Listening to other oboists play is a great way to stay in the “loop,” get new ideas, and inspire your thoughts on a piece of music. I just got 2 new CDs of incredible oboe and English horn playing:

• Julie Giacobassi (with guest artists Rodger Weismeyer and Eugene Isatov)
• Eugene Isatov in solo

New CDs are also a great way to learn about new rep–

On the Giacobassi recording, I heard an Eric Ewazen quintet with solo English horn for the first time that was very cool. Has anybody else heard these CDs or any other good ones lately?