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Crossover Media


Founded in 1994, Crossover Media's client list includes: Sony Masterworks, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, BMG, and Concord, along with many Independent Labels and Artists. Projects include collaborations with the following artists: 2CELLOS, Alexandre Desplat, Andras Schiff, Andrea Bocelli, Andris Nelsons, Anna Netrebko, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Angele Dubeau, Angelique Kidjo, Anoushka Shankar, Antonio Sanchez, Arcade Fire, Arturo Sandoval, Bebel Gilberto, Becca Stevens, Bela Fleck, Bettye LaVette, Bill Frisell, Bill Charlap, Bill Murray, Billy Childs, Billy Joel, Bob James, Bobby McFerrin, Brandee Younger, Branford Marsalis, Brian Eno, Cassandra Wilson, Cecilia Bartoli, Charlie Haden, Chick Corea, Chilly Gonzales, Daniel Barenboim, Daniel Hope, Daniil Trifonov, David Crosby, David Foster, David Sanborn, Devonte Hynes, Diana Krall, Don Sebesky, Ella Fitzgerald, Emanuel Ax, Ennio Morricone, Evgeny Kissin, Frank Sinatra, Gabriel Kahane, George Benson, George Winston, Gustavo Dudamel, Gustavo Santaolalla, Hans Zimmer, Helene Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, Hildur Guonadottir, Hubert Laws, Hubert Sumlin, Huey Lewis & The News, Igor Levit, Itzhak Perlman, Jake Shimabukuro, Jan Garbarek, Jarvis Cocker, Jeff Goldblum, Jessye Norman, Jethro Tull, Jimmy Webb, Joan Baez, Joe Lovano, Joey Alexander, Johann Johannsson, John Coltrane, John Scofield, John Williams, Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, Jonny Greeenwood, Joshua Bell, Joy Harjo, Joyce DiDonato, Keith Jarrett, Kenny Barron, Krzysztof Penderecki, Kurt Masur, Lee Konitz, Leif Ove Andsnes, Lena Horne, London Symphony Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti, Madison Cunningham, Mark O'Connor, Martha Argerich, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Max Richter, Medeski Martin & Wood, Melody Gardot, Michel Camilo, Paul McCartney, Paul Winter, Pete Townshend, Phil Woods, Rachel Portman, Randall Goosby, Ray Charles, Regina Carter, Renee Fleming, Richard Reed Parry, Rick Wakeman, Rodney Dangerfield, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Rufus Wainwright, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Samara Joy, Seiji Ozawa, Sergio Mendes, Seth MacFarlane, Shabaka Hutchings, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Sinead O'Connor, Snarky Puppy, Sonny Rollins, Sons of Kemet, Soweto Gospel Choir, Stanley Turrentine, SYML, Terence Blanchard, Terry Riley, The Bad Plus, The Choir Of King's College Cambridge, The Comet Is Coming, The Cranberries, The Derek Trucks Band, The Hilliard Ensemble, The Hot Sardines, The Piano Guys, The Stan Getz Quartet, The Manhattan Transfer, The New York Philharmonic, Thelonious Monk, Theo Bleckmann, Theo Croker, Third Coast Percussion, Time for Three, Tony Bennett, Tuck and Patti, Vangelis, Vienna Philharmonic, Vijay Iyer, Vikingur Olafsson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vladimir Horowitz, VOCES8, Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis, Yannick Nezet-Sequin, Yo-Yo Ma, Yuja Wang, and many others. 
 

"Music is a science. Music is mathematical. Music is a foreign language. Music is History. Music is physical education. Music develops Insight and demands research. Music is all these things, but most of all, MUSIC IS ART. That is why we teach music. Not because we expect you to play or sing all your life...But so you will be human...So you will recognize beauty...So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world...So you will have something to cling to...So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good- in short, more LIFE."   - Ludwig van Beethoven

For more information contact Max Horowitz    maxcrossover@gmail.com

Top 10 Albums For March 26, 2023

  • Killius - Zehetmair - Royal Northern Sinfonia

    Bartok/Casken/Beethoven

    This New Series album represents a summing up of Thomas Zehetmair’s work with Britain’s Royal Northern Sinfonia, described by the Austrian-born violinist and conductor, at the time of its recording, as “a résumé and a departure”.  In his 12 years as Music Director of the British chamber orchestra, Zehetmair was noted both for bringing compelling new music into the repertoire and for insightful performances of classical and modern composition.

    The album includes the premiere recording of British composer John Casken’s That Subtle Knot, written in 2012-3 for Zehetmair, Ruth Killius and the Northern Sinfonia. Inspired by the poetry of John Donne, the composition establishes a broad arc between the English Renaissance and music of today, paints portraits of the dedicatees, and draws influence, too, from the rugged landscapes of the North of England.  The title of the piece comes from Donne’s poem The Ecstasy. The poem focuses upon two lovers sitting on a riverbank, hands entwined: “Our eye beams twisted and did thread / Our eyes upon one double string.” The image seemed to John Casken perfect for a double concerto for viola and violin.

