Arranging well-known Christmas songs always presents a challenge, since everybody knows the songs and so many artists have recorded them. Finding the balance of the expected and unexpected proved to be the most rewarding aspect of the writing. Kim Pensyl’s fresh and unique approach lets each song receive its own special treatment, yielding an overall sense of fulfillment and musical satisfaction. The group performed live in the studio and displays a cohesive blend of colors, timbre, counterpoint, improvisation, and simpatico of vision for the music. The result is a dynamic addition of contemporary jazz flavored favorites performed on piano, woodwinds, vibraphone, bass and drums for the holiday season. Highlights include “Christmas Time is Here,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Let it Snow” and the title track “Early Snowfall.”

Known for its elegant performances, the Cypress String Quartet (Cecily Ward, violin; Tom Stone, violin; Ethan Filner, viola; and Jennifer Kloetzel, cello) has been praised by Gramophone for its “artistry of uncommon insight and cohesion,” and its sound has been called “beautifully proportioned and powerful” by The Washington Post. The Cypress Quartet was formed in San Francisco in 1996, and during its initial rehearsals the group created a signature sound through intense readings of J.S. Bach’s Chorales. Built up from the bottom register of the quartet and layered like a pyramid, the resulting sound is clear and transparent, allowing the texture of the music to be discerned immediately.   The Cypress String Quartet has added several new recordings to its extensive discography in recent years. In March 2012 and February of 2013 respectively, the Quartet released the complete three-CD set of Beethoven’s Late Quartets, which was named Best Classical CD of 2012 by the Dallas Morning News, and an all-Dvořák disc on the AVIE record label featuring Cypresses, B. 152 (the work from which the ensemble draws its name) and String Quartet in G, Op. 106.  The album has garnered significant attention and is being featured on Sirius XM and PRI Classical, and was chosen as a CD of the Week on WQXR in New York. In May 2014, the Cypress released a recording of Schubert’s String Quintet D956 with cellist Gary Hoffman paired with Schubert’s Quartettsatz D703, also on AVIE. The New York Times called the album a “tender, deeply expressive interpretation.”   The Cypress continues to maintain a busy national and international tour schedule, making appearances on concert series and in venues including Cal Performances, Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Stanford Lively Arts, Krannert Center and Ravinia Festival. Their collaborators include artists such as Leon Fleisher, Jon Nakamatsu, Awadagin Pratt, Gary Hoffman, Atar Arad, James Dunham, and Zuill Bailey.   Through its signature Call & Response program the Cypress Quartet commissions and premieres new string quartets from both emerging and celebrated composers, asking them to write in response to established chamber repertoire. Call & Response creates a dynamic dialogue between the past and present, between performers and composers, and among audiences of all ages. The Cypress Quartet’s annual Call & Response concert has earned a strong West Coast following and is preceded by community outreach throughout the Bay Area in public libraries, unorthodox spaces, and schools. In addition, the Cypress frequently tours Call & Response repertoire, bringing these new works to cities across the country.   To date, the Cypress Quartet has commissioned and premiered over 30 pieces, four of which were chosen for Chamber Music America’s list of “101 Great American Ensemble Works.” Commissioned composers include Benjamin Lees, Jennifer Higdon, Kevin Puts, George Tsontakis, and Elena Ruehr.   A vibrant member of the San Francisco arts community, the Cypress String Quartet dedicates itself to reflecting and enriching the city’s cultural landscape through collaborations with the de Young Museum, San Francisco Girls Chorus, and ODC-Dance.  As part of its efforts to support and promote Bay Area arts and music, the CSQ self-curates a Salon Series held in intimate, exquisite spaces in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Palo Alto.  Now in its fourth season, the CSQ Salon Series features the masterworks of the string quartet canon as well as CSQ commissions.   The Cypress Quartet members received degrees from many of the world’s finest conservatories before coming together as a quartet. These include The Juilliard School, Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal College of Music (London), The Cleveland Institute of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Indiana University. After a residency at the Banff Centre and a fellowship at the Center for Advanced Quartet Studies of the Aspen Music Festival, the Quartet coached intensively in London with the Amadeus Quartet. Cypress members count the Cleveland and Juilliard Quartets as some of their greatest influences.   The members of the Cypress Quartet play exceptional instruments including violins by Antonio Stradivari (1681) and Carlos Bergonzi (1733), a viola by Vittorio Bellarosa (1947), and a cello by Hieronymus Amati II (1701). The Cypress Quartet takes its name from the set of twelve love songs for string quartet, Cypresses, by Antonin Dvořák.

