new Sting Lute recording

Okay, how cool is this? We are watching our new favorite show, the fabulously interesting and well-written Aaron Sorkin drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and just sitting there with my jaw open (again) at how he has incorporated a character who is an evangelical Christian playing as one of the cast of the edgy SNL-like comedy that the show is about. She shares her very articulate testimony to a Vanity Fair reporter as she tells of her love of Christ, her Godly mother and her love of comedy. And then, on comes rock star Sting (the musical guest in the show within a show that week) doing a piece from his brand new lute album, which we were playing just an hour earlier here at the house.

Yep, Sting's new album---which we stock at Hearts & Minds---is called Songs From the Labyrinth (on the Deutsche Grammophon label) and it is music written by John Dowland(1563-1626.) Joining Sting on the lute and archlute (don't ask me) is Edin Karamozov. (The older Sting hit Fields of Gold, which he did on the show, is not on this recording.) A few readings from letters of the 16th-17th century composer Dowland are read over evocative lute solos, making this a "musical soundtrack to the composer's life." Read a nice review here.

For lute fans, by the way, I've been playing a new CD (on the Italian classic label, Stradivarius) called Concerti a liuto Solo which is comprised of solo lute compositions by Antonio Vivaldi. It is preformed by Paolo Cherici, who may not have the street cred of Sting but is highly regarded in early music circles. It is truly lovely.

Pop culture and our real life. What fun.