What begins like a fairy-tale turns into a whimsical fantasy halfway between magic farce and Masonic mysticism: The Magic Flute links a love story with the great questions of the Enlightenment, juxtaposes bird-catcher charm with queenly vengeance, and bewitches the listener with music that mixes cheerful melodies, lovers’ arias, show-stopping coloraturas and mysterious chorales.

In 1977, the New York Jazz Quartet, a part-time quartet most active from 1975-81, consisted of Frank Wess on tenor, flute and soprano, pianist Roland Hanna, bassist George Mraz and drummer Richard Pratt. The band essentially performed modern mainstream jazz, with the originals of Hanna and Wess consistently challenging the players to come up with fresh statements. On this set, there are four Hanna tunes (including "Time for the Dancers" and the lengthy title cut), plus a pair of Wess compositions. Excellent music that swings but avoids predictability.

"Run to the Sun" is a song by British synth-pop duo Erasure, released as the second single from their sixth studio album, I Say I Say I Say (1994). Released on 18 July 1994, "Run to the Sun" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Erasure's 15th UK top-10 hit. In the US, the song reached number 24 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and number 14 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play. Elsewhere, the song reached number five in Finland, number 19 in Ireland and Sweden, and number 49 in Germany.

There are not a lot of recordings of the 1887 edition of the 8th. Of those, the selection of actually good (i.e. not marred by performance or recording problems) is even smaller. Out of the small number of recordings of this edition, this is in my opinion the best. The fast movements are paced just right (fast but not too fast), and the slow movement is not too ponderous. The playing is top-notch, with a particular nod to the horns and low brass, and the interpretation is fiery and not too reserved.

Recorded at Focus Studio, Copenhagen, June 18 & 19, 1997. The trio are: Mads Vinding (Bass), Ed Thigpen (Drums), Horace Parlan (Piano).
Horace Parlan overcame physical disability and thrived as a pianist despite it. His right hand was partially disabled by polio in his childhood, but Parlan made frenetic, highly rhythmic right-hand phrases part of his characteristic style, contrasting them with striking left-hand chords. He also infused blues and R&B influences into his style, playing in a stark, sometimes somber fashion. Parlan always cited Ahmad Jamal and Bud Powell as prime influences. He began playing in R&B bands during the '50s, joining Charles Mingus' group from 1957 to 1959 following a move from Pittsburgh to New York…