Capoeira is a Brazilian cultural expression that mixes martial art, sport, music and popular culture. Developed in Brazil, mainly by descendants of African slaves with some Indian influence, it is characterized by agile, complex movements. One feature that distinguishes the Capoeira from most other martial arts is its musicality. Practitioners of this Brazilian martial art not only learn to fight and play, but also to play the typical instruments and sing. An experienced capoeirista who ignores the musicianship is considered incomplete. The present release is filled with the best Capoeira songs and rhythms for both the experienced and novice Capoeirista, or just to listen to and enjoy.

From jazz and soul to rock and country, the blues are the bedrock and a uniting feature for much of the popular music originating in the United Sates. The simple and repetitive structures are easy to grasp and perform, making the blues extremely approachable. Under the command of brilliant writers like the legendary Lead Belly, the blues maintains a unique place between high art and common expression.

Following the acclaim which met their 2-CD set devoted to the first two books of Gesualdo's madrigals (2020 Gramophone Award), Paul Agnew and Les Arts Florissants now focus on the composer's Ferrara period. Books III and IV mark a turning point in Gesualdo's output. The murderous prince's inner demons seem to be reflected in the heightened expressiveness of these madrigals, whose reliance on chromaticism and dissonance was so far ahead of it's time that it's like would not be heard again until centuries later.

These historic recordings have every claim to be called the first British folk-rock album. 'All our own work' , comprising all original material, was recorded in Copenhagen in July 1967. Fairport Convention recorded their first album in November 1967 with Judy Dyble as their female singer; they did not start recording with Sandy Denny until June 1968. 'All our own work' has been shrouded in mystery for years. The sleeve-notes on the original release mistakenly claimed that the album was recorded in 1968. It was not released until 1973, to cash in on the Top Ten successes of Strawbs, and sold 65,000 copies. This new release dispels the myths. The booklet contains extracts from Dave Cousins diary with the full time-line; the original black and white sleeve photograph has been re-coloured; there are previously unheard songs. 'All our own work' contains the first recording of Sandy Denny's immortal 'Who knows where the time goes?' , which Judy Collins subsequently used as the title track of her 1968 album after hearing All our own work ! The first full CD release of the first British folk-rock album the complete sessions, remastered. 24 tracks - the original album, out-takes and demos plus three previously unreleased demos.

This Alcatraz-themed potboiler was the final film initiated by the vaunted masters of the action McMovie, producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer; the flamboyant Simpson died of a drug overdose soon after its release. Modern synth-orchestra fusion master Hans Zimmer is unaccountably teamed with Nick Glennie-Smith and Harry Gregson-Williams here, and the results are, well, just McFine. Not surprisingly, Zimmer's done better work on better films. –Jerry McCulley

Brain Echoes is a progressive/art/jazz rock music project from Switzerland founded by pianist, keyboarder and composer Mischa Podstransky.
Blackbird (On A White Oak Tree) explores different sound territories, ranging from progressive rock, art rock and jazz rock to even classical music. Songs and instrumentals are part of the palette as well as different voices and a variety of pianos and synthesizers.

Although she enjoyed stardom and an enduring multi-decade career in the U.K., folk singer Julie Felix never achieved widespread recognition in her native United States. After immigrating to England in the mid-'60s, the Californian was able to capitalize on the country's sudden post-Dylan appetite for American folk music and subsequently became the first solo folk artist to sign a major-label deal there. During her late-'60s peak, Felix's career in England was booming; she had scored a number of hits, sold out Royal Albert Hall, and hosted a popular variety television show. Her popularity continued into the early '70s, after which she spent a period living and recording in Norway – where she also had several hits – before returning to California and focusing on humanitarian issues.

Before the arrival of Carlos Santana's eponymous band, the San Francisco rock scene drew the inspiration for its jam-oriented music mainly from blues, rock, and Eastern modalities. Santana added Latin music to the mix, forever changing the course of rock & roll history. On their groundbreaking debut album, the group mix Latin percussion with driving rock grooves. Santana's unique guitar style, alternately biting and liquid, vies with the multiple percussionists for the sonic focus.
Unlike later efforts, Santana's first album features an abundance of loose, collective compositions based on a couple of simple riffs ("Jingo," "Soul Sacrifice"). This approach allows for Santana and his bandmates to flex their improvisational muscles to fine effect…

Manu Lafer is a composer, singer and pediatrician who has recorded twenty albums, covering different styles and recovering many rare, old songs, which he has given new life. While he hails from São Paulo, Lafer considers his music Pan-American: His compositions incorporate styles such as samba, baião, afoxé, foxtrot, and bolero, among many others, making him that singular kind of singer who experiments freely, without prejudice and with a vivacious pleasure that comes across in his work.

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's seminal 1991 release, the Nevermind 2 CD Deluxe Edition contains the newly remastered album from the original analog tapes and selections from 4 concerts on the Nevermind Tour from Amsterdam, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Del Mar, California.

22 years since the debut self-titled record, Buckcherry keep the party going with ninth record Hellbound. With previous platinum and gold records alongside a million wide fanbase across the world, the explosive five piece reunite with producer Marti Fredrickson (Aerosmith, The Struts and Ozzy Osbourne) to light that all so catchy rock n roll flame once again. The 10 track album captures a new level emotion and depth while still keeping those longtime fans fully hooked. Foot fully down on the gas pedal, Buckcherry are back!

Midnight Assembly’s “Interstate” project brings together the song writing talents and musicianship of Susan Bamford Caleo, Nick Thorpe, Phil Barbuto, and Paul Dalby. They traverse an eclectic musical landscape with pop-jazz sensibilities, Latin beats and an occasional country lick. It is a collaboration that embraces Dalby's masterful acoustic guitar lines, Barbuto's electric sensitivity and Thorpe's heart filled bass with powerful and haunting vocals from Bamford Caleo. The songs were built in fragments and layers over two years. Until they hit the recording studio to finish the album, these musicians had not been together all in the same room.

Najponk (Jan Knop) playing the piano since she was nine years old and about since then is quite obsessed with jazz. In 1990 he founded his trio and quartet later Najponk Q. He won first place in the international jazz piano competition in Ostrava in 1995 and was invited to the project of the Czech Radio Tribute to Thelonious Monk. Among the players, after which his career has performed and collaborated include Janusz Muniak, Dave Liebman, Piotr Baron, Osian Roberts and George Mraz.

Avec Petite Charlotte Planchou signe son premier album sous son nom. Grande interprète au timbre charnu et la personnalité singulière, elle conçoit cet opus avec liberté, raconte qui elle est, d'où elle vient, et pour cela pioche dans des répertoires variés, à l'image de son parcours.

John Pizzarelli's love affair with the bossa nova stretched back over two decades prior to the making of this CD, which is his salute to the legendary João Gilberto. Accompanied by his regular group (pianist Ray Kennedy and bassist Martin Pizzarelli) and augmented by drummer Paulinho Braga and percussionist Jim Saporito, along with several others on selected tracks, Pizzarelli's soft, swinging vocals and strong but understated guitar work their magic throughout the session. While most of the pieces are Brazilian works, there are exceptions. Gershwin's "Fascinatin' Rhythm" is easily adapted into a bossa nova, adding backing vocals and the potent tenor sax of Harry Allen.