had a bit of a soft spot for “world music.” Who knows what RR might do in the future?

Simeon has also been a major early adopter of our HDCD technology and helped RR with some WONDERFUL articles about RR and “Prof” Keith O. Johnson in many publications. So we are extremely happy to help Sanch Electronics introduce “Pete the Panstick”!

Meet Pete:

Pete the Panstick®
Pete the Panstick® is a sophisticated, bilingual (Spanish and English) animated character created by Camille Selvon Abrahams for Sanch Electronix. His role is to help beginners comprehend and remember basic musical, English and ICT concepts in an interactive way. Pete has been trained to dance, talk, clap his hands and play the Steelpan. Imagine the joy of liming with Pete for hours on end in an atmosphere that is simultaneously filled with fun and learning.

Travel with Pete as he navigates through his software in an orderly manner, chapter by chapter. First, there is an introduction to the Steelpan, via an illustrated layout of its notes as Pete narrates the range of its compass. He then plays favorite Rhymes and Folk Songs before undertaking an assessment with a specially designed Quiz, followed by Games. These chapters will ensure that beginners discover and experience more about this revolutionary instrument and its history.

Next, Pete presents the world of Virtuoso Pan Musicians and plays some of their famous ‘Panorama’ Arrangements. Three short films illustrate how the instrument is made and trace its evolution. Finally, it’s time for recess. And what better way for relaxation than by listening to seven different genres of Steelpan music and perusing some colorful, informative posters with Pete before he returns to his intriguing world of animation.

Pete the Panstick® is a must-have interactive educational software package for beginners. The product will help them to become an inevitable part of the ongoing global technological revolution. It is a logical introduction to the innovative Pan in Education catalogue of products developed by Sanch, geared towards building future knowledge-based societies.

Simeon L. Sandiford
Executive Producer

Watch Pete the Panstick Video Examples:

Click here for the full demo video.

Find out more at Sanch.com!

Simeon and Sanch Electronix Recording Exodus Steel Orchestra

Showing the "Generation Gap" at Sanch Electronix -
Simeon with his grandson!

Mike Garson Collaborations

2011-12-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

Mike Garson is more than just Bowie Variations, and today we have some fantastic examples to prove it!

The first example is a collaboration between Garson and photographer Alex Boyd. We recently posted a picture of Alex's here on this blog when we talked about Mike Garson being featured on the cover of Keyboard Magazine. The picture that was used was taken by Mr. Boyd, who has a long working relationship with Mr. Garson. Alex Boyd recently created a set of "contemplative imagery" called "The Sonnets," and Mike Garson has set the collection to music! Find out more on Alex Boyd's Website, and listen to the full tracks below:

The Sonnets by Mike Garson

But The Sonnets aren't the only recent collaboration between Mike Garson and other forms of art — at a recent concert, Garson performed with a local painter (Ann Crouch) to put music behind the creation of a painting. Talk about a true work of art! Take a look and listen right here:

The RR Holiday Sale is coming soon, so bookmark ReferenceRecordings.com now to find major savings on Mike Garson releases and more!

Reinaldo Brahn & Jim Brock in Review

2011-12-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Reinaldo Brahn & Jim Brock in Concert

Last week, the Charlotte, North Carolina website, "Creative Loafing Charlotte" posted a review of Brasileiro Soul artists Reinaldo Brahn and Jim Brock's latest concert.

From the CLCT.com Vibes Music Blog:

"Brazilian transplant Reinaldo Brahn and Charlotte's Jim Brock hit the stage in the simplest manner, each seated on stage and looking relaxed, before presenting a complex mix of Brazilian soul and diverse percussion at the Evening Muse on Nov. 26.

The duo, who worked together on the October-released album, Brasiliero Soul, sailed through an hour and 45 minutes set including songs from the album and a bossa nova-infused cover of The Police's "Roxanne."

...

"Brahn's smooth soulful vocal tone is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder in its delivery, while he also adds in some jazzy scatting from time to time. His guitar playing offers a generally acoustic tone coaxed to its edges through finger picking, strumming and the right amount of pluck.

"Meanwhile, Brock's wizardry on percussion is simply stunning as he combined a snare, high hat, drum, cajón and other instruments..." - Jeff Hahne

Read the full review on Creative Loafing Charlotte.

Bowie Variations Secret Weapon

2011-12-02T12:37:00.000-08:00

Mike Garson hasn't been the only star in his latest RR release, The Bowie Variations — his secret weapon, the Yamaha Disklavier, has also been bringing in news headlines!

Via Vocus Press Release:

In crafting his latest release, The Bowie Variations, celebrated composer, pianist and session musician, Mike Garson, relied on the Yamaha Disklavier performance reproducing piano not only to unleash his creativity, but to singlehandedly compose and create works in ways previously unimaginable.

According to Garson, The Bowie Variations was the perfect vehicle for the Disklavier. “There was no studio or hall involved initially and no need to force creativity all at once,” says Garson, noting that he was able to spread out the recording over the period of a month and work on it at home at his own pace. Once the creative process was complete, Yamaha provided a duplicate Disklavier piano at Oxnard Performing Arts Centre, where famed recording engineer Professor Johnson expertly mic’d the piano and it then played itself for the next several hours. The CD is now available on Reference Recordings, an audiophile label that records the best classical and jazz artists of our times.

The record and playback function likewise enabled him to layer multiple piano parts. “It’s like having six hands,” he relates. “The Disklavier has really allowed me to record track over track, and let me completely abandon myself to the creative process. It was fun. I wasn’t pressured in any way and wrote or improvised when I felt it.”

In the 1980s, Garson became the first musician to ever use the Yamaha Disklavier, a traditional acoustic piano equipped with an integrated digital electronics system that enables the recording, playback and creation of complex multi-track arrangements. An early adopter of the instrument, Garson procured the first one on the market and still treasures it to this day. “The piano is so good that I never wanted to change it,” said Garson. “There really aren’t too many pianos out there that sound better than this one.”

Ever since he obtained the instrument, it quickly became Garson’s main compositional and improvisational tool. “Prior to that, all my music was written by hand,” he recalled. Since he began using the Disklavier in the late 1980s, Garson saw his productivity – as well as the complexity of his work – skyrocket. “Because of the Disklavier, I can play pieces that are much more involved now. Before, it was mostly pop and jazz tunes, which are less dense by nature, but now I can play sonatas, nocturnes and etudes, which are far more intricate and elaborate.” Garson even coined a label for the music he makes with his Disklavier. He calls it “now music” because it allows him to orchestrate what he feels “in the moment.”

Over the next few months, Garson plans on performing some of the music from his latest work live in concert, with some dates already set for Washington State and Indiana. He is also weighing the possibility of a Bowie Variations Volume 2. For piano enthusiasts, Garson’s sheet music from the CD is also available. “It’s rather difficult,” he warns, “but pianists can really have a ball. Just listen to the recording for the feel and then check out the notes.”

An acclaimed jazz pianist who began playing at the age of 12, Yamaha Artist Mike Garson now boasts nearly 4,000 original compositions to his name and an illustrious career spanning over 40 decades with David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and the Smashing Pumpkins. Although his background is in classical jazz, he learned a great deal early on at the hands of music icons like Lennie Tristano, Hal Overton and Herbie Hancock, and developed the creative flair and improvisation skills that propelled him to stardom.

Purchase The Bowie Variations Securely from Reference Recordings

Keyboard Magazine Features Mike Garson

2011-11-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

Keyboard Magazine Features Mike Garson on the Cover!

Screenshot of Keyboard Magazine's current homepage and cover!

Doug MacLeod Video From Alcorn Studios

2011-11-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

The folks at CKCU have given us some video from Doug's time at Alcorn Studios, so we thought it would be fun to share the first video we've uploaded with you here. And since this week kicks off the run towards Christmas, we think it's appropriate that this song was written because of a Christmas story.

Happy Thanksgiving from Reference Recordings!

2011-11-23T08:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving From Reference Recordings!

Behind the Scenes of The Bowie Variations

2011-11-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

Mike Garson and The Bowie Variations are featured on the December 2011 cover of Keyboard Magazine. The story takes readers into the "Recording Chain" that was used by RR's own "Prof" Keith O. Johnson.

The Recording Chain:

Coles 4038 Ribbons, matched pair, probably early 1970 manufacture
Sennheiser MKH 405 FM directional condenser, modified 1960s manufacture
Sennheiser MKH 105 FM non-directional condenser, modified, 1960s manufacture
Spectral DMC-10 Preamplifier, all discrete circuit with cascode upgrades, RIAA phonograph equalization removed.
Preamplifiers: Handbuilt, discrete circuit with servo and response corrections for dedicated and modified MKH microphones.
Console: two groups of passive mixers each with 4 x 2 channel pairs.
Analog Parametric Equalizer: All discrete circuit 4 x 2 channel pairs
Pacific Microsonics Model 2 digital converter.
Monitor Speakers: Handbuilt using Skanspeak and Tiel drivers, discrete circuit active crossover, corrections, and powering
Sonic and Sound Blade Workstations

Take a look through the pictures here, and read "Prof" Keith O. Johnson's description of the session at KeyboardMag.com!

MIKE GARSON
The Bowie Variations
RR-123

“Whatever Mike lends his hands to invariably becomes something magical.”–David Bowie.

Track Listing: 1 Space Oddity; 2 John, I’m Only Dancing; 3 Life On Mars; 4 Heroes; 5 Ashes To Ashes; 6 Variations on “Changes”; 7 Let's Dance; 8 Battle For Britain/Loneliest Guy/Disco King; 9 Tribute to David; 10 Wild is the Wind; Bonus Track: 11 Space Oddity–take 2

Purchase RR-123HDCD - Mike Garson - The Bowie Variations Securely from Reference Recordings!

La Scena Musicale Reviews Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss

2011-11-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

La Scena Musicale ("Canada's Free Classical Music Magazine") has included the Concord Chamber Music Society's Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss release in their November reviews. Here's a quick quote from the review which received 4/6 stars:

"The Concord Chamber Music Society presents three contemporary American works, in a decidedly consonant and accessible aesthetic... The musicians are of the highest calibre (some are members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra!) and their performance is both polished and riveting. An appealing and entertaining disc." - Éric Champagne, La Scena Musicale

Read the full review on scena.org

Purchase RR-122 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com!

Mike Garson - Protest

2011-11-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

In light of the many protests around the world, and in the U.S., Reference Recordings artist Mike Garson has composed a new work to share not only with us, but the world.

