Tag Archives: New Focus Recordings

Andy Kozar: A Few Kites (CD Preview)

On Friday, Andy Kozar released A Few Kites, a trumpet and electronics solo album on New Focus Recordings. It features works by Paula Matthusen, Ken Ueno, Scott Worthington, Eve Beglarian, and others. A plethora of extended techniques, including deconstructing the instrument itself, are pitted against imaginative electroacoustic vistas. Recommended.  

Michael Harley – Come Closer (CD Review)

Come Closer Michael Harley, bassoon Phillip Bush, piano; Ari Streisfeld, violin, Daniel Sweaney, viola; Claire Bryant, cello New Focus Recordings A longtime member of Alarm Will Sound, now on the faculty of University of South Carolina, Michael Harley makes his monograph CD debut with Come Closer on New Focus Recordings. The program features repertoire byContinue reading “Michael Harley – Come Closer (CD Review)”

Best of 2018: Instrumental and Recital CDs

Best of 2018: Instrumental and Recital CDs Best Recital Hanging Gardens Works by Claude Debussy, Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern Jacob Greenberg, piano with Tony Arnold, soprano Rather than the customary bifurcation, Impressionism and Expressionism are related to one another on Hanging Gardens, pianist Jacob Greenberg’s loving curated, beautifully performed double CD. HeContinue reading “Best of 2018: Instrumental and Recital CDs”

Duo Stephanie & Saar: “The Art of Fugue”

I spent a year analyzing Bach’s Art of Fugue as an undergraduate, so it is fair to say that I’m passionate about the work and a bit picky about its performance. For their third New Focus CD, DUO Stephanie & Saar present the work in its entirety on piano instead of harpsichord, leaving the lastContinue reading “Duo Stephanie & Saar: “The Art of Fugue””

Mariel Roberts: “Cartography” (CD Review)

Mariel Roberts Cartography New Focus Recordings CD/DL Mariel Roberts Cartography New Focus Recordings CD/DL Cellist Mariel Roberts’ second solo album, Cartography, provides a stylistically diverse set of pieces that are all played compellingly and with earnest commitment. Eric Wubbels’ ‘gretchen am spinnrade’ has little to do with Schubert apart from taking the spinning wheel asContinue reading “Mariel Roberts: “Cartography” (CD Review)”

Wendy Richman’s vox*viola project

My dear friend and collaborator, singing violist Wendy Richman has undertaken a campaign to fund her first solo album, vox*viola. Consisting of pieces for singing violist by Lou Bunk, Christian Carey, Jason Eckardt, Stephen Gorbos, Jose-Luis Hurtado, Everette Minchew, Arlene Sierra, David Smooke, and Ken Ueno, the recording will be released via ICE’s TUNDRA imprint on New Focus Recordings.  Wendy first premieredContinue reading “Wendy Richman’s vox*viola project”

Upcoming Performances by McMurtery and Mack

Flutist John McMurtery and pianist Ashlee Mack have been two of my most dedicated advocates. They have played many of my pieces in recital, and made the first recording of “For Milton” for Perspectives of New Music/Open Space (Righteous Girls made the second for New Focus). This Fall, McMurtery and Mack will be presenting severalContinue reading “Upcoming Performances by McMurtery and Mack”

Big in Japan

I am very proud of flutist Gina Izzo and pianist Erika Dohi. Their duo, known as Righteous Girls, performs twice in Japan this week. They are presenting their Gathering Blue project, recorded on New Focus Records, at Horie Arte, 1-18-17 Kita-Horie, Osaka, Japan, on June 3rd and 5th at 7:30 PM. Gathering Blue features composers Ambrose Akinmusire, Andy Akiho, Dave Molk, Jonathan Ragonese, Pascal Le Bouef, Randy Woolf, and Vijay Iyer. Gina andContinue reading “Big in Japan”

Reiko Fueting: Names, Erased (CD Preview)

My friend and former Manhattan School of Music colleague Reiko Fueting has had a portrait CD released on New Focus Recordings. The program is very thoughtfully constructed, with chamber pieces for varying forces interspersed with solo vocal pieces from the song cycle ” …gesammeltes Schweigen.” The latter are performed with affecting poise by Nani Fueting. TheContinue reading “Reiko Fueting: Names, Erased (CD Preview)”