  • Gianluigi Trovesi - Stefano Montanari

    Stravaganze consonanti

    More than 20 years ago Umberto Eco singled out “the quest for ancient timbres and classical echoes” that contributed, alongside “original inventions” to the special character of Gianluigi Trovesi’s art. The clarinets and saxophone of the reedman from Italy’s Lombardy region have spoken a sort of polyglot tongue almost from the outset, and each of his ECM albums has differently combined, contrasted and blended ingredients of diverse idioms.

    On Stravaganze consonanti, an inspired collaboration with noted baroque violinist and conductor and Stefano Montanari, Trovesi extends the line of musical enquiry posited on his operatic Prufumo di violetta album. Supported this time by a cast of players well-versed in the ancient sounds of period instruments and the art of historical performance practice, he looks anew at music of the renaissance and the baroque – at Purcell, Dufay, Trabaci, Desprez and more. He also adds compositions of his own and stirs some additional improvising with percussion and electronics man Fulvio Maras into the intoxicating brew. As Montanari writes in the CD booklet, “Trovesi grasps the power and refinement of a language that passes in the blink of an eye from Dufay to Purcell, arriving at jazz without ever losing the profound meaning of a musical fabric whose primary motive is universal communication.”

  • Rachel Willis-Sorensen

    Strauss - Four Last Songs

    Sony Classical International proudly announces the second solo album by American soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen, to be released on March 10. Presenting works of Richard Strauss’s later years, Willis-Sørensen’s latest release pairs the composer’s sublime Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) with the closing scene of his final opera, Capriccio. Renowned conductor Andris Nelsons leads the Gewandhausorchester and German bass Sebastian Pilgrim joins Willis-Sørensen for the Capriccio scene.

    The first single “Frühling,” the opening track of the Four Last Songs is out today – Listen here.  Setting poet Hermann Hesse’s rapturous vision of spring, this matchlessly soaring music will provide listeners with an ideal introduction to Willis-Sørensen’s undisputable affinity for Strauss.

  • Various

    Storytellers On Verbier Festival Gold

    Verbier Festival Gold's first release of 2023 is based on the concept of storytelling, a theme that is central to many of the festival’s performances. This offering pairs two tantalizing performances from the very first summers of the organization's history. First, Peter Ustinov narrates Jean de Brunhoff's iconic tale "L'Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant". Charming piano accompaniment by Poulenc, played by Roger Vignoles, serves as a backdrop to the text. Second, world-renowned soprano Barbara Hendricks is joined by Carmina Quartet for a stunning rendition of Fauré's “La Bonne Chanson”. The gorgeous poems of Paul Verlaine unfold their very own charm in Hendrick's interpretation.

  • Keith Jarrett

    Book Of Ways

    ‘Book of Ways’ was recorded on the 14th of July 1986 in Ludwigsburg. Rather amazing is the great variety of sound and rhythm – Jarrett played alternately one or two instruments simultaneously. Beyond unmistakeable echoes of lute music and Japanese koto, the whole range of modes of expression the clavichord is capable of is being fathomed out. All this has been supported by studio techniques, which recorded the sound of the instrument with rarely heard intensity.

    About ‘Book of Ways’ Keith Jarrett noted in 2002:
    „To my knowledge, this recording is unique in several ways. We had three clavichords in the studio, two of which were angled together so that I could play them both simultaneously, and the third off to the side. Also we miked the instruments very closely so that the full range of dynamics could be used (clavichords are very quiet and cannot be heard more than a few feet away). The two CDs were made on an off day between concerts with my Trio, and no material was organized beforehand. Everything was spontaneous. The recording was done in four hours.” – Keith Jarrett, 2002

  • Bobo Stenson Trio

    Sphere

    The current incarnation of Bobo Stenson’s Trio, with Anders Jormin on bass and percussionist Jon Fält, has been active for almost two decades now, during the course of which they’ve recorded four albums – including this new one. The first, Cantando (2008), further investigated Bobo’s fluent ability to cover a wide range of influences and idioms, seamlessly integrating the new configuration into his personal sound from the start. The record prompted The Guardian to say, “few contemporary jazz groups sustain an atmosphere as evocatively as Swedish pianist Stenson’s trio, or conjure so many moods across a variety of material from Ornette Coleman to Alban Berg”. Praise continued with follow-up Indicum (2012), The New York Times noting that Bobo “is rightly heralded for his subtleties of touch and mood”, and then again with Contra La Indecision in 2018, which BBC Music Magazine called a “beautiful session”, proving ”that there is still much to be explored and revealed within this format.” More revelations and proof of the trio’s distinguished art are ever-present on Sphere.

  • Brandee Younger

    Brand New Life

    GRAMMY®-nominated harpist and composer Brandee Younger announces her new album, Brand New Life (Impulse! Records), set for release on April 7th. Out now, the first single off of the Dorothy Ashby inspired album is the previously unrecorded and evocative Ashby composition, “You’re A Girl For One Man Only.” 

