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
Walt’s Ratatouille 5.
The opening cut, Bley’s solo rendition of “Touching,” distills the pianist’s art — pedaling that turns notes into sculpture, leaping figures suddenly dropped, looming spaces.
April 1, 2002
Walt’s Ratatouille 5.
The opening cut, Bley’s solo rendition of “Touching,” distills the pianist’s art — pedaling that turns notes into sculpture, leaping figures suddenly dropped, looming spaces.
April 1, 2002
Walt’s Ratatouille 4.
Cole’s highlights package hasn’t been assembled with great care, but it does lend an old fan the excuse to spill some opinions.
August 1, 2001
Walt’s Ratatouille 4.
Cole’s highlights package hasn’t been assembled with great care, but it does lend an old fan the excuse to spill some opinions.
August 1, 2001
Walt’s Ratatouille 3.
These records influenced the course my listening subsequently took. Their CD versions are new to me, and fifteen years have passed since I last lowered a stylus. Can one look back without disappointment?
April 1, 2001
Walt’s Ratatouille 3.
These records influenced the course my listening subsequently took. Their CD versions are new to me, and fifteen years have passed since I last lowered a stylus. Can one look back without disappointment?
April 1, 2001
Walt’s Ratatouille 2.
Diddling with Bach has been old hat for more than a century, and lately I’ve sighted Goldbergs from accordion, brass quintet, cathedral organ, jazz trio, overdubbed guitars, and several string ensembles.
January 1, 2001
Walt’s Ratatouille 2.
Diddling with Bach has been old hat for more than a century, and lately I’ve sighted Goldbergs from accordion, brass quintet, cathedral organ, jazz trio, overdubbed guitars, and several string ensembles.
January 1, 2001
New Music on Naïve Montaigne, Part Two
At first (in the early ’90s) there was Disques Montaigne, then Auvidis Montaigne, and now Naïve Montaigne. The new label has established a midline series, stocked with 20 previous titles and a sampler.
January 1, 2001
New Music on Naïve Montaigne, Part Two
At first (in the early ’90s) there was Disques Montaigne, then Auvidis Montaigne, and now Naïve Montaigne. The new label has established a midline series, stocked with 20 previous titles and a sampler.
January 1, 2001
Walt’s Ratatouille 1: Mostly Strings
Mostly Strings: Schnittke, Paul Bley, et al.
November 1, 2000
New Music on Montaigne Naïve
Largely because of the Arditti Quartet Edition’s 35 volumes, Auvidis Montaigne has become indispensable to fans of contemporary music’s modernist wing. Reorganized as Naïve Montaigne, the label is discounting 20 titles to midprice.
November 1, 2000
New Music on Montaigne Naïve
Largely because of the Arditti Quartet Edition’s 35 volumes, Auvidis Montaigne has become indispensable to fans of contemporary music’s modernist wing. Reorganized as Naïve Montaigne, the label is discounting 20 titles to midprice.
November 1, 2000
An Assortment of Goodies
Before Stefan Winter launched the Munich-based Winter & Winter label, he produced a stream of uncommon jazz releases at JMT.
July 1, 2000
An Assortment of Goodies
Before Stefan Winter launched the Munich-based Winter & Winter label, he produced a stream of uncommon jazz releases at JMT.
July 1, 2000
Three ECM Releases
I approached the new Hilliard Ensemble disc with some optimism, and not only because it lacks intimations of hipness (no squalling Garbarek sax or “holy minimalist” vibe).
July 1, 2000
Three ECM Releases
I approached the new Hilliard Ensemble disc with some optimism, and not only because it lacks intimations of hipness (no squalling Garbarek sax or “holy minimalist” vibe).
July 1, 2000
Really Old Music
The sacred music that enjoys a popular profile falls into two groups, the High Renaissance and the Late Renaissance (sometimes termed the Counter-Reformation).
April 1, 2000
Really Old Music
The sacred music that enjoys a popular profile falls into two groups, the High Renaissance and the Late Renaissance (sometimes termed the Counter-Reformation).
April 1, 2000