Yo-Yo Ma - Songs Of Joy & Peace

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 79:41

Size: 182.4 MB

Styles: Classical crossover

Year: 2008

Art: Front

[2:00] 1. Dona Nobis Pacem

[3:29] 2. You Couldn't Be Cuter (Feat. Diana Krall)

[3:43] 3. Joy To The World (Feat. Dave Brubeck)

[2:50] 4. Here Comes The Sun (Feat. James Taylor)

[2:57] 5. Improvisation On Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)

[2:37] 6. The Wassail Song All Through The Night

[3:47] 7. A Christmas Jig Mouth Of The Tobique Reel (Feat. Natalie Macmaster)

[4:20] 8. The Wexford Carol (Feat. Alison Krauss)

[3:06] 9. Panxoliña A Galician Carol (Feat. Cristina Pato)

[0:58] 10. Improvisation On Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) (Feat. Sergio Assad)

[3:25] 11. Vassourinhas

[2:32] 12. Improvisation On Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) (Feat. Paquito D'rivera)

[4:53] 13. Invitación Al Danzón (Feat. Paquito D'rivera)

[4:07] 14. My One And Only Love (Feat. Joshua Redman)

[3:57] 15. Familia

[4:31] 16. Concordia (Feat. Dave Brubeck)

[6:30] 17. My Favorite Things (Feat. Chris Botti)

[4:36] 18. Touch The Hand Of Love (Feat. Renée Fleming)

[3:26] 19. Kuai Le

[5:02] 20. This Little Light Of Mine (Feat. Amelia Zirin-Brown)

[4:46] 21. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Feat. Jake Shimabukuro)

[1:58] 22. Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) Auld Lang Syne (Feat. Chris Botti)

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has long been a giant in the classical world, though he has also made a number of recordings with musicians who play other styles. This holiday disc doesn't exclusively stick to traditional Christmas songs, but covers a wide scope of material in a very ambitious manner. Ma opens with a lovely take of the traditional favorite Dona nobis pacem (Give Us Peace), playing both the melody and counterpoint via overdubbing. Jazz pianist/vocalist Diana Krall is superb in a swinging rendition of Jerome Kern's unjustly obscure "You Couldn't Be Cuter," adding bassist John Clayton. An arrangement of Joy to the World features pianist Dave Brubeck, cellist Matt Brubeck (his son), and clarinetist Paquito d'Rivera in a playful setting that works in The Christmas Song and On the Trail. The senior Brubeck's Concordia is filled with spirit in a lively performance with the two cellists. Chris Botti has never sounded better in the warm arrangement of My Favorite Things, playing both open and muted trumpet, with pianist Billy Childs, bassist Robert Hurst, drummer Billy Kilson, and guitarist Romero Lubambo. Ma has previously collaborated with bassist Edgar Meyer (who is equally at home in jazz and classical music), though this is the cellist's first meeting with mandolinist Chris Thile. Together they make an impressive trio, especially in the enticing medley of The Wassail Song and All Through the Night. Soprano Renée Fleming's rich voice is beautifully complemented by Ma, Meyer, and Thile. Having worked with onetime bluegrass fiddler Mark O'Connor, Ma is very much at home with Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster in the lively medley of A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel. Among the other friends featured on this disc are the Assad Family, Wu Tong & the Silk Road Ensemble, tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman, plus Alison Krauss with piper Christina Pato. One track doesn't fit in all that well with the rest of this CD. The Beatles' bland "Here Comes the Sun" has a warm vocal by James Taylor, but it is hampered by its weak lyrics. ~Ken Dryden

Songs Of Joy & Peace

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Yo-Yo Ma - Soul Of The Tango: The Music Of Astor Piazzolla

Styles: Tango, Classical Crossover 
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:39
Size: 146,2 MB
Art: Front

( 3:10)  1. Piazzolla: Libertango Tango Suite
( 3:45)  2. Piazzolla: Tango Suite: Andante
( 6:07)  3. Piazzolla: Tango Suite: Allegro
( 6:03)  4. Piazzolla: Sur: Regreso Al Amor
(11:38)  5. Piazzolla: Le Grand Tango
( 3:47)  6. Piazzolla: Fugata
( 6:21)  7. Piazzolla: Tango Remembrances
( 5:08)  8. Piazzolla: Mumuki
( 3:10)  9. Piazzolla: Tres Minutos Con La Realidad
( 6:40) 10. Piazzolla: Milonga Del Ángel
( 7:46) 11. Piazzolla: Café 1930