    Produced by multi-hyphenate drummer and composer Makaya Mccraven, on Brand New Life, Younger celebrates one of her greatest inspirations, iconic jazz harpist and composer Dorothy Ashby. Ashby is widely credited with having asserted the harp’s place in contemporary music, showcasing the traditionally-classical instrument on groundbreaking albums such as Afro-Harping and Dorothy’s Harp. Her unparalleled body of work has continued to be influential for decades and has been heavily sampled and transposed across jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, by artists including Jay-Z, J. Dilla, Pete Rock and Flying Lotus.

    Brand New Life is a stunning amalgamation of past and present, combining original works from Younger, select reinterpretations of Ashby’s work, and previously-unrecorded compositions by Ashby. Younger was initially introduced to Ashby’s work through the many hip-hop artists who sampled her music, and now collaborates with some of those very artists on Brand New Life, including the legendary Pete Rock and 9th Wonder. Brand New Life also includes features by Meshell N’degeocello, Mumu Fresh, and production by drummer and composer  Makaya McCraven. Younger says of the album, “Creating this album has been a longtime dream of mine. I really had a lot of living to do before being able to execute it, genuinely. The finished product is truly representative of where I am now and it is an honor to convey that through the compositions of one of my heroes.”

  • L. DRE

    LOFI Symphony

    A new music genre has emerged in the last few years, mainly thanks to streaming playlists: LoFi beats are chilled instrumental hip-hop tracks whose hazy, hissing aesthetic makes them sound as if they’ve been lifted from well-worn cassette tapes. LA-based producer L.Dre is a true master of this style, but in making his album LoFi Symphony for Deutsche Grammophon he rose to a completely new challenge by blending LoFi beats with high-quality orchestral recordings of classical music. His bold combination of two musical worlds, involving a conscious clash of styles, has led to impressive results on an album that’s more than just the sum of its parts.

  • Sandrayati

    Safe Ground

    Moving from place to place whilst growing up, to follow her parents' calling in fighting for the rights of indigenous people, meant that human connection became home. Developing an intimate relationship with land also plays a role in defining her home. Sandrayati draws her inspiration for this from a particular indigenous community, the Mollo people from East Indonesia. The enchanting single “Suara Dunia,” out today on Decca Records, represents the admiration she has for them.

  • Tyler Bates - Timothy Williams

    Agent Elvis

    Milan Records today releases AGENT ELVIS (SOUNDTRACK FROM THE NETFLIX SERIES) by TYLER BATES and TIMOTHY WILLIAMS. Available everywhere now, the album features music written by the composing duo for Netflix’s new animated series, which follows the King of Rock and Roll on a fictional foray into espionage. From the suave bassline of the series’ main theme to the surf rock-tinged end credits number, the 24-track collection pays homage to the classic spy films of the ‘60s, infusing the series with the perfect soundtrack to Elvis’ secret missions. Also included on the album is a special cover of Chuck Berry’s blues standard “Memphis, Tennessee” performed by Craig Robinson. Created by Priscilla Presley and John Eddie, Agent Elvis makes its debut exclusively on Netflix on Friday, March 17 from Sony Pictures Animation.

Stories For March 26, 2023

  • Olafur Arnalds links with Ella McRobb on new single "and we'll leave it there" / THE LINE of BEST FIT
    Posted At : March 23, 2023 12:00 AM
    Grammy-nominated composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds releases ‘and we’ll leave it there…’, the result of an unlikely encounter between the Icelandic composer and unsigned rising singer-songwriter Ella McRobb connecting by chance through social media. The 23-year-old Londoner was inspired and moved by Ólafur’s short sound check improvisation posted on Instagram reel, which grew into a global viral hit, reaching 2.2 million views and counting. Collaboration is the cornerstone of Ólafur’s work, who lists 2023 BRIT Award nominee Bonobo, Nils Frahm and RY X as collaborators amongst others.This release of  ‘and we’ll leave it there…’ is the tale of two musical talents coming together through social media to create something special, and resonates like a modern day collaboration story for Ella McRobb. Moved by Ólafur’s music, Ella decided to improvise her own lyrics to one of the Icelandic composer’s improvisations to tell her personal experience on loss and heartbreak.Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Ella added her soulful vocals to the piece creating a heart-wrenching new composition. Without expectation, ahead of playing netball, absolutely unaware of Ólafur and the colossal dimension of his body of work, she shared it on TikTok, using the duet feature of the platform. Stunned by the quality of the resulting creation and Ella’s talent, Ólafur reached out to her, starting an exchange of voice notes and zoom calls which then developed into a full-on collaboration. In less than two weeks, he offered her the opportunity to record a studio version and film a music video in Iceland.Speaking about the track, Ólafur Arnalds says: “Social media can often feel disingenuous and detached, but this was one of those moments where I was reminded of the magic that can happen in the digital space. I found Ella on a Sunday doom-scroll, being a little curious about all the people who had used an improvisation I had posted a few weeks earlier in their content. Most of it was cute animals or inspirational quotes but amidst all the noise I found Ella's video. Her mesmerising voice over my improvisation just floored me. And after I had listened to it about 30 times I decided to just get in touch. A couple of weeks later she was on a plane to Iceland where we finished the song and filmed the video. A beautiful reminder of what social media can really bring to creativity."Feeling grateful, Ella McRobb adds “When I heard Ólafur’s piano improvisation it instantly made me emotional. It sparked a beautiful moment of inspiration that I am so grateful to have had the pleasure of turning into a song with him. My whirlwind of a weekend trip to Iceland was magical as is the story of this all coming together considering the fact that Óli and I didn’t even know each other 6 weeks ago!”Ólafur Arnalds and Ella McRobb’s unexpected collaboration is sure to leave fans wanting more…


