Project B

Franz Schubert: String Quartets D 804 "Rosamunde", D 810 "Death and the Maiden", D 887, D 703 and String Quintet D 956
Bach: The Art of Fugue
Intimate Voices
Beethoven: The String Quartets
Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet

ASIN: B00005OKSH
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Allegro moderato
String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Menuetto
String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Adagio
String Quartet in F minor, op. 20 no. 5: Finale: Fuga a due soggetti
String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Allegro moderato, cantabile
String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Scherzo: Allegro
String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Largo sostenuto
String Quartet in E flar major, op. 33 no. 2: Finale: Presto
String Quartet in G major, op. 54 no. 1: Allegro con brio
String Quartet in G major, op. 54 no. 1: Allegretto
String Quartet in G major, op. 54 no. 1: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet in G major, op. 54 no. 1: Finale: Presto
String Quartet in D major, op. 64 no. 5: Allaegro moderato
String Quartet in D major, op. 64 no. 5: Adagio cantabile
String Quartet in D major, op. 64 no. 5: Menuetto: Allegretto
String Quartet in D major, op. 64 no. 5: Finale: Vivace

Tracks:

String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Allegro
String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Largo assai
String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Menuet: Allegretto
String Quartet in G minor, op. 74 no. 3: Finale: Allegro con brio
String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Allegro
String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Andante o piu tosto allegretto
String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Menuetto: Allegro ma non troppo
String Quartet in D minor, op. 76 no. 2: Finale: Vivace assai
String Quartet in G major, op. 77 no. 1: Allegro moderato
String Quartet in G major, op. 77 no. 1: Adagio
String Quartet in G major, op. 77 no. 1: Menuetto: Presto
String Quartet in G major, op. 77 no. 1: Finale: Presto

Amazon.com

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Emerson Quartet has made its first all-Haydn recording, featuring seven of his most famous quartets on two CDs. Presented chronologically, the program is arranged for utmost contrast of tonality, atmosphere, and character. The prevailing mood is joyous, as befits the occasion, though three quartets are in minor keys. The opening work, Op. 20, No. 5, is dark, brooding, and achingly beautiful. Its inner tension is released in passionate climaxes, its slow movement is serenely pastoral, its finale a double fugue. This is followed by Op. 33, No. 2, nicknamed "The Joke" for its finale, whose coda is punctuated by several "fake" endings: general pauses of increasing length designed to tempt the audience into premature applause. To make its full effect, this "joke" depends on watching the players sit in frozen silence. Also in minor are the dramatic Op. 76, No. 2, nicknamed "Fifths" for its opening theme, which contains the famous "Witches' Minuet," a fierce two-part canon between the upper and lower instruments, and Op. 74, No. 3, nicknamed "The Rider" for its galloping finale. Op. 64, No. 5, is called "The Lark" for its soaring beginning; the finale is a brilliant perpetual motion marathon. Op. 54, No. 1, and Op. 77, No. 1, radiate good cheer and sunshine. The Emerson, whose violinists alternate, plays all this with its customary meticulousness, polish, and ease. Some of the fast movements are surprisingly leisurely, and at times one could wish for more inwardness or abandon. A third, bonus disc taken from earlier Emerson recordings contains movements of eight quartets, from Mozart to Ives. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Perfection at its Very Worst.......2005-01-09

If I rate this album with one star, it is to say something relative to other recordings and to the standard to which I hold the Emerson Quartet. In Haydn, where wit, joy, humor and vivaciousness are more important than in any other composer (?), the Emerson's polish works so incredibly against the works, that I cannot but dissuade a potential explorer of Haydn most urgently from getting this recording.

Upon first hearing it will sound fine enough... technically it is perfect, the sound is fine... but it will reveal itself (immediately in comparison - or else over time) as tedious, meticulous and missing the point. The Lindsay's give these quartets all the gusto they need... sadly, they are seldomly in tune. With the Quatour Mosaiques you might get the finest accounts available (historical instruments or not), and the Kodaly Quartet on Naxos is a budget option that deserves your ears and trust.

