Mary Halvorson, Kronos Quartet, Molly Tuttle, Natalie Merchant, David Byrne, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Darcy James Argue News & More
Mary Halvorson pre-order * Kronos Quartet vinyl * Molly Tuttle on 'ACL' * Natalie Merchant on BBC * David Byrne on NPR * Cécile McLorin Salvant at The Met * Darcy James Argue on BBC * and more
Available to Pre-Order
Mary Halvorson: Cloudward
Available January 19
Cloudward features eight new compositions by guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson she performs with her sextet Amaryllis—the improvisatory band that performed on her acclaimed 2022 albums Amaryllis and Belladonna: Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O’Farrill (trumpet). Laurie Anderson is featured on one track. "All the music on Cloudward was written in 2022 … when things started moving forward," Halvorson says. "Air travel had resumed, and we were once again cloudward … This band, for me, was quite simply working, both musically and personally, and the main thing I felt while writing the music was optimism."
New on Vinyl
Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass
Kronos Quartet's acclaimed 1995 album Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass gets its first-ever vinyl release in celebration of the group's 50th anniversary. The two-LP set features violinists David Harrington and John Sherba, violist Hank Dutt, and cellist Joan Jeanrenaud performing quartets No. 2 (Company) (1983), No. 3 (Mishima) (1985), No. 4 (Buczak) (1990), and No. 5 (1991), the first piece Glass wrote for Kronos. "It contains some of Glass's best music since Koyaanisqatsi," said the New York Times. "His ear for sumptuous string sonorities is undeniable." The Washington Post called it "an ideal combination of composer and performers."
News from the Nonesuch Journal
Watch: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway on Austin City Limits
"This is something I've dreamed of for so long. I've been watching Austin City Limits since I was a little kid," Molly Tuttle said when she and her band Golden Highway debuted on the PBS show this week. They performed four songs from their acclaimed new album, City of Gold and two from their 2021 Grammy-winning debut album, Crooked Tree.
Listen: Natalie Merchant on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week
Natalie Merchant was on BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week to talk with presenter Kirsty Wark and fellow guests Jeffrey Boakye and Michel Faber about her new album, Keep Your Courage, and more. She plays the second of two nights at London Palladium tonight on her European tour.
Listen: David Byrne on NPR's Fresh Air
David Byrne is on NPR's Fresh Air to talk with host Terry Gross about Talking Heads—whose 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense is in theaters now—and his own evolution, from early musical influences to overcoming setbacks, leading him to wonder what allows people to persevere. "Why is it that people don't give up? That's a real puzzle to me," he says. "I just thought, 'No, I love this. I'm going to keep doing it myself … because I enjoy it.’ So I kept going."
Watch: Cécile McLorin Salvant Performs "Mélusine" at The Met Cloisters
Cécile McLorin Salvant performs the title track to her new album, Mélusine, in the Unicorn Tapestries Room at The Met Cloisters in a new video out now as part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's performance series, MetLiveArts. This is the first of three performances she filmed there of songs from the album; the remaining two will follow in the weeks ahead.
Listen: Darcy James Argue on BBC Radio 3's J to Z
"Fifteen years ago, Darcy James Argue began making waves with his exciting 18-piece orchestra, Secret Society," BBC Radio 3's J to Z presenter Kevin Le Gendre says of his guest. "He's gone from strength to strength ever since and is now one of contemporary jazz's most notable large ensemble leaders. His music is as interesting and atmospheric as it is gutsy and powerful …" Argue talks about and shares some of the music that's inspired him and his new album, Dynamic Maximum Tension, by Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Irving Berlin, Bob Brookmeyer, and Duke Ellington.
Laurie Anderson Grand Marshals NYC Halloween Parade
Laurie Anderson was the Grand Marshal of the 50th anniversary Village Halloween Parade in NYC, along with Lou Reed in memory. She performed atop a float with drone-based sounds from Reed's guitars.
California's Role in New Music in NY Times
The New York Times spoke with John Adams, Thomas Adès, Gustavo Dudamel, and Esa-Pekka Salonen; folks from the LA Phil, San Francisco Symphony, Ojai Festivals, and Cal Performances; and others about California's role in contemporary classical music, as the statewide California Festival begins today and runs through November 19.
Nonesuch Night Out at Here Lies Love on Broadway
The Nonesuch staff had a night out to immerse ourselves in the David Byrne and Fatboy Slim musical Here Lies Love on Broadway. Kudos to Arielle Jacobs, Jose Llana, Conrad Ricamora, and the whole cast and crew!
Nonesuch Events for the Weekend
Kronos Quartet is joined by Laurie Anderson, Attacca Quartet, So Percussion, and others to celebrate its 50th anniversary at Carnegie Hall, then heads to Halifax. Sam Amidon is in Clonakilty, Ireland. Timo Andres performs Philip Glass in Chicago. Jeremy Denk is in DC. Rhiannon Giddens joins Silkroad Ensemble in Fairfax, VA. Tigran Hamasyan is in Italy and Spain, where The Magnetic Fields launch a European tour. Natalie Merchant is in London and Glasgow. Vagabon is in Milan and Lausanne with Weyes Blood. Yasmin Williams begins a tour with Valerie June, Rachael Davis, and Thao in Saxapahaw, NC.
Listen: 1989 (Nonesuch's Version)
Welcome to 1989 (Nonesuch's Version), a new playlist of works from Nonesuch Records' 1989 releases by John Adams, Edward Aldwell, Jan DeGaetani, Bill Frisell, Gipsy Kings, Philip Glass, Richard Goode, Wayne Horvitz, Kronos Quartet, Pat Metheny, Steve Reich, Rustavi Choir, Dawn Upshaw, Word of Mouth Chorus, World Saxophone Quartet, and more! You can hear it now on Spotify and Apple Music.