Came across an interesting article from the magazine of my Alma Mater University of Texas about a violin competition held there in Austin back in Feb.
Part of the competition was to play an original piece by UT faculty member Don Grantham, commissioned for the 2014 competition. Each semifinalist performed the tune as part of their repertoire, having received the sheet music just four weeks ahead of the premiere.
Stephen Waarts, the eventual winner, was the first one appeared on the video. The video editor did a good job piecing all these different performances together! I went to a concert in Palo Alto that featured Stephen Waarts as the soloist a few years ago and was already very impressed by his techniques.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Netscape was borned 20 years ago today
Do you still remember people suggesting you to install and use the brand new Netscape browser instead of the "good old" Mosaic 20 years ago? For me, it's probably one of my professors or fellow grad students at UWisc. If I remember correctly, one of my friend actually bought Netscape as boxed software in the late 90s. Those were the days.
Music critics favoritism
I certainly enjoy reading reviews from magazines like Downbeat or web sites like AllAboutJazz. I guess I am old school because these are the main ways I found out about new music in addition to the radio. I had an interesting observation from the October issue of Downbeat, in which Latin jazz master Paquito D'Rivera's "Jazz Meets the Classics" and Andreas Varady's self-titled album are both reviewed.
Every month Downbeat highlights 4 new releases in its review section called "the Hot Box." These albums get 3 additional short reviews in addition to the main review. D'Rivera's got 4 stars from the main one but also a 2 and a 2.5 because one reviewer thought it's unnecessary to emphasize the fusion of jazz and classical music (which D'Rivera did successfully and better than other well-known players like Jacques Loussier, who is the Bach-Jazz specialist, IMO) while the other thought the arrangement is too busy and showy (which I totally don't mind. To me, there's nothing not to like about jazz musicians with great techniques) I just find these 2 critics a bit too harsh.
Varady's album got 3 stars (not part of "the Hot Box") I would have given 2-2.5 because it's way too commercial with strings, vocal, and borrowed "star power" from guest like Roy Hargrove. I actually think it is a step back from his earlier debut album "Questions" with producer/drummer David Lyttle. The Downbeat reviewer wrote "Clearly there is a huge talent beneath the gloss here. Here's hoping he reveals it in a more genuine sense on the next outing" I suppose the magazine is more lenient to him because he is only 17 year old.
Every month Downbeat highlights 4 new releases in its review section called "the Hot Box." These albums get 3 additional short reviews in addition to the main review. D'Rivera's got 4 stars from the main one but also a 2 and a 2.5 because one reviewer thought it's unnecessary to emphasize the fusion of jazz and classical music (which D'Rivera did successfully and better than other well-known players like Jacques Loussier, who is the Bach-Jazz specialist, IMO) while the other thought the arrangement is too busy and showy (which I totally don't mind. To me, there's nothing not to like about jazz musicians with great techniques) I just find these 2 critics a bit too harsh.
Varady's album got 3 stars (not part of "the Hot Box") I would have given 2-2.5 because it's way too commercial with strings, vocal, and borrowed "star power" from guest like Roy Hargrove. I actually think it is a step back from his earlier debut album "Questions" with producer/drummer David Lyttle. The Downbeat reviewer wrote "Clearly there is a huge talent beneath the gloss here. Here's hoping he reveals it in a more genuine sense on the next outing" I suppose the magazine is more lenient to him because he is only 17 year old.
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