    THE LINE OF BEST FIT - Cerys Kenneally writes….Ólafur Arnalds has teamed up with Ella McRobb, a new artist he found while scrolling on social media, on a new single titled "and we'll leave it there...". "and we'll leave it there..." was created by Arnalds and McRobb after Arnalds found her while "on a Sunday doom-scroll," and was "floored" by her vocals. She then joined Arnalds in Iceland to create the song and video, which is directed by Álfheiður Marta. Arnalds said in full: "I found Ella on a Sunday doom-scroll, being a little curious about all the people who had used an improvised piano clip I had posted a few weeks earlier in their own content. "Amidst all the noise I found Ella's video and her mesmerising voice over my improvisation just floored me. After I had listened to it about 30 times I decided to just get in touch. A couple of weeks later she was on a plane to Iceland where we finished the song and filmed the video."A beautiful reminder of what social media can really bring to creativity." The new single marks Arnalds' first new material since joining Sandrayati on "Vast" in January. In November last year Arnalds released his Some Kind of Peace (Piano Reworks) album featuring JFDR, Eydís Evensen, Alfa Mist and more. Ólafur Arnalds' "and we'll leave it there..." single featuring Ella McRobb is out now.
     SEE THE LINE OF BEST FIT PAGE
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  • Eydis Evensen shares 'Anna's Theme' from much anticipated second album The Light / BroadwayWorld
    Posted At : March 26, 2023 12:00 AM
    Eydís Evensen will release her much anticipated second album ‘The Light’ on May 26th via XXIM Records/Sony. 

    BroadwayWorld's Michael Major writes….Icelandic pianist and composer, Eydís Evensen will release her much anticipated second album 'The Light' on May 26th via XXIM Records/Sony.Following a weekend in Austin at SXSW including the Iceland Airwaves showcase, Eydís shares the new single & video for "Anna's Theme." The track showcases her on an inspirational high, displaying a delicate fluidity that stamps her style as one of the most striking of this new generation of neo-classical pianists.Evensen cites two underlying themes to the 'The Light': it is both a deep reflection on the rough and rugged landscapes of Iceland and how they have shaped her personality, as it is a personal expression of a sense of hope and brighter times following hardship. Both are represented by the theme of light - the inner light that guides us and the natural light, so rare in the dark Icelandic winters.Written from personal experience at a time of relief and closure in her own life, Evensen is passing on here a message of both personal and collective hope and resilience to her listeners that better must come. Having dealt with personal challenges in the very best way she knows how - at the piano, making music, this cathartic experience of intense composition and performance has culminated in 'The Light'.
    'The Light' reflects Evensen's deep attachment to the rough landscapes and weather conditions of her native Iceland and how its unique environment impacts and shapes the people who live there. The title of the first single 'Tephra Horizon' - released today to announce the new album - refers to the extraordinary imprint left on a landscape by volcanic ash from a single eruption.Her inspiration behind this powerful track featuring interwoven piano, brass and strings is her witnessing the Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption of 2021 with its potentially destructive power and dramatic outcome. In the accompanying video directed by Einar Egilsson we see Evensen returning to a site near the eruption, dancing on the tephra layer, as if claiming the territory as her own.Evensen has spoken of the impact on her work of both the ancient Icelandic choral tradition and also its time-honoured poetry tradition, going back to the famous sagas from the earliest days of settlement on the remote island.For 'The Light' she wrote a choral piece - based on one of her own poems - entitled 'The Light II', performed here by acclaimed Icelandic choir Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. The first part refers to "a beautiful light that froze" to which the second part returns, heralding "the beautiful light still survives". Her own singing voice can be heard on her song 'Dreaming of Light', for which Evensen also penned the lyrics.Following recent performances at major tastemaker events throughout Europe, which include Reeperbahn Festival, ARTE Concert Festival, Iceland Airwaves and Eurosonic (ESNS), a tour of the USA and Canada will come later in the year, following shows throughout Europe and the UK in Summer 2023 (tour dates below). Her KEXP 'Live at Home' session has been seen by almost 4 million viewers to date.
    SEE THE BroadwayWorld PAGE
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  • Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra team with Kelly Clarkson for 'Don't Fence Me In' and 'Strollin' / UPROXX
    Posted At : March 25, 2023 12:00 AM
    Jeff Goldblum releases his new EP ‘Plays Well With Others’ via Decca Records. There is no stopping Jeff Goldblum and his inimitable style, especially when it comes to something as close to his heart as playing the piano. Goldblum especially loves to accompany, punctuate, converse musically with friends and fellow music-makers, and so is in his element on this new release for 2023.New single ‘Don’t Fence Me In’ is also out today, featuring multi-million-selling and award-winning singer Kelly Clarkson for Cole Porter’s 1930s classic. And what better choice for the opening words, “Wildcat Kelly..” beautifully delivered by Clarkson. This should also come as no surprise as Jeff actually put the idea to Kelly on camera, as a guest on her TV show, and even suggested the track. She said yes there and then! And they remained true to their word.‘Plays Well With Others’ delivers sheer joy with Goldblum’s idiosyncratic take on a collection of standards that, for him, are amongst the best songs ever written. Here, the actor yet again brings his on-screen charisma and eccentricities to the keys, with a groove that is totally unique. With all tracks newly arranged by The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra themselves, Jeff is, as the EP title suggests, joined by an array of talented, and unexpected, guest singers, all as thrilled to be accompanied by Jeff as he is to accompany them.Jeff describes the experience of making the EP, “The experience of collaborating with these fantastic singers has made me feel that I have revealed myself to myself, and has left me utterly drenched and purged.”

