Man In Black is Johnny Cash’s chart-topping 1971 masterpiece. This politically-infused album produced two top twenty hits, “Man in Black” and “Singin' in Viet Nam Talkin' Blues.” This star-studded affair features Norman Blake, June Carter Cash, Marshall Grant, Billy Graham, W.S. Holland, Farrell Morris, Carl Perkins, Jerry Shook and Bob Wootton. Absolutely essential.

The Fabulous Johnny Cash was Cash's first album for Columbia Records and one of his best for the label. Unlike some of his latter-day albums, there wasn't much filler on the record. At the time of its recording, Cash had just been freed from his contract with Sun. Instead of recording these songs for his last Sun sessions, he wound up saving much of his best material for his Columbia album, and that's what makes The Fabulous so consistent.

The Turkish-Belgian pianist Işıl Bengi is an insatiable artist who has developed a unique personality, thanks especially to her curiosity about the rich diversity of cultures, her keen interest in the different styles and techniques of the piano, and her extreme sensitivity. Here she presents an original and colourful programme, in which intimacy and virtuosity, gentleness and violence, joy and rage are heard as expressions of the memory of the peoples who form part of her family history. The modernity of the works is characterised by a very natural and organic aspect, often nourished by the musical folklore of the countries of origin of the respective composers. Rhythm is a particularly prominent feature, highlighted in most of the pieces, notably through the use of irregular metres and polyrhythm.

The poetic renewal embodied by Hugo, Baudelaire, Verlaine and so many others after them radically changed the musical landscape and propelled French art song into a true golden age.

Friends and frequent recital partners Jean-Guihen Queyras and Alexandre Tharaud are reunited here for an album conceived as a collection of short stories, presenting both celebrated and little- known masterpieces of the repertory.

Belated Christmas presents for fans of the late, great Brit-jazz tenorist Tubby Hayes as Universal have announced the arrival of selected remastered albums.

The Orpheus myth was as important for the birth of opera in France as it had been in Italy. In 1684, Charpentier composed a work for three voices, Orphée descendant aux Enfers. With this piece, remarkable for its style and concision, he showed how well he had assimilated Carissimi's art. It is a dramatic scene, similar to the sacred histories of the Roman master. The text, by an unknown author, narrates Orpheus quest for his beloved in the Underworld.

Franz Liszt's religious compositions for piano solo.

NINO ROTA embraced neo-Classical, neo-Romantic and even neo-Baroque affiliations. His music prized melodic directness and communicative generosity and it is not therefore surprising that he should be best known for his epochal film scores – the music for The Godfather pre-eminently. Nino Rota’s 15 Preludes utilise melodic and harmonic explorations to chart music that is agitated and melancholic, but also joyous and comedic. The Fantasia in G comprises seven themes – folkloric, droll and ultimately heroic. A late work, the 7 Pezzi difficili per bambini is generous in its emotional directness.

The release of the present double CD is the culmination of a festive project to mark the anniversary year of 2020, in which the music world (and not only the music world) will be commemorating the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven. The year also marks 85 years since the birth of the renowned German composer Georg Katzer. The cellist Jörg Ulrich Krah had the idea that a contemporary colleague should express his thoughts on Beethoven in his own personal way, thereby creating an exciting bridge between Beethoven and the 21st century.

Excellent addition to any rock music collection.
In general I don't like compilations, but this one gives a good idea of Kate's work up to 1986. I would have added just Hammer Horror but all the most impolrtant songs are present.

Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music
The delusional world of Kate Bush
I begin by telling you that through Peter Gabriel I knowed about Kate Bush (His song Don’t Give Up). But… Why I did buy this LP?: By a musical coincidence.

Excellent addition to any rock music collection
A largely forgotten album; worth a look.
Indio was a project by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Peterson. Indio released one album, 1989’s Big Harvest, featuring several high-profile artists including Bill Dillon and David Rhodes on guitars, Larry Klein on bass and Brenda Russell and Joni Mitchell singing background vocals.

With this recording of chamber music composed by Beethoven at three key moments in his life, Alpha begins a collaboration with the WDR of Cologne and its various ensembles. Here a group of chamber musicians from the symphony orchestra presents the string quintets op.29 (1801) and op.104 (1817), thus linking Beethoven’s exuberant early period with that of the worry, discouragement and anguish caused by the conflict over custody of his nephew Karl. The disc comes to a majestic conclusion with the Fugue, op.137 (1817).

The "Köstritzer Jazzband", founded in 1994 on the initiative of the "Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei", consists of 5 musicians who are characterized by their excellent craftsmanship. When performing at regional, national and international jazz festivals and events, the band's repertoire includes a mix of soul and Latin jazz using traditional elements. This connection gives the "Köstritzer Jazzband" an unmistakable, modern sound.