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I was delighted when One2One sent me a copy of Joshua Bell’s newest album “At Home With Friends.” I simply adore Joshua Bell’s passionate violin playing.
This album is special. There is a casual, gather-with-your-best-friends, coffee-sipping vibe to this recording that makes me just want to push play and relax. And as if getting to hear Joshua Bell play the violin better than just about anyone EVER isn’t enough, this album features many other incredible musicians: Sting (Come Again is an addictive track I repeat over and over again), Kristin Chenoweth (breathtaking version of Funny Valentine), Frankie Moreno (a version of Eleonor Rigby that is hauntingly beautiful), Regina Spektor (Left Hand can only be heard on this album…and it is fabulous), Nathan Gunn (unbelievably talented), Josh Groban (singing the iconic tune from my favorite movie ever Cinema Paradiso), Rachmaninoff (yes, THE Rachmaninoff…brilliantly re-recorded here), and more. There’s even a song featuring world-renown sitarist Anoushka Shankar…a truly unique world-music experience.
The playlist looks like a veritable who’s who:
- I Loves You Porgy featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
- Come Again featuring Sting, vocals
- Oblivion featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
- Cinema Paradiso featuring Josh Groban, vocals
- Para Tí featuring Tiempo Libre, various
- My Funny Valentine featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
- Maybe So featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, strings
- Grieg: Sonata No. 3 featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)
- Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
- O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone
- Il Postino featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
- Left Hand Song featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
- Chovendo Na Roseira featuring Dave Grusin, piano
- Look Away featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin
- Variant Moods: Duet for Sitar & Violin featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar
- I’ll Take Manhattan featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano
I just checked out Bell’s website and see that At Home With Friends has already hit #1 on classical and crossover charts! Check out his site for great photos and information about television and stage appearances. Or go to his Facebook Fan Page and ask him a question. Or better yet…buy this album. Relax with some good friends, and let Joshua Bell serenade you!
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