"Hopefully by composing this piece it can add to the aesthetics and calm and peace that needs to accompany a protest." - Mike Garson

Morrisburg Falls in love with Doug MacLeod

2011-11-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

We just had to share this great review with you today:

"Blues man MacLeod takes Morrisburg by storm"
Morrisburg Leader (Canada):

"He is charming. He is funny. He is poignant. He spins yarns that make you feel you’re leaning on a rough wooden railing, in the heat of a Southern summer night, in some no-name little bar in the middle of no where.

He is a Blues Man.

...

"It’s hard, attending a MacLeod concert, to separate his music from the stories he spins while he is on stage. As he said in an earlier interview with The Leader, “blues is the true facts of life.” His stories reflect a life not always led on the straight and narrow, a life with some rocky edges to it. But the music grows out of this past. And there is the humour and wit of experience in what he says and sings.

...

“This Old River,” written for a friend of his who eventually lost her life to cancer, was simple, soft and deeply moving. “I went to see her when she knew she was dying. She was out in her backyard still planting trees and flowers. This woman who was gonna leave us so soon was planting life.”

It stood out in an evening of stand out music.

The enthusiastic audience attending the MacLeod concert knew they had been in the presence of one of the all time great Blues men.

“I never play the same song the same way twice,” Doug MacLeod told his listeners. “You Morrisburg folks are the only folks in the whole world hearing these songs exactly like this.”

What a privilege." - The Leader

Read the full review at Morrisburg Leader's Website.

Get Doug MacLeod's Fresh! From Reference Recordings release "Brand New Eyes" direct from Reference Recordings!

The Mike Garson Trio Live!

2011-11-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday we told you how to tune in to see the Mike Garson Trio performing at Blue Whale in Los Angeles, CA. Well, for those that weren't able to see the performance live, have no fear, you can still see the archived video right here! So sit back, and take a listen to the great Mike Garson Trio:

Also, if you're in Detroit, make sure to mark December 2nd on your calendar as Mike Garson will be performing at the Detroit Institute of Arts! Click here for more information

Doug MacLeod on Window of Opportunity

2011-11-15T11:14:00.000-08:00

Tony Copple (left) and David Humphreys of CKCU

A couple of weeks ago, Doug MacLeod was at Alcorn Studios in Ottowa Canada and CKCU's "Window of Opportunity" host Tony Copple was kind enough to share with us a fantastic story, pictures, a recording and a video!

Take a listen to Doug MacLeod Live in the CKCU Studios!

From Tony Copple, CKCU:

Doug came on, and cracked up the crowd with his first few words. He has such a talent for storytelling when talking to a group of music lovers. By the time he plays a note he has them eating out of his hand. Some musicians play sweet tuneful music simply; some play with complex unplayable-by-others technique that leaves little space for tunefulness. Doug appears to produce effortlessly the sound of several guitars played by speed experts yet sweet and tuneful, even romantic in places. He will tell you that no two performances are alike; each song that night he announed as about to sound "exactly like this" meaning like nothing else.

He really believes in the integrity of the old masters such as Big Bill Broonzy in that they would sing about life decisions, faith, tough times. Doug will describe the "unmarked road" we should seek out, "that ain't right" - adultery or "this old river" separating life from death (the river Styx?). Listen to his words for mentorship in this world. Perhaps because his songs are so serious in their messages, he intersperses them with anecdotes and descriptions that contain both pathos and humour. There's a whole lotta laughter at a Doug MacLeod concert. But for many, myself included, it is his extraordinary guitar playing that keeps me listening, and that night there was plenty of it. His frequent use of a slide (not an easy thing to do when keeping up a relentless rhythm) is almost magic to watch, which enhances our listening experience hearing him on his excellent recordings.

Next time he's in town, don't miss him!

Get the full story and even more great pictures on the "Window of Opportunity" radio program website.

Sing Out! Reviews Brand New Eyes

2011-11-14T09:32:00.000-08:00

Folk Music magazine Sing Out! published a glowing review of Fresh! From Reference Recordings release Brand New Eyes! We'll give you a taste of these quotes and then link you to Sing Out!'s website.

From SingOut!:

"When you close your eyes and listen to Doug MacLeod, it's difficult to decide what you like best, his expressive guitar technique or his passionate approach to vocals. Both are exemplary and have been over the past 16 releases. The title track, alone, is enough to stop traffic...

"...there are few who can touch MacLeod for authenticity. And, for a player whose guitar playing was once referred to as 'sparse,' skip forward to the 7th track, 'Somewhere South of Somewhere,' in which MacLeod's breath-taking instrumental is anything but. The vocal that steers 'I Rolled A Nickel' is artful in its ability to conjure a soul bleeding itself out. The combination of resophonic guitar and elements of slide further extend its aura...

"...songs like 'Midnight in Memphis' (the sole co-write) single-handedly redefines the potential of acoustic blues to deliver a well-placed goose bump. The final track is a highlight as 'Welcome In Your Home' closes off the party with a memorable slide workout and of the album's most heartfelt vocals — classic MacLeod. It's the perfect soundtrack to, as he hopes, encourage us all to look at the world around us afresh, with Brand New Eyes." - Eric Thom, Sing Out!

Thank you so much to Eric Thom and Sing Out! Magazine for such a wonderful and thorough review. We highly suggest you find out more about them at SingOut.org!

Visit Doug MacLeod’s website: http://doug-macleod.com

Order Securely from Reference Recordings

"Welcome In Your Home"

Happy Veterans Day

2011-11-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

Reference Recordings would like to extend a warm round of thanks to our veterans today on Veteran's Day.

It's on this day that we tend to think about that great "American Band" sound that comes from Sousa and marches in general. Some of these albums we've featured before, like Marches I've Missed and Strictly Sousa, but today we wanted to feature an album that might not seem like your typical "Veteran's Day Celebration" album.

So instead of featuring the music of parades, we thought it would be nice to feature the music of a veteran himself! Fresh! From Reference Recordings artist Doug MacLeod is a veteran of the U.S. Navy! So to honor him, and all our veterans, we wanted to feature his new album Brand New Eyes! And after all, if there's anything as "American" as a Sousa march, it's the Blues.

Take a listen and look right here and have a Happy Veteran's Day:

Brand New Eyes

Doug Macleod

FRESH! FROM REFERENCE RECORDINGS

FR-703

“MacLeod is one of the finest songwriters, storytellers and performers in the blues.” Sing Out!

*The original title was Some Old Blues Song, but when Bruce Iglauer of Alligator wanted to record it with Son Seals he preferred it to be called I Can Count On My Blues.

Also Featuring: John Smith, guitar/vocals Bob Jones, bass Frank Peterson, drums Denny Croy, bass (track 3) David Kida, drums (track 3) All songs written by Doug MacLeod, published by Gaslight Square Music, administered by Bug Music except Midnight In Memphis, written by Doug MacLeod and Danny Jesser, published by Gaslight Square Music, administered by Bug Music and Old Bard Music.

This album was recorded in November of 2009 at Pacifica Studios, Culver City CA. Engineered by Glenn Nishida; Final Mastering by Keith O. Johnson; Produced by Doug MacLeod.

True blues. These two words define in style and commitment the acoustic music composed and played by Doug MacLeod, a singer- songwriter in the American tradition.

MacLeod has been a beacon of unquestionably honest roots-music since the 1970s. Proof enough: 16 albums, a couple of DVDs, and thousands of gigs stateside and overseas. And in December, the announcement by the Blues Foundation of his nomination for the 2011 Blues Music Award as Acoustic Artist of the Year.

Now, the release of his new album, Brand New Eyes (FR-703) on the new label Fresh! from RR, a division of the 35 year-old multi- Grammy nominated, audiophile label Reference Recordings. With liner notes by Downbeat columnist and Grove Press author Frank- John Hadley, Brand New Eyes offers Doug’s sincere voice and lyric ease supported by his highly individual guitar stylings.

On Brand New Eyes, MacLeod presents 11 original songs. In a genre often reliant on old standards, he is the rare traveling artist who writes and sings original songs that are based on his own life and experiences. He learned from the old masters, lived the music, survived the life and carries forward a valuable tradition. MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances. At the heart of this is his knack for storytelling, bringing characters — from the faceless to the legendary — to strikingly real life.

From Frank-John Hadley’s liner notes: “The songs of Brand New Eyes are heavily streaked with altruism, a belief in the bracing power of music to heal. It’s the thread running through the cloth of all the material.” “I see so many people walking around and they don’t see anything good in the world,” MacLeod says of the title track. “But maybe it’s not the world, maybe it’s you. To see some good in the world, put on some brand new eyes.”

Visit Doug MacLeod’s website: http://doug-macleod.com

Order Securely from Reference Recordings

Mike Garson Live Online Tonight!

2011-11-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

The Mike Garson Trio (Mike Garson piano, Roberto Miranda bass, Bert Karl drums) will be broadcast live on Network Concerts from their concert tonight at Blue Whale!

The concert will air at 8:30pm Pacific at NetworkConcerts.com!

About Network Concerts:

After decades of recording countless shows, we have developed an appreciation for the excellent hard-working musicians that actually create the music that you hear onstage. Behind all the smoke and fire and bright spotlights focused on the front of the stage, the real magic happens back in the shadows, often unseen by the audience in front.

Unseen – but NOT unheard! If you follow style over substance; if you are all Show and no Go, then you may learn something new here at Network Concerts. We can sum up our mission statement in one phrase: We’re here for the music. We focus our attention on the musicians – not the fashion statement.

We want you to learn about these incredible musicians in the same way we have learned. Watch – and listen. You will soon find that it doesn’t matter if the artist is playing piano, or guitar, or congas, or vibes; talent is talent, and it deserves your attention. You will learn to appreciate the sound of the instruments, the knowledge of the music, and how to interact creatively with other musicians onstage. We think you’ll enjoy our program and come back for more.

About Blue Whale:

Blue Whale is a live jazz bar located in the heart of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
Blue Whale boasts excellent live music, great food, and unprecedented interior
in an intimate, yet upscale atmosphere.

Join us for live music on Tuesday through Saturday nights and jam session
hosted by special guest every Tuesday night from 8pm till 1am.

For those that can't tune in this evening, NetworkConcerts Archives their shows!

Add Us to your Circles!

2011-11-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

Reference Recordings is now on Google+!

If you're a Google+ user (and we know some of you are), make sure and add RR to your circles to stay in the "loop" about all things RR!

Connect with us Here!

Go into the studio with Reinaldo Brahn + O's Place Review

2011-11-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

Brasileiro Soul artist Reinaldo Brahn is taking you into the recording studio in a wonderful new video featuring his track Tempo.

