Walt Mundkowsky was born 1944 in San Antonio, TX. As a teenager, he had a dachshund named after Hugo Wolf. Extensive writings on film (cf. his “Cinema Obscura” column in Home Theater, 1995-2001). He favors the mine-shaft approach to music listening — in-depth exploration of tiny, unrelated areas. A resident of Beverly Hills, he has lived in basements in Denver, London and Stockholm, and may very well do so again.
Walt Mundkowsky
Lying down with Stax phones 4.
April is Jazz Appreciation Month.
April 20, 2018
Lying down with Stax phones 3.
This set of 27 Passion Week Responsoria was the third and last Lumen Valo release for Alba, before forming their own label.
March 25, 2018
Lying down with Stax phones 3.
This set of 27 Passion Week Responsoria was the third and last Lumen Valo release for Alba, before forming their own label.
March 25, 2018
Narrow-Minded Opinionism 2.
It’s like a cable series that improves at midpoint.
February 25, 2018
Narrow-Minded Opinionism 1.
Programs where viols accompany singing may allow a few instrumentals to break up the prevailing routine. This superb 2010 disc does the opposite, with Julianne Baird on only eight of the 22 tracks and none of them overexposed.
December 22, 2015
Narrow-Minded Opinionism 1.
Programs where viols accompany singing may allow a few instrumentals to break up the prevailing routine. This superb 2010 disc does the opposite, with Julianne Baird on only eight of the 22 tracks and none of them overexposed.
December 22, 2015
Paul Bley’s singular Ballads
Reissues in Japan often exhibit a short life. This influential album hit CD 15 years ago, but only on the Japanese market, and will now appear there (briefly!) in SHM-CD attire.
April 6, 2015
Paul Bley’s singular Ballads
Reissues in Japan often exhibit a short life. This influential album hit CD 15 years ago, but only on the Japanese market, and will now appear there (briefly!) in SHM-CD attire.
April 6, 2015
Four Centuries Apart 4.
Get this disc by Josie and the Emeralds, an enterprising soprano and quartet of viols in Australia, for the two-thirds that’s new to us.
February 27, 2015
Four Centuries Apart 4.
Get this disc by Josie and the Emeralds, an enterprising soprano and quartet of viols in Australia, for the two-thirds that’s new to us.
February 27, 2015
Dowland’s Lachrimæ 1604: Update
Savall’s disc last appeared a decade ago in a five-CD Astrée brick called pieces for the viols.
August 15, 2014
Dowland’s Lachrimæ 1604: Update
Savall’s disc last appeared a decade ago in a five-CD Astrée brick called pieces for the viols.
August 15, 2014
Charlie Haden
Bassist Charlie Haden passed away in Los Angeles on July 11, 2014, aged 76.
July 13, 2014
Charlie Haden
Bassist Charlie Haden passed away in Los Angeles on July 11, 2014, aged 76.
July 13, 2014
James Erber’s The “Traces” Cycle
My entry into this rewarding series came via a scenario I always enjoy – a highly evolved structure is interrogated, at first through hesitations and “mistakes,” and eventually falls apart.
March 17, 2014
James Erber’s The “Traces” Cycle
My entry into this rewarding series came via a scenario I always enjoy – a highly evolved structure is interrogated, at first through hesitations and “mistakes,” and eventually falls apart.
March 17, 2014
Lying down with Stax phones 2.
Stephen Whittington’s title must refer to Satie’s musique d’ameublement and Eno’s Music for Airports, but he turns them inside out – an exploration of inner states.
February 22, 2014
Lying down with Stax phones 2.
Stephen Whittington’s title must refer to Satie’s musique d’ameublement and Eno’s Music for Airports, but he turns them inside out – an exploration of inner states.
February 22, 2014
Lying down with Stax phones 1.
“Already in bed, lying on my back and wearing headphones” is my standard listening mode, hence my interest.
January 23, 2014
Lying down with Stax phones 1.
“Already in bed, lying on my back and wearing headphones” is my standard listening mode, hence my interest.
January 23, 2014
Jürgen Jürgens’ Trauer-Ode
Another important reissue (out 6-25-13) involves Bach’s powerful Trauer-Ode.
December 26, 2013
Jürgen Jürgens’ Trauer-Ode
Another important reissue (out 6-25-13) involves Bach’s powerful Trauer-Ode.
December 26, 2013