Various Artists - Chiaroscuro - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

This new features live recordings from the 2019 Alpentöne, a three-day biannual international music festival promoting music associated with the alpine tradition. Alpentöne has no stylistic limitations contemporary classical music, jazz, folk, pop and miscellaneous forms all form part this unique festival. Performers on this include Pino Minafra, Alpentone Blasorchester, Ensemble Building Bridge, Andreas Gabriel Ensemble, and more. The artists perform traditional tunes, as well as modern compositions and improvisations.

The musical program presented by Capella de Ministrers on this is built around this premise Spanish music from 1500 to 1650, the Renaissance to the Baroque, with a mix of composers and song books relating to Miguel de Cervantes and his ironic chiaroscuro. There is a rich seam of references in Cervantes' work (and not only in Don Quixote) to the music, musical customs and dance in Spain during the 16th century and the early part of the 17th century. His writing is a real compendium of musical elements that intensify theatrical action, link dramatic scenes or paint a picture of characters, many of whom are musicians, just like Don Quixote himself InchYou know, Sancho, that all or almost all of the knights errant in days gone by were great troubadors and great musicians. These two skills, or rather, gifts, are associated with lovers errantInch.

Hip-Hop legend Masta Ace gets remixed with Earth Wind & Fire samples by remix mastermind Tom Caruana (Wu-Tang vs The Beatles / Jimi Hendrix). Tom remixes material predominantly from the Masta Ace Incorporated era, as well as other stages in Ace's career. What makes this project unique is the addition of 2 brand new tracks by Masta Ace, 'Freedom House' & 'Uncle Larry' which both see Ace in a retrospective mood. The Earth Wind & Fire material sampled is generally from their earlier releases, more raw and downtempo than the uptempo disco they are better known for. The album flows like a live show with soundbites and skits from both parties. There's tracks with Guru, Phonte, Wordsworth, Edo G, Torae, Stricklin and Large Professor. Ace and guests flow as if they were there onstage with the band creating cosmic vibes to the soundscape of kalimbas, vocal harmonies, funky basslines and banging drums!