    On ‘Moon River’, the first single from the EP, Jeff was joined by vocalist Mattiel Brown of the indie-rock duo, Mattiel. This unusual collaboration in fact comes as no surprise, with the small clue of Brown’s own band’s song, ‘Jeff Goldblum’. The band, Mattiel, has also been known to have Jeff’s face projected onto the stage at gigs. Listen to ‘Moon River’ here. 
    With his inimitable style, Goldblum provides a suitably laid-back piano accompaniment to the remarkable voice of Freda Payne on a new version of ‘Lazy Afternoon’, the latest single released from the EP. It is not the first time Freda performs with Jeff and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, having joined them on stage previously.

    Finally, Brazilian singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante who, having been admired by Jeff and the band from afar, joins them for the laid back 1962 song ‘I Wanna Be Around’. 

    In between numbers from the starring vocalists, Jeff and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra look after things with a couple of instrumental tracks. To open the record, Jeff greets us with an effortless and inviting piano intro to the swinging sax-led tune, ‘A Baptist Beat’ (by Hank Mobley). The listener is later treated to a lilting bossa nova version of the 1950s song ‘In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning’, serving as a half-way point in the EP, and showcasing yet more dazzling solo moments from this brilliant band, with Goldblum bringing everyone together, in the way only he can.


    UPROXX - Alex Gonzalez writes……Jeff Goldblum And The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra has finally released their new EP, Plays Well With Others. On the EP, Goldblum and his band cover songs which Goldblum considers to be among the best ever written.On one of the EP’s six songs, Goldblum And The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra teamed up with Kelly Clarkson for a cover of “Don’t Fence Me In” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters mashed up with an instrumental rendition of “Strollin'” by Horace Silver.On the song, Clarkson delivers her impeccable vocals, while maintaining a happy, carefree demeanor over breezy instrumentation.Goldblum actually manifested this collaboration months ago, when he was a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show. He explained that he has a band, and would like to collaborate with Clarkson.“If you would sing on our next little recording,” he saidClarkson then replied, “If you would ask me.”Goldblum then presented the idea of covering “Don’t Fence Me In,” though, at the time, Clarkson admitted she wasn’t familiar with the original song. But thankfully, she was up for a challenge that proved worthwhile.You can listen to “Don’t Fence Me In / Strollin'” above.Kelly Clarkson is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.SEE THE UPROXX PAGE
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  • Black Violin set for Boise's Morrison Center / Idaho Press
    Posted At : March 25, 2023 12:00 AM
    Idaho Press writes…..Any music act with a unique sound — such as Black Violin’s fusion of classical music and hip-hop — is bound to sound familiar from album to album. But violinist Kev Marcus has no problem seeing a difference between “Take The Stairs,” and especially the previous two albums he has made as one half of the duo, Black Violin. In fact, he can sum it up in one word.“This is the most authentic album we’ve ever done,” he said in a phone interview. “The album is who we are. That was the best part of it. It didn’t feel like we had to try to conform or act like anything else, and we were still able to make an album that we feel very, very proud about without necessarily compromising our ideas in any way — all without being preachy.”