Take a look:

O's Places Jazz Magazine had this to say about Brasileiro Soul:

"Guitarist and vocalist Reinaldo Brahn is one of the new voices of Brazil...He sings the lyrics in his native Portuguese except for "Wondering" one of our favorites along with “Alma de Atria" and "Põe o pé an Estrada". This is a relaxing set that soothes the soul." —O's Place Jazz Magazine

Mike Garson on NAMM's Oral History

2011-11-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) has a wonderful new Oral History video featuring Reference Recordings artist Mike Garson. Take a look at why they chose Mike as a part of their "Oral History" series, and head on over to NAMM.org to watch the video:

"Mike Garson was classically trained on the piano and contributed greatly to jazz and rock as well as his own “now music” style. Mike’s passion for music is evident in everything he plays and his love with teaching and preserving his musical heritage is evident in nearly everything he says. For Mike, it is more than playing music, it is a matter of living in the music and making every effort to express what is happening in that very moment. His fascinating interview for the NAMM Oral History program included a look at his views about now music as well as his career that ranged from recordings with David Bowie to Nine Inch Nails." - NAMM

Watch the video here!

Audiophile Audition reviews The Bowie Variations

2011-11-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

John Henry of Audiophile Audition published a thorough review of Mike Garson's RR release, The Bowie Variations this past weekend. The review gets into the heart of the works, and the influences that surrounded the pieces. It's a highly informative read, so we encourage you to find the full review on AudAud.com.

From Audiophile Audition:

Mike Garson, piano - The Bowie Variations; 4/5 stars

"Garson doesn’t just do straight jazz treatments of these tunes; he moves thru classical, pop and even avant-garde genres here and there. Most interesting. And if you have proper HDCD decoding on your player, preamp or receiver, you’ll be hearing the best possible sonics from 44.1K CDs, living up to the audiophile standards of Reference Recordings." –John Henry

Read the full review on AudAud.com

Purchase RR-123 Securely on ReferenceRecordings.com

Concord Chamber Music Society Review

2011-11-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

EnjoytheMusic.com published a wonderful review of the Concord Chamber Music Society's Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss recording. We'll share some of the quotes with you, and encourage you to visit Enjoythemusic.com for the full review!

EnjoyTheMusic.com:

"Pleasant" is almost always a pejorative word in a review, a classic case of damning with faint praise. But Reference Recordings' vivid-sounding new CD of contemporary chamber music would be "deeply pleasant" if such a thing could be said—we can settle on "highly pleasing." Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, both in their late 50s, contribute genial works, jazz-and-pop-inflected, that work well together and are followed neatly by an "urban bluegrass" piece by the recently deceased, constantly self-reinventing Lukas Foss.

Boston Symphony violinist Wendy Putnam, founder of the Concord Chamber Music Society, appears in all three works, along with pianist Vylas Baksys. But we move, or dwindle, from the larger-scale work by Brubeck — 6-piece ensemble, 30 minutes — to the 23-minute Gandolfi trio (clarinet-violin-piano) and close with Foss' playful 10-and-a-half-minute duo. As one expects from RR, the recording is of very high quality, with a clear spatial sense of the players and warm, natural sound for each instrument.

Read Joe Milicia's full review on EnjoyTheMusic.com

Purchase RR-121 securely at ReferenceRecordings.com

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T14:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween

When celebrating Halloween, beyond pumpkins and spiderwebs, one of the most crucial elements to a good celebration is music and sound effects. Nothing can get you ready for fun scary times like a creaking door, or the sudden explosion of Bach's Toccata in D minor. So to help you celebrate, we're featuring one of our best "spooky" releases and linking you to some downloads for your parties or for playing when the kids come for trick-or-treats.

MEPHISTO & CO.

"The Absolute Sound Super Disc List"

Ghosts, goblins, spirits and demons run amok in this program of infernal orchestral favorites: MEPHISTO WALTZ (Liszt), NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN (Mussorgsky), TAM O' SHANTER (Arnold) and many more in an explosive witches' brew!

Eiji Oue, conductor
Minnesota Orchestra

"...Should be listened to with caution by anyone with a heart condition."
-- Paul Festa, Salon online magazine

"Enjoy equally sensational sonics in a disc of daemonic influences, including Liszt's serious Mephisto Waltz and Dukas's comic masterpiece The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Oue is a born showman, and the orchestra is certainly willing – the dramatic ending to Franck's Le Chausseur Maudit packed full of virtuosity, while the brass is superb in Malcolm Arnold's Tam O'Shanter." -- David Denton, The Yorkshire Post

Need the recording for tonight?
Download in Hi-Rez at HDTracks.com or download the mp3s on iTunes!

Order the HDCD at ReferenceRecordings.com!

Doug MacLeod at The Pearl in Dallas!

2011-10-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night, I had the distinct pleasure of finally seeing Fresh! From RR artist Doug MacLeod perform in person! Not only did I get to hear Doug at the wonderful venue in Dallas, "The Pearl at Commerce," I also got to hear Doug on the local radio station KNON on the way over. The radio time definitely made for a fun last twenty minutes of the drive over to Dallas (from Fort Worth). If you follow RR on Twitter or frequent the Facebook Page, you'll have noticed some of the pictures we posted during the night. Lucky for you we have a few more as well as some videos. You'll have to excuse the quality on these as both the pictures and video were taken with my phone. But hopefully the fine musicianship and absolute command of the stage that Doug possesses still ring true.

- David Weuste (RR Social Media)

Encore!

Meeting the fans

Adding his signature to a well-traveled guitar

He got some "Brand New Eyes"

"It'll go exactly like this"

"Turkey Leg Woman"

About to start

Getting into it

Setting up

"Meeting fans & making friends"

A spontaneous reunion with a longtime friend

"Prof" Johnson in Europe Pictures

2011-10-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we shared a video and told you all about "Prof" Keith O. Johnson's trip to Europe, so today we've got some pictures to share that were taken taken in Italy, while Keith Johnson and Spectral Audio owner Rick Fryer were visiting their Italian distributor (Audio Graffiti) during a very busy trip. The pictures are from a special event for reviewers and fans of Spectral Audio and Reference Recordings, as well as some pictures from a fabulous dinner with the Audio Graffiti staff! RR and Spectral Audio have always had a close relationship, which is obvious when you take a glance at the Spectral Audio mission statement (as posted on their website):

"For many years, Spectral has been closely associated with Reference Recordings, the esteemed San Francisco audiophile label. Indeed, Reference's internationally honored recording engineer, "Prof." Keith O. Johnson, is also Spectral's Director of Engineering. Custom electronics from Spectral are the backbone of Reference's recording system, where their ultra-linear, high resolution characteristics make them indispensable in the pursuit of "archivalness." A truly archival recording is a radical step beyond an ordinary production. It captures qualities of dimension, interplay, voicing, location (an overall sense of place and time), and preserves them for future generations. It immerses the listener in the sound field as it existed at the original performance, recreating the artist's inspiration.

Reference Recordings master tapes are our constant "reality check". Often the entire Spectral design team is present at a Reference recording session. Far purer and more undistorted than any commercial product, these master tapes test our evolving designs against the most rigorous standard. A kind of aesthetic version of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle makes perfect objectivity in musical listening impossible. But impeccable references heard under carefully controlled and repeatable listening conditions are possible. The use of the most accurate references is an inviolable principle at Spectral."

Check out the Spectral Audio website and enjoy the pictures below:

Keith O. Johnson in Europe

2011-10-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

RR's "Prof" Keith O. Johnson was in Europe all last week doing talks and interviews for various publications and audio distributors. He was there as the designer for the Spectral Audio company, not on behalf of RR, but they used RR material for many demonstrations and all the distributors they visited also have a relationship with RR or with RR's international distributors in their countries. You'll also notice in the beginning of this video that they are showing off the new RR LPs. So consider this a look at a sort of family event! Take a look:

RMAF Recap

2011-10-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

2011 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest Recap!

October 14-16, we went to the Denver Tech Center Marriott for the 8th edition of Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF). This low-key, high-tech consumer audio show is presented by members of the Colorado Audio Society and Red Rock Audio, produced and ably directed by Marjorie Baumert.

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest's first show appeared in October, 2004. Members of the Colorado Audio Society wanted a local audio show to further the Society's goal of expanding public awareness of high end audio.

This show has turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and successful gatherings of audio enthusiasts in North America. It now attracts audio consumers, retail dealers, equipment designers, manufacturers and music media representatives from across the nation and around world. RR has been participating since 2006 when Ray Kimber invited us to share an exhibit table with Sennheiser headphones as part of Kimber's large and always impressive showing at RMAF. RMAF not only showcases a vast array of high-end audio designs, there's a special headphone-oriented show within the show called CanJam offering a fantastic opportunity to sample the world's best headphones and headphone amplifiers.

This year, RR joined a variety of music makers, record companies and resellers in the large Evergreen Ballroom. Like a big record swap or bazaar, each of us had several tables and spent 3 days talking to customers and selling our music in an ever-expanding number of formats.
RR was thrilled to be debuting our new LPs - The Minnesota Orchestra "Firebird and Song of the Nightingale" - never before issued on vinyl! and our re-issue of the popular "From the Age of Swing", pianist Dick Hyman's 'little big band' recording of classical jazz.

Marvelous playback of the RR LPs in demonstration rooms hosted by speaker maker Magico, analogue specialists Musical Surroundings and 'tube god' VTL sent a steady stream of fans to purchase copies at our booth.

After the long production period, seeing folks pick-up and gently hold their new RR LPs was exciting! Sorry, no pictures - too graphic!

High resolution digital, computer based audio was very much in evidence at this show too. Over 20 of the more than 150 exhibitors featured our HRx releases as part of their music playback. Awareness and use of music files is growing fast. We spent a lot less time explaining what it is and sold a lot more than last show. ComputerAudiophile.com founder Chris Connaker was in attendance and smiling like a proud papa.

Of course, no consumer show would be complete without the opportunity to dig through stacks of nice used LPs brought in by local record shops catering to lovers of well-preserved vinyl. Hard to leave without a few new ones for the collection!

Oh, but RR doesn’t live by music alone! Good, local food and beverage are always on our radar and Denver comes through! Buffalo burgers abound and for whatever reason, great celery greeted us. Yes, that simple veggie impressed us enough on several occasions to mention it here! On draft, a local rye lager called Hoss (like Cartwright?) was consumed and our last supper in town took us out of the hotel and downtown to the Lodo district for some world-class tapas at 9th Door. Thanks to acoustical wizard Bob Hodas for the ride and the company.

