Gil Shaham - Coleridge-Taylor, Dvorak, Stewart - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Performing three concertos written specifically for him, renowned violinist Gil Shaham is joined by acclaimed conductor Leon Botstein and The Orchestra Now (TON), Bard College's graduate orchestral masters. Scott Wheeler's InchBirds of AmericaInch (Violin Concerto No.2) was premiered by Shaham, Botstein, and TON at the Fisher Center at Bard and Carnegie Hall in 2021. The birds making appearances in the concerto include a hawk, a whippoorwill, loons, a mourning dove, and a downy woodpecker. Winner of the 2018 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music, Avner Dorman's InchNigunimInch (Violin Concerto No.2) was originally commissioned as Sonata No.3 for violin and piano by New York's 92nd Street Y, Gil, and his sister, pianist Orli Shaham. Gil premiered the orchestrated version that appears on this album with CityMusic Cleveland, conducted by Dorman, in 2014. The main melodic gestures of the piece are drawn from common elements found in Jewish music from around the world. Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng's violin concerto InchLet FlyInch had it's premiere in 2013 with Shaham and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, led by legendary conductor Leonard Slatkin. The title of the work was inspired by an aural image of the violin melody flying off into the air.

Limited edition of 750 numbered copies on flame coloured 180-gram audiophile vinyl. Sunfire was a Soul/Funk trio from New York. (Raymond Calhoun, Reggie Lucas, Rowland Smith). They are best remembered for InchYoung, Free and SingleInch which was written by Rowland Smith and the record was produced by Reggie Lucas. Reggie began his career as a guitarist in the 1970s, and played with several well-known musicians, including Miles Davis, Carlos Santana and Roberta Flack. He worked with Flack on the Grammy-winning InchKilling Me SoftlyInch, which Lucas co-wrote. He also co-wrote and produced hits for other artists such as InchNever Knew Love Like This BeforeInch by Stephanie Mills and InchBorderlineInch by Madonna. In 1978 he formed Mtume together with James Mtume and In the 1980s Lucas formed the group Sunfire. Recorded a year before Reggie Lucas' contribution to Madonna's debut LP, Reggie put together this album. The standouts tracks InchStep in the LightInch, InchFeetInch, InchYoung, Free, & SingleInch and InchKeep rocking my loveInch. 80's Boogie Disco Electro Funk to the max!

Gil Shaham - Violin Concertos / Octet [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/30/2010