    Marcus will allow that the first Black Violin album (a 2008 self-titled effort) was also very authentic. But he sees several reasons why he and his partner in Black Violin, viola/keyboardist/singer Wil Baptiste, were able to achieve start-to-finish authenticity on “Take The Stairs.”“Our very first album was, it was our life’s work,” he said. “It’s everything up until the point where we were 23 years old and we put that out. But since then, this is the most authentic album, and I think it’s because honestly, we had a long time to do it. (The previous album) ‘Stereotypes’ came out in 2015, we were looking for producers, looking for different situations since we had to fight to get out of our deal with Universal. We had so many other things that were happening at that time.“Then (in 2018), we got together with (producer) Phil (Beaudreau) in like September, and the album was done in like October,” Marcus said. “I mean, I’m more at peace with every note on this project than I’ve ever been on anything we’ve ever done. So I think that’s some of it, just the authenticity of it. There are no, we would say on previous albums, there were songs that were like breast implants. Like they’re us, we wrote the song, but the song’s on the album because there’s a good feature (guest artist) on it. Maybe it doesn’t perfectly sync up or match with the album. But there’s a really good feature on it or there’s a big-time producer on it or the label really likes it. This album has none of that. Like the only thing that’s on the album, every note and every word, we both loved it and wanted it. Because of that, there’s this authenticity, there’s this real rawness, this genuineness about it.”Marcus feels three songs from “Take The Stairs” that lean decidedly classical, “Rise,” “Serenade” and “Elgar Nimrod,” represent new twists in the way he and Baptiste write music, while most of the other songs continue to demonstrate the duo’s ability to blend hip-hop and classical instrumentation and melody in fairly equal measures. For instance, “One Step” starts out with a sonic blast that’s almost industrial before layering in hip-hop beats and an R&B-leaning vocal melody (sung by Baptiste, who has grown into a quite capable singer). “Lost in the Garden” has a bit of Marvin Gaye in its soulful sound, while “Spaz,” “Showoff” and “Dreamer” are good examples of the melding of hip-hop and classical.This musical hybrid is something Marcus and Baptiste first began forming in high school, when one day Marcus had an idea for how to incorporate violin into the Busta Rhymes song “Gimme Some More.”That musical idea, however, was put on hold when, in 2004, after winning the “Showtime at the Apollo” talent competition, Marcus and Baptiste were introduced to the manager of Alicia Keys and were then hired to join her band for a performance during the 2004 “Billboard Music Awards.”This led to opportunities to tour, not only with Keys, but Jay-Z, Kanye West and Linkin Park, among the notable acts. But the duo never lost sight of the idea of creating their own music, and eventually they decided to stop taking touring gigs and pursue Black Violin in earnest.The self-titled debut arrived in 2008, followed in 2012 by “Classically Trained” and then ‘Stereotypes.” Along the way, Black Violin has built a robust touring business, has had multiple songs used in commercials, television, movies and other media and has also become very involved in a variety of programs, including their own foundation, that encourage kids to pursue music or whatever careers they are passionate about — a message that is very much woven through several songs on “Take The Stairs,” which was released in November 2019.With “Take The Stairs” out and concert venues reopening, Marcus and Baptiste have returned to the road, bringing along drummer Nat Stokes and turntablist extraordinaire DJ SPS—both longtime touring members — to create a unique live experience.“It’s more dynamic than the show has ever been because of (the “Take The Stairs”) album,” Marcus said. “Of course, we tell kids to dream, tell people to dream, the impossible is possible, just run through walls for whatever you’re passionate about. All of the messaging of the album is pretty much there (in the show).”Black Violin is set for their Boise ID Morrison Center performance on March 28. SEE THE Idaho Press PAGE
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  • BBC Music Magazine reviews the third in the Catalyst Quartet's series devoted to repertoire by Black American composers
    Posted At : March 21, 2023 12:00 AM
    Uncovered, Vol. 3
    Perkinson: String Quartet No. 1, ‘Calvary’; Grant Still: Lyric Quartette; G Walker: String Quartet No. 1, ‘Lyric’
    Catalyst Quartet
    Azica Records 71357   55:00 mins
     The lives of William Grant Still, George Walker, and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, which unfolded between 1895 and 2018, encompassed the regime of racial terror that characterized the US following Reconstruction; the various Black artistic, political, and social projects that transformed the US in the 20th century; and the deep contradictions that continue to plague the US today. Indeed, as Perkinson said of his own position as a Black composer in the 1970s in relation to his forebears, we can say that “the situation has changed today; it has not changed very much, but it has changed.” The compositions featured here were written roughly between 1940 and 1956, and they represent Walker and Perkinson in their youths and Still in his prime. Each is a testament to these composers’ important place in the history of concert music in the US, their negotiations of competing aesthetic traditions of the 20th century, and their creative and deliberate engagement with what musicologist Eileen Southern referred to as “Black musical materials” in their compositional styles.
     BBC Music Magazine's Geoff Brown writes……Third in the Catalyst Quartet’s series devoted to repertoire by Black American composers, this album (a digital-only release) begins with the first quartet by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932–2004), an eclectic spirit who was happy to hop between classical and popular music, jazz and the adjacent worlds of ballet, television and films. Haunted by the rising and falling opening phrase of the spiritual String Quartet No. 1, ‘Calvary’, this tautly argued early work from 1956 is rhythmically ebullient and lyrically graceful, and pursues both moods in a forthright manner admirably complemented by the Catalyst players’ full-blooded tone.Arriving after this vibrant attraction, the Lyric Quartette by William Grant Still (1895–1978) strikes the ear by comparison as the musical equivalent of limp celery. Composed it seems in the 1940s, the piece adopts a ‘universal’ melting pot of styles, variously depicting a gently euphonious Southern plantation, a pioneer settlement’s barn dance and a mountain vista in the Incas’ Peru, all in pretty pale colours that the players can’t do much to amend.

