... CD

In his later years, Leonard Bernstein became one of the most-respected conductors in the world of classical music – but at the start, he was working in more popular territory, mixing some of his more ambitious musical ideas with the more down-to-earth form of the music – mostly working in New York, where a series of productions really helped define the city on the rise in the postwar years! This package brings together all those important early Bernstein creations – including two different recordings of the "Fancy Free" ballet, both the songs and the ballet from "On The Town", plus the 1960 recording of the musical – plus "Wonderful Town", "West Side Story", and the "On The Waterfront" symphonic suite – as well as lots of other jazz interpretations of some of these themes – work by Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, Blossom Dearie, Billie Holiday, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, and others. (Soundtracks, Classical) CD

One of the freshest string quartets we've heard in years – a group of young musicians with roots in many different styles, coming together in a really evocative way – and with a sound that's free from any gimmicks or tricks! In the years since Kronos, there's been lots of messing with the string quartet format – to the point where it's almost a joke at times – but these guys show that there's plenty of new life to be brought to the form, without resorting to kitschy cover versions or too oft-tread territory! The music is from a great range of talents – including jazz musicians like Bill Frisell, Ethan Iverson, and Vijay Iyer – but the group's presentation is very unique, and makes a diverse array of compositions come together with a distinctly Americanist take on the format – one that is quite far from the European roots of the string quartet, but still deeply respectful of the musicianship required. Titles include "Necessary Henry", "Simpson's Gap", "Five Legged Cat", "Exit", "Morris Dance", "John Steinbeck", "Ping Pong Fumble Thaw", "Dig The Say", and "Show Me". (Out Sound, Classical) CD

Brubeck piece performed by a quintet with strings, oboe, and piano – remaining tracks feature either Dick Hyman or Roland Hanna on piano, accompanied by musicians on cello, violin, French horn, and flute. (Jazz, Classical) CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

(Out Sound, Classical) CD

A heady dip into the musical frontiers of the postwar years – a set that digs deep into avant classical, jazz, and other styles – all to come up with sounds that later provided inspiration for The Beatles, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and other landmark groups at the end of the 60s! Yet the styles here aren't rock at all – and instead showcase all these changes that had taken place long before the years of psych and prog, but in different forms of music – and even a bit of spoken word, as well – as some of these selections show just how much the recorded art form could work for unusual styles of vocal presentation. The four CDs feature a wonderful range of styles that all work together somehow – with work by Pierre Schaeffer, John Cage, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Cathy Berberian, John Coltrane, Gustav Holst, Arnold Schoenberg, Jack Kerouac, Ali Akbar Khan, The Goons, Dave Brubeck, Percy Grainger, Hilaire Belloc, Sabicas, Delia Derbyshire, and many others! CD