classical Archive
01 Jul 2019
Mike Mills’ Rock/orchestral Hybrid
Note: I’ve written a number of pieces ( links: [1] [2] [3] ) based on interviews with former R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills. Here’s another. — bk Mike Mills is best […]
29 May 2019
More Lifting Up Than Crossing Over: Soprano Superstar Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is one of the leading figures in classical vocal music today. Carefully maintaining the sophistication of the genre, Brightman has nonetheless managed to achieve superstar status; to date […]
27 Feb 2019
Frank is Sleeping: Zappa’s ‘The Yellow Shark’ at 25
By the time The Yellow Shark appeared on record store shelves in November 1993, fans knew that the end was very near for Frank Zappa. The iconoclastic composer-musician who often […]
08 Dec 2018
Album Review: Chris Lastovicka – Fortune Has Turned (Remixed)
The Book of Job, from the Old Testament (or the Ketuvim of the Tanahk, if you like) might not seem the most uplifting subject matter upon which to base a […]
03 Jul 2018
Baritone Sidney Outlaw: “Do things that reflect the times.”
Sidney Outlaw is a highly accomplished and in-demand vocalist. Born and raised in Brevard, the Grammy Award-nominated singer has more than two dozen high-profile operas to his credit, and has […]
24 Apr 2018
Tesla Quartet: Alternating Current Works and Classics
In 1945, Austrian composer Hugo Kauder’s “String Quartet 4” had its American debut at Black Mountain College, the experimental liberal arts institution that flourished from 1933 to 1957. Its faculty […]
08 Apr 2018
Hendersonville Chamber Music
Hendersonville Chamber Music got its start about 10-12 years ago; the non-profit group is an offshoot of the Swannannoa Chamber Music Festival. From the beginning, events routinely drew 75 to […]
01 Apr 2018
Hundred-word Reviews: New Releases
There’s quite a massive stack of new (or at least new-when-I got-’em) releases here at Musoscribe World HQ. Time to review them. 6-String Drag – Top of the World (Schoolkids […]
31 Mar 2018
Hundred-word Reviews: Reissues, Archival Releases, Compilations
My shelf full of albums to be reviewed has run out of space. So once again it’s time for a raft of hundred-word reviews. All sixteen titles in this roundup […]
12 Sep 2017
Album Review: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo — Mozartistic
At its best, kid-hop is a family friendly version of hip-hop, with lyrics full of universal appeal. Because while not everyone can identify with slice-of-life reality depicted in some rap […]