Volker Hartung is regarded as one of the most colorful personalities in the music scene today. His unmistakable conducting style, great musical sensitivity and skill in handling orchestras as well as soloists make his Concerts unforgettable events, which he enhances with his witty and famously entertaining announcements to the works performed. His several decades of experience as an independent manager of ensembles have taught him how to form orchestras and to make them financially and artistically viable in the face of various obstacles.

‘A Century of Polish Piano Miniatures’ takes us on a fascinating journey through a golden era in Polish music, from the great patriot Paderewski via Szymanowski, Bacewicz and Gorecki, to present day composers. This essential collection coincides with Poland’s centenary of independence in 2018 with each work representing significant moments in the country’s musical and political history. It pays tribute to the bravery of composers who stood up for freedom in art and culture during times of great political turmoil.

The old instruments of the Stadtpfeiffer were replaced by French-styled oboes and bassoons in German courts and cities at the beginning of the 18th century. These became the bandes de hautbois to which trumpets were added, the combination becoming the basis of the military band. After the marches and the parades, however, these musicians were also invited to take part in the court’s formal entertainments. It was for these circumstances that Georg Philipp Telemann and his contemporaries created a completely new type of repertoire that was linked to the French and Italian genres of the Suite and the Concerto.

Everything is coming Back to Earth when trumpet player extraordinaire Farnell Newton steps onto the jazz scene with his first record for Posi-Tone. This hard hitting session also features the inspired playing and cool comping of Greg Goebel on piano, the steady underpinning of Dylan Sundstrom on bass, the bombastic metrics of Christopher Brown on drums, and the inspired playing of wunderkind Kyle Molitor on trombone. Melodies are the message, and all the song selections are definitely straight forward, while always remaining elegantly lyrical and brilliantly evocative of a more modern jazz sensibility.

Many a debut album receives a largely positive critique before being cut down to size with a qualifier. It's simply a jazz journalist's nature to paint newcomers as nascent talent in need of seasoning, players showing signs of potential, or artists taking a good first step with a first record. But sometimes a debut album is simply a strong statement with no need for journalistic hedging. Such is the case with Beginnings.

La musique originale du film cultissime « Peau d’Âne », écrite par Michel Legrand sur des paroles de Jacques Demy, se voit donner un nouveau souffle grâce au travail éblouissant de l’Orchestre du Théâtre Marigny, dirigé par Michel Legrand lui-même ! L’étoile montante de la comédie musicale Marie Opert (Peau d’Âne) et la révélation Mathieu Spinosi (le Prince) posent également leur voix sur cet événement discographique, puisque la musique de « Peau d’Âne » n’était jusque-là plus disponible en CD !

Baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian lets her instrument do the talking when she boldly opens her heart and mind to share her Bliss on her first release for Posi-Tone. Assembled to provide support on the date is the wondrously solid rhythm section of virtuoso pianist Robert Rodriguez, superstar bassist Christian McBride, and powerhouse drummer E.J. Strickland. Special guest alto saxophonist Alexa Tarantino provides some additional highlights to the mix on a few tracks. With a tour de force realization of her talents as both a composer and an instrumentalist, Sevian maps out a melodious journey of harmonic discovery as she takes listeners along with her to explore an exciting program of original compositions that shine continuously with bright moments.

Trombonist Michael Dease brings together a new group of hands to help engage his audience by Reaching Out. Assembling a diverse group of voices, both young and old, Dease succeeds in creating an artful conglomeration of supporting talent featuring saxophonists Walt Weiskopf and Ralph Bowen, vibraphonist Behn Gillece, bassist Peter Brendler, pianist Luther Allison, and drummer Zach Adleman. Dease s skillful band leading keeps the music steadily straight forward as the group undertakes an exciting program of new compositions and intelligent arrangements of some new and familiar melodies.

Talented saxophonist Ken Fowser is on a steady trajectory of ascent with his latest release “Don’t Look Down.” The sky is the limit, as Fowser lets loose with a stunning musical program of brilliant original compositions presented by his working group of Josh Bruneau on trumpet, pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Paul Gill, and Joe Strasser on drums. From every angle, Fowser continues to develop and refine his strong artistic vision as a leader who is both emotionally engaging, uplifting, and charismatically entertaining. With a delicate balance of modernity and classic aesthetics, “Don’t Look Down” is an insightfully straight forward, steadily swinging, and refreshingly melodic record that will bring delight to the ears of jazz enthusiasts everywhere.

Trombonist Nick Finzer reaches for the beauty of new vistas and explores the mysteries of unexpected destinations with his new album No Arrival. Finzer's sound is solid and extraordinarily well-centered, his articulation sharp, and his command of the idiom is complete. The depth of his artistry is considerable, and while the music is definitely straight forward and rooted in the tradition with some hard swinging highlights, the session is also elegantly lyrical and evocative of a more modern jazz sensibility.

Trumpet player Josh Lawrence examines the scene from a whole new perspective on "Contrast,” his second release for Posi-Tone. Using both his instrument and his skills as a bandleader, Lawrence succeeds in making another inspired statement by exploring several different musical avenues with his "Color Theory" project. Also featured on the record are the colors and sounds of alto saxophonist Caleb Curtis, trombonist David Gibson pianists Orrin Evans and Zaccai Curtis, bassist Luques Curtis, and drummer Anwar Marshall. The session is elegantly lyrical and clearly suggestive of a modern jazz sensibility. With an amazing combination of talents, brilliant performances, and an evocative program of new original compositions, "Contrast" is sure to bring bright moments of intense delight to serious listeners and jazz fans everywhere.

Santigold’s new album comes at the right time. While the 2018 pop has incorporated the dancehall tunes and the Caribbean sounds, the American singer can finally reap the rewards of her works from the last ten years, with this energetic and contagious I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions released on Downtown Records. The one that was compared to M.I.A and launched by Diplo and Switch from Major Lazer (the latter has produced her first hit Creator) exhibits once again her peculiarity.

GABE LOPEZ has recently crossed the US and UK opening for Belinda Carlisle on her 2014-2017 tours at venues such as the Indigo at the O2, Manchester Academy, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Fonda in LA and B.B. King's NYC. The Cali boy's songs are currently spinning on Sirius XM Radio, iHeart Radio, and FM radio - most recently his new singles LASSO and CALIFORNIA BLUES, which features the pop icon BELINDA CARLISLE. His album IT'S OBVIOUS IT'S OBVIOUS debuted in the TOP 100 NEW RELEASES on iTunes. With his tasty blend of POP-ROCK flavored music, Gabe was voted by Music Connection Magazine as one of L.A.'s Hot 100 Artists.

A rock-blues band second album whose sky rocketing career is explained by the outstanding vocal abilities of Amandyn Roses, her symbiotic collusion with Charlie Faberts magical guitar expertise and the modernity of their musical universe. Powerful, electric, strong music with dashes of great tenderness. Rosedaleis a rock and blues band formed in 2016 by singer Amandyn Roses and guitar player/songwriter Charlie Fabert, longtime guitarist of Fred Chapellier, but who also toured with Paul Cox, Janet Robin, Dave White…