Shards and Constellations presents duets with two remarkable musicians Tomeka Reid and Alexander Hawkins. Both have become creative epicenters in the jazz and improvisation scene in recent years with their original, versatile and innovative art. Reid has recorded extensively with many legendary artists from the AACM such as Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell as well as the next generation of AACM artists including Nicole Mitchell, Dee Alexander and Mike Reed.

Somewhat forgotten amidst the excitement surrounding James Brandon Lewis' UnRuly Manifesto (Relative Pitch, 2019) was the excellent release that preceded it. Radiant Imprints (Off, 2018), a duo release with drummer Chad Taylor, put the focus squarely on Lewis' extraordinary tenor saxophone prowess and his strong accord with one of the most in-demand drummers in creative jazz.

Saratoga Springs, NY has long been notable for a number of things, among them: the natural mineral spas that gave the town its name and made it a highly desirable resort location; its horseracing track, which dates back to the Civil War and is, some say, the oldest continuously operated sporting venue in the country; and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (or as it’s almost invariably referred to, SPAC), originally opened in the 1960s as a home to classical music and ballet, but which soon expanded its offerings to include just about every musical genre imaginable.

The title of this album refers to "String Quartet No. 1", which has the same name. But it can also stand as an all-inclusive name for the four compositions represented on the album, four stations on my journey as a composer, four different approaches to musical expression in time and space. The journey begins in 1989 with "String Quartet No. 1 Quattro stazioni", and ends in 2013 with "String Quartet No. 2". Between these stations (albeit in reverse order on the album) are "Air d'ete suedois" for clarinet quintet (2009) and "Divertimento" for clarinet and piano (2010).

British composer Douglas Weiland has long been acclaimed as one of contemporary music’s most outstanding composers for the string quartet medium, and his evolving cycle has won much admiration. Composed between 2011 and 2012 the Fourth and Fifth Quartets show him at the height of his artistic powers, where he seeks connections across time, and shows a Classical commitment to form, invention and melodic beauty. His conceptions can be Schubertian in scale and scope, while also displaying the influence of Haydn and Bartók.

"A dazzling programme of music for violin and orchestra performed by The Irish Chamber Orchestra, featuring Katherine Hunka (violin/director) and Nicola Sweeney (violin – Schnittke).

Jordi Savall's recording of music from Marais's fourth book of pieces de viole is superb: elegant fluent, spirited and evocative.

Pithecanthropus Erectus is a 1956 album by jazz composer and bassist Charles Mingus. Mingus noted that this was the first album where he taught arrangements to his musicians by ear in lieu of putting the chords and arrangements in writing. The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave it a maximum four-star rating and added it to its core collection, describing it as "One of the truly great modern jazz albums". In the same review, "the all-in ensemble work" in parts of the first track, "Pithecanthropus Erectus", is described as being "absolutely crucial to the development of free collective improvisation in the following decade".

The masterpieces recorded by Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra for the old EMI label are collected into three SACD pieces, are excerpts from some concerto sound sources. For this reprint was used the new 96 kHz/24-bit mastering from the original master tapes. For this original Japanese reissue have been used the LP called "In Memoriam", which was released in the United States in 1985 as a commemorative edition of Ormandy, and adopted a board called "In Memoriam" for the design of the jacket, combining old EMI sound sources. This expanded edition of "In Memoriam" became a most valuable set that conveys these recordings.

Jochum's only stereo recording of Brahms - the world's first SACD of the complete symphonies. This Japanese reissue features 2017's 96kHz/24bit Remastering from the original master tapes. Compared to the performance of the Berlin Philharmonic previously recorded on the Deutsche Grammophon in mono, this Brahms is a performance that inherits traditional phrasing and balance, has a sense of tempo with ample room and a stepped interpretation.

"Nineteenth-century opera arrangements for flute and piano have been extraordinary popular. Unfortunately the have so far received little attention in the annals of music history. Even in concerts you may hardly find them on the programmes. Therefore the present recording provides exciting music to rediscover with works by Briccialdi, Herman, Popp, Galli, Kuhlau, FUrstenau, Boehm and Andersen.

Treat Myself (stylized in all caps) is the upcoming third major-label studio album by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor, scheduled to be released on January 31, 2020. The album was originally scheduled for release on August 31, 2018, but was delayed due to Trainor wanting to add more songs.

This album was made entirely from the concept of surround sound. All the songs were written with surround sound in mind, and the recording was done using every aspect of the surround technique to create a full orchestral sound with only 4 musicians.

The young pianist and composer Ester Quevedo presents Trabalenguas, her debut album as a leader, recorded live at the Aurora theatre in June 2019 during the l’Estival de Jazz d’Igualada jazz festival.

Pergolesi completed his Stabat Mater a few days before his death, on 17 March 1736, prompting comparisons with another mythical figure, Mozart composing his Requiem. It is framed here by three more masterpieces of the pianto genre in a similar spirit of bittersweet sadness.