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Schulich Release Radar: September – October 2021

Recent releases from our talented community to add to your playlists
Image by Rémi Rière.

The music on offer from the Schulich Community this autumninvites you to travel through space and time and around the world.You won’t just want this music in your playlists, you’ll want them on repeat.

󲹳ʱ–Family Plan(EndectomorphMusic)
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2021

Family Plan album coverFamily Plan is made up of three like-minded improvising composers, pianist Andrew Boudreau (BMus’13), bassist Símon Willson, and drummer VicenteHansen. Playing together since 2018, theyhavea bent toward insouciant experimentation and formalrigor. The band is a direct descendant of an earlier renaissance of jazz-informed collectives like The Bad Plus and The Necks, treading the fine line between form and freedom with occasional electronic touches which add dimension to the music.Thisself-titled first album, Family Plan, showcasestheir undeniablechemistryandpushedthe boundaries of jazzofferinga lot of creative music. Listeners are sure to enjoy every minute of this piano trio.



Imaginary Structures–Levi Dover Sextet(Three Pines Records)
ReleasedOctober 8, 2021

Imaginary Structures by Levi Dover Sextet album coverImaginary Structuresis the debut albumfromMontreal-based composer and double bassist LeviDover(BMus'16).Eight original compositions for sextetarebrought to life by an ensembleofmusicianswith an individualistic and contemporary approach:Lex French, trumpet (BMus'14, DMus'21),Erik Hove, alto saxophone (BMus'96, MMus'13),Andrew Boudreau, piano (BMus'13),Kyle Hutchins, drums (BMus'14), andOlivier Salazar, vibraphone(BMus'18).The albumestablishesa stylized vision of improvised music, fusing jazz with elements of progressive rock and 20th century classical music, brought together in a post-bop setting.Adreamy atmosphere andcontemplativemoodarebalanced against a tight rhythmicundercurrentthat propels the music forward, creating a narrative that unfolds gradually over the course of thealbum, andexposing differentfacetsof the composer’s imagination.


Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 4, 9 and 10 – Charles Richard-Hamelin, Andrew Wan(Analekta)
ReleasedOctober 8, 2021

Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Numbers 4, 9 and 10 by Andrew Wan and Charles Richard-Hamelin Album CoverWith their third collaborative album, Charles Richard-Hamelin(BMus'11)andSchulich professorand OSM concertmasterAndrew Wan complete the entire cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven's sonatas for violin and piano.Theexceptionalduowill captivate you with their musical expression andvirtuosity.The first volume of this cyclewasrated by Radio-Canadaas one of the best classical albums of 2018.Thisrecording includesSonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23,Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47, andSonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96.The beauty of this album is undeniable!


Scarlatti:EsserciziPer Gravicembalo –Hank Knox(Leaf Music)
ReleasedOctober 12, 2021

Scarlatti: Essercizi per gravicembalo by Hank Knox album coverAward-winning artist,early-music musician,and Schulich facultymemberHank Knoxspent the past 10 months completely immersed in Domenico Scarlatti’s only authorized publication, a collection of thirty sonatas first published in 1739 in London, England.Thisrecording of theEsserciziPer Gravicembalo(“Exercises for Harpsichord”)offers the listener a deep dive into Scarlatti’s richly inventive and imaginative musical world.Enjoy thisvirtuosic collectionand discover why it’s been inuninterrupted print since its publication 275 years ago. Mark your calendars to hear excerpts played live at Redpath Hall on November 12, 2021!


La Grazia Delle Donne–Ensemble LaCigale– Madeline Owen, Myriam LeBlanc(Analekta)
ReleasedOctober 15, 2021

La Grazia Della Donne by Ensemble La Cigale album coverWithLa Grazia Delle Donne,Ensemble LaCigale,lutenist Madeline Owen(LMus'07),and soprano Myriam Leblanc(BMus'11)introduce musical creations of women in Baroque Italy.Many of thewomencamefrom families of musicians,andpursued careers as performers and composers at Italian courts. Their works were published and shared, and they were well respected.Others had been taught by Antonio Vivaldi and played inhisorchestra, attracting international acclaim.Including works by Isabella Leonarda, Vittoria and RaffaellaAleotti, Francesca and SettimiaCaccini, Barbara Strozzi and AlessiaAldobrandini, this woman-driven album is not to be missed.


BeyondHere–Beth McKenna
ReleasedOctober 22, 2021

Beyond Here by Beth McKenna album coverWritten almost entirely prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, saxophonist and composerBethMcKenna's(BMus/BEd’13) new albumBeyond Herewas inspired by the impact we as humans have on the world around us. From conflictand climate change, to the fusion of North American culture with global influences, Beyond Here is pure energy from start-to-finish, pushing a sense of urgency to reflect on where we stand with our planet, and how our actions can echo far beyond the present.Mixinga wide range of influences,this album deliversa diverse pallet ofcoloursand shifting rhythmic textures in each piece.McKenna is joined byGuillaumeMartineau(MMus'09), Sarah Rossy (BMus'17, MMus'19),Francois Jalbert (MMus'12) andPeter Colantonio (BMus’12)on this exciting new release.


Գ-ëԲ –JinjooCho, Mathieu Herzog(NaïveClassiques)
Released digitallyOctober 29, 2021(outon CDNovember 19)

Saint-Saens by Jinjoo Cho and Mathieu Herzog album coverTheIntroduction and Rondo capriccioso,Havanaise, the finale of theConcerto No. 3, and theRomance op.48: these pieces composed between 1859 and 1887 are among the most celebrated works composed byCamilleԳ-ëԲ.They are also signature pieces of violinistand Schulich professorJinjooCho.This marks the firstrecordingcollaboration between Cho andMathieuHerzog.Cho suggested a record of allԳ-ëԲ,notingthat 2021 was the composer’s jubilee year.“Ina way there is a sense of personal nostalgia that I associate with his music,” says Cho.“Itfeels to me like meeting an old friend when IplayԳ-ëԲ.Recording this album with Mathieu and Ensemble Appassionato was an incredibly uplifting and illuminating experiencein the midst ofa pandemic."Listening to the album is sure to enthrall.


That’s all for our Release Radar! Don’t forget — if you’re part of the Schulich community and are looking forward toa November or December release, let us know to be featured in the upcoming months'Release Radars! Email us atpublicity.music [at] mcgill.ca.
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