Thread to "Big up" those "Hidden Gem" albums

Ikuko Kawai

She's an exceptional violin player with modern classical songs. Her albums "Instinct", "The Red Violin" and "Wuthering Heights" are simply amazing! Sadly no record company sells her CDs outside of Japan so you have to import them at ridiculous prices.

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Her playing is way too harsh. Sounds like she's using too much bow pressure without enough bow speed. Also, what she's playing isn't difficult at all either technically or musically. She's the Japanese Charlie Daniels. All flash, no skill.

It doesn't sound all that well recorded either. A violin in person doesn't sound like that recording made it sound. It sounded like they had it mic'd from only a foot away, or as close as they could without interfering with her bowing. A violin sounds pretty terrible up close like that and isn't an accurate way to judge it's sound. The 'under the ear' sound is vastly different than hearing someone play it from a few feet away.

OK, I'll play. Here's a disc that has hardly been heard despite its release on Columbia Records. It consists of gorgeous avant-interpretations of Thelonious Monk tunes by an alto sax/piano duo. Typical of the way Columbia dealt with any jazz at the time (1995) that wasn't Wynton Marsalis, they just kinda threw it out there to sink or swim with very limited promo. I'd love to hear from anyone else who might be familiar with it. I've been using it to surprise folks for years.

Steve Duke/Joe Pinzarrone - Monk By 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla 

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Her playing is way too harsh. Sounds like she's using too much bow pressure without enough bow speed. Also, what she's playing isn't difficult at all either technically or musically. She's the Japanese Charlie Daniels. All flash, no skill.

 

It doesn't sound all that well recorded either. A violin in person doesn't sound like that recording made it sound. It sounded like they had it mic'd from only a foot away, or as close as they could without interfering with her bowing. A violin sounds pretty terrible up close like that and isn't an accurate way to judge it's sound. The 'under the ear' sound is vastly different than hearing someone play it from a few feet away.

I completely agree.

Usually artists want it to sound that way because that's the way they hear it. I was doing a simple recording of a guitar player/singer. Hated the binaural sound. Hated a jecklin disc. Hated close up mic'ing. What did he love? A Shure SM57 placed over his shoulder for the guitar and another up close to his mouth. He loved it! I hated it...so much so that I didn't ask for credit on the release.

It could also be that they intended to give it a more "modern" sound. Either way, I hate it when it sounds like that because you either have to do some heavy handed EQ and other tricks to make it sound more natural or you simply can't fix it at all.

Sorry you guys don't like it! I like the closeness and the dramatic play style. It's not called modern for nothing. :)

Here's another one:

Might be too modern for the folks above but it has some insanely catchy tunes and a very energetic presentation.

I don't know how it is in USA (Lenny Kravitz is on one track) but I can't find a single record store in Germany that sells this one, so...

So you prefer to live in the dark ages? Better to be clueless? Ignorance is bliss?

I've also recommended 2 other albums to him privately, one of which I'm making a sample for him to hear.

Also, we're not just saying they suck. We explained why and how they could be better because of it. The comments on the violinist were from someone who records live musicians often (LFF) and someone who makes and hears violins on a daily basis (me). Unlike some who just have a library of classical we're basing our comments on real life experience.

This thread was created to get to know new records, right? So I don't mind a little discussion on the side that leads to new music or records that one might have missed. I have to admit that I didn't do my homework regarding Classical music and I know of many who got into Ikuko Kawai after I showed her to them. I'm willing to use her as a stepping stone, so thank you for your recommendation, Maxvla!

However, this thread needs a lot more activity!

I do apologize for the off topic, but sometimes these Hidden Gems are hidden for a reason. I was merely critiquing a questionable performance.

Just for more information regarding the song from Kawai, most of her double stop (fancy sounding) work is merely an open string while fingering on the other one. It sounds like it takes skill but it's smoke and mirrors.

Just gave it a go again to make sure I'm not crazy. Been listening to the album I'm sending Zino a sample of for the hour and I had a physical reaction (cringe) to how poorly this is recorded. I'll see if I can get this on youtube or something so people can hear a proper low budget recording.

Lets see if this works, first time ever putting a video on youtube.

Listen with it set on 720p of course for best audio quality.

This was recorded at a university, so I'm sure decent equipment was used, but these are not professionals of the caliber you'd find in a recording studio.

Nice voice, though needs a bit of work on accuracy and steadying. Recording people need a pop filter too.

Definitely some potential.