If a listener wants to experience the Emerson String Quartet at their best, late Beethoven, Shostakovich, Webern et al. offer far better opportunities than Haydn (and Schubert).

3 DISCS ACTUALLY.......2004-11-16

The third is a set of individual movements by Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak, Bartok, Ives, Shostakovich, Webern and finally a sizzling performance of the fugue from Beethoven's third Rasumovsky. It's brilliant, so I don't know why they are being so coy about it.

The first thing that I commend strongly about this set of 7 Haydn quartets is the actual selection. They range in order of composition from one of the op 20's to the great op77 #1, and 3 of the 7 are in minor keys. I get a definitely serious feel to the Emersons' approach to all 7. Op 33 #2 'The Joke' is included, and for once the jokiness at the end is downplayed, to my great relief. Another aspect that interested me was the fairly moderate speeds they take in the finales to the first 4 numbers, getting distinctly livelier in the last 3. I find this extremely convincing -- the music in the earlier finales is slighter than in the later ones and to my ears it benefits from not being rushed. What I would have liked to find out from the liner notes is whether that, or something else entirely, was the Emersons' thinking, but the remarks are to a familiar pattern -- useful and informative background information, very little about the performances, and rather gushy 'chatty-learned' stuff on the music.

I would describe this as a really distinguished set. It ought to suit experienced listeners in search of new insights, and for new(er)comers the format has been quite brilliantly devised as an introduction to the string quartet repertory presenting the father of the genre in depth followed by glimpses of what his successors did with the heritage he left them. Recorded quality also excellent.

String Quartet Delight.......2002-01-16

This tribute to Haydn is spectacular. Their playing is impeccable, with fine definition and movement. I especially enjoy their offering of Opus 33, The Joke. It is light and playful and bounces with liltiness.

This is truly refreshing music to listen to. The bonus CD of works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Dvorak, et al is wonderful as well. This finales in Beethoven's op. 59 for String Quartet.
Magnificent!

Thanks Emerson for 25, may 25 more be yours and your fans!

haydn, haydn, haydn.......2001-11-19

I heard this recording on the classical station that I listen to.
I now have the CD's in my car and my son and I (he's 8) absolutely love this recording. It is so wonderful we feel like we are seeing the quartet in person. Bravo, Bravo. We will be giving this one as gifts for the Holidays.

Simply marvelous...........2001-10-30

I have grown old with the Emerson; they recently celebrated their twenty-fifth season with the Stanford University Lively Arts, and I have not missed one of those performances. This year they played four of the quartets from their Haydn Project. The audience was as thrilled as any listener of these CDs will be.

In addition to their extraordinary performance, the Emerson have chosen seven of Haydn's most delightful quartets, bound to rekindle the excitement of knowledgeable music lovers and to entice new listeners. The liner notes provide an introduction not only to Haydn but also to the string quartet as a form. I cannot think of a better introduction: for one who wants to learn but is timid, here is where to begin.

The bonus CD offers movements from other quartets that the Emerson often play as encores. What a joy!

Average customer rating:

A cd for those with deep earthy soul and genuine class

Incredible, simply incredible

Simply Beautiful...

birdseye

Absolutely amazing album, that was sadly overlooked!

Birdseye
The Tony Rich Project
Manufacturer: La Face
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music
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The Resurrected

Words

Pictures

Terence Trent d'Arby's Wildcard!