    Vigour and rigour happily return in George Walker’s String Quartet No. 1, written when still a student in 1946, and the most abstract piece here. The central movement has long been famous in its orchestral arrangement (the Lyric for strings), but its simple lamenting mood hits home all the more when the varied and emotionally complex outer movements are placed on either side. Whatever the mood, Walker’s craftsmanship ensures clean lines and immediate impact, and the Catalyst Quartet pitch into the work’s beauties with equal craftsmanship and love.
     SEE THE BBC Music Magazine PAGE
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  • Classical 91.5WXXI - Rochester 'CD Spotlight' is 'Arctic' by Eldbjrg Hemsing
    Posted At : March 17, 2023 12:00 AM
    The Sony Classical debut album “Arctic” from internationally acclaimed Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing is a musical journey through the Arctic. It features newly composed music by composer stars such as Jacob Shea (“The Blue Planet”) and Frode Fjellheim (“Frozen”). It is scheduled for release on 3 February 2023.The collaboration between Sony Classical and concert violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing starts off with a unique concept album. “Arctic” is a musical journey through a stunningly beautiful region and a celebration of a fragile and largely unexplored ecosystem threatened by climate change.“The Arctic is often misrepresented as stark and uninhabitable wasteland,” Hemsing explains. “Yet it’s a region of matchless beauty abounding in life, one that magically illustrates how all things cohere in fragile cycles. ‘Arctic’ is a musical journey through this unique and endangered natural habitat. I want this project to show people how magnificent and deserving of protection this landscape is, and to point out the threat of climate change, which affects us all.”


    Classical 91.5 WXXI - Julia Figueras writes…..Eldbjørg Hemsing grew up in small Norwegian town, just 62 miles south of the Arctic circle. Her father was a park ranger, her mother was a violinist; these things left a deep and lasting impression on Hemsing, who brings her violin and deep love for the frozen world of her childhood to her new CD, Arctic. This is a musical exploration of that fragile ecosystem, now endangered by climate change.Says Hemsing, “When I first visited the Arctic, I had this majestic feeling I cannot quite explain. I felt a magnetic belonging to nature. I felt so small in this vast landscape and realized that I am just a tiny element in the grand cycles of nature and there’s nothing I can do about it. Since then, I have been drawn to this fascinating region.”Arctic is her love letter to this vast and wild territory, as well as an expression of her concern for its increasingly imperiled existence. The CD opens with Jacob Shea’s “Arctic Suite,” which begins with the movement “Frozen World,” and ends with the warning “Sea Ice Melting.” After that, there’s a series of shorter works that draw from film music, neo-classical works, and romantic-era composers, concluding with Grieg’s “Last Spring”—one final word of caution before the last notes fade away. But it is a warning that is gently delivered as the CD immerses you in a sauna of sound while violinist Hemsing leans into each piece with a gentle authority. The alarm has been sounded. Will we hear it?


    SEE THE 91.5WXXI - Rochester NY PAGE


    Sharing releases, present and past, to brighten your day. WXXI Classical has its eyes and ears on the latest releases from classical artists working today. When we come across a story or a release we think you might enjoy, we’ll be sharing it with you on CD Spotlight. You’ll learn more about the artists online at WXXI Classical, and you’ll hear selections from these artists on FM 91.5. CD Spotlight shares new releases by artists that you’ll want to know and some by great artists and ensembles that deserve to be in the spotlight again.
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  • Willie Nelson honored with Texas educational endowment / AP
    Posted At : March 22, 2023 12:00 AM
    Since the mid-1970s, Willie Nelson has emerged as one of the most versatile, enduring, and influential talents in country music. As a vocal stylist, songwriter, bandleader, and even occasional movie actor, his long commercial reign (twenty #1 country hits and 114 chart singles between 1962 and 1993) has been outstripped only by his boundless energy as a performer and songwriter. Since the mid-1950s, his recorded output has been so vast as to confound all but the most dedicated discographers.A Born Songwriter
    Growing up in central Texas, Nelson came under the influence of a wide diversity of abiding musical influences—not just the Grand Ole Opry stars of the day, but also more indigenous sounds: the Texas honky-tonk of Ernest Tubb, the western swing of Bob Wills, and even the German-American polka bands he often played in as a youth.Nelson did a brief stint in the Air Force and married Martha Mathews (the first of four wives) in 1952. He played in various local Texas bands and worked as a DJ at stations in Texas and Vancouver, Washington, where, in the mid-1950s, he made his earliest self-released recordings.Back in Texas in the late 1950s, Nelson worked at various day jobs and performed extensively in rough-and-tumble honky-tonks in the Houston area. He had begun writing songs as a little boy, and by the 1950s he was starting to turn out fully realized masterpieces such as “Night Life” (recorded by dozens of artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra) and “Family Bible.”In 1960 Nelson relocated to Nashville, where he met songwriter Hank Cochran, who connected Nelson with Hal Smith and his Pamper Music publishing house. Nelson soon blossomed as one of Music City’s most gifted and prolific writers. “Crazy” (first popularized by Patsy Cline), “Funny How Time Slips Away” (a hit for Billy Walker), and “Hello Walls” (Faron Young) are a few of the best known of his compositions from the early 1960s. In 1963 Nelson married his second wife, Shirley Collie (ex-wife of DJ Biff Collie).In 1962, Nelson signed his first major label recording contract, with Liberty Records. In that same year, his first two singles—“Touch Me” and “Willingly” (a duet with Shirley Collie)—reached the country Top Ten. In November 1964, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Yet despite numerous single and album releases on Liberty and then RCA Records, it would not be until 1975 that Nelson reached the Top Ten again. His wiry baritone and his manner of phrasing—singing slightly ahead of or behind the beat, which was something he learned listening to Frank Sinatra and other pop singers—were just a bit too far off the beaten path of 1960s mainstream Nashville conventions.


