The Arts Desk‘s Graham Rickson’s Classical CD Weekly column features a new review for the Dallas Winds and Jerry Junkin’s John Williams At The Movies recording!
“The Dallas Winds is a rarity in that it’s a professional wind band, 50 woodwind, brass and percussion players tackling ‘an eclectic blend ranging from marches and Broadway show tunes, to soundtracks and big band standards’. This is an unabashedly popular release, but that’s all the more reason to investigate it. … The optimism of the Superman march feels oddly poignant heard now, a jubilant, affirmative blast of brassy noise. The Star Wars main title music borrows heavily from Korngold’s King’s Row, to brilliant effect – I couldn’t sit through the films again, but would happily listen to the soundtracks. Close Encounters opens with a piercingly dissonant note cluster, unexpectedly resolving to a punchy C major chord after 30 seconds, a moment that will make the unwary spill their drinks. New York Philharmonic trumpeter Christopher Martin adds a haunting solo to an excerpt from Spielberg’s Lincoln, and there are extracts from JFK and ET. Jerry Junkin’s forces play superbly, and audio buffs will note that this disc was recorded by the legendary engineer Keith O Johnson. Sonics are predictably stellar.”
Read the full review on TheArtsDesk.com