The Velvet Underground was one of music's most influential rock groups. Often referred to as the dark side of the psychedelic era, The Velvet Underground was rock's first great underground band. Its members consist of singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist/bassist Sterling Morrison and percussionist Maureen Tucker. Their daring and politically-charged lyrics help shade music forever.

Windows is a unique album from award-winning British composer and conductor Benjamin Ellin. Uniting three of the world’s leading trombonists: Joseph Alessi; Christian Jones, and Blair Sinclair with the Orchestra of Opera North under the direction of Benjamin Ellin, Windows offers an intimate exploration of Ellin’s music for trombone.

From the Airwaves grew out of the curiosity of clarinettist John Bradbury, who explored the Radio Times archive to find out which pieces for clarinet were bradcast by the BBC in the 1920s and 30s. His study has resulted in new recordings of some of these pieces; charming miniatures by Adam Carse, Frederick Kell and Harold Samuel. Edward German is listed in the archive, not so much as a composer but as the regular conductor of the Northern Wireless Orchestra (which eventually became the BBC Philharmonic in 1982).

Les Heures Immobiles, a title inspired by the aphorisms of Henri Michaux, is the new 6-track album from pianist Vanessa Wagner, recorded during an intimate session in December 2022 at the TAP in Poitiers. This mini album brings together compositions by artists Vanessa has not yet explored like Kate Moore and Laurel Halo, and composers she is familiar with such as Philip Glass, Bryce Dessner, and Meredith Monk. It completes the already abundant exploration of a repertoire that Vanessa Wagner has been working on since her albums Inland (2019), Study of the Invisible (2021), and Mirrored (end of 2022).

Martin Jones has been one of Britain’s most highly regarded solo pianists since first coming to international attention in 1968 when he received the Dame Myra Hess Award. The same year he made his London debut at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and his New York debut at Carnegie Hall, and ever since has been in demand for recitals and concerto performances.

In September 2020 Florian Berner travelled to Tuscany. Playing in the local church, and initially just for himself, he recorded the first three of Bach’s six suites for solo cello. By early 2023 he completed the cycle in Köthen, where Bach was Capellmeister from 1717-1722. The two separate experiences captured performances of unique intuition and power.

The American composer John Stamp (b. 1954) – universally known as ‘Jack’ – is a familiar figure in the worlds of the symphonic wind-band movement that flourishes in US universities and of the brass band on both sides of the Atlantic. This first Toccata Classics album of his music presents a cross- section of recent works for woodwinds, brass and strings, varied in mood, from upbeat to reflective, and in style, from a solemn hymn-setting to buoyant, outdoors Americana à la Copland, now and then coloured by a hint of jazz.

"Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock" is the twelfth studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released in April 2008 through Epic Records. The album reached No. 89 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for two weeks, as well as reaching the top 100 in four other countries. The album's title has two meanings: the first part is a homage to Satriani's nickname of "Satch", while "Musterion" is a Greco–Biblical word meaning "hidden thing", "secret", or "mystery".

Romanian born trombonist, composer/arranger Peter Herbolzheimer led one of the most innovative, successful European big bands, Rhythm Combination & Brass. Composed of international stars, the band zeroed in on a big brassy sound, usually incorporating a single reed player – the great saxophonist Herb Geller. Recorded in early 1973, the album exemplifies RC&B’s playing during its early innovative period, when blues, gospel, bop and rock dominated.

Milton "Bags" Jackson was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is one of the most acclaimed improvisational blues instrumentalists of all time and was a founding member of the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet. Milt Jackson was voted by Down Beat s readers into its Jazz Hall of Fame in 1999. Recorded over two days in December of 1972 at Rudy Van Gelder's Englewood, New Jersey home studio, vibraphonist Milt Jackson's Sunflower is the first (and best) of his three albums for Creed Taylor's CTI imprint.

Before the Last Light is Blown is the third album from Sardinian shadow ambient composer shedir. The album showcases Martina Betti's dark, viscerally potent ambient wrapped in tranquil eno-esque soundscapes. A beacon in the night triumph.

Portland pianist Mary Sutton's second full-length for Kranky is another deep dive into the classic Kosmische playbook, informed by her roots as a Cherokee Nation citizen. Easy on the ear and based around a simple synth-delay setup, you can hear the same Satie-esque influence of her fine “The Deep End” debut carry through, tipped if you’re into anything from Patricia Wolf to Suzanne Ciani.

A two-time GRAMMY Award winner, bassist, producer, composer, and all-around musician Marcus Miller has been a student and a leader, a creator and an interpreter, a master and a mentor in the art form of music - from his teen years to the present - with many more miles to go before he sleeps…a profound past paving the way to an as yet unfathomable future. Marcus continues this legacy with A Night in Monte-Carlo, a live audio document of an amazing concert he was commissioned to perform on November 29, 2008 in the "rich man's playground" of Monaco - a performance of music of his choice, much of it from his pen, featuring his arrangements for symphony orchestra. It features Marcus leading both his quartet and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, with special guests: trumpeter Roy Hargrove as well as singer, songwriter and guitarist Raul Midón.

Phish is an American rock band noted for their musical improvisation, extended jams, exploration of music across genres, and an adoring fan base. Although the band has received little radio play or mainstream exposure, Phish has developed a large and dedicated following by word of mouth, the exchange of live recordings by trading tapes with other fans and selling over 8 million albums and DVDs in the U.S.

"Joe Satriani" is the self-titled sixth studio album by guitarist Joe Satriani, released in October 1995 through Relativity Records. The album reached No. 51 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for seven weeks, as well as reaching the top 100 in four other countries. The album is a slight departure from Satriani's previous instrumental rock stylings, instead showcasing a more laid back, blues-laden sound with less reliance on effects and overdubs.