The Day

ASIN: B000009NS4
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

No Time Soon - (with Eric Clapton)
Silly Man - (with Eric Clapton)
Birdseye
Bed
If You're An Angel
Thoughts Of Leavin'
Ain't No Laughing
Blue Butterfly
My Stomach Hurts
Cool Like That

Amazon.com

You have to love any guy who compares the loss of a loved one to acid reflux, especially when that guy is supposed to be some kind of love man. Now, to be sure, Tony Rich's sophomore CD is filled with songs all about, surprise, sex, and love. But the low-key Lothario works his love jones with cleverness and lyrical twists and turns. Even at his most metaphoric (what is a "bed of the heart"?), Rich still can pull hooks, choruses, and off-the-beaten-path imagery out of his trick bag. Rich creates lilting love songs about the act of not killing oneself ("No Time Soon," which features slide guitar from Eric Clapton) and delivers the finger-popping title track, wherein the object of desire is described as "having Halle's eyes." Even with generic missteps such as "Cool Like That," Rich here takes a giant leap forward into the ranks of Real Songwriters. Too bad he can't claim to make the same moves when it comes to his vocals. Once tagged as just a (gifted) Babyface wannabe, Rich has upped the ante by adding Prince's dulcet tones to his pantheon of musical mimicry. Now, I guess you can't help sounding the way you do, but couldn't Rich could try to alter his phrasing just a little? Because as skilled as he is, he's still sort of faceless, and you never get to know just who the guy who writes the songs really is. --Amy Linden

Customer Reviews:

A cd for those with deep earthy soul and genuine class.......2005-05-13

All the songs are such a poetic delight to listen to. Tony writes such fun, flirty lyrics that leave your imagination speckled with bursts of sunshine -- "take my heart and hook it up to your veins", "I baptized her in a bubblebath". Not even the more serious songs get me down. They leave me refreshed instead. Tony oozes Harlem class and the song "Birdseye" reminds me of the movie "LoveJones". Was it a soundtrack of the movie? If not, shoulda been!
An amazing buy you wont regret decades from today

Incredible, simply incredible.......2005-04-01

After hearing words, I couldn't get enough of Tony Rich and immediately bought his second album. This may just be the album to replace Words as my favorite album of all times.

In many ways, the albums are the same. Both end shortly after 40 minutes of play. Both are penned, produced and sung by Tony Rich. Both are amazing.

However, this album seems to have replaced the sadness that filled the tracks of Words with a lighthearted feeling of rejoice over the wonders of life.

The first two songs of the album, Birdseye and Silly Man seem at times, to have rather... strange lyrics. "But I found you/ So I'll bake you a chocolate cake" comes to mind. However, the simpleness of the songs reflects as someone else here put it best, that in love, you feel this easygoing relaxedness and just say what you like. And these songs embody that feeling, I listen to them and I can't help but feel uplifted and relaxed.

Song 3, my personal favorite, is incredibly catchy and reiterates that feeling of happiness in the world. Where "Grass is Green" on Words talked about living life hard and contemplating suicide, "No Time Soon" says while life had been that way, things improved and now, there's no reason to leave this world. The song is uplifting and gets the emotions running high.

The album then enters a somber state, pleading with a lost loved one to come back and take him away. The rest of the songs arouse all sorts of emotions and never fail to show a great deal of heart in Tony's voice. Tony pleads, rejoices and cries about the way things are. And in every action, the listener is right there beside him. Lamenting over the pains he feels in his stomach as he fights the loss of the loved one, exhibiting empathy towards the woman who is stuck in a horrible relationship but has no idea how to get out of it, and exemplifying all the feelings that run through a persons mind, Tony does it all.

This album is brilliant, evidence of the sorrowful state R&B has entered today. The world needs Tony Rich to remind it what can be done with music. I recommend this album to anyone.

Simply Beautiful..........2002-06-28

Perhaps resigned to never reaching the commerical chart peaks of his debut single "Nobody Knows", Tony just relaxed and spoke from the heart on this, his second LP...

These songs are of rare beauty and like many of his "neo-soul" labelled contemporaries he nods to influences (Prince being an obvious example) of a bygone era while all the while keeping his own individual style.

Lyrically, here he may even improve on the heady heights of his excellent debut album of three years previous "Words". He is very open and emotional while never coming off as insincere or making cynical attempts to be anything other than what he is.