Our next opportunity to get out of town will be THE Show Las Vegas in January 2012 and in June 2012, we'll be back in Newport Beach, CA celebrating the 2nd birthday of the new consumer show there.

Come out & meet us!

—Janice Manusco

More Brasileiro Soul Samples

2011-10-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

For fun today, we've got some more samples from our new RR release Brasileiro Soul (click here for the first samples we posted)!

Track 4: Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love)
Track 5: Onde Está (Where is It ?)
Track 6: As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console)
Track 9: Toda Mulher (Every Woman)
Track 12: Wondering

A New RR Recording

Reinaldo Brahn
Brasileiro Soul

This collection of fourteen original songs penned by this new artist is rich and complex music, with gorgeous lyrics in Portugese (with one song in English). We think you'll love the killer band playing with Reinaldo, and the exotic percussion from RR favorite (and album producer) Jim Brock who refers to Reinaldo Brahn as "the new voice of Brasil." Great sonics from Grammy-winning engineer Keith Johnson!

Track Listing: Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress); A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason); Paisagem Ancorada (Anchored Landscape); Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love); Onde Está (Where is It ?); As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console); Anjo de Julho (Angel of July); So Nos Dois (Two of Us); Toda Mulher (Every Woman); Tarde (Dusk); Out of the Blue; Wondering; No Colla da Serra (In the Lap of the Mountain); Tempo (Time)

Available in HDCD Format AND HRx!

Order RR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com
Order HR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

Brasileiro Soul Samples

2011-10-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

For fun today, we've got some samples from our new RR release Brasileiro Soul!

Track 1: Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress)
Track 2: A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason)
Track 7: Anjo de Julho (Angel of July)
Track 11: Out of the Blue
Track 14: Tempo (Time)

A New RR Recording

Reinaldo Brahn
Brasileiro Soul

This collection of fourteen original songs penned by this new artist is rich and complex music, with gorgeous lyrics in Portugese (with one song in English). We think you'll love the killer band playing with Reinaldo, and the exotic percussion from RR favorite (and album producer) Jim Brock who refers to Reinaldo Brahn as "the new voice of Brasil." Great sonics from Grammy-winning engineer Keith Johnson!

Track Listing: Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress); A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason); Paisagem Ancorada (Anchored Landscape); Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love); Onde Está (Where is It ?); As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console); Anjo de Julho (Angel of July); So Nos Dois (Two of Us); Toda Mulher (Every Woman); Tarde (Dusk); Out of the Blue; Wondering; No Colla da Serra (In the Lap of the Mountain); Tempo (Time)

Available in HDCD Format AND HRx!

Order RR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com
Order HR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

Visit Us at RMAF This Weekend!

2011-10-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Come see us this weekend at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest! Jan Manusco and Sean Martin will be representing RR in the Evergreen Ballroom with our new LPs and our new release Brasileiro Soul and we will have all of our RR and Fresh! From RR titles available for sale or for order! So if you're going to be in Denver make sure and stop by and see us!

About the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest:

America's Audio Show:

The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will be held at the Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel on October 14-16, 2011. Furniture will be removed from over 150 of the hotel's sleeping rooms and manufacturers will set up complete stereo systems for attendees to audition. You are encouraged to go from room to room, have a seat and casually listen. In fact, feel free to bring your own iPods, discs or records to the show, as most exhibitors will be more than happy to play one or two songs of your favorite music.

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest's first show appeared in October, 2004.

Members of the Colorado Audio Society had for many years thought about a local audio show as an extension of the Society's goal of expanding public awareness of high end audio.

The concept took a serious turn when CAS members Al Stiefel and Ron Welborne took it upon themselves to explore the possibility of creating an audio show in Denver. With Al's business acumen, Ron's knowledge of the infrastructure of local audio shows, and CAS member volunteers to provide much of the support (and let's not forget Al's capable wife, Marjorie Baumert), the 2004 show became a reality!

The premiere show was hailed by members of the audio press, both hard copy and online, as a glowing success, praising not only the surprising number of exhibitors (over 60), but the unusually good sound emanating from the normally dismal hotel room environment typical of the corporate shows. Also noted was the casual and friendly atmosphere produced by a show created by audiophiles and staffed by volunteer audio society members. The 2004 show also featured a stunning live concert featuring Patricia Barber, which was broadcast live on local jazz station KUVO (Jazz Oasis in the Rockies).
The subsequent shows were bigger and better, with 100+ exhibitor rooms along with more seminars and more vendors offering CDs, vinyl records, and audio accessories at show discounts.

As we begin to make plans for this year's show, we continue to entertain more ideas to improve Audio Fest and make it better than ever. If you've been putting off attending RMAF, now is the time to make the commitment; if you love audio, this is the place to be. - Art Tesdeschi (Colorado Audio Society)

Reinaldo Brahn Playlist

2011-10-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

We've added a new Reinaldo Brahn Playlist to our YouTube Channel. So we thought we'd share it with you here as well!

A New RR Recording

Reinaldo Brahn
Brasileiro Soul

This collection of fourteen original songs penned by this new artist is rich and complex music, with gorgeous lyrics in Portugese (with one song in English). We think you'll love the killer band playing with Reinaldo, and the exotic percussion from RR favorite (and album producer) Jim Brock who refers to Reinaldo Brahn as "the new voice of Brasil." Great sonics from Grammy-winning engineer Keith Johnson!

Track Listing: Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress); A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason); Paisagem Ancorada (Anchored Landscape); Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love); Onde Está (Where is It ?); As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console); Anjo de Julho (Angel of July); So Nos Dois (Two of Us); Toda Mulher (Every Woman); Tarde (Dusk); Out of the Blue; Wondering; No Colla da Serra (In the Lap of the Mountain); Tempo (Time)

Available in HDCD Format AND HRx!

Order RR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com
Order HR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

New Release - Brasileiro Soul

2011-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

A New RR Recording

Reinaldo Brahn
Brasileiro Soul

Reinaldo Brahn, vocals & acoustic guitar; Jim Brock, percussion; Tim Gordon, winds; Steve Kim, electric bass; Al Sergel, drums; Mark Stallings, keyboards; Dustin Hofsess, electric guitar; Jon Thornton, trumpet/flugelhorn

Reference Recordings is proud to announce Brasileiro Soul, a Brazilian jazz/pop album from versatile singer/songwriter/guitarist Reinaldo Brahn.

Reinaldo Brahn during the Recording Sessions

This collection of fourteen original songs penned by this new artist is rich and complex music, with gorgeous lyrics in Portugese (with one song in English). We think you'll love the killer band playing with Reinaldo, and the exotic percussion from RR favorite (and album producer) Jim Brock who refers to Reinaldo Brahn as "the new voice of Brasil." Great sonics from Grammy-winning engineer Keith Johnson!

Brasileiro Soul is a collection of fourteen original songs penned by Brazilian guitarist and singer Reinaldo Brahn.
The deep heritage of his guitar style, along with his rich unmistakable voice, makes Brasileiro Soul as provocative as the land that cultivated it.
Veteran percussionist and producer Jim Brock refers to Reinaldo Brahn as “the new voice of Brasil.”
Gorgeous lyrics in Portugese (with one song in English).
Young guitarist Reinaldo Brahn grew up listening to the jazzy samba music of his native Brazil. On Brasilero Soul he weaves that heritage with new Brazilian pop styles.
He left the renowned Brazilian vocal group Soul Makube to embark on a solo career. Gathering influences from Gilberto Gil, Djavan and Caetano Veloso, Reinaldo began touring his original music throughout Brazil, and then in 2006 brought his music to the United States.
The sonics from Grammy-winning engineer Keith Johnson will ensure enthusiastic reception by audiophiles and music lovers
Recorded at venerable Reflection Sound Studios in Charlote, NC, scene of several RR past successes.

Track Listing: Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress); A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason); Paisagem Ancorada (Anchored Landscape); Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love); Onde Está (Where is It ?); As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console); Anjo de Julho (Angel of July); So Nos Dois (Two of Us); Toda Mulher (Every Woman); Tarde (Dusk); Out of the Blue; Wondering; No Colla da Serra (In the Lap of the Mountain); Tempo (Time)

Available in HDCD Format AND HRx!

Order RR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com
Order HR-124 Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

About Reinaldo Brahn

2011-10-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

Our newest release Brasileiro Soul comes out tomorrow (10/11), so we wanted to take today to introduce you to featured artist Reinaldo Brahn.

Reinaldo Brahn:

Born in the third largest city in Brasil, Belo Horizonte (Beautiful Horizon), Reinaldo Brahn picked up his brother’s guitar at age 14, curiously strummed its chords, and the musician within him immediately emerged. He initially taught himself traditional Musica Minhera, rhythms of his native state Minas Gerais, and in subsequent years, further expanded his musical repertoire by playing at festivals, bars, and restaurants. Traveling through various towns and cities, Reinaldo’s experiences and collaboration with other musicians taught him the fundamentals of his signature style, which infuses classic Brazilian rhythms - Funk, Sambas, Bossa Novas – into his own unique sound. He produced a CD in 2000 with “Web Brasil”, a Brazilian band, and was featured in a collective artist CD in 2004 called "Poucas e boas – au vivo no Tocos".

Reinaldo came to Charlotte, NC in October of 2007 and quickly began to introduce his Brazilian roots to the Charlotte music scene. He creatively applies the robust Brazilian style to popular American music with a result that’s truly inspiring. Reinaldo's specialties include singing and playing Brazilian music, including popular MPB and classic Sambas, as well as performing popular American songs with a strong Brazilian influence.

For more information on Reinaldo Brahn, visit http://reinaldobrahn.com!

Downbeat reviews The Bowie Variations

2011-10-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

Iconic Jazz and Blues magazine Downbeat has a review of Mike Garson's RR Release The Bowie Variations in their November 2011 issue. We thought we would share a couple of the quotes with you for the weekend.

From Downbeat Magazine:

"Mike Garson is the perfect and logical candidate to delve into [David Bowie's] music...His doing so as a solo (though sometimes overdubbed) piano album makes the project much more personal...

"...On the 'Battle for Britain/Loneliest Guy/Disco King,' Garson culled solos he played on those late-era Bowie album cuts into an emotionally far-reaching medley—The Garson-Bowie Variations, so to speak. The album's sole original, 'The Tribute to David,' Flows with an impressionistic fluidity that mirrors Bowie's career." - Yoshi Kato

Visit Downbeat Magazine at Downbeat.com.

Purchase The Bowie Variations securely from ReferenceRecordings.com!

