A place in the sun: five albums with a non-trivial interpretation of jazz and classical music

The American Kronos Quartet — one of the most famous chamber groups-released an album with new works by Terry Riley, one of the fathers of American minimalism. Nothing special: they play Riley’s music all their lives, and, for example, their album “Terry Riley: Requiem for Adam” is a masterpiece about love and pain… But then something strange and unusual was done. Let’s also remember other albums that sound either strange classics, or “normal”, but in an unusual refraction. Thank God that classical recording has its own bullies!

Kronos Quartet “Terry Reily: Sun Rings” Actually, let’s start with the “Kronos”, who have spent their entire long career either performing innovative music, or mixing it with ethnics, rock, jazz of Thelonious monk or bill Evans, and so on.Terry Riley is one of the Quartet’s favorite authors. Continue reading →