The album as a whole is tremendous although personal favourites would be "If You're An Angel" and "My Stomach Hurts", both in which he bares his very soul.

Eric Clapton features (Returning favour for Tony's work on his album of same year) with three guitar guest slots, but as always it's Mr Rich pulling the strings, writing and producing all but one of these lush, sonic landscapes.

Tony has been relatively quiet since "Birdseye" and it would be a tragedy if this this album proves to be the last we ever hear from him. I am certain modern masterpieces like this and "Words" touched listeners very deeply (they did me) and he deserves far more credit as such...

birdseye.......2002-04-07

very nice album...

you could just read the cd sleeve and enjoy it

Absolutely amazing album, that was sadly overlooked!.......2002-02-01

This is one of the best R&B albums that I own, and I own A TON! This album was a little too ahead of its time, and a little too mature for commercial airplay. It might fit in nicely now, in the world of Jill Scott, Blial, and Alicia Keys.
I haven't ever heard any of these songs on the radio, but that is fine with me. This is one of those albums that you have to take a leap, and just purchase based on either the recommendations of others or your love of the artist's past work. For me, I fell in love HARD with Tony's debut album. Just about everything on it was wonderful. A beautiful mix of acoustic guitar, classic soul music, and understated songwriting.
On the follow up, he grows even more as a songwriter - while providing even greater music to back him up. While on his debut there were songs that I skipped consistently, I didn't find one that I didn't love on this one. None of the songs sounded too this, or too that... everything sounds just right today, just as it did the day I bought it years ago!
The standouts on the album are probably Birdseye, If You're an Angel, Thoughts of Leavin', and My Stomach Hurts. The sensitivity that bleeds through the lyrics on the album will blow you away, as will the great instrumentation. Tony Rich does have a unique sound. He isn't quite classic soul, he isn't quite rock, and he isn't quite folk. He takes the best elements of those three genres, and blends them together for your enjoyment.
Who cares that this album didn't get airplay? I didn't, and I still don't. If you are looking for a diamond in the rough, you can stop your search!

Average customer rating:

Cd review
Bad vocals...
In A Grand Tradition
Third time, still lucky...
Solid set

The Resurrected
Tony Rich Project
Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pictures
Birdseye
Words
Brown Sugar
Journey Of A Gemini

ASIN: B0000A4GAM
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Tracks:

Future Daze
Free
Red Wine
Don't Call Me
War is Over
Travelling Alone
The Only Way
Let Me
Mental Purgatory
2 Waters
When I Miss U
Barber Shop
Be the One
Within My Soul
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Customer Reviews:

Cd review.......2007-06-09

The song that I first heard on my internet station was "Red Wine". I then decided to order the cd to see what other songs I would like. I was pleasantly surpised by the tracks.

Bad vocals..........2004-07-13

Although I find Tony Rich's vocals rather out of tune, there are some highlights here: 'Red Wine', 'Travelling Alone' and 'Don't Call Me' are good (in terms of melody)
The lyrics are sometimes a little out of place and stupid.
Maybe if he had put in better tunes, it would make up for the awful vocals.

In A Grand Tradition.......2004-06-09

Tony Rich is part of the school of black musicians such as
Vernon Reid,Prince,Terrance Trent D'Arby,Lenny Kravitz and the
immortal Jimi Hendrix who see no distinction between R&B,funk and rock n' roll-they're just classic black music to them.And
of course this album contains songs in ALL those styles.From
the hard rockin' "Future Daze" to the sublimely grooving "Free"
these songs varriate from hard to soft and back in the space of
15 selections.And I can't see ANYTHING but good come from that!

Third time, still lucky..........2003-10-14

Having shaken off the stagnation of his Arista shackling Tony Rich has regrouped and come back with another great album. While his last effort (1998's Birdseye) didn't contain much in the way of singles it was seen by fans as arguably better than the platinum, grammy winning Words. Now on Compendia Records he has room to breathe and without the wish to release singles can concentrate solely on making a consistent LP. His labelmate Terence Trent D'Arby has experienced a similar scenario as regards his artistically satisfying Wildcard Joker's Edition also.

