The best thing about this release by
Café Zimmerman -- better than the stupendous performances, better than the glorious sound, better than the brilliant programming, better than the intelligent liner notes, and better even than the gorgeous reproduction of André Bouys' Servant Polishing the Silver on the cover -- is the fact that it's the second release in a cycle of the complete concertos for diverse instruments by
Bach. Led by violinist
Pablo Valetti,
Café Zimmerman is a lean and lovely period instrument chamber orchestra with impeccable ensemble, amazing virtuosity, incredible sensitivity, and endless nuances of tone and color. Alpha's sound is closer, more detailed, and more immediate than real performers in a real space in real time. Mixing the dancing Third Brandenburg with the demonic Double Violin Concerto and the monumental C major Overture with the lyrical Oboe and Violin Concerto is wonderfully refreshing for listeners who've already heard the works in context of their fellow Brandenburgs or overtures. The liner notes, both on the music and on the cover art, are entertaining and enlightening. And the reproduction of the art itself is fine and clear as any reproduction the size of a CD case possibly could be. This release is as good as recorded music gets in this world, as good, honest, and true as Kind of Blue, Wee Small Hours, or Rubber Soul.