Conrad Herwig - Hieroglyphica - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Thanks to it's overture The Thieving Magpie is one of Rossini's best known operas. In the19th century it was one of the composer's most performed works. And yet for decades after 1883 it was not performed. It was only in the 1930s that interest in this opera was awoken once again. Rossini's 150th birthday in 1942 led to Riccardo Zandonai, the then Director of the Music Conservatory in Pesaro, the birthplace of Rossini, taking on this opera and working on it. The editing process was essentially to shorten a very long opera and to split the content over three rather than two acts. La gazza ladra is principally a crime story. The subject matter of the opera is a robbery that supposedly actually took place in France. We might well have doubts about this because the theme of the innocent, accused, condemned and possibly executed serving girl, is so widely known that it can almost be taken for an urban myth. It is not however simply about a crime. The opera portrays specific details of pre-trial and court proceedings correctly and in exact detail. This makes the original title InchAvviso ai giu-diciInch (Judges take note) even clearer. Thanks to it's timely reference and precise libretto this opera is by far more realistic, almost naturalistic, than all the other operas from the pen of this composer.

Pollwinning trombonist Conrad Herwig and acclaimed trumpeter Brian Lynch join together for a burning program of Latin Jazz treatments of compositions by the great John Coltrane. Herwig and Lynch use the unique rapport they've achieved through their many years of association with the Latin master Eddie Palmieri to pilot their working group of Latin Jazz all-stars with fire, finesse, and flair. Their illustrious band mates are baritone saxist/flautist Mario Rivera, pianist Edsel Gomez, bassist John Benitez, drummer Robby Ameen, and percussionist Richie Flores. With all new arrangements by Herwig and Lynch, this CD is a most worthy follow-up to Herwig's Grammy nominated InchThe Latin Side of John Coltrane.Inch Album Tracks 1. Lonnie's Lament 2. Miles Mode 3. Wise One 4. Countdown 5. Central Park West 6. Grand Central 7. Straight Street 8. Locomotion

On Reflections, a co-led sextet recital comprising two charts from Russian tenor saxophonist-bandleader Igor Butman and six from trombonist Conrad Herwig. For the tenth CD that Herwig has either led or co-led for Criss Cross since 1997, he recruits trumpeter (and Criss Cross veteran) Alex Sipiagin to round out the front line, and a killer rhythm section comprising pianist David Kikoski, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Jeff InchTainInch Watts. Well-known as the leader and guiding intelligence of the Moscow State Jazz Orchestra, Butman, in a rare sideman appearance with a combo of New York A-listers, brings his A-game, improvising with heat and logic that his partners match throughout. Album Tracks 1. Falling Out 2. King of the Mountain 3. Wingspan 4. Reflections 5. Olvidame 6. Who Cares? 7. Samba de Igor 8. Big O'S Blues