Inspired by a general love of the tango, and more specifically the tango of Astor Piazzolla, on the part of Yo-Yo Ma, the Soul of the Tango album is a masterful work of the nuevo tango, played by Ma's cello and many of Piazzolla's former associates. Piazzolla's old guitarists Sergio and Odair Assad even showed up to work on a pair of tracks arranged by Sergio: the Tango Suite (consisting of Andante and Allegro). The sheer beauty of one of Piazzolla's tangos is generally enough to warrant the purchase of an album involving them. An album such as this one, where all of the songs (save one: Tango Remembrances, where Ma plays along with outtakes from Piazzolla's recording of The Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night album) are compositions by Piazzolla is even better. Add to this the masterful playing of Ma, and the surprising facility in which the cello fits into the tango, and you've got what could become a classic album, if only it weren't on the classical label from Sony. The album begins with Libertango, a composition from Piazzolla's first album that became the theme song for the movie The Tango Lesson. Following is the pair of tracks in the Tango Suite from Sergio Assad. Then comes Sur: Regreso al Amor, a softer work, though with some definite virtuosity displayed. Le Grand Tango is an eleven minute tour de force in the tango, and Fugata is a tango written under the guidelines of a classical fugue. The next work is the aforementioned Tango Remembrances, which is a particularly nice work, probably due to the appearance of Piazzolla's own playing. Mumuki is a more complicated composition, and Tres Minutos con la Realidad is a choppier, peppier work. Milonga del Angel is a seemingly sentimental work that shows off Piazzolla's ability to express the emotions of a song perfectly and purely. To finish the album, Ma presents Café 1930, a rather slow paced work, but again, as in Milonga del Angel, expresses emotion very fully in its nostalgia. Overall, the album is a stunning work of art, and even those that may not have heard of Piazzolla could easily be lured to his music via this single album. ~ Adam Greenberg https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-of-the-tango-the-music-of-astor-piazzolla-mw0000713665

Personnel: Cello – Yo-Yo Ma; Bandoneon – Nestor Marconi; Bass – Edwin Barker, Hector Console;  Guitar – Horacio Malvicino, Sergio & Odair Assao;  Piano – Frank Corliss, Gerardo Gandini, Kathryn Stott, Leonardo Marconi;
Violin – Antonio Agri

Soul Of The Tango: The Music Of Astor Piazzolla

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Yo-Yo Ma - Obrigado Brazil (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:27
Size: 163.6 MB
Styles: Classical crossover
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[2:50] 1. Cristal
[4:12] 2. Chega De Saudade
[3:07] 3. A Lenda Do Caboclo
[5:13] 4. Doce De Coco
[2:17] 5. Dansa Brasileira
[4:55] 6. Apelo
[3:29] 7. Dansa Negra
[2:38] 8. 1 X 0 (Um A Zero)
[5:34] 9. Menino
[5:17] 10. Samambaia
[4:47] 11. Carinhoso
[5:04] 12. Alma Brasileira
[3:52] 13. O Amor Em Paz
[9:49] 14. Bodas De Prata & Quatro Cantos
[3:23] 15. Brasileirinho
[4:53] 16. Salvador

As a cultural ambassador to the world, Yo-Yo Ma has immersed himself in the native music of many countries and taken away charming souvenirs of his musical explorations that he shares openly and without affectation. The chief characteristic of Ma's approach is his showcasing of other talents, with a modesty and generosity on his part that makes these performances all the more appealing. In Obrigado Brazil, Ma shares the spotlight with musicians of the highest caliber, including bossa nova singer Rosa Passos, guitar duo Sergio and Odair Assad, clarinetist Paquito d'Rivera, pianist Kathryn Stott, and percussionist Cyro Baptista, among many other stars. All the performers display deep feeling, energy, and conviviality, no doubt inspired by Ma's infectious goodwill and openhearted playing. Whether he engages the listener with popular numbers, such as the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Pixinguinha, or with more classically tailored pieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Camargo Guarneri, and Egberto Gismonti, Ma offers a broad sampling of Brazil's diverse musical styles. From sorrowful choros to lively sambas, the spectrum of the country's music is well represented, and there is something here to please any armchair traveler. Sony's recording is excellent, with special attention directed to capturing instrumental color. ~Blair Sanderson

NEW LINK! Obrigado Brazil (Remastered)

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