Critically acclaimed Brass group, Carolina Brass, powers ahead with the NC Master Chorale to create an unforgettably warm and tasty holiday recording. Recorded Live. Founded in 1942 as the Raleigh Oratorio Society, the North Carolina Master Chorale is committed to bringing the very finest in choral music performance to Raleigh- Durham-Chapel Hill audiences. Under the direction of Dr. Alfred E. Sturgis since 1993, the Chorale boasts a 170-voice symphonic chorus and a 22-voice professional chamber choir. Hailed by critics as Raleigh’s premier choral ensemble, the Chorale primarily performs choral masterworks with orchestra.

Beckett has not only added instruments that were not on his previous CDs, such as the vibes, trombone, and acoustic guitar, but he has chosen several new collaborators who have the right chemistry and who have fulfilled his musical vision. Gerald plays his flute with a fierce, uninhibited passion, and virtuosity. His challenging, memorable compositions reflect his appetite for all things musical and that philosophy extends to FLUTEVIBES.
_ Paula Edelstein (from the liner notes)

There is so much to like about this album: so much talent, so many great tunes, and a leader whose vision the rest of us can now enjoy. Art Lillard the drummer is a lot like Art Lillard the person: thoughtful, intelligent and a great listener. So have a listen, yourself. Gravity will keep your feet on the ground but this date with the Heavenly Big Band will surely make your spirit soar.
– John J. Cooper (from the liner notes)

From a hip-hop flavored opening to pure jazz and blues, David Schumacher succeeds with what he has set out to do ñ his third album as a leader!

If you haven’t lived it won’t come out of your horn! There are a lot of fine young musicians on today’s scene. However, to my ears the most meaningful music is often made by people who are under-exposed and unrecorded until mid-career. Mike Hackett has been playing and living jazz for over two decades. He has accumu-lated musical and life experiences that give him something to say and a personal voice with which to say it. If you haven’t heard Mike Hackett until now you will find a beautiful combination of soul, lyricism, and story telling in his music. Music is communication and that is what Michael does.
– Pat Harbison

Learn more about Tom Bacon.

A presentation of traditional cornet and trombone solos with band.

Violinist Katherine McLin enjoys an extremely varied and prolific performing career as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber and orchestral musician. Since her debut with the Oregon Symphony at the age of fifteen, Dr. McLin has made over 80 appearances as soloist with orchestras across the country. Recent performances include the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Symphony of the West Valley, the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Tempe Symphony Orchestra, the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Scottsdale Philharmonic and Joel Puckett’s Short Stories with the University of Michigan Wind Ensemble.
As a member of the McLin/Campbell Duo with pianist Andrew Campbell and frequent chamber music collaborator with colleagues around the world, Dr. McLin has performed in 40 states and numerous countries abroad. She has served as a featured performer in many national and international conferences, including the International Double Reed Society (2011 and 1997), International Clarinet Association (2011), International Schoenberg Conference (2005), National MTNA (Music Teacher’s National Association) Conference (2003), IPAC (International Percussive Arts Conference) (2002), and SEAMUS (Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the US) (2003).
Dr. McLin appears on 19 compact disc recordings under the Summit, Centaur, and Opus One labels. Among her most recent projects Beau Soir, a disc of French violin/piano duo music with Andrew Campbell, was a KBAQ CD of the week 2010. Additionally, Dr. McLin’s live and recorded performances have been broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today, NYC’s WQXR (Bob Sherman’s “Listening Room” program), and local radio stations throughout the country.

If you haven’t lived it won’t come out of your horn! There are a lot of fine young musicians on today’s scene. However, to my ears the most meaningful music is often made by people who are under-exposed and unrecorded until mid-career. Mike Hackett has been playing and living jazz for over two decades. He has accumu-lated musical and life experiences that give him something to say and a personal voice with which to say it. If you haven’t heard Mike Hackett until now you will find a beautiful combination of soul, lyricism, and story telling in his music. Music is communication and that is what Michael does.
– Pat Harbison

From a hip-hop flavored opening to pure jazz and blues, David Schumacher succeeds with what he has set out to do ñ his third album as a leader!