    AP's ACACIA CORONADO writes….The 89-year-old country music icon, who in the 1980s helped launch the Farm Aid benefit concerts, is the namesake of the new Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities at the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs, the school announced Wednesday.The endowment will fund research and student fellowships benefiting rural and farm communities. The “Always on My Mind” singer has raised more than $70 million for family farm owners through Farm Aid, according to the school, which also plans to honor the Texas native at a May gala.“Willie Nelson is a national treasure who gained fame through his sheer musical talent and won hearts as someone who truly cares about the lives of his fellow Americans,” Larry Temple, Chairman of the LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees, said in a statement.At the Grammys last month, Nelson’s won best country album for “A Beautiful Time” and best country solo performance for “Live Forever.” He has won a dozen Grammys over the course of his career.He will receive the LBJ Foundation’s Liberty and Justice for All award, joining a list of recipients that include former U.S. presidents, members of Congress and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.SEE THE AP PAGE
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Max Horowitz

maxcrossover@gmail.com

A graduate of the Aaron Copland School of Music(Queens College NYC), Max Horowitz is the principle of Crossover Media Music Promotion. Founded in 1994, Crossover Media's client list includes: Sony Masterworks, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, BMG, and Concord, along with many Independent Labels and Artists. Prior to establishing Crossover Media, Mr. Horowitz served as Producer for SiriusXM, Music Choice, Classical-104WNCN - New York, and the DayNET Talk Network, and is the recipient of The George Foster Peabody Award, the 'International Radio Festival of New York Award, and '2 New York State Broadcaster Awards. His production work on long form radio shows and podcasts includes collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, Jonny Greeenwood, Richard Reed Parry, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Leonard Slatkin, Yannick Nezet-Sequin, Vladimir Horowitz, Emanuel Ax, JoAnn Falletta, Daniel Hope, Nico Muhly, John Scofield, Steve Swallow, The Bad Plus, Marcus Roberts, Rachel Portman, Alexandre Desplat, Ilan Eshkeri, Jeff Beal, Jung Jaeil, and many others. Mr. Horowitz is also a contributor to ‘Understanding The Music Business’ published by Simon & Schuster.

Amanda Bloom

amandacrossover@gmail.com

Amanda Bloom is the publicity and communications manager at Crossover Media. A Brooklyn resident, Amanda is also an active NYC jazz vocalist who draws musical inspiration from a wide range of influences. Crossover Media's projects which encompass multiple genres has been a great fit for her both personally and professionally. Amanda earned a BM in jazz vocal performance from the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University under the guidance of Jay Clayton & Gary Thomas.

Zachary Swanson

zacharycrossover@gmail.com

Zachary Swanson began studying the double bass at the age of 6 in his home state of Massachusetts. Using gut strings and a personalized technique, Zachary has developed a conception of the double bass that heightens the integrity of various musical environments. He can be found playing around New York City and beyond in a variety of styles, ranging from adventurous improvised music to backing singer-songwriters. Zachary is a graduate of the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where he has made his home since 2012. 

Eeppi Ursin



Eeppi Ursin is a platinum-selling, award-winning singer-songwriter, jazz vocalist and pianist originally from Finland. Ursin is known for her angelic-strong voice and exceptional skill set ranging from top-class performance to writing music for various groups. Her stage presence combines warmth, style, humor and virtuosity. Her recordings and performances as a singer vary from pop, jazz, dance, a cappella and children's music.

Throughout her career she has captivated audiences all around the world performing at prestigious venues with acclaimed artists such as trumpeter Leroy Jones and Spirit of New Orleans, Vocal Ensemble Club For Five, and UMO Jazz Orchestra, to name a few. Eeppi Ursin also collaborates with renowned theatres and modern opera ensembles as a composer and arranger.

Eeppi Ursin has released three solo albums where she stands out as an artist with a strong and unique yet catching pop sound. Her albums with praising reviews are: Violet (Buckshotmusic 2005), Yellow Page Girl (Buckshotmusic 2009) and Jäljet (Luomusic 2017) followed by numerous radio hit-singles. In addition to her solo albums Eeppi appears on over 40 recordings of which five are platinum- or gold-selling albums.

In 2014 she was chosen to perform as the soloist at the President's Independence Day Reception in her home country Finland. In 2001 she won the 1st prize in the Lady Summertime international jazz vocal competition. Eeppi Ursin works and lives in New York City.