One thing is for certain: the engineering of the chorus is far too recessed in this Previn re-recording. That is NOT a minor issue to me. It also sounds fairly "slack" and uncommitted. Hardly jubilant where it needs to be. Nor did I find the recording that wide-ranging either. I didn't even care for the soloists who were largely uninspired as everything else. Junk! Better keep the earlier Previn, which was altogether a more sensual performance. But my nod goes to Levine, overall...

I had much of this material on vinyl, and it's great to have these packaged on 4 full budget-priced CDs. The sound is quite acceptable, although a little bright, which was common for early digital recordings from the 80's. But, they're otherwise clear and full. There are better recordings of the guitar concertos (which is a crowded field), but they hold up fairly well - and are better than Batiz' rerecordings of the some of the guitar concertos he did some 10 years ago on ASV.
The other concertos are quite nice as well. Distinctively Rodrigo-esque!
Anyone interested in this set will want to invest in Batiz' more recent survey with his Mexican State Orchestra of Rodrigo works.
Highly recommended!

There is a lot of competition out there. The big Paavo Berglund box set seems to have it all on EMI. Then, there is the excellent Davis/BSO set on Philips - not to mention his newer LSO cycle on RCA. Rattle has some unique touches not found in other cycles so he can't not be easily dismissed. He's a bitter smoother around the edges as compared to the Davis/BSO. But he brings out the romantism more. The Birmingham forces play wonderfully and are all excellently recorded - in fact - better engineered than any of the competition.
Perhaps to make this set more competitive (because it is rather expensive), EMI should have tried to squeeze all 7 of the symphonies onto 3 discs. I always felt that Philips should have done the same for Davis/BSO set. That way, the price could have been trimmed down to under $30.
(All the same, it makes one wish that Ormandy and Karajan should have completed their Sibelius cycles during their lifetimes!)

I'm amazed by the amount of AA product coming out these days. These selections are about as one would expect from them. An overall better album than Aart, and that one was pretty good. Perhaps Venus Morena makes a weak closing number, but otherwise this is close to a 5 stars rating. Fans and non-fans alike will also want to get the live "Sounds of St. Lucia".

I'm absolutely appauled by the many sour remarks concerning this "Traffic" album. NO, it's not a "true" and "pure" Traffic album from yesteryear, but I don't want to get into that. Folks, the anti-Winwood/Capaldi remarks are just UGLY. Knock it off! In fact, this is some GREAT music. All of this nonsense about trashing this music comes from idiots that just don't like the idea of Winwood and Capaldi using that Traffic name. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MUSIC! As with Steve's 2003's "About Time", this disc keeps "real" and less processed-sounding, as in his Junction Seven fiasco. Steve gets to show off more of his capable guitar playing on this disc too. A real delight! Buy it today - along with Steve's new album!
10 STARS!!!

And what so wrong about that? No, there's nothing "new" about this sound that is Steely Dan. No, it's certainly not the longest playing cd out there (42 minutes), BUT...the music is infectious. An earlier reviewer only heard it once before writing a scathing attack. Admittedly, I could have written that too, BUT I listened to it again...and then again...and then I was hooked. For the displeased, LISTEN TO "EMG" AGAIN...FOR THE FIRST TIME, if you know what I mean. As usual, great musicianship and great sound quality. No fluff in the music or lyrics.

I'm still fairly new to The Yellowjackets. This is my 4th album which spans 20 some years. Musically, this is the most advanced and perhaps least accessible of the material I've heard from them. Casual fans of the Yellowjackets should pick this disc up quickly and attentitively listen to all of the tracks - again and again. This is true modern jazz. Not as smooth or pop like some of their previous efforts, but more experimental in the use of harmonies, textures and obviously rythms. Great sound production, too.

What a delight, this long-waited recording is! For those who were somewhat disappointed with his last effort, 1997's Junction Seven, which seemed like a misguided attempt to "update" his popular 80's sound for the 90's, this will prove to be a hero's return. I loved everything from him UNTIL that particular recording. Perhaps not as bad as some make it to be, but overall, it was a little synthetic. BUT this new album - About Time - is a real gem. Real instruments by real musicians. No heavily stylized and sythentic and phony dubs here. And he does have help in the songwriting department as well, which interestingly does not come from Capaldi or Will Jennings. Here, each selection is a winner, and no one will mind the 11+ minute Silvia finale. One will obviously notice a return to a percussion-and organ-based production throughout much of the album. Fans and non-fans alike will treasure this release. I cannot speak of this album too highly. Perhaps, this effort is more reminiscent of the Winwood/Capaldi "Traffic reunion" disc from 1994, "Far From Home". No, not a true Traffic reunion album, but a highly underrated effort. Anyone that shares my high opinion of that disc will appreciate this new recording.

About Time indeed!

I can add only a little to an earlier review of this concert - which was right on the money. But for those that might be looking for the earlier lp issue of the Schumann sonata, one can now obtain the original lp issue of the sonata on the Philips' Great Pianist series where that performance in question has finally been reissued on CD. (This should not be confused with the RCA Horowitz plays Schumann disc, where an alternate, inferior, take was used.)
It is a matter of fact that both Sony and BMG has volumes of complete Horowitz recitals in their vaults. Having several boots of his concerts from the 70's, RCA did not always issue the better takes. (Or for tha matter, why didn't RCA issue VH's rarely performed Scriabin Nocturne for the left hand, which he played in '79?)
As far as this recital goes, it's a bit of a mixed bag, but it is true that he never played the same piece twice the same way. Horowitz fans will jump on this set - yet at the same time crave more recitals to be issued! Sony and BMG: Are you listening?