Future Daze is a funky, edgy start on an album frequently more rock influenced (Read guitars high in the mix) than the past work. Free is a defiant manifesto for his post major label emancipation while Red Wine's groove recalls the commonly emancipated influence Prince's classic 1987 number Strange Relationship. Tony doesn't let down the fans as regards ballads either with the radio play success Travelling Alone. Don't Call Me's country twang and the plaintive When I Miss You are other examples of The Tony Rich Project's continual quality on the slower tempo material. There's even a chance to throw in a live track with Yeah! Yeah! taking us out in style.

Resurrected may not top any charts or permeate the mainstream (No singles or videos almost guarantee that) but it's quality cannot be doubted so critically he can expect great reaction like the reviews here demonstrate. With a live album and DVD in the works, The Tony Rich Project community is one to stay close with for the latest news, developments and releases.

Solid set.......2003-10-05

Before I begin, I have to say that it's tiring and annoying to see people with seemingly immature minds incapable of writing honest reviews at this Web site, giving seemingly everything four or five stars, coming off as some early teens bubblegum pop fan gushing over his/her favorite singer, whom they like because he/she is pretty, cute, etc. Even here on this thread, someone gives this album a four star and even admits they haven't heard the album. now onto my review.
Anyone following Tony Rich Project's career and hearing the group's previous two albums -- Words and Birdseye -- will know what TRP is about -- R&B soul, with a touch of Prince, Hendrix, and with a solid, artsy delivery that is good enough to make you forget about the product that is passed off as R&B on the radio.
So this album won't bring any surprises to TRP fans. It's more of the same, and that's not a bad thing. He does rock out a bit more on the guitar on the first few tracks, and then settles into his comfort zone, delivering his familiar style of mellow ballads that rely more on feeling, substance, and emotion than formulaic beats. And so while it won't wow you as perhaps "Words" had, it is worth getting. New fans should start with "Words." TRP always managed to move with his songs, and he (yes, despite the band name, this is about Tony Rich) accomplishes that here. When he is no longer moving in his delivery, that's when it's time to worry.

Average customer rating:

Sophomore Blues
Different from first but still smooth
Whats going on here?
Their may have been a reason for no album in so long
WHAT HAPPPENED TO THE CROONERS???

Project Plato
Christión
Manufacturer: The Mint Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ghetto Cyrano
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A Beautiful World

ASIN: B000AE8FTO
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Intro
No Place
It's Gonna Rain
Save My Baby
Blackmail (Interlude)
Hustlin' (Outro)
Let 'Em Know
Presidential Suite
Just Move
Never Seen U Before (Interlude)
I've Grown
Crazy Close
My Reason
Slow Motion
Farrah
Grandma's Grove
Broken Streets
Do Ya Dance! (Dedicated To Mr. Wonder)
Supermodel
Where Yo Girlfriend At?

Product Description

CHAPTER I – THE STREETS
1. Intro
2. No Place
3. It’s Gonna Rain
4. Save My Baby
5. Blackmail (interlude)
6. Hustlin’ (outro)

CHAPTER II – THE RELATIONSHIPS
1. Let ‘Em Know
2. Presidential Suite
3. Just Move featuring Bikram Singh
4. Never Seen U Before (interlude)
5. I’ve Grown

CHAPTER III – THE LOVE
1. Crazy Close
2. My Reason
3. Slow Motion featuring Ezra & Allen Anthony

CHAPTER IV – THE JOURNAL
1. Farrah
2. Grandma’s Grove featuring Allen Anthony
3. Broken Streets

CHAPTER V – THE JUKE JOINT
1. Do Ya Dance! (Dedicated to Mr. Wonder)
2. Supermodel
3. Where Yo Girlfriend At?

Format: Cassette