The “Queen of Coloratura”, Edita Gruberova, is the undisputed star of this recording of I puritani from the opera house in Barcelona. Her interpretation of Bellini’s Elvira has certainly become one of her showpieces and her superb technique, her top notes and exquisite pianissimos and her amazing command of coloratura make her the focus of this production. The audience rewarded her with long enthusiastic ovations after her the mad scene in the second act, when her heart breaking rendering of the elegiac “Qui la voce sua soave” and the dazzling coloratura in the fast cabaletta undoubtedly sets her name next to the great Elviras of the 20th century. Arthaus captures on DVD Andrei Serban’s production of Bellini’s gloomy masterpiece.

Trumpeter Miles Davis was without doubt one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-war era, not only as a pioneer of the bebop movement but through being at the forefront of many stylistic and musical innovations over the years. His landmark debut album for Capitol “The Birth Of The Cool”, recorded during 1949 and 1950, became regarded as seminal in the history of cool jazz, exploring unusual harmonies and textures. This excellent-value 49-track 2-CD set comprises his studio recordings in small ensembles, in which he is the only trumpeter, from his studio debut in 1945 through to the end of 1948, just weeks before the first of the “Birth Of The Cool” sessions in January 1949.

SICHER (For Sure) is an obscure group from Zurich that only released one album. What makes this band interesting is despite the fact that their sole release is from 1981, the sound is distinctly early '70s. The eight man outfit featured Markus Sibler, Klaus Caspar, Beat Lustenberger, Kuno Müller, Peter Müller, Stefan Sieber, Paul Sieber, and Catherine Graf. The large number of musicians allowed for a lush sound including sax, cello and flute. It would be easy to pigeonhole SICHER as classic symphonic especially when hearing the oft-covered Bach Toccata. Other songs do reveal a jazzier almost Canterbury side. If any direct comparison were to be made, fellow countrymen Eloiteron might be the best place to look. The safer bet is to say that SICHER drew on the entire cannon of classic prog.

Danish band AKROPOLIS was probably formed sometime around 1975 by Jens Lund (vocals, guitars), Jørn Bennedbæk (guitars), James Templeton (keyboards), Hans Johannsen (bass) and James Pearson (drums). Lund and Bennedbæk had previously been members of Red Mustangs, a band that started out as a rhythm and blues act in the late 60's and switched to a style inspired by bands like Colosseum prior to disbanding in 1974. The previous history of the other members are less known, and the sparse material at hand about Akropolis suggests that tangents man Templeton was the band leader. Akropolis tenure as a force in the Danish progressive rock environment proved to be short-lived, as their sole legacy is the 1979 album "Half a Million Hours Symphony". Keyboardist Templeton formed a new band in 1980, and it is believed that Akropolis had disbanded at this point.

Originally released in 1963 at a time when Bobby Hackett was playing trumpet behind Tony Bennett, these are jazz-oriented versions of Broadway musicals. These sessions from the vaults of Columbia Records are not essential, but it's fun lite pop/jazz that doesn't take itself too seriously and is easy to relax with. Jazz Impressions of Oliver is self-explanatory while The Swingiest Gals in Town includes themes from Mame and Sweet Charity.

The Broken Cloud is a true psychedelic experience.
This progressive-rock epic takes cues from bands such as Yes, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd. It grips you with music from both near and far, old and new, and from somewhere all-together different. From it's opening brigade of guitars, Hammond organ, and choral vocals, to its strange-even terrifying-marriages of Psychedelic Rock, Dark Ambience, Electronic Dance Music, Bluegrass, and Robert Johnson-esq Blues… You'll never be sure what's coming next! …and when the end is finally at hand you'll be lifted up into a thematic emotional high that you won't soon forget…

David Goldblatt is a Los Angeles bases composer/pianist who has recorded and performed with a broad spectrum of artists such as: Gino Vanneli, Jing Chi, Diana Ross, Mark Isham, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Tribal Tech, Vinnie Colaiuta, Larry Carlton, Andy Narrel, Victor Bailey, Lee Ritenour, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira and many more. David released hi first CD, Facing North, on Sweet Basil records in March 1996.

December 11th sees the release of “D.O.C. Deluxe”, featuring all the songs on “D.O.C.” plus six brand new tracks including the special duet of STING & ZUCCHERO singing the previously unreleased “September”.

Allen Toussaint - Connected (1996) {NYNO 9601-2 rec 1994-96}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 387 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 145 Mb
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© 1996 NYNO Music | 9601-2
Jazz / R&B / Modern Post Bebop / New Orleans R&B / Piano

Allen Toussaint's name became synonymous with New Orleans music, even though he didn't seem to "do" the records his name was on as producer, arranger, or writer on records by artists such as Ernie K-Doe or Irma Thomas. This is his first studio album in at least a decade, and it is a very worthy effort of all self-penned songs that seem to be a mix of old and new (if not in age, at least in feel). He is supported by an extremely worthy cast of the finest New Orleans musicians.

Mose Allison - My Backyard (1990) {Blue Note CDP 7 93840 2 rec 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 269 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 9 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1990 Blue Note | CDP 7 93840 2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Blues / Piano

Mose Allison's career in his golden and quite fruitful years has yielded many surprises and challenges, not the least of which is this delightful offering. He continues to write attractive, bouncy, and fun tunes carried by his signature roiling piano style and sly lyrics. For this effort, producer and Allison disciple Ben Sidran hooked him up with musicians from the modern New Orleans jazz scene, including Astral Project members – the extraordinary drummer John Vidacovich, tenor saxophonist Tony Dagradi, and guitarist Steve Masakowski.

Marc Almond - Heart On Snow (2003) {XIII Bis Records 6403262}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 409 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 162 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 41 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2003 XIII Bis Records / Blue Star | 6403262
Pop / Chanson / Adult Alternative Pop / New Romantic / Alternative / Torch Songs / Vocal Pop

Defying expectations and throwing anyone for a loop who guessed what Marc Almond might do after Stranger Things, Heart on Snow is his Russian album. That is to say that some of the songs are traditional Russian folk music, some are inspired by Almond's somewhat existentialist views of Russian life and love, and others merely mention Russian life but come across like traditional Almond songs. Instruments mostly take a backseat to Almond's voice, which is in peak form, but each song has a firm foundation of a combination of upright bass, piano, accordion, violin, percussion, moody keyboards, and guitars.

Gilberto Gil - Salvador 1962-1963 (2002) {Warner Music Brasil 092747212-2 rec 1961-1963}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 104 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 46 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 32 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961-63, 2002 Warner Music Brasil | 092747212-2
Brazilian / Brazilian Pop / Tropicalia / World Music

Mr. Gil didn't prove himself a great popular songwriter until 1967 or so; like most artists, he didn't arrive full-blown and had to learn his craft and make a living. In the early 1960's, while studying business administration at the University of Bahia in Brazil, he cut a few songs under the direction of Jorge Santos, who mostly recorded commercial jingles; that period is laid out for all to hear on the album "Salvador, 1962-1963" (Warner Brazil). These rare singles contain some sweet, bouncy Carnival marchinhas and samba ballads, but no incredible songs; one of the records, "Povo Petroleiro," was financed by an executive at Petrobras, Brazil's major oil company, and contains the lyric "our petrol is Brazilian gold; it's the pride of a petrol people." But as an early look at a great artist in the making it's instructive, like Andy Warhol's 1950's shoe drawings.