Jon Batiste - Black Mozart - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Many of the trios featured in this boxed set testify to the composer's new interest in the wind instrument, known instead as one of the absolute masters of the string quartet. They were either originally conceived in this way, or transcribed in his own hand, or were published for the first time in England. Could he have intended this choice to honour the particular taste shown for this instrument by London's aristocratic milieu?... This hypothesis is highly admissible the transverse flute, in fact, before the great changes in it's construction pushed it out of the catalogues of most of the great composers, had ardent followers, including King Frederick II of Prussia, himself a remarkable flautist... And while the difficulty of performance and the originality of the language of these trios may have baffled some performers of the time, they delighted instrumentalists (and composers) justly renowned for their virtuosity, such as the violinist Gavinies in France and the flutist Tromlitz and the violinist Stamitz in Germany. The music of these nineteen trios is full of wit, verve and agility, tenderness and restrained passion.

Mozart's piano sonatas reveal an extraordinary range of character, from effortless lyricism to profound emotional intensity. In the third volume of his complete survey, pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho performs three contrasting sonatas which form an arc from light into shadow, before emerging into light once more. Opening with the luminous Sonata in C major, K. 330, the program moves to the dramatic A minor Sonata, K. 310, one of Mozart's most emotionally charged keyboard works, before concluding with the freshness and wit of the G major Sonata, K. 283. Together, these three sonatas reveal Mozart's ability to combine elegance, theatrical instinct and deep humanity. Cho approaches these works with a distinctly vocal perspective, shaping each phrase as though sung and drawing on Mozart's close relationship with opera. The result is a performance of warmth, clarity and expressive freedom that allows each sonata's individual voice to emerge while revealing the broader narrative that connects them. This third instalment continues a thoughtfully conceived cycle that places musical character and storytelling at it's heart.

Nashville based singer-songwriter, Jobi Riccio (she/they), delivers her debut album, Whiplash. As a coming of age story, Jobi touches on themes of self-love, facing past traumas, overcoming insecurities including her queerness, and channeling inner strength to empower herself and others. This Americana/country record is mastered by Grammy Award winning mastering engineer, Philip Shaw Bova, and has an exquisite balance of catchy, empowering, upbeat tunes and reflective, deeply sentimental ballads achieved through Jobi's poetic lyricism and her incredible vocal control.