A Taste of What You Get from Jim Brock and Reinaldo Brahn

2011-10-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

Reinaldo Brahn's RR release is one week away, and to give you a taste of what to expect we thought it would be fun to share a video of a live performance with him and Jim Brock (also featured on the album).

Reinaldo Brahn
Brasileiro Soul

featuring Jim Brock
percussion

RR-124
Release date: October 11, 2011

Also available as HR-124: HRx® DVD Data Disc containing .wav files. True high resolution music,176.4 kHz/24 bits.

Reference Recordings is proud to announce Brasileiro Soul, a Brazilian jazz/pop album from versatile singer/songwriter/guitarist Reinaldo Brahn. Talented young Brazilian singer-songwriter-guitarist, Reinaldo Brahn, plays rich and complex music, with a killer band and exotic percussion by famed Jim Brock!

Brasileiro Soul is a collection of fourteen original songs penned by Brazilian guitarist and singer Reinaldo Brahn. The deep heritage of his guitar style, along with his rich unmistakable voice, makes Brasileiro Soul as provocative as the land that cultivated it. Veteran percussionist and producer Jim Brock refers to Reinaldo Brahn as "the new voice of Brasil."

Young guitarist Reinaldo Brahn grew up listening to the jazzy samba music of his native Brazil, and in Brasilero Soul he weaves that heritage with new Brazilian pop styles. He left the renowned Brazilian vocal group Soul Makube to embark on a solo career. Gathering influences from Gilberto Gil, Djavan and Caetano Veloso, Reinaldo began touring his original music throughout Brazil, and then in 2006 brought his music to the United States.

Recorded at venerable Reflection Sound Studios in Charlote, NC, and engineered by Grammy-winning "Prof" Keith O. Johnson.

Look to http://referencerecordings.com soon for ordering information.

Dick Hyman to Perform on A Prairie Home Companion

2011-10-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

Mark it on your calendars, RR artist Dick Hyman is set to perform on the ultra-popular radio program A Prairie Home Companion with legendary host Garrison Keillor!

Dick Hyman will be performing as a guest along with Heather Masse on A Prairie Home Companion November 26th, Thanksgiving Weekend. This will make for a perfect opportunity to pull the family around for some old-time fun and music!

A Prairie Home Companion is heard by more than 4 million listeners each week on some 590 public radio stations, and abroad on America One and the Armed Forces Networks in Europe and the Far East. Garrison recalls, "When the show started, it was something funny to do with my friends, and then it became an achievement that I hoped would be successful, and now it's a good way of life."

For more information visit Prairiehome.publicradio.org.

Dick Hyman on Reference Recordings:

Thinking about BIX
DICK HYMAN
solo piano

Dick Hyman, one of the most accomplished and versatile musicians alive, is especially known as an authority on early jazz. After a lifetime of playing and studying the music of Bix Beiderbecke, Hyman announced he’d like to record for RR a solo program of music associated with Bix, including all five original pieces Bix wrote for piano. (Most likely, these are a recorded first.) Hyman arranged other numbers Bix performed with various groups, and plays and improvises upon these in his distinctive, brilliant style. The title track is an infectious Hyman original reminiscent of the period. An attractive bonus is a piano four-hands performance with Hyman’s friend and stride authority, Mike Lipskin

Sound Samples / Downloads - HDTracks.com

Track Listing - 1 Thinking About Bix; 2 Singin’ the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home); 3 Ostrich Walk; 4 I’m Coming, Virginia; 5 Jazz Me Blues; 6 Candlelights; 7 ‘Tain’t So, Honey, ‘Tain’t So; 8 Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down; 9 In the Dark; 10 Clementine (From New Orleans); 11 Lonely Melody; 12 In A Mist; 13 Sweet Sue (Just You); 14 Wringing’ and Twistin’; 15 Flashes; 16 Davenport Blues; 17 You Took Advantage of Me, with Mike Lipskin (piano four-hands).
YouTube of Dick Hyman at the 40th Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, Davenport, August 2011.
RR-116 HDCD - Thinking About Bix - $16.98

IN RECITAL

This solo outing captures Hyman's brilliant improvisations on jazz standards,
stride classics and an original tune available nowhere else! Recorded
on a Boesendorfer Imperial Concert Grand, this release sets new standards
for exciting, realistic piano sound.

RR-84
HDCD $16.98

REVIEWS

Sound Samples / Downloads - HDTracks.com

FROM
THE AGE OF SWING

With some of the greatest jazzmen who lived and played through The Age
of Swing: Phil Bodner, Urbie Green, Milt Hinton, Butch Miles, Bucky
Pizzarelli, Joe Temperly, Frank Wess and Joe Wilder. RR's all-time
fastest seller! ****-1/2 --Downbeat

RR-59 HDCD $16.98

Sound Samples / Downloads - HDTracks.com

SWING IS HERE!

The hot, more up-tempo followup, featuring Peter Appleyard, Jay Leonhart,
Nancy Marano, Butch Miles, Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizzarelli, Randy
Sandke, and Frank Wess.

RR-72 HDCD $16.98

Sound Samples / Downloads - HDTracks.com

...PLAYS DUKE ELLINGTON (piano solo)

"As close to perfection as humanly and technically possible. ****" --CD
Review

RR-50 CD $16.98

Sound Samples / Downloads - HDTracks.com

...PLAYS FATS WALLER (piano solo)

"Excellent musicianship, top-quality material and grade-A sound." --Audio

RR-33 CD $16.98

Re-Run Post - Reinaldo Brahn & Jim Brock In Studios

2011-09-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, we wanted to do a re-posting, or "re-run," of the blog from Tam Henderson after the Brasileiro Soul recording session. As we announced last week, Brazilian guitarist/singer/songwriter Reinaldo Brahn, along with percussionist Jim Brock, will be releasing Brasileiro Soul October 11. Since we orginally posted these photographs and reflections by Tam Henderson all the way back in February, we thought it would be good to bring them back to the forefront. So if you didn't catch these the first time around, you can now!

Originally posted by Tam Henderson on February 21, 2011:

Most of last week, Keith Johnson, Sean Martin and I were in Charlotte, NC recording a new project at Reflection Sound Studios, scene of several RR past successes. The music is a new genre for us, featuring a talented young Brazilian singer-songwriter-guitarist, Reinaldo Brahn. The songs sound to me unusually rich and complex for "popular" music, with tasty arrangements for woodwinds, trumpet, electric guitar, keyboards (piano & synth), electric bass, drums, and a lot of exotic percussion by Jim Brock -- who also produced. Even though most lyrics are in Portugese (one in English), the music has widespread audience appeal, and the sonics we got will ensure enthusiastic reception by audio nuts. I asked for an instrumental, for sake of variety, and the last morning Reinaldo wrote a new tune over breakfast. We all helped whip it into a fantastic shape. This will be played in what hi-fi salons remain, and at audio shows worldwide.

-Tam, session photographer

For larger pictures, check out our Facebook Page.

Weekend Bytes

2011-09-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few of quick things that came across our radar over the weekend that we felt were worth sharing.

Yamaha Disklavier 'Lends a Hand' To Mike Garson's Acclaimed Bowie Variations CD:

In crafting his latest release, The Bowie Variations, celebrated composer, pianist and session musician, Mike Garson, relied on the Yamaha Disklavier performance reproducing piano not only to unleash his creativity, but to singlehandedly compose and create works in ways previously unimaginable.

According to Garson, The Bowie Variations was the perfect vehicle for the Disklavier. “There was no studio or hall involved initially and no need to force creativity all at once,” says Garson, noting that he was able to spread out the recording over the period of a month and work on it at home at his own pace. Once the creative process was complete, Yamaha provided a duplicate Disklavier piano at Oxnard Performing Arts Centre, where famed recording engineer Professor Johnson expertly mic'd the piano and it then played itself for the next several hours. The CD is now available on Reference Recordings, an audiophile label that records the best classical and jazz artists of our times.

The record and playback function likewise enabled him to layer multiple piano parts. “It's like having six hands,” he relates. “The Disklavier has really allowed me to record track over track, and let me completely abandon myself to the creative process. It was fun. I wasn't pressured in any way and wrote or improvised when I felt it.”

Read the full story here!

Some fun new Doug MacLeod videos:

New Upcoming RR Release - Brasileiro Soul

2011-09-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce our latest CD release, Reinaldo Brahn's Brasileiro Soul featuring Jim Brock, percussion

Alma de atriz (Soul of an Actress)
A Procura da Razão (Search for a Reason)
Paisagem Ancorada (Anchored Landscape)
Põe o pé na estrada (Sincere Love)
Onde Está (Where is It?)
As lagrimas Consolam (Tears Console)
Anjo de Julho (Angel of July)
So Nos Dois (Two of Us)
Toda Mulher (Every Woman)
Tarde (Dusk)
Out of the Blue
Wondering
No Colla da Serra (In the Lap of the Mountain)
Tempo (Time)

Reinaldo Brahn, vocals & acoustic guitar; Jim Brock, percussion
Tim Gordon, winds; Steve Kim, electric bass; Al Sergel, drums
Mark Stallings, keyboards; Dustin Hofsess, electric guitar Jon Thornton, trumpet/flugelhorn

Joel Fan brings in raves from the Danbury Concert Association

2011-09-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

The Danbury Concert Association, a presenting organization in Connecticut, kicked off their season last weekend by featuring Reference Recordings artist Joel Fan. Joel continues to bring in grand reviews and perform works outside of the usual concert repertoire.

From newstimes.com:
by Gilbert Mott

"Fan is a personable performer who speaks casually before many of his pieces, introducing the music and giving hints of what to listen for.

The Iranian composer Dia Succari's "La Nuit du Destin (The Night of Destiny)" led off in a mystical, dreamy mood...The main theme is fractured into a different guise as it starts up again. Much is left to the pianist in this improvisational work, and Fan gave structure and coherence to its mysteries.

Fan described Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 5 as an "orgy" of mysticism. His big technique proved to be up to its demands (the great pianist Sviatoslov Richter said it was one of the hardest pieces ever written), as he caught both the roiling drama and the far-off quality of the softer passages. The rhapsodic climax was stirring and convincing.

From that same year came Leon Kirchner's last piece, Sonata No. 3, "The Forbidden." Fan had been Kirchner's student at Harvard and commissioned the sonata from him. It is full of turbulence, always edging forward, rarely at rest, and the student expressed his teacher's intentions admirably."

Read the full review on NewsTimes.com

Purchase Joel Fan's RR albums securely on ReferenceRecordings.com

-----------------------

And don't forget that our End of Summer Sale ends TOMORROW, so make sure to check out ReferenceRecordings.com to get in on the savings!

Gramophone Reviews Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss

2011-09-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

The North American publication of Gramophone's October 2011 issue features a wonderful review of our Concord Chamber Music Society release of works by Brubeck, Gandolfi, and Foss. We'll excerpt some quotes for you here, and you can find the full review in the October issue of Gramophone Magazine.

Nuanced and authoritative playing of intense new chamber works:

On Danza del soul:

...The first movement of Chris Brubeck's Danza del soul opens with a tuneful unaccompanied clarinet solo. A violin rejoinder sneaks in from offstage and gradually comes into focus, while the cellist and double-bass player similarly enter. When the percussion kicks in, you hear fluid, witty and jazzy counterpoint not unlike the kind that made the composer's father Dave's early 1950s octet famous...

On Line Drawings:

...I especially enjoyed the first section's gentle kaleidoscopic canonic interplay and the third's scampering dotted rhythms that assiduously pass back and forth from instrument to instrument...

...The Concord Chamber Music Society members play all three works with tremendous style and authority, abetted by gorgeously spacious and clean engineering.

In short, this disc is highly recommended to those seeking new chamber works that are accessible, clear and consistently interesting. - Jed Distler, Gramophone

Read the full review in the October issue of Gramophone Magazine.

Purchase Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss securely on http://referencerecordings.com

-----------------------
And don't forget that our End of Summer Sale ends THIS FRIDAY, so make sure to check out ReferenceRecordings.com to get in on the savings!

Reference Recordings featured in TechnoFile

2011-09-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

TechnoFile.com

It was quite the pleasure to find Jim Bray's article featuring Reference Recordings on TechnoFile.com this weekend. So we thought it would be fun to share some of the great quotes from it with you here on our blog. Though, we highly suggest reading the full article as we suspect many of you will have similar feelings and ideas about audio quality as Mr. Bray.

Reference Recordings Offer Quality Sound for Audiophiles:
By Jim Bray

"Fortunately, there's hope for audiophiles, via some smaller companies who still take sound quality seriously...Which brings me to Reference Recordings, a company I discovered only recently and whose name pretty sell sums up its raison d'être. Reference Recordings has actually been going strong for years and claims to believe that how a recording sounds is as important as the music itself – something with which I would tend to agree.

Heck, thanks to Reference Records, 2L and others, I've found myself listening to music I wouldn't necessarily sit down with, only because the audio quality is so glorious I had to bathe in its excellence. And because of that, I've found some really great music as well.

It doesn't hurt that part of my job is reviewing audio equipment and to do that properly it's best to have excellent, er, reference recordings. Since I'm always on the prowl for new excellence in audio reproduction, when Reference Recordings introduced themselves to me my interest was piqued immediately.

The company's chief engineer and technical director is "Prof." Keith O. Johnson, who the company says designed and patented many innovative products in both the professional and consumer audio fields. He's apparently responsible for Reference Recordings' sound, the goal being to "Recreate the sound of real musicians making music in real space."

That's the Holy Grail of all high end audio: making you feel as if you're there, where and when the music is performed. Surround sound – whether it be from digital files, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD's (SACD), Blu-ray or whatever, can help this because the extra channels can surround you with music, or just with the ambience of the original venue, whether it be a live performance or "live in studio."

And when they pull it off, it's glorious.

Reference Recordings, at least the three samples to which I've listened, has definitely pulled it off."

And that is really, just a taste of what is in this wonderful profile. We highly, highly, suggest you read the entire article on TechnoFile.com!

Remember that through Friday, you can 20% off your entire order when you buy from http://referencerecordings.com

José Serebrier Nominated for a Latin Grammy

2011-09-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Conductor and composer José Serebrier has been nominated for a 2011 Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Album by The Latin Recording Academy. José Serebrier has conducted three Reference Recordings releases, and we want to celebrate this fabulous recognition!

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade and Russian Easter Overture
LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
José Serebrier
A protege of Dorati and Stokowski, Serebrier is famous for his mastery of the colorful, virtuoso scores of the Russian Romantics. This is his first recording of the ultimate orchestral showpiece, Scheherazade. "...much of the playing here is possessed. The performances flow with life and dramatic poetry. The big moments are spectacularly caught." --Rob Barnett, Classical Music on the Web

RR-89 HDCD $16.98
REVIEWS
Purchase Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

JANÁCEK
José Serebrier
Czech State Philharmonic, Brno
Janácek's home-town orchestra gives brilliant, authentic performances of Janácek's best-known orchestral works, including the Sinfonietta. Also, the world premiere of a new suite from his opera The Makropulos Case, prepared by Maestro Serebrier especially for this recording!
REVIEWS
RR-2103 HDCD -- $16.98
Two CDs for the price of one!
Purchase Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

CHADWICK
José Serebrier
Czech State Philharmonic, Brno
These celebrated HDCD recordings were greeted with critical raves when first released. American Romantic George Chadwick wrote music full of orchestral color and wide dynamic range. The Symphonic Sketches have long been an audiophile favorite, but have been sorely in need of a new, top-quality recording. Aphrodite, Tam O‘Shanter, Melpomene and the other works have equally appealing qualities.

RR-2104 HDCD -- $16.98
Two CDs for the price of one!
Purchase Securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

Don't Forget about the RR End of Summer Sale! Only One Week Left:

t is becoming an end-of-summer tradition:
RR is having a SALE! Buy two or more items and SAVE 20%!
EVERYTHING on our site is eligible* -
The More You Order - The More You Save!
*(sale does not include items or sets that already have special pricing)
Sale ends the first day of autumn, September 23, at NOON Pacific Daylight Time.

Brand New Eyes Nominated for CBA "Muddy" Award

2011-09-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Doug MacLeod's Fresh! From Reference Recordings release Brand New Eyes has been nominated for a "Muddy" Award from the Cascade Blues Association as the best National Blues Recording of 2011.

About the Muddy Awards:

Named in honor of one of blues music's most influential forces —McKinley Morganfield, or Muddy Waters— the Cascade Blues Association's annual Muddy Awards Celebration honors local, regional, national and international stars of the blues.

Every September, the Cascade Blues Association solicits award nominations from the CBA Membership. The top three nominations in each category are used to form the official Muddys Ballots. In October, the ballots are mailed out to the CBA Membership. The votes are tabulated in time for the November General Meeting, where the winners are announced. Over 1,000 CBA members participate in the Muddy Awards process, making it one of the most prestigious blues awards in the world.

Nominees for National Recording Muddy Award:

Buddy Guy - Living Proof
Doug MacLeod - Brand New Eyes
Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues

Brand New Eyes
Doug Macleod
FRESH! FROM REFERENCE RECORDINGS
FR-703
Make sure to check out eleven original songs by Doug MacLeod recorded at Pacifica Studios and mastered by Grammy® winner, Keith O. Johnson.

Track Listing: Brand New Eyes, Something Dark is Walking, The Train of Change, Midnight in Memphis, Zu-Zu Woman, One Eyed Owl, Somewhere South of Somewhere (instrumental), I Rolled a Nickel, The Nature of the Man. Some Old Blues Song (aka I Can Count on My Blues). Welcome In Your Home

Visit Doug MacLeod's website: http://doug-macleod.com

Audiophile Audition Reviews Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss

2011-09-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Audiophile Audition's Lee Passarella published a wonderful review of the Concord Chamber Music Society's release of music from Chris Brubeck, Michael Gandolfi, and Lukas Foss. We'll share some quotes centering on each composer, but we encourage you to read the review on AudAud.com.

From Audiophile Audition:

"...Musically, the entrance of the players one by one gives the piece a nice, improvisatory feel, like a jam session coming together in an especially ad hoc manner. It’s attractive, and it’s fun...The fusion of jazz and classical music often falls flat, but here the two musical disciplines feed off of and energize each other..."

"...Michael Gandolfi’s Line Drawings takes its inspiration from the drawings of Picasso. Gandolfi explains, “None of my pieces is tethered to a precise Picasso drawing but they are written in the spirit of the Picasso works: concise, clear, written with a sense of immediacy and sureness of ‘stroke,’ light and ‘airy.’” This translates into five movements that have some of the simplicity and repetitiveness of minimalism and, in the faster pieces, some of the restless, jumpy energy of Gandolfi’s one-time teacher, Oliver Knussen..."

"As the title wittily implies, it’s a sophisticated take on the country dance known as a reel...Violinist Wendy Putnam shows she’s as comfortable with bluegrass fiddling as she is with jazz riffs. Pianist Vytas Baksys is with her all the way, bounding up and down the keyboard like the proverbial kitten on the keys.

All of the Concord Chamber Music Society players seem to be having a great time with these lively, intelligent pieces, and as a result, I had a lot of fun listening. The wonderfully realistic sound from Reference Recordings makes for smooth listening too."

Read the full review on AudAud.com

And don't forget to purchase securely from ReferenceRecordings.com before September 23rd to save 20% when you purchase one other item!

End of Summer Sale Reminder

2011-09-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder that you still have Two Weeks Left to take advantage of our End of Summer Sale!

End of Summer Sale!

It is becoming an end-of-summer tradition — we're having a SALE! Buy two or more items and save 20% on your entire order! EVERYTHING on our site is eligible* and the more you order, the more you save!

Sale ends on the first day of autumn, September 23rd at NOON Pacific Daylight Time!

For other news and to order securely online, visit RR's website

Sale includes our new releases and new format releases (except for the Mastercuts LP Series):

RR's NEWEST CD RELEASE:
(RR-123)

MIKE GARSON
The Bowie Variations
...is a magical jazz piano tribute to David Bowie and is getting great press! "...each and every track is surprising, involving, and just superb...and what a recording it is! This HDCD-encoded disc is perhaps the best-sounding piano disc I have ever encountered...If you're a Bowie fan, you should hear this disc. If you're a fan of jazz you should, too. And even if you just want to hear just how good a CD can sound, with a disc able to push your system to its limits, this is one you should have." --Andrew Everard, What Hi-Fi - complete review

Order RR-123 securely online

Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss
Concord Chamber Music Society

RR-122

“It gives me great pride to announce the release of the Concord Chamber Music Society’s first recording project. It was an exhilarating experience to play in Mechanics Hall, collaborate with Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, and work with the exceptional Reference Recordings team.” –Wendy Putnam, CCMS founder.

These new works by Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, two of America’s most-commissioned composers, are both accessible and adventurous. Grammy award winning engineer “Prof.” Keith Johnson did an outstanding job of recording this music in the superb natural acoustics of Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts, an historic 19th-century landmark. Johnson’s approach exemplifies the label’s pursuit of the absolute sound: capturing special music in outstanding spaces.

Order RR-122 securely online

New HRx Titles!

Concord Chamber Music Society:
Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss
HR-122
These new works by Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, two of America's most-commissioned composers, are both accessible and adventurous. Grammy award winning engineer "Prof." Keith Johnson did an outstanding job of recording this music in the superb natural acoustics of Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts, an historic 19th-century landmark.

Nojima Plays Liszt
A true gem from the RR catalog!
HR-25
The CD of this title was named "Best Recording of the Month" by Stereo Review when it was released in 1988. It was described as "A stunning demonstration of technique put at the service of profoundly musical ends." Minoru Nojima remains one of Japan's most internationally respected pianists.

Order HR-122 and HR-25 - securely online

A fun look back

2011-09-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

We've shared this interview before, but with our new LP releases, it's rather fun to once again take a look back at the fantastic interview between our Tam Henderson and Stereophile's John Atkinson. The 1989 interview focuses a lot on RR's move from LP to CD, so it makes for a rather interesting reference as we begin releasing LPs again. Take another look, or a first look if you haven't yet read it, and pay attention especially to Page Three.

Click here to read (or re-read) the 1989 interview between Tam Henderson and John Atkinson.

Reference Recordings LPs:
The Reference Mastercuts Series

For many years, RR has been searching the world over for the best possible vinyl mastering, plating and pressing facilities so we could re-enter the LP market. We now have a production chain that will allow us to produce LPs to meet our high standards and satisfy our demanding customers, who have been waiting for these LPs for a long time!

Purchase Securely from Reference Recordings!

Reference Recording LPs: The Reference Mastercuts Series

2011-09-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

LP Release Day!

Reference Recordings LPs: The Reference Mastercuts Series

RM-2501 Dick Hyman From The Age of Swing
2 LP set, 45 rpm, 200-gram discs from Quality Record Pressings, in gatefold jacket

"Jazz piano master Dick Hyman, with some of the greatest jazzmen who lived and played through The Age of Swing: Phil Bodner, Urbie Green, Milt Hinton, Butch Miles, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Temperly, Frank Wess and Joe Wilder." 4.5 Stars - Downbeat

A longtime student of jazz piano history, Dick Hyman has previously recorded the works of Eubie Blake, Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and other early jazz pianists. His interests extend to other areas as well, and in a varied career he continues to be a composer, conductor, arranger and organist.

Some of the greatest jazzmen who lived and played through the Swing Era have been brought together once again, perhaps for the last time. Dick Hyman arranged groups of four, five and seven, and Prof. Keith Johnson recorded them in a concert hall with great acoustics. Everyone loved the chance to play together just like the good old days, to listen and balance naturally.

Side One: From The Age Of Swing; You're Driving Me Crazy / Moten Swing; Topsy; Side Two: Dooji Wooji; Them There Eyes; Moonglow; Side Three: Soft Winds; 'Deed I Do; What Is There To Say?; Side Four: I Know What You Do; Rose Room; Mean To Me; I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

Order RM-2501 - Dick Hyman - From the Age of Swing - $49.98--LPs are NOT part of our sale.

RM-1502 Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite/The Song of the Nightingale
Single 331/3 rpm LP, 200-gram disc from Quality Record Pressings, in gatefold jacket

First time ever on LP! Performed by the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Eiji Oue. The compact disc was a 1997 Grammy nominee for "Best Engineered, Classical."

"There is no finer orchestral playing among American orchestras...Bravissimos are due to all concerned...a triumph of artistry, both musical and technical." - Heuwell Tircuit, InTune magazine

The world-renowned Minnesota Orchesta in its first recordings with its dynamic music director! Eiji Oue, a protege of Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein, has set the entire Twin Cities area on fire with his eciting and masterful interpretations.

Side One: The Firebird Suite 1919 - Side Two: The Song of the Nightingale

Order RM-1502 - Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite/The Song of the Nightingale - $34.98--LPs are NOT part of our sale.

Stereophile gets excited about our LPs

2011-08-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Stereophile for the great writeup!

We're getting pretty excited about our LPs coming out on Friday, but it's great to see that others are too! We've seen the excitement on Facebook and Twitter, and so we wanted to share some of the great inside information that Stereophile was able to get out of the RR team.

From Sterophile:

In 2005, when RR became aware of the vinyl resurgence, they searched throughout North America, Europe and Japan for optimal facilities for half-speed mastering and pressing. Nothing that met their stringent quality requirements and allowed for competitive pricing could be found. Instead, mastering engineer Paul Stubblebine agreed to take his lathe system out of storage, worked with Keith O. Johnson to get it up and running, and paired it with custom electronics by Nelson Pass. The mastering apparatus uses no compression or equalization, and minimizes obstacles in the signal path.

Then the RR team heard about a new source for 200-gram pressings, Chad Kassem's Quality Record Pressings (QRP) facility in Salina, Kansas, which was profiled by Micahel Fremer in the August issue of Stereophile. "The test pressings have been very, very good," says Martin.

"We expect to begin issuing two releases at a time as soon as we can," says Henderson. "Some will be 331/3rpm, others 45, depending upon the length of the program and what can fit on a single side. At this point, our plan is to master everything at half-speed because of the advantages of that technique." One special feature of all new RR vinyl, advocated by Henderson, is the "FDS" finish. At the end of each side, a 30-second band of silent grooves has been inserted to allow listeners to lift tonearms before the infernal noisy tie-off rudely interrupts their reverie. Previously featured on select 1950s vintage Capitol Full Dimension Sound pressings, RR's FDS finish is bound to receive special praise from audiophiles whose turntables are located on the other side of the room, and who hate rushing across the floor to try to head off the sonic assault.

Make sure to read the full profile on Stereophile.com to get all sorts of great information, including what our next two LPs will be!

Reference Records LPs Are Ready!

2011-08-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

Reference Recordings LPs:
The Reference Mastercuts Series

TWO NEW RELEASES September 2, 2011

For many years, RR has been searching the world over for the best possible vinyl mastering, plating and pressing facilities so we could re-enter the LP market. We now have a production chain that will allow us to produce LPs to meet our high standards and satisfy our demanding customers, who have been waiting for these LPs for a long time!

Assembling the Team:

Disc mastering is done at half-speed (see note further in this press release) to insure maximum accuracy. The lathe system has custom electronics by Nelson Pass. The simple signal path contains no compression, equalization or unnecessary circuitry. RR Chief Engineer and Technical Director, "Prof." Keith Johnson consulted on the design of the system and helped with the rebuilding of the lathe and electronics, which is owned and operated by long-time mastering expert Paul Stubblebine. "Prof." Johnson has pronounced it equal to the challenge of our master tapes!

Once we achieved successful results in disc mastering, we faced the difficult task of choosing the best plating and pressing facility to manufacture our discs. Fortunately, the new Quality Record Pressings plant in Salina, Kansas was coming on line, and we feel that waiting for this plant to open was well worth it. Chad Kassem assembled a crack team of experts to design and run his new plant, employing many unique techniques and features that clearly set QRP apart from all other pressing plants. We believe the 200-gram deluxe vinyl pressings from QRP are truly exceptional.

Multiple Configurations for New Reference Mastercuts:

Depending on program lengths, some new releases will be cut at 45 rpm, some at 33-1/3 rpm. Some will be single discs, some double. All will feature deluxe gate-fold jackets crafted by Stoughton Printing

An unusual feature of new RR masterings is what we call the "FDS finish": the end of each side will have a 30-second band of silent grooves before the "pull-away." No one today uses a record changer, and the silent grooves allow time to lift the arm before the always-somewhat-noisy tie-off. (Some 1950s vintage Capitol Full Dimensional Sound pressings sported this feature.) RR founder, J. Tamblyn (Tam) Henderson deserves special recognition for identifying the value of this unique production feature and reintroducing it with the new Mastercuts.

Two New HRx Titles!

2011-08-26T06:12:00.000-07:00

HR-122 & HR-25 Now Available!

Two of our best recordings are now available for the first time on 174.6 kHz/24 bit DVD data discs!

Concord Chamber Music Society:
Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss
HR-122
These new works by Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, two of America's most-commissioned composers, are both accessible and adventurous. Grammy award winning engineer "Prof." Keith Johnson did an outstanding job of recording this music in the superb natural acoustics of Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts, an historic 19th-century landmark.

Nojima Plays Liszt
A true gem from the RR catalog!
HR-25
The CD of this title was named "Best Recording of the Month" by Stereo Review when it was released in 1988. It was described as "A stunning demonstration of technique put at the service of profoundly musical ends." Minoru Nojima remains one of Japan's most internationally respected pianists.

Order HR-122 and HR-25 - securely online

NOTE: HRx titles are 176.4 kHz /24 bit DVD-R Data Discs containing WAV audio files. They have amazing sound, identical to our master recordings when played back properly! We now have 19 HRx titles available on our website - Save $9.00 each during our sale!

For more technical information and to order, click here.

End of Summer Sale!

2011-08-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

End of Summer Sale!

It is becoming an end-of-summer tradition — we're having a SALE! Buy two or more items and save 20% on your entire order! EVERYTHING on our site is eligible* and the more you order, the more you save!

Sale ends on the first day of autumn, September 23rd at NOON Pacific Daylight Time!

For other news and to order securely online, visit RR's website

*sale does not include sets that already have special pricing

Kris Becker raves about "The Bowie Variations"

2011-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Composer/Songrwiter/Keyboardist Kris Becker, weighs in on Mike Garson's The Bowie Variations via email (used with permission):

Mike,

I've been listening to your BOWIE VARIATIONS over time, in order to soak it in. Loved it upon first hearing but wanted to get on the inside of it a bit more.

My favorites are hard to pick, since it's all so great...
Space Oddity: extremely beautiful. Wow. Very very heartfelt and sophisticated. I could go on in detail, but just know that at every turn your harmonic flavors and touch were marvelously unexpected and satisfying. One of the best reinterpretations of a piece of music I've ever heard. This is a huge winner.

John, I'm Only Dancing: this song is one of my new favorites from the Bowie catalog. I love the swing treatment you gave it. Perfect choice.

Life On Mars: great use of range and arpeggiation. Wonderful harmonic voice-leading moments. Appropriate ending!

Heroes: That sparkling figuration makes me smile. Very much enjoyed that. Again, great taste.

Ashes to Ashes: beautiful.

Changes: Marvelous textures. You have strong variation technique.

Let's Dance: lends itself well to a piano-only treatment. Wisely chosen and done. Crazy licks!

Trilogy of songs: your use of multi-layered pianos is something I've not heard done much before, if at all. Love it. Great effect and content. You're probably enjoying elaborating on DISCO KING, since that song in the first place rests so much upon your shoulders.

Tribute: again, beautiful. As you shared it with me pre-release.

Wind: great atmosphere. Your two-hand licks are incredible.

Kris Becker

All in all, I love many things about your creativity in this project. One that stands out to me in addition to all the melodic/rhythmic/harmonic/textural things is your arrangement. You often chose an alternate part of the song to begin with (such as a chorus) instead of the literal beginning. Or focus on a specific section of a song altogether. Expert.

Thanks for giving this great idea to the world, Mike! I love it.

Best,
Kris

First off, we have to thank Kris Becker for allowing us to post these kind sentiments. Make sure to stop by his website - http://krisbeckermusic.com.

Order RR-123 securely from Reference Recordings!

Chris Brubeck on Composers Datebook

2011-08-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Chris Brubeck and his piece Danza del Soul, found on our Concord Chamber Music Society release, was featured on American Public Media's program "Composers Datebook." Take a listen:

Composers Datebook (8/20): Chris Brubeck's Danza del soul

WRUV Radio Reviews Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss

2011-08-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a quick review from the Burlington, Vermont radio station WRUV. You'll notice the part that made us smile at the very end.

Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss
Concord Chamber Music Society
review by Laima

"Varied and interesting works by Chris Brubeck (son of Dave), Lukas Foss and Michael Gandolfi. Brubeck’s pieces are jazz inflected, Foss’ as the title suggests (Central Park Reel) is bluegrassy, and Gandolfi’s are abstract and lyrical. Play all!"

Brubeck, Gandolfi and Foss
RR-122

The prestigious Concord Chamber Music Society, featuring musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, mark their debut on Reference Recordings with two premiere recordings. These new works by Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, two of America's most-commissioned composers, are both accessible and adventurous. Rounding out the program, the Lukas Foss duo for violin and piano, Central Park Reel, hints cheerfully at a kind of musical twin bill. "Central Park" suggests a scene in New York but "Reel" hints at a characteristic dance often accompanied by a bluegrass band. Grammy award winning engineer "Prof." Keith Johnson did an outstanding job of recording this music in the superb natural acoustics of Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Purchase direct from ReferenceRecordings.com!

Also, make sure and check out the new Concord Chamber Music Society website!

Doug MacLeod performs "Brand New Eyes"

2011-08-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

When we came across this video of Doug Macleod performing for a memorial picnic sponsored by the Baltimore Blues Society, we just couldn't resist sharing. It was a small outdoor crowd, but judging by this one song, they got a heck of a show:

Recording Sessions Video

2011-08-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

As promised, we have a behind-the-scenes video from the the Dallas Wind Symphony recording sessions. We hope you enjoy it (and please remember that you're hearing the audio as it was picked up from a digital camera's microphone after coming through the monitor speakers).

Dallas Wind Symphony Recording Sessions Day 2

2011-08-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

The second day of the recording sessions went fantastically and were filled with great musical moments, fun, and a lot of hard work on the part of the RR staff, the DWS staff, and of course the DWS musicians.

Here's a look behind the scenes of today's sessions:

Getting ready for the next session

Where the magic happens

RR fans should recognize the logo on this...

HDCD

Getting ready to start again

Warm-up time!

Jerry Junkin takes the stage

Ready to make music

The Dallas Wind Symphony

Closeup of the musicians

The best seat in the house

Keith O. Johnson at the controls

Kim Campbell looking over the producer's shoulders

Quittin time

We've called it a day, back for more tomorrow

Backstage after the session

Comparing notes

Sean Martin having a deserved rest after a long day of recording

We have some videos for you that we should have up tomorrow. We hope you've enjoyed coming behind the scenes!

Day One of Dallas Wind Symphony Recording Sessions

2011-08-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Day one of the Dallas Wind Symphony recordings went extremely well, and as promised, we've got a look behind the scenes for you.

The musicians warming up along with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band

Just about to start

Resetting the Stage

A look at the Meyerson

The famous organ of the Meyerson

Keith changing the stage

Backstage with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band

RR Team hard at work

Jerry Junkin and Tam Henderson after the day's session

Kim Campbell and the RR team listening to the last session of the day

The RR Crew (left to right: Sean Martin, Keith O. Johnson, Tam Henderson)

More coming tomorrow!

Dallas Wind Symphony Recording Sessions

2011-08-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

If you're not dialed into all of RR's social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, this blog) already, now's the time. We are in Dallas, Texas today through the weekend for recording sessions with the Dallas Wind Symphony, and we're going to be taking you with us behind the scenes! We'll be doing some live tweeting during the recordings (follow us and the hashtag #RRdws11), and posting pictures and information on the blog and Facebook Page. And we even hope to get some videos for our YouTube Channel.

So bookmark the sites, and come (virtually) into the Meyerson Symphony Center with us for some fun behind the recordings! And if this doesn't get you excited, then maybe you should refresh your memory by looking and listening back through some of these:

Independent Ethos' 5 Part Interview With Mike Garson

2011-08-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

The blog Independent Ethos posted a new interview with Mike Garson about his latest RR release "The Bowie Variations" last month. Now, the author has published a previously-archived thoroughly entertaining, five-part interview from 2004. So today we are happy to share all five parts with you!

From Independent Ethos:

"It all began at the start of this month with an exclusive interview with Mike Garson talking about his new solo album, the David Bowie Variations for Piano (Mike Garson talks about ‘David Bowie Variations’: an Indie Ethos exclusive). Bowie’s stalwart keyboardist since 1972, Garson is up there with some of the more creative collaborators Bowie has worked with. As I noted in earlier posts of this series, I had the privilege of talking with Garson back in 2004, backstage at what would have been Bowie’s tour stop in Miami for the Reality tour.

The publication of the story in the pages of the record collector’s magazine “Goldmine” hinged on whether I could get some exclusive quotes from Bowie. As detailed in earlier posts in this series, it was not to be, and the story languished until Bowie quietly slipped away in an unannounced form for retirement.

Out of the blue, in May or so, I dropped Garson an email to see what we could do with this interview. He told me about the upcoming release of his solo record (Garson will sign a copy of the CD for anyone that orders directly from his website). We spoke again some more, and I resurrected my 2004, which totaled about two hours of talking. Here are the last tidbits of our conversations, from 2004:"

Mike Garson Demonstrates the Yamaha Disklavier

2011-08-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Mike Garson helped to launch Yamaha's Disklavier Pro earlier this week in LA and Fort Wayne, Indiana simultaneously. How did he do it? Take a look:

Read the extensive news coverage:

"Playing a piano from 2,000 miles away" - The Orange County Register
"Sweetwater retail expands, gains Yamaha inventory" - Fort Wayne Daily News
"Sweetwater Sound Expands To Include Yamaha Pianos" - IndianaNewsCenter.com
"Sweetwater strikes new chord" - The Journal Gazette

What Hi-Fi? Publishes a RAVE review of The Bowie Variations

2011-08-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Andrew Everard published a simply outstanding review of our latest release "The Bowie Variations" on WhatHiFi.com yesterday. The review is incredibly thorough and paints a wonderful picture of Mike Garson's history with David Bowie (including some insight into how he got the gig). We'll give you some quotes from it here, but we can not encourage you enough to read this fantastically entertaining review on WhatHifi.com.

Excerpts from "Spiders, the Disklavier and Aladdin Sane - Mike Garson's Bowie Variations":
By Andrew Everard

"So, The Bowie Variations, then: a series of short piano works based on tracks such as Space Oddity, Life on Mars, John, I'm Only Dancing, Ashes to Ashes and, of course, variations on the song that started it all, Changes. And each and every track is surprising, involving, and just superb."

"The music was recorded at the Oxnard Centre for the Performing Arts in California, which Reference Recordings has used several times in the past – and what a recording it is!

In the hands of engineer 'Prof' Keith O Johnson (left), Reference Recordings' chief engineer and technical director and fresh from his success in the most recent Grammy Awards, this HDCD-encoded disc is perhaps the best-sounding piano disc I have ever encountered."

"I've only ever really heard a piano sound much better than this once, and that was when I sat up close and personal at a very small, intimate recital given in the Bosendorfer Hall in Vienna last year, after a day spent touring the company's piano factory.

Yes, this recording is that good.

If you're a Bowie fan, you should hear this disc. If you're a fan of jazz you should, too.

And even if you just want to hear just how good a CD can sound, with a disc able to push your system to its limits, this is one you should have."

Read the full review by Andrew Everard on WhatHiFi.com!

Purchase securely from ReferenceRecordings.com

Allmusic review of Brubeck/Gandolfi/Foss

2011-08-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

Allmusic.com has published a review of the new Concord Chamber Music Society release. We had a quote we just had to share, but encourage you to read the full review on Allmusic.com.

From Allmusic:
By James Manheim

"Here's an attractive trio of contemporary American chamber works, straightforward that make use of tonality in various guises, as well as jazz and other vernacular influences, but explore both novel concepts and rigorous formal devices and could not in any way be called crossover pieces... [Central Park Reel] is a sparkling finale to an enjoyable program."

Click here for the full review.

Brubeck, Gandolfi and Foss
RR-122

The prestigious Concord Chamber Music Society, featuring musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, mark their debut on Reference Recordings with two premiere recordings. These new works by Chris Brubeck and Michael Gandolfi, two of America's most-commissioned composers, are both accessible and adventurous. Rounding out the program, the Lukas Foss duo for violin and piano, Central Park Reel, hints cheerfully at a kind of musical twin bill. "Central Park" suggests a scene in New York but "Reel" hints at a characteristic dance often accompanied by a bluegrass band. Grammy award winning engineer "Prof." Keith Johnson did an outstanding job of recording this music in the superb natural acoustics of Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Purchase direct from ReferenceRecordings.com!

Amazon Review of Concord Chamber Music Society Release

2011-07-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

We had a customer review on Amazon.com for the Concord Chamber Music release that had some great parts we just had to share!

From "Dingane":

"I will start this off by saying please read the accompanying booklet. It provides insight into the Concord Chamber Music Society and the composers Brubeck, Gandolfi, and Foss. Additionally the back cover picture has a stunning picture of the Mechanics Hall venue. I would love to have a 16x20 of that. The acoustical charter of Mechanics Hall gave RR the perfect soundstage to do their typical sonic magic show. The small ensemble has been superbly recorded in precise detail. My favorite from this CD is Gandolfi's A Farewell To Old Friends. You don't have to concentrate to hear the unique clarinet offering."