The period during which the Middle Quartets were written covers the years from around 1806 to 1810: the three Quartets, Opus 59 date from 1806-7, Opus 74 from 1809, and Opus 95 from 1810. During these same years, Beethoven composed his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, the Violin Concerto, the E flat Piano Concerto, and the music to Egmont.

Of all the world-renowned violinists born in the decade after World War II—an exclusive club that includes Pinchas Zukerman, Pierre Amoyal, and Kyung Wha Chung—Gidon Kremer has taken the least- expected path to lasting fame. Today he is best known as a passionate champion and performer of modern music, the founder of an iconoclastic chamber orchestra in his native Latvia, and a public critic of the glitzy marketing of classical music.

Die 5. Sinfonie Gustav Mahlers ließ den Komponisten nach der Uraufführung in Hamburg 1905 verzweifeln. "Die Fünfte ist ein verfluchtes Werk. Niemand capiert sie", schrieb er in sein Tagebuch. Heute gehört sie zu seinen beliebtesten und bekanntesten Sinfonien, woran sicher auch die ausgiebige Verwendung des Adagietto in Viscontis Film "Tod in Venedig" einen Anteil hat. Der italienische Dirigent Claudio Abbado fühlte sich der Musik Gustav Mahlers Zeit seines Lebens verbunden. Diese Einspielung mit dem Chicago Symphony Orchestra entstand 1980 in Orchestra Hall in Chicago.

„A heavy, ponderous, and generally unappetizing performance, the fault for which lies not so much with Karl Richter, but with the slack playing of the London Philharmonic and the less than enthusiastic singing of the John Alldis Choir. It's strange to think how much better this might have been had Richter recorded it with his usual forces in Germany, but for whatever reason, things just didn't come together this time around.“ (David Hurwitz)

There are quite a few amazing performances out there regarding the Dvorak concerto. However, my first experience with Fournier`s really captivated me. It ranks right up there with DuPre/Chicago on EMI (mid 1970`s) and Casals/Czech on EMI (late 1930`s).

I have the immense pleasure to present you today this "pari", the bet of mixing the breath of my accordion with the bows of five fabulous musicians to make discover or rediscover the history of this instrument which, I hope , will surprise you and seduce you. you, revealing to you once again where no one is waiting for him … Felicien Brut

Cinematic C&N (Country & Northern) goes Pacific as West Norway chapel grooves encounter Polynesian-influenced steel and slide featuring the amazing Geir Sundstøl on pedal steel.

"Music is a way to express emotions and generate them in the listener; to connect with the human essence and to transformate society. Music is ephemeral, but generates effects that keep in time. I believe in improvisation as a direct mean of musical transmission: I play what I feel and the listener perceives it by adapting it to his personal situation."-Daniel Ferruz

There are groups that one constructs painstakingly, one element at a time, and then there are those that just spring up on you, like an epiphany. This is truly the first time that a group simply crept up from behind and surprised me! Unexpectedly gathered together during a residency offered to Sébastien Texier by L’Improviste, a welcoming club located on a Paris barge, this Quartet spontaneously found itself “in orbit” at equal distances around a common sphere. Even though I had known him for many years, I had never played with Louis Moutin. But Sébastien, François, Louis and I struck an instantaneous balance with each other… a novel sort of dance. It was a unique feeling of complementarity on an amazing level, where our ideas met and intermingled effortlessly…like telepathy.

Gerald Clayton 'Life Forum' is a 12-song set combining Clayton's highly skilled trio members, bassist Joe Sanders and drummer Justin Brown with saxophonists Logan Richardson and Dayna Stephens and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. Vocalists Gretchen Parlato and Sachal Vasandani and poet Carl Hancock Rux complete the ensemble. Clayton is an artist who does not work in a vacuum. Clayton is recognized by peers and public alike to hungrily seek opportunities which allow for creative musical exchanges with other artists. And he understands that any successful artistic venture requires listening as much as expressing, open-mindedness as well as respect for the input of others.

The ensemble Delicious Date has had a lengthy desire to play self-compositions. Is this jazz as we know it? Not really but it does not have to be. Contemporary amercian vocalist including some groups have been churning out pretentious self serving vocals for years but here in lies the difference. Delicious Date and the new release Next are an original and incredibly versatile group that opens with Mr. G which has a slight touch of that hard edged Memphis sound. 'Flashlights' hits the contemporary tip but in a new and different way, more organic and less overly produced. My particular favorite is the samba induced jazz nasty lust bomb otherwise known as 'Suave.'

'By definition the bass player is a pivotal figure in jazz, a steward of tonality as well as tempo. Determining a good one can require close listening: that quality reveals itself in the cohesion of the band as well as in the handling of line and phrase. All of this was accounted for in Mr. Williams’s set, which also involved a pair of harmonically sound original compositions and a balance of tradition and novelty.' -Nate Chinen, New York Times State Of Art is a result of Williams’ first prize in the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Competition for double-bass. The album marks Williams’ first album as a leader, however it is not the bassist’s first time working with the Concord Jazz family.

The band was founded in november 1996 after multi-discipline artist Rudy Trouvé met with singer Daan Stuyven at a party, recording their first demo "Chemical" a week after, and playing live a month later, joined by Elko Blijweert on guitar and Herman Houbrechts on drums. The typical band sound consisted of Rudy's experimental guitars, combined with Elko's virtuoso guitar and Daan's deep voice and more melodic guitar. The break took 16 years. But these years were very fertile for all the band members, resulting in many collaborations and side projects, theatre and soundtrack writing, record productions, and a succesfull solo career for Daan.

Singer and songwriter Neal Sawyer with influences from Nick Cave, Johnny Cash, The Doors and Spacemen 3, Neal Sawyer describes his music as gothic country. His first album, ‘Ballads of the Mortal‘ released from lable Salvation Recording Company.

26 year old singer/songwriter from Edinburgh ..Debut album produced by Teddy Thompson. .Roseanne attended Steve Earle's annual writing camp in upstate NY . Earle was impressed with her songs and agreed to appear as guest vocalist on the track 'Sweet Annie'. .Second track from album 'Amy' featured on Spotify New Music Friday playlist. .Promo includes interview/session on the new series of The Jools Holland Radio Show on BBC Radio Two (tx April), Session on BBC Scotland Ricky Ross radio show..Roseanne supported Kathy Mattea on tour through January. .Confirmed festivals for the summer include HebCelt in Stornaway and The Black Deer Festival in Tunbridge Wells. .Feature in the current issue of Maverick Magazine.