Various Artists - Turning in Time - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Various - Naxos Music Group Highlights [COMPACT DISCS] date 07/01/2023

Tears of Stone (1999), the 33rd! Studio album by The Chieftains, notable for it's collaborations with prominent artists across various musical genres, blending traditional Irish music with contemporary influences. The album features partnerships with Joni Mitchell, Sinéad O'Connor, The Corrs, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Osborne, Natalie Merchant (10,000 Maniacs), and others. Each contributing their distinctive vocal style and musical perspective to enrich The Chieftains' traditional Irish sound. It explores a diverse range of musical styles including folk, Celtic, and elements of rock and pop. Notable tracks include InchThe Magdalene LaundriesInch with Joni Mitchell, InchI Know My LoveInch with The Corrs, InchFactory GirlInch with Sinéad O'Connor, and InchThe Lowlands of HollandInch with Natalie Merchant. The album garnered several awards and nominations, notably winning the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2000.

PARMA is proud to present THROUGH TIME AND PLACE, an ambitious cross-section of James Lentini's extensive catalog. The award-winning guitarist and composer impresses with massive tonal landscapes which can be considered exemplary in contemporary American serious music. THROUGH TIME AND PLACE's title is aptly chosen the album contains a collection of previously unreleased recordings made over the course of Lentini's long career. Almost all of them are commissioned works or competition winners, which is obvious at first listen. They are united by the same level of craftsmanship and recurring qualities for instance, there is a deceptive calm to Lentini's pieces - characteristic, one might even say. Expectations of tonality and form are often confirmed, only to be shattered in the very next measure. Then, of course, one finds the inevitable contrast of mood and expression energetic phrases juxtaposed with serene lyricism, sadness mixed with humor, the sacred next to the secular. The only exception to this rule may well be Three Sacred Meditations, which powerfully remains committed to simplicity and unity. Thanks to this, in combination with the gigantic orchestral and choir setup, these works may well be the hidden gem of the album. But it's not all ethereally objective. In fact, there are plenty of personal notes on THROUGH TIME AND PLACE, such as the intimate The Angel's Journey. Lentini wrote the piece in memory of his grandparents, utilizing the letters of their names to create the main motifs. With this level of creativity on display, it is easy to see why James Lentini is such a popular choice, not only for festivals and competition committees. After all, his compositions perfectly embody the spirit of which all American contemporary music is capable. There is the fittingly vast grandeur, a sheer endlessness of sound, a tremendous spaciousness and almost otherwo