Smokie are an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire, England. The band found success at home as well as the rest of the world after teaming up with Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. Along the way they have had a number of line-up changes and were still actively touring in 2015. Their most famous hit singles include "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", "Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll to Me", "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone". Their most popular hit single, "Living Next Door to Alice", peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Tom Jones became one of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the British Invasion. Since the mid-'60s, Jones has sung nearly every form of popular music – pop, rock, show tunes, country, dance, and techno, he's sung it all. His actual style – a full-throated, robust baritone that had little regard for nuance and subtlety – never changed, he just sang over different backing tracks. On-stage, Jones played up his sexual appeal; it didn't matter whether he was in an unbuttoned shirt or a tuxedo, he always radiated a raw sexuality that earned him a large following of devoted female fans who frequently threw underwear on-stage. Jones' following never diminished over the decades; he was able to exploit trends, earning new fans while retaining his core following.

Also known as Mel Turner - Singer from Trinidad who teamed up with the Italians of Kano to write the disco anthems "First True Love Affair" (remixed by Larry Levan) and "Fall Into A Trance". Surprisingly, Jimmy Ross used to live in Belgium in the 1970s, recording for the country singer and amusement park owner Bobbejaan Schoepen. Jimmy Ross passed away in 2000.

Italian pop singer Spagna, also known as Ivana Spagna, started climbing local charts in 1986 after releasing "Easy Lady." A year later, the artist achieved her first smash, the catchy song "Call Me." She issued her first album called Dedicated to the Moon that same year, followed by 1988's You Are My Energy and 1991's No Way Out, produced in the U.S. In 1994, the artist recorded the Italian version of Elton John's "Circle of Life" for the Walt Disney movie The Lion King. In 1995, Spagna began recording in her native language, releasing Siamo in Due and 1996's Lupi Solitari.

“By far the most compelling interpretation of Mozart’s string quartets comes from Salzburg: there is scarcely any other group that is capable of covering the vast stylistic range of these works as convincingly and as vitally as the Hagen Quartett. The result is a recording that should still be valid in thirty years’ time.” (Neue Zürcher Zeitung)

The flute-like voice of Ireland’s Heidi Talbot is a fine instrument. Every word is clear, each note hit, yet it’s no bragging perfection. Her tones still have a whispering undertow to them…

From March 10th to March 15th, as the world was becoming aware of the full implications of a global pandemic, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and his dedicated band were doing what they do - human conversation in the form of music - at the famed Blue Note in New York. They pressed on, understanding that there was risk but determined to bring positive energy to the people. Little did they (or we) know that this would be the last show for some time. Capturing this moment was already precious, and now it is even more so - humans in direct proximity walking the delicate line between listening and being heard, expressing themselves without casting a shadow on others. While this will not be the last show, for now it is a wonderful reminder of the vibrant energy we all can share.

A French rock band Gepetto was founded by George Pinilla (the founder of George's Shop DVD and Video Store) as almost a one-man project with some musical friends / collaborators. His debut creation "From Heaven To The Stars …", obviously inspired by lots of progressive rock (especially Neo-Prog) vanguards, has been released in May 2016 via a French distributor Musea Records.

The Puppini Sisters' fifth studio album, The High Life, is the trio's first with Emma Smith joining original members Marcella Puppini and Kate Mullins. Aside from new membership, the vocal group stays the course, offering more of their close-knit, three-part harmonies on versions of big-band classics, a couple of original songs, and swing era-inspired rearrangements of more contemporary hits. The trio holds a few surprises in its selections of the latter, such as a medley of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" and Sia's "Chandelier," and a fluid cover of Missy Elliott's "Work It." Their take on "Rapper's Delight" works especially well, riding the original's natural swing.

Before he retired from music in 1960, pianist George Wallington led a series of excellent bop-based quintet albums. For this particular CD Wallington heads a group featuring altoist Phil Woods, trumpeter Donald Byrd, bassist Teddy Kotick and drummer Nick Stabulas. With the exception of the standard "Indian Summer," the repertoire is pretty obscure (with now-forgotten originals by Byrd, Woods and Mose Allison in addition to "Graduation Day") but of a consistent high quality. The emphasis is on hard-swinging and this set should greatly please straightahead jazz fans.

Entheogenic is a musical project that crosses musical style boundaries. It mixes coloristic electrophonics with impressionistic orchestral sound. The use of both eastern and western vocals, tribal sounding instruments, as well as an array of synthesizers built the foundation of the Entheogenic sound. Their epic soundscapes manipulated through sound effects and catalystic sonic experimentations have a semi-classical feel to them. Entheogenic also records and uses a large amount of "natural samples" - water, human voices, animals, etc.

For Walter Trout, there is no 'us' and 'them'. Across his five-decade career, the great US bluesman's music has always been a lifeline and call-to-arms, reminding listeners they are not alone. Now, as the world seeks solace from a tragedy that has touched us all, he comes armed with a boundary-exploring new studio album and eleven searingly honest songs that bring his fans even closer. "There's a lot of extraordinary madness going on right now," considers Trout, of the COVID-19 crisis. "This album started because I was dealing with the flaws and weakness inside me. But it ended up being about everyone." Ordinary Madness was completed mere days before the US shutdown, its cathartic songcraft and themes of shared troubles couldn't chime better with a period in which our souls and spirits are under fire from tumultuous global events.

England's the Blues Band is led by ex-Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones and guitarist/vocalist Dave Kelly, who, before forming the group in 1979, had been a member of the John Dummer Blues Band and issued several solo recordings on his own (Kelly had also received praise for his playing by such blues legends as Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker). After hooking up with friend/bassist Gary Fletcher, the seeds for the Blues Band were sown, resulting in countless albums (including such titles as 1980's Official Bootleg Album and Ready, 1981's Itchy Feet, 1982's Brand Loyalty which featured new member ex-Family drummer Rob Townsend, 1983's Bye Bye Blues, 1986's These Kind of Blues…