David Chesky, whose company has been making superior recordings for nearly 20 years now, isn't from the engineering side of the business. He's talent—a pianist who sometimes performs on his label, a composer of classical and jazz selections integral to its catalog, and an arranger as well.
<I>What is best in music is not to be found in the notes.</I>—Gustav Mahler
This week, XM Satellite Radio launches <I>Classical Confidential</I>, a series of hour-long artist profiles. Modeled after XM's <I>Artist Confidential</I> series, in which listeners can get to know high-profile artists "up close and personal," per XM, the new show's first installment features an hour with Sony BMG's favorite male violinist, the sweet-toned, extremely gifted Joshua Bell. Subsequent shows will feature the magnificent mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and conductor Leonard Slatkin.
<i>If it’s not the Avian flu, it’s the maple syrup.</i><br>
—Nina Myers, Esquire magazine<br>
***
But it’s not the cats that are killing me. It’s the commute.
Music editor, Robert Baird, comes over and asks: "How’s it going, chief?"<br>
The "chief" part I take as a compliment. This is a magazine publishing company we’re working for, after all.<br>
"Not bad," I say, while handing him the new <a href="http://www.silverjews.net/">Silver Jews</a> album I purchased last night: "Have you heard this yet? It’s pretty good."<br>
"Oh yeah," he responds, "It’s great. Did you <i>buy</i> this?"<br>
On our way home last night, at your request, we found shelter from the relentless rain near a bit of dancing fire. White candles melted into soft wings and waves and fingertips, beckoning us closer. We sat at the fun table beneath so many beaded chandeliers, and ordered the best drinks in all of Manhattan—pineapple coconut mojitos and razzle dazzles—which were far too strong, but perfect, nontheless. The older woman in the strange hat offered us one of her piggyback dates—stuffed with almonds and wrapped in bacon, sprinkled with Cabrales bleu cheese—but we, of course, declined, and decided instead to order some of our own.
Wes sends his "Hola!" from Barcelona:
Gerhard Feldmann’s Bösendorfer New York is partnering with the Jazz Foundation of America to donate the legendary "Blue Note" Bösendorfer to the JFA's inaugural auction benefit, which will be held November 16 at the B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in New York City. Auction proceeds will support JFA non-profit programs, especially working gigs and educational programs for victims of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Last week's "Vote" results indicate that readers clearly favor better-sounding recordings. But would a poorly recorded work prevent you from buying it, regardless of the performance or artist?