Robert Baird

<B>REN&#201;E FLEMING: <I>Haunted Heart</I></B><BR>
Ren&#233;e Fleming, vocals; Bill Frisell, guitar; Fred Hersch, piano, arrangements<BR>
Decca B00004406-02 (CD). 2005. Ren&#233;e Fleming, prod.; Elliott Scheiner, prod., eng.; Peter Doris, Aya Takemura, Brian Montgomery, Anthony Ruotolo, asst. engs. DDD. TT: 63:58<BR>
Performance <B>*****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>

Please let me explain. Because I've never been especially adept at making lifelong commitments and irrevocable decisions, when it came to naming this new column, Managing Editor Debbie Starr and I decided that we would gather the passionate (and supremely efficient) minds of the Stereophile production staff, add a near–life-threatening amount of margaritas, and put the question to them.

<B>TORD GUSTAVSEN TRIO: <I>The Ground</I></B><BR>
Tord Gustavsen, piano; Harald Johnsen, double bass; Jarle Vespestad, drums<BR>
ECM 1892 (CD). 2005. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Jan Erik Kongshaug, eng. DDD. TT: 60:13<BR>
Performance <B>****&#189;</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****&#189;</B>

<B>BEETHOVEN: <I>Complete Music for Cello & Piano</I></B><BR>
Cello & Piano Sonatas: in F, Op.5 No.1; in g, Op.5 No.2; in F, Op.17; in A, Op.69; in C, Op.102 No.1; in D, Op.102 No.2. Variations: in F on Mozart's "Ein M&#228;dchen oder Weibchen," Op.66; in E-flat on Mozart's "Bei M&#228;nnern," WoO 46; in G on Handel's "See, the Conquering Hero Comes," WoO 45<BR>
Andr&#225;s Schiff, piano; Mikl&#243;s Per&#233;nyi, cello<BR>
ECM New Series 1819/20, B00003389-02 (2 CDs). 2004. Manfred Eicher, exec. prod.; Stephan Schellmann, eng. DDD. TT: 2:31:19<BR>
Performance <B>****&#189;</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B><BR>

<B>BRIAN WILSON: <I>SMiLE</I></B><BR>
Nonesuch 79846-2 (CD). 2004. Brian Wilson, prod., mix; Mark Linett, eng.; Kevin Deane, Daneil S. McCoy, Pete Magdaleno, asst. engs.; Darian Sahanaja, mix. AAD? TT: 47:01<BR>
Performance <B>****&#189;</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B> (footnote 1)<BR>

<B>MADELEINE PEYROUX: <I>Careless Love</I></B><BR>
Madeleine Peyroux, vocals, acoustic guitar; Lee Thornburg, trumpet; Dean Parks, guitars; Larry Goldings, piano; David Piltch, bass; Jay Bellerose, drums; Scott Amendola, brushes.<BR>
Rounder 11661 3192-2 (CD). 2004. Larry Klein, prod.; Helik Hadar, eng.; Ricky Chao, Nicolas Fournier, asst. engs. AAD. TT: 42:56<BR>
Performance <B>****</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>

<B>K.D. LANG: <I>Hymns of the 49th Parallel</I></B><BR>
Nonesuch 79847-2 (CD). 2004. k.d. lang, Ben Mink, prods.; David Leonard, John Morrical, engs. AAD? TT: 47:24<BR>
Performance <B>****&#189;</B><BR